Volatile
is a Young Justice (2010) fanfic by Black Friar.
The story mainly focuses on Batman and Robin dealing with the sudden arrival of a new vigilante in Gotham: not only Red Hood is quite violent, he also displays uncanny knowledge about the Bats...
Problem is, Batman and Robin have no idea whatsoever of how he managed to be so well-informed. Who the frack is Jason Todd, anyways?
This little blending of Young Justice (2010) and Batman: Under the Red Hood was so well received the author wrote two sequels: Scars and Poison.
Also available in visual novel here.
Tropes you can find in the story:
- Badass and Child Duo: Jason Todd is officially engaged as Dick Grayson's bodyguard. Dick himself is a badass in his own right, but isn't allowed to use Robin's skills in his civilian persona.
- Brain Bleach: No comedy here folks. The injuries Dick received from the Joker are ones that Jason would like to get out of his head, but no amount of bleach is gonna help.
- Big Brother Instinct: Jason is hellishly protective towards young Dick. Even before getting to know him in his civvies, he only wanted to "save" the youth from the Robin legacy.
- Lower key example but he clearly doesn't want Wally/Kid Flash anywhere near the search for Joker and is gentle when the young speedster is distraught over what happened to Dick.
- Big Brother Worship: Dick absolutely idolizes Jason.
- Charm Person: No matter the universe, Dick Grayson will make you fall under his spell.
- Dark and Troubled Past: Even when refusing to take the whole "beaten-up and blown to kingdom come" stick into account, Jason's life wasn't the greatest. Especially when he was in the streets.
- Distressed Dude: Seriously, Robin ought to consider to relinquish the title of "Boy Wonder" and replace it by "Boy Hostage".
- Establishing Character Moment: Jason has two of these.
- When he abducts Dick, he's very genial and reassuring while trying to persuade the kid to stop being Robin, which leaves the boy confused but not feeling threatened.
- Batman heavily mistrusts Red Hood until he witnesses the other vigilante willingly throw himself between Robin and danger.
- Good Is Not Nice: Jason wants to do good. To this end, he's ready to shoot criminals and dangle bullies out of a window. Very much Batman's influence there...
- Good Parents: Justice!Bruce, something which very much startles Jason since Hood!Bruce was more Parents as People.
- Have We Met?: Red Hood can't help but think the "new" Robin looks weirdly familiar...
- Heel Realization: When young Dick almost dies because of Joker, Jason suddenly understands how bad his Bruce suffered when he was unable to save him.
- History Repeats: Jason's biggest fear is another Robin getting hurt or worse, just like he was.
- Lighter and Softer: Justice!Gotham is much cleaner and respectable than Hood!Gotham. Jason also mentions his Earth doesn't have a Justice League.
- My Beloved Smother: After almost losing Dick in Volatile, Batman decides to bench Robin and ensures Gotham won't be too dangerous right before letting him back in the streets. Robin doesn't appreciate being coddled.
- Never the Selves Shall Meet: Any reality is unable to stand such a situation without growing unstable. Jason is able to stay in the Justice!Earth only because his counterpart accidentally OD'ed at five-years-old.
- Papa Wolf: Don't you dare to touch Bruce Wayne's kid. He's the Batman and not afraid to break some of your bones.
- The Pollyanna: Dick Grayson strives to see the good things in life. His Hood!Earth counterpart seems to be just as cheerful and peppy.
- Scars Are Forever: A plot point in Scars, since explaining the marks left upon Robin by Joker is quite the complication, especially when Dick is out of costume. It also brings his self-esteem down. Fortunately, a phial of Lazarus water solves the question.
- Sir Swears-a-Lot: Bruce is quite disgruntled about Jason's tendency to turn the air blue when he opens his mouth, mainly because he does it in front of young Dick.
- Take a Third Option: When a thug learns Robin's civilian identity, he gloats about how he's going to blackmail Batman under pain to make the kid a target for Gotham's crooks. Jason made him shut up by pointing the thug's death would prevent all of this.
- Take That!: Young Dick is left howling from outrage when Jason describes his own Robin suit - the one with scaly panties and pixie boots.
- This Cannot Be!: When he glimpses a "new" Robin besides Batman, Red Hood is first incredulous... until it turns into horror.
- Jason naturally disbelieves Robin when the kid declares he's Dick Grayson, claiming that Dick is five years older than him.
- Would Hurt a Child: Hood!Earth-Joker is downright gleeful when he has the opportunity to revisit the torture he inflicted to Jason upon a thirteen-years-old Dick.
- You Know What You Did: Batman is much confused in his first interaction with Red Hood since Jason is unaware about crossing realities and rams the man he believes to be his mentor up for things he didn't do.
