Hello,
First, I’m so glad to hear you are enjoying Hopes for a Bastard, it is my favorite story to write for fanfiction!
As to shipping JayRae romantically, I’ve shipped JayRae a long time, stumbling over @xaphrin & @bwbeedubs amazing works helped me actually get the courage to write them. Before then I didn’t write crack ships.
The inspiration for them is actually found in their base backgrounds and their contrasting personalities.
You have Jason Todd, the unwanted, outcast, baby brother of Dick Grayson, who is a complete Nerd, in love with school, being Robin, and kicking ass, and then you have Raven, who is a reclusive, lonely girl who is often outcasted because of what she is, and who is also a nerd. I saw them both hitting it off, the outcasts that they were.
After Jason’s resurrection, and the Teen Titans show joked about Red X being Jason Todd. Carefully thinking it through, comparing resurrected Jason’s personality and interests with Raven’s personality and interests I could see it working.
They both have that outcast feel still, regardless of the continuity, and I think they’d click and go if they ever got together. Granted they are a bit like fire and water, but I really think these two would work, in the long term, or as a team, or as friends, or even romantic partners.
Raven’s got this stable personality, a love of doing quiet things, staying in her comfort zones. She doesn’t stray into dangerous territory, and she tends to stay out of trouble; while showing a great deal of responsibility and empathy to enemies and friends. But there is a ruthlessness to her character, one that the writers brush over on her, but Raven’s got a ‘take no prisoners’ attitude when it comes to her friends and family being in real trouble. She fights herself, and understand confronting demons, inner and outer, she understands hiding fear, being brave, and being alone when surrounded by people.
Jason’s got the wild card personality, he’s quick to anger but shown to have brutally cold logic on his side, with a combination of infinite patience and a great deal of impatience. He lives for the thrill of the mad minute, but more than that, he likes helping people and making a real difference for those who look to him for help. Jason’s ruthlessness is always shown, it’s in his fighting style, his personality, his life style, but he’s also shown to be gentle and understanding towards his friends and family and other survivors. He also has his own inner battles, confronting his demons, and fighting them out, while they tear him up too. He is often times shown alone, even when he should have friends or allies, always as the odd man out.
I think that the JayRae ship would have an interesting dynamic because of their fundamental personalities. Both are exceedingly loyal, unafraid of making the truly hard calls, both don’t tolerate bullshit and are more than willing to call others out on it, and they are such huge nerds! If they were in a relationship, issues of being freaked out about said relationship aside, they would be a solid pair. Jason’s enough to push Raven out of her comfort zones, and to keep her on her toes to live a little, he’d also be supportive and keep an interest in her and what she’s doing. Raven’s enough to reign Jason in, to sooth him to have quiet nights, she’s also understanding and able to support him, listen to him, or just be with him when he needs someone. I think that together they’d bring out the best in each other but also confront the worst the other has to offer without fear.
Also, Raven’s a True Power House Character, with Power Overload in DC’s universe. It’s also been shown that she’s scared of herself and what her powers can do. Jason’s a Real Bad Ass, with Skills Overload. He’s been shown besting not just his brothers, but Slade and Ra’s al Ghul, so he’s a very dangerous non-metahuman, human.
I don’t see Jason being intimidated by Raven’s powers, or what she is. In return I doubt Jason would scare Raven with what he’s capable of, or who he is. There’d be an acceptance between them.
And for anyone who thinks different, Jason is the biggest feminist of the Bats, and in my opinion, of the DC characters, so he’d have zero intimidation of Raven. He’d probably think it’s cool that she’s a demon and a bad ass. He wouldn’t raise a hand to her, belittle, nitpick, or berate her, he wouldn’t ever hurt her intentionally, and he would beat the crap out of anyone who did harm her. Doesn’t matter she can look after herself, he’s totally the guy who’s going to pick her up from work, wait until he’s sure she’s safe in her home, he’d walk her to and from home, get the doors and chairs for her, not because she’s incapable of doing this herself, but because he’s going to do the little things for her. Raven in turn would think he’s a gentleman rather than a monster or outlaw. She wouldn’t cling to him, try to change him, try to berate, belittle, or nitpick what he does or who he is, and she would defend him before everyone. It doesn’t really matter to her that he’s a grown man and a complete bad ass, she’s going to straighten his jacket, tease him, support him, accept his actions as those of a gentleman, even if he is driving her nuts.
All in all, the pairing, though a truly offbeat pairing, would work.
Inspiration for Hopes for a Bastard was actually inspired by something very simple, under the premise of if Jason was Red X:
What Would Happen If Red X Stole Something From Raven?
And since then, all ensuing shenanigans in the series is based off altering canon material for our benefit and fun! Also to smooth out the DC canonverse with magic, space, science, aliens, and the civilian world. So I hope that answers your question! =)
nentuaby