Jason Todd's Point of View

It irritates me that Steph and Tim saw me here, even if it was because they were after a car chase, because now they're going to think this is a date. And it's not.

Ryu is laughing at me as I sit down at our table. I arch my eyebrow at her and she just laughs harder. "May I enquire as to discover what it is you find so funny tonight, Miss Koh?" I ask in my best posh, suck up, upper class man voice.

Eventually, she get's herself under control and speaks. "Well, Mr. Todd. It was the look on your face that was so funny, because you seem to be rather annoyed at the fact that instead of staying there to continue stalking us tonight, your siblings left. All that really matters tonight is that this is not a date and we are the only people of which it is important to know that. Let them believe this is a date... They'll find out eventually about the events that have been going on and, not only will you get to laugh, but you will also get to watch as your oh so good looking brother, gets kicked in the balls because he has called me family and tried to give me a hug." She said in an equally stuck up, posh accent. We looked at each other for a moment before bursting into laughter.

When a waitress came to ask for our orders, Ryu immediately asked if it were possible to just have a salad, due to the fact she was vegan, and there wasn't much on the menu for her to eat. The waitress said she would check with the sous chef before leaving to get a list of vegan friendly dishes Ryu could pick from.

"How did you cope with everything you went through?" Ryu asked in a harsh whisper.

"Sex, alcohol, and blowing shit up." I said, "Why?"

"I've been through a lot and I just don't think I'm coping with it all very well."

"Have you spoken to anyone about what you went through?" I asked her, "I've been told it helps."

She shook her head. The waitress came back and handed a list of vegan friendly meal choices to Ryu. After picking out what she wanted, some kind of fancy salad and ice water, I ordered a steak and chips along with a cold beer.

"When I came back, I wasn't really in the right frame of mind." I told her. "I couldn't remember who or where I was and I was walking into people. I was in the middle of the road when Talia found me and took me to her father." I continued thinking back. "They dumped me in a Lazarus Pit to restore my body and when I came to I struggled to remember anything. I had to relive everything the Joker did to me when ever I slept and the memories would come back all jumbled up. In the end I became angry at Bruce, Joker, and Tim. I blamed them for what happened to me. I wanted, needed, revenge." I looked towards Ryu. "The League took me in and trained me so I wouldn't have to go through anything like that again. Talia and I slept together to relieve some of the stress, it didn't really work because I needed to be in control and Talia is a top but... I was hurting so I hurt myself more."

Ryu nodded looking sympathetic but also looking like she knew what I meant. What I had been through. She took a deep breath, before starting, "I was born in Japan, my parents were normal, I was normal, until one night there was this car crash that my mum didn't survive. I watched my dad slowly get dragged down by grief, he started drinking and gambling. It the end he got killed over a debt he had to a gang boss. The gang then took me in instead of killing me. I went through a lot after that and ended up with the League a few years before leaving to find Sanity, and even then I went through more."

Our food arrived at the table, and we ate in silence, ordering more drinks towards the end.

"Before now did you ever think to talk to anyone about this." I ask her.

She shook her head, "Sanity has her own problems, and I'd rather stay quiet than talk to people who don't care."

I nodded in understanding but... "You've gotta let it out, if you're not going to talk to someone, write it down." She nodded, "Although, I'm here if you need to talk."

"Ditto." She said smiling. "Thanks Jay."

"Anytime." I said picking up the check.