The Foreigner
| Fanfiction | |
|---|---|
| Title: | The Foreigner |
| Author(s): | somecaveats |
| Date(s): | 2023 |
| Length: | 39,388 words as of 2024 |
| Genre(s): | Not A Fix-It, Family Drama, Suspense |
| Fandom(s): | Batman: Under the Red Hood |
| Relationship(s): | Jason Todd & Bruce Wayne, Talia al Ghul & Jason Todd |
| External Links: | https://archiveofourown.org/works/44992420/chapters/113209549WBM |
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Blurb
Jason had played out Bruce’s first words to him again and again, the blame, the disgust, the rejection, and then, sometimes, when he was feeling sentimental, tears and warmth and muttered prayers about the miracle of his return. He had thought he was prepared for anything.
Or; Immediately after the Lazarus Pit, Jason comes back.
Overview
The fic is very heavy with classic literary references.
Background
Reviews and comments
1. “ like he had let fall a handful of dirt over Catherine’s urn and recited the same poem three years ago when he was twelve.” I clocked the “three years ago”, what a subtle way to show that Jason hasn’t truly processed how much time has passed, he still thinks he’s 15. I also love the way you use the passage of time on the minute/ hourly scale to build up this sense of aimless dread. Reminds me of when I’m an anxious or procrastinating and I’m just watching the hours tick tick by not really knowing what’s going to happen once the next hour hits.
2. Can I just say that there have been a lot of “Jason has a psychotic break and tries to climb into his grave” scenes in various fics but this one is probably the most artfully written and visceral one I’ve read. I think about this scene randomly all the time, I also love that it’s Talia that yanks him back from crawling into his grave. Probably my favorite scene in the entire fic[1]
jeepers!!! I adore this. It makes my little English major heart very very happy.[2]
this chapter is absolutely, shatteringly good. you did get me a little teary-eyed in the middle there, i can admit that. "...all he can think of is the fact that Bruce called him 'Robin' months before he ever called him 'son.'" --oh, just the damned crux of everything[3]
This story isn't letting Bruce off the hook for his bullshit, and yet it still does a better job of sympathizing with him than the canon that tries to justify and excuse his bullshit. Truly, this proves you meet more culpability for bullshit while on the path to dodge culpability for bullshit.[...]
This whole mess with Bruce pushing Jason out of his life and into a brochure is great. I grind my teeth a bit when fans talk so lightly about unstable fallen Jason leaving his crusade for a respectable civilian life and Sunday dinners with The Family... Fanfic is a no-rules sandbox yeah yeah. But if we're truly discussing canon then Bruce's most genuine self is exclusive to his vigilante circle--and all uninvolved civilians are excluded. Nobody can claim it's only a Doylist thing that civilian characters get less screentime because they're not relevant to an action-adventure story—the lore is well-established that Bruce can only be close with people who are actively involved in his vigilante life. Jason exiting vigilante life would end his strongest relationship, more so than being a murderous criminal mastermind.[4]