Chapter Text
It was after a patrol, in the cave. Dick had given Jason a hug, and when Jason made a threat about putting a knife in the elbow Dick had just laughed. “I don’t think you really want to.” He had said. He didn’t even notice that Jason had turned into a statue.
Damian was out of town with the Teen Titans, and the others were in a wide semi-circle as they interacted with the computers and such. Tim was the furthest back, maybe 200 feet, at most, the others near the walls.
Honestly, some part of the pit was… not pleased, perse but, upon awakening, definitely didn’t want to fight the only other Al Gaul in the family. A grudging respect was to be had, and his quarrel was hardly with the one person who didn’t care if he could be redeemed.
He’d warned them. He’d told them to restrain him. He’d even held still, nerves on fire, as he waited for them to grab him. He was staring at the ground, keeping inside his mind until it was safe. “No!” Dick exclaimed.
He smirked.
Oh well, I tried. He thought as a flame of anger licked its way up his consciousness. Did they not think him a threat? Did they think him harmless? That just wouldn’t do.
Lifting his head he cataloged where everyone was. Bruce, logistically could take him in a fight. Best not to engage until he made the other know nothing but regret. Dick could take him with the Tim’s help, but Tim on his own- well that was already established.
Barely a split second had passed, but he already heard Tim take a quiet step back. “Of course not.” He said easily, the same way a threat would play with its food. “Locking me up would be admitting defeat wouldn’t it? Saying that ‘little wing’ was, in fact, past redemption.”
He strolled around, never giving his back to any of them. “Maybe Two-bit Tim could clue you in on why that’s a bad idea? Whaddya’ say Replacement? All you’re good for anyway, right? Regurgitation data that others could find themselves?”
“That’s enough.” Bruce growled, taking a step forward.
“Ooh, looks like the big scary bat is upset that his biggest failure isn’t quite gone yet. Though judging by the scar on my carotid, I have to wonder what ‘gone’ means to you? Is redemption a first resort, or a last?”
“Jason, let us help you.” Dick said, holding his hand out as he took a step.
“But Dickie, we’re finally talking! Isn’t that what you want?” Jason mentally cataloged his gear. A plan formed. “Of course, maybe there’s a reason you’re trained to avoid that, isn’t there, Bruce?”
“I could punch you senseless, but the truth is, I could bring you to your knees simply by reminding you of what you threw out like yesterday’s garbage.” He smiled, full of power and sadism.
“Tell me,” He started, carefully planning out a route. “What’s your favorite memory? Reading to me at bedtime, or when I’d help you and Alfred in the garden?”
Bruce knew it was coming, he’d been given a warning, and given that others were present, he bit off the pained noise that was trying to come out. If they hadn’t all been listening for it, it might’ve worked.
That was the point though, wasn’t it? That he had all the warning in the world and was still brought to his knees by a few measly words, despite his best efforts.
“Or would you say the best memory was when I would come out of the kitchen, so proud of what I’d made?” He said, careful to avoid thinking of the one person who could snap him out of this before he was ready.
“Remember the time I made you a Batman cake?” He smirked once more as this time his dad could not repress a sharp inhale.
“Or would you rather remember the Joker’s still alive? You know what’s funny?” He looked towards Dick but kept talking towards Bruce. I didn’t even ask you to kill him. Because, and I quote, ‘once I start, I won’t be able to stop’. I didn’t tell you to break your precious rule. I told you, to let me.”
“And given all the other people I’ve killed,” he said taking one step forward toward Tim, but stopping before the other would engage. Tim looked frozen in place. “It makes me wonder. What does the Joker mean to you, that you chose him over your son? Maybe he’s right.” Jason fought back a wave of nausea.
“Maybe you really do need him.”
“Jay,” Bruce croaked out, agonized. It was delicious. Jason had made himself forget how good it felt to watch people crumble at his very mercy. Jason took a small step towards him, choreographing his moves, as if though to attack. Dick bristled, getting ready himself.
“Don’t worry, I’m not going to attack Dear Ol’ Daddy-Bat. And you all have a martyr complex so I know you don’t care if I attack you. Tell me something,” Jason turned towards Dick but never left his back towards Bruce. “If I promised to stop killing, join the family again, play nice, really become a bat, but I got to use you as a whipping boy whenever, would you agree? Honestly, now.”
Something about the situation, they all knew, was far too precarious for lies. Dick swallowed. “Yes.” It was quiet and defeated. Pathetic. A voice in Jay’s head scoffed.
They all knew it was impossible to take him up on it, and they all knew Dick wouldn’t care. That he’d be that much of an idiot for family. They all would. “One more question, and then I’ll stop prying, but how guilty do you feel? About my death, about the fact that you ended the Joker but chickened out? About just how much you failed me?”
“Jason, that’s enough!” Bruce took a step forward and Jason took a step back. His family was predictable so all he had to do was stall-
“It’d eat me alive if I let it.” The soft voice rang out. Bruce stopped advancing, both he and Tim looking shocked. Clockwork. “I failed you, and I can’t fix that. So, if you wanted to take it out on me, or you hated me forever, you’d have every right.”
Now that the two biggest threats were closer together a path had been cleared towards his real prize. “I think I will, Dickie.” He felt light-headed with anticipated pleasure.
Throwing a smoke bomb, he darted past the two vigilantes who were stunned. Getting Tim in a chokehold he whispered in the boy’s ear. “What about you Timmy? Would YOU sacrifice yourself if it meant I didn’t attack the others?” As he spoke he got out a knife and put it against the younger boy’s neck.
“Nod yes or no, but remember, you’re allowed to actually not be a self-sacrificing lackey.” Again, clockwork, the kid obediently nodded. Too easy.
“I’ll take you up on that offer.” By this point the smoke had cleared and the other two were staring. “Hey Bruce, does something about this feel, I dunno, familiar to you? This time, there’s unfortunately no giant metal beam to try and kill me with, so it looks like we’ll be doing this my way. Get in the cell. Dickie-bird too.”
“Jason-” Bruce abruptly stopped when he started drawing idle shapes in Tim’s cheek, not hard enough to draw blood, but enough to be a threat.
“I thought you said you were going to take this out on me!” Dick cried, distraught. “Take me instead! Please! I won’t fight back, I promise!”
Jason could barely contain his glee. “I am taking it out on you. Beside, you may not fight back, but neither will he. Isn’t that right, pretty bird?” Numbly, Tim nodded.
“Why does that matter?” Dick shouted angrily. “We all know you can take him in a fight. Why don’t you take someone who could actually fight back? Isn’t that what you want? To make them watch and know that the only reason I’m not fighting back is because of them?”
Jason blinked, surprised. That was… a surprisingly good argument. They all knew that Dick wouldn’t be able to take him down if they got in an all-out fight, mostly because for Dick (or any of the bats,) it was never all-out. “Dick, Stop!” Screamed Tim. “I can do this! It’s the one thing I’m good at, just let me do this!”
“Nah, he’s right, replacement. I mean, so are you, taking a hit is the only thing you’re good at, but he makes a good point. Alright, ‘Big Bother,’” the words oozed fake affection. “Go stand over there.” He said, nodding towards an area that would let him get to the containment cells.
“Bruce.” He said, noting the father had stopped right outside the cell. “You have literally no say. Get in the cell or I swear I will aim for the voice box this time.” Reluctantly, his instructions were obeyed. Depositing Tim in the cell adjacent, he locked them up, before turning back.