Chapter Text
It was a rainy night in Gotham when someone knocked on their door.
Catherine was barely conscious when it happened. Willis groaned, believing it was their dealer coming up to get their money, and he wasn’t in the mood to find a new apartment to hide until getting enough to pay off his debts.
Greater was his surprise when he opened the door, meeting a woman he hadn’t seen in years. Sheila Haywood was her name, and she wasn’t entirely alone. In one arm she carried a bundle of clothes that covered what was a little sleeping baby, a lit cig held up by her free hand.
“Sheila.” Greeted Willis. “Or should I say, Dr. Haywood now?”
“Forget about formalities.” She entered the little apartment without waiting for a response from the man. “You owe me a favor and I came to collect it”
Feeling an upcoming headache, Willis closed the door reluctantly and followed Sheila to their sort of living room, where Catherine was dozing off.
The blonde stopped in her tracks, scrutinizing the sleeping woman on the couch. It was like hitting the lottery for her, since she could very much use her in her plans.
“You may want to wake her up” Sheila ordered after taking a puff of her cigar.
The cold eyes she looked him with told Willis he had no other option but to comply. Whatever it was that Sheila was scheming, he wasn’t about to complain. Her plans used to get him enough money to spent freely and in any way he wanted.
He shook Catherine awake, making her sit up on the couch, still sleepy but taking notice on the woman in front of her. A silent question was sent to her husband, who nod with hesitation and turned around to the blonde. Before she could say a word to the newcomer, Willis grunted.
“What’s that you want?”
Sheila took a last puff of her cigarette before crashing it on the armrest of the sofa she was seated on. The baby started complaining in his sleep.
“A big opportunity came, one that’ll give us tons of money if things go as planned.” The baby whimpered while she talked. “You see? This boy here is our ticket to fortune”.
Willis went pale. Catherine’s eyes went wide at the implications. Neither of them wanted to deal with the outcomes of what a crime will give to them if they agreed on what Sheila was implying.
“I’m not risking my skin for a kidnapping” complained Willis. “Ain’t gonna be your scapegoat either”.
“None of that.” Said the blonde. “His mother passed on after birth, not without sharing a little secret about him. Here you have a little prince, one with a wealthy man as a father who has no idea about his existence” explained with a bit of sarcasm in her voice.
“If that’s it then why don’t ya ask for his money now?”
“It’s not the right moment to do so. There’s actually a complication on it. We can’t work if the man is dead before we get to collect the money. His mother was in some sort of trouble with unpleasant people, if they get to track him down they won’t hesitate to kill anyone related.”
The baby started crying, making the blonde a bit angrier than she was before. Catherine walked up to him on instinct, extending her arms towards Sheila. “Can I?”
After a nod, she found herself cradling the little boy in a gentle embrace —as gentle as could be while she was in her current state— calming him again.
“What’s our role in all of this madness?”
“It’s simple actually.” Confirmed Sheila, lighting a new cigar up. “Raise the baby, hide him well, and when the time comes we’ll give him to his father and collect our money”.
“Our?” snorted Willis, still angry. “You expect me to share it when I’ll be doing all the work?! That’s rich!”
“Think about it. I can still send you to jail if I want to. Don’t forget who pulled you out of there”.
The room felt silent again. Willis clenched his fists, looking away in anger. He was so screwed if he didn’t accept Sheila’s offer. His eyes trailed until they landed on the sight of his wife taking care of the baby that was asleep once more. If things go as Sheila said they will, he may get a good deal out of it. After all, how difficult could it be to raise a child?
“Fine! But I want a fair share. Half of the money!”
Sheila smirked.
“We’ll see” was her only reply. “Then it’s settled. Don’t worry about papers, I have it covered”, from her purse she took out two envelopes. One that contained certificates and medical reports, the other one a letter that she explained to keep hidden as well as the boy. After all was settled and everything about the kid was explained to both Willis and Catherine, Sheila took her purse and walked to the door.
“I’ll contact you, don’t look for me. Just wait, is it clear?”
“Yeah yeah, leave it up to me. Don’t forget our deal”
“Sure.” She took a glimpse at Catherine. “Fancy meeting you”.
And with those last words she left.
Catherine nod and took her place at the table, holding the baby with one arm while checking by herself all the documents that were left behind by Sheila Haywood. There was one that she was eager to read though.
“Jason” she read the name plastered on the birth certificate. “Isn’t it a cute name?” She hold the baby a little closer, humming a happy tune that got the baby to smile. “Little prince Jason, I’ll take care of you, I promise.”
Each one of the people in there smiled widely. One for the unexpected new parentage she was gifted. The littlest one for feeling protected for the first time. And the last one for the fortune that waited for him once the deal came to an end.
A whole year passed without news of Sheila. Never once returned a call. Just a letter that told him to keep raising the child, that the time wasn’t right again. After all, she never explained when or how long they had to take care of Jason. A hidden trick of the blonde of course, because he was legally bounded to look out for the kid until Sheila would decide to come back. And that was definitely a joke that wasn’t funny at all. Hence, he took a decision that night. Of course, he would raise the child, but under his terms this time.
Jason Todd grew up believing himself a simple poor kid of the dangerous neighborhoods of the city, unaware that underneath all, he was a little lost prince of Gotham.