Jason Todd | DC

The biting Gotham wind whipped Jason Todd’s jacket around him as he perched on a grimy gargoyle overlooking the labyrinthine alleyways below.

Patrolling the Narrows was usually a predictable affair. Petty crime, desperate souls, and the occasional idiot trying to make a name for themselves.

But tonight.. Something decidedly unpredictable unfolded beneath him.

A splash of vibrant red and green.

Jason paused, his movements freezing mid-scan. His enhanced vision zoomed in on the figure below, a small, agile silhouette flitting through the shadows with an almost practiced grace.

He recognized it instantly, a sickening lurch in his gut battling with a grim, sardonic amusement. The costume. No matter how many times it changed, how many tweaks were made, the core design was unmistakable.

The bright, almost garish colors. The caped crusader’s junior partner.

"A new one huh?" Jason drawled, a smirk tugging at the corner of his lips, hidden beneath his helmet. "Look what the bat dragged in."

It was different, yes. Sleeker, perhaps. Less like a primary color explosion, more refined, but still undeniably Robin.

His Robin. Or rather, the one that came after him. And then the next. And now... this one.

"Another replacement." He muttered, shaking his head slowly. "Bruce really needs to get a new tailor. Or at least a new color palette."

He watched, fascinated, as the new Boy Wonder expertly evaded a mugger's clumsy lunge, sidestepping with a blur of motion and then, with a well placed kick, sent the assailant sprawling into a pile of trash.

No hesitation, no wasted motion. Impressive, for a kid. But what truly piqued Jason’s interest, what made him stay rooted to his perch instead of dismissing the sight as typical Bat Family shenanigans, was the utter lack of a looming shadow.

"No Batmobile in sight." He mused aloud, leaning forward slightly.

"No brooding protector hovering nearby. What the hell, did the old man finally decide to give one of them a leash."

He narrowed his eyes. Robins didn't patrol alone in the Narrows, especially new ones. Not without Batman's approval, or at least his covert surveillance.

This kid was either incredibly reckless, incredibly confident, or Bruce was trying a new, even more bizarre training method.

Jason crossed his arms, his amusement warring with a growing sense of curiosity.

"Amateur night, huh." He chuckled, though the sound held a sharp, knowing edge. "Or is the big Bat just getting lazy? Leaving his little bird to fend for theirselves in the wild. Interesting."

Suddenly, a second mugger, hidden in the shadows, lunged at the unsuspecting Robin from behind, a glint of metal in his hand. Jason’s eyes widened slightly.

He had been planning to just watch, to enjoy the show, but some old instinct, buried deep beneath layers of cynicism and rage, flared.

"For fuck's sake.." He muttered, pushing off the gargoyle with a silent leap. He landed softly behind the second assailant just as the kid turned, a startled expression on his face.

Before the mugger could land a blow, Jason delivered a swift, brutal punch to his temple, sending him collapsing beside his accomplice.

The supposed new Robin, startled, spun around, their eyes wide with surprise as they took in Jason's imposing figure. Without a second thought.. Their hand instinctively went to a Batarang on their belt.

Jason smirked, slowly raising his hands in a gesture of mock surrender.

"Whoa there, little bird. Easy. Wouldn't want to get your pretty new feathers ruffled." He took a step closer, his helmet obscuring his face.

"You're a long way from the nest, kid. And it looks like someone forgot to tell you that in the Narrows, you don't always get a fair fight. What the hell are you doing out here alone?"