Catch and Release

Author’s note:  Going to start by saying, I plan to revamp my older fanfic someday soon, maybe as a sequel to this one.  It’s a bit of a pain to start a fanfic and see many of the characters you involve become obsolete or die in the series and then your left trying to find the perfect time stamp for when your fic takes place (for those who write serious fanfics and not just lemons that is. Nothing wrong with lemons, but I go for serious and could be canon). So here is a new fanfic introducing a character I would love to see. Or rather characters. Taking place after season 2 of of Arrow. I’m sure season 3 will trump my work and how some characters return will be vastly different, but hey, I’m going to wing it. Pun intended.




3 Years earlier, October 28th Gotham City:
“It’s just a party. I swear I’ll behave.” He set the phone on speaker and placed it on the sink as he messed with his hair in the mirror.
“You, behave?” Came a voice over the phone.
“Hey I can behave” he protested back and went back to the mirror. His expression more annoyed now that his older brother had no faith in him.
“What are you dressing up as?” Asked the voice over the phone.
“Well it’s Halloween. You’re supposed to go as something unexpected.” He smiled and took the phone to take a photo of himself in the mirror and send it to his brother.
Laughter came over the phone when he got the pic. “Seriously? What are you calling yourself, Father Todd?”
Jason smirked and turned away from the mirror in his Priest costume. “That has a nice ring to it” he said. “I have to go. Father Todd has a date” he hung the phone up on Dick before he could say another word.
The party was a typical East Gotham rave in some abandoned warehouse. Someone had brought a large DJ set up and lights. Others had brought booze (stolen no doubt) and the floor was full of pulsating bodies, moving to the beat.  He was confident that the big guy had other things to do tonight than to break up a party. He moved into the mass of bodies and began to dance along until he saw her. Dressed as Alice from Wonderland, his date, Becky. He flashed her a smile and moved up alongside her.
“Hello little girl. Would you like to confess your sins to me?” He wagged his brows and she laughed.
“Jason you made it.” She hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. “You look very sexy sir.”
“I’m Father Todd tonight” he stated.
“Well Father Todd, I have no sins to confess, but if you come with me to the roof I’m sure we can come up with some new ones.”
At 13 he liked that idea a lot and was ready to go when she took his hand and lead him to the stairs that lead to the roof. The door swung open up top and he had his hands on her waist and kissing her deeply as she pulled at the collar of his costume. He almost didn’t hear his phone going off in his pocket. Jason groaned and fought the urge to ignore it until Becky let out a small gasp and looked to the sky.
He knew what was in the sky and who was calling. He swore under his breath and took the phone from his pocket as Becky gazed up at the sky.
“I have to go” he grunted.
“So soon?” She pouted at him. “You just got here.”
“I know, my, dad needs me.” He hated that word “dad”. Bruce was not his father but there were moments where he could consider that title for the man. Those moments were usually washed away quickly though. “I’ll come get you tomorrow night and we can hang’ he promised.
“You said you had tonight free though” Becky pouted again.
Jason looked past her into the sky to see the Bat symbol shining bright in the clouds. “Yeah, I was promised that too” he sighed.  He moved to kiss Becky on the lips deeply. He didn’t want to part from her but knew he had to. His phone began to go off again. “I have to go. I love you.” He gave her a quick peck on the cheek. “Call me!” He ran to the edge of the building and heard Becky gasp when he jumped off.
He turned to look up as he swung down onto the street to see her watching from the edge. He smirked as he landed and saw her expression of relief that he didn’t just commit suicide. He loved showing off for her.
By the time he arrived on scene, Batman was leaning down to look at the body. The body was that of a girl, no older than 15, nude and bloodied.
“He struck again. This makes body number three in this area” Gordon pointed out.
“Won’t be the last” Batman grunted.
Robin looked down at the body and felt a shiver run up his spine. The girl was about his age and this creep was torturing, raping and killing these girls and leaving them to rot in public places.
Gordon glanced to Robin and then looked to Batman. “You think it’s safe for him to see this?”
Batman paid Gordon no mind as he collected a hair from the body. Robin knew what his answer would be. When Jason put on the uniform he was no longer a child or teenager. He was an adult and treated like one. Gordon only saw a kid in a costume.
The hair matched a man named Felipe Garzonas.  The tip was sent to Gordon to look for the man but the cops were slow to catch the bad guy so Batman planned to go after him later that night.
That night Batman took to the roofs with Robin in tow to catch Felipe. They arrived at a storage unit in Felipe’s name that Batman was sure he would use to store the tools of his trade. The police were unable to find Felipe at his home, no surprise there.
Batman yanked up the door to the unit to find Felipe had gone but left behind something. He knew that the police were on his trail and he was on the run, but not before claiming another victim.  Jason felt that shiver again up his spine as he moved closer to the body with Batman. His blood ran cold when he saw the shreds of the Halloween costume left on the girl. His throat ran dry as he reached down to roll her over and have a look at her face. It was when he felt as if his world was kicked out from under him. If only he had stayed at the party, she would be safe, and alive now.
“Becky” he choked back the bile in his throat.
“You know her?” Batman asked.
“My girlfriend” Jason answered. Robin was not here right now, only vulnerable and exposed Jason Todd.  He took her hand in his and reached down to run his fingers through her hair gently as the tears began. He would get no sympathy from Batman. Bruce yes but not Batman. He would get a hug later on but right now all he got was barked at.
“Focus Robin” Batman snipped.
Jason cast his eyes at Batman in pure rage and anger. He removed his cape and lay it over Becky’s body and leaned down to give her one last kiss. There was another location that they didn’t search yet.
“I need to throw up” he muttered.  He left the storage unit and left Batman to collect his evidence. Jason left for blood.
He wondered how long it would be until Batman realized what he was doing and came after him. All he knew was he had to get to Felipe fast. He was so tired of this. He was sick with grief and anger and all he wanted was to make that man scream.

“I’m so tired of playing catch and release. Tired of bringing in the bad guys only so they can escape or get out soon after. They all go back to what they were doing when we caught them. You all never learn. There is no rehab for the sickness you have.” He had grabbed Felipe by the shirt and walked him toward the edge of the building. “This will be the last time I catch, and release.” The bus came to a stop and Jason jolted awake.  He pulled his red hood over his head and stepped off the bus from E. Gotham and Park Row to Starling City. This was his new start. This would be a new beginning for him. You didn’t get many restarts in your life and you only live once.