Chapter Text
Jason trudged through the mud of Gotham's graveyard, even with his unusually clear mind, he wasn't sure what had compelled him to return to this godforsaken place. The acid green had left his vision for the first time in months, he should tell Talia about it, she would know what to do. No. He needed to handle this on his own, if he called Talia now, Batman would notice, or maybe it would be the replacement who did. Despite it all, the kid was smart, he had to give him that, and the old Man seemed a little out of it since he started running circles around the bats.
Not that it mattered right now, he wasn't in his gear, the clouds hung thick, and the rain was soaking into his hoodie, but it was still day and the Bat wasn't out. He should be resting too, yet he was here on this bumpy gravel path on track to visit his own fucking grave. He supposed weirder things have happened to him. Stood in front of the massive boulder of a gravestone with his name engraved on it, he felt strange, the grass where he had dug himself out had already regrown, a poor cemetery worker probably had to fix up the mess. Nothing they wouldn't be used to, Gotham rouges don't exactly respect the dead and their resting place.
It was well-kept, just like the Wayne's right next to it, Alfred must have instructed the cleaners to extend their services to his grave as well. He considered the other graves he walked by earlier, overgrown and unkempt, some without a name, some with the same killer as him. Green crept back into his vision, some of these people wouldn't be dead if Bruce killed that clown, wouldn't have unkempt graves, because family members to look after them would still be alive.
He shock himself, not now, he had to save the anger for tonight, he still had so much more to prepare. A flash of white caught his attention, wedged in a crack of the stone was something, he couldn't help but reach out. Wrangling it out, the thing revealed itself to be a letter, who the hell would leave a letter hidden on his grave? Turning it around to look at the address - maybe he could find time to get it to his intended recipient? - he stood frozen for a while.
Mr. Jason Todd
47 Gotham Cemetery
Gotham, NJ 12345
USA
If possible, please leave this letter on gravestone number #428 in section two.
The letter was addressed to him, it made sense, it was on his grave, but who would write a letter to him? He was fucking dead! It couldn't be Talia she would have just send it to his apartment, she also wasn't the letter type, and he had no other contacts aware enough of his identity to be capable of this. Pocketing the letter it felt like it was burning in his pocket, yet he couldn't open it in public, what if it had malicious intent? He couldn't take responsibility for defiling these people's graves further than they already were. The thought of turning tail into the direction of his safehouse didn't even process until he was already across the street.
It was getting late anyway, he figured this was as good a time as any to get to his gear. The letter laid open when Jason left from his window later that night, a half written reply already formulated in his head. He would write it in the morning, tonight he needed to concentrate.
Dear Jason,
It has been a regretfully long time since we last spoke, it is sadly quite complicated to send letters to the dead. Yet, I have been informed that you have come into much better health recently! Which is why I am writing to you, from first-hand experience I have noticed it is very unpleasant to be revived, and I felt it would be only polite to check in, from one ghost to another.
I realize I am late to congratulate you on your return to the living, I have been quite busy recently. As you know I have been back to life for a bit longer than you, from my perspective at least and in that time I have taken on my new status as a vengeful spirit very well, unfortunately my vengeful spirit plans didn't quite pan out as expected. Do not worry, though, I have already thought of an alternative route to take from here.
Enough about me now, how have you been? I assume you have your own plans for revenge? At least that is what my contact mentioned, for your information he is really unhappy about you having cheated death, yet I managed to talk him down for now. Please confirm that you didn't intentionally trick him, I would hate to have stuck my neck out for nothing.
On that note, how did you revive - I hope that ain't rude to ask if it is please ignore my lack of tact - it couldn't be the same as me as my contact is not in the know. It would greatly interest me to know, nevertheless, I have a revenge plan to return to.
My contact promised me he would make sure this letter will find you even if I lack an address, which I trust, he has never broken his word before. I hope it finds you in good health as well, or at least as best as people like us get.
I have included an address for you to reply if you are so inclined on the back.
Yours truly,
Nero
(P.S. if you reply, please include your current address, I would like to not address another letter to a gravestone.)