The Joker stood over Jason, bloodied crowbar in hand. The last hour filled with nothing but pain and regret. Jason needed to focus. He needed to look past the pain. A laugh filled the air, and then The Joker was gone. Jason pushed himself up. He sent the pain deep down. He should have never gotten caught. Focus. The door was locked, but that did not matter. Jason's eyes widened at the bomb across the room. He was too weak to move. He closed his eyes and accepted his fate.
But that was not the end. Ra's al Ghul had other plans. He brought Jason back, but he came back wrong.
Red Hood stood on the rooftop of a building watching into a window across the street. History was repeating itself. He had watched Joker take Tim; his replacement. He had followed him back there, and he had watched the torture. What would it take for Batman to learn?
He stormed the warehouse, and held his gun to Joker's head. This time he did not give up. This time he did not hear Batman's voice in the back of his head. He shot. Tim was too weak to move, just like Jason was all those years ago. He picked him up and left the warehouse, but not before setting it ablaze.
Back at his apartment he set Tim down on the couch. His face beaten. His mask torn. The memories flooded back. He put a hand on the boys head
"He can't hurt us anymore."
What would it take for Batman to learn?