I'm sorry if this chapter comes a little shorter than the first chapter, I'm new to writing fanfiction and so I was oblivious to how I was supposed to make it a multiple chapter story, but what the hell
The batcave was a little quieter than usual after the computer showed the translation of the message that was sent to Jason.
BELOVED, everyone saw the word and what followed was a collective conclusion that left their lips "TALIA", Damian then commented "why would my mother sent this and to Todd of all people? Bruce sighs heavily" I don't know, but if Talia has something to do with Jason's disappearance then this maybe step one in how we can find him" Dick cuts in on the conversation "well, if wasn't worried before I sure am now" Damian just rolls his eyes and scoffs "please, when aren't you worried about everyone at every time Grayson" "ahhhhh maybe because it's my job to be worried for you guys? I mean Jason's our brother, he might not want to admit but he knows we want him to be safe" Tim just continues to stare at the monitor "I just can't imagine what Jason would have done to get involved with the league of assassins" Alfred then intervenes "ah master Bruce? Perhaps we should try to analyze the message at hand first? Bruce nods at the butler "you're right, beloved is a term that Talia used to call me in an affectionate or rather ironic manner but why would she say that to Jason?, why would she work so much to keep this message a secret?, why would Jason hide it? There are too many questions and practically no answers."
Tim adds to Bruce's analysis "but then there's the other words, it's time, which means something was agreed or something happened between them and it was time for Jason and her to meet again, but how can we be sure that this was delivered to Jason before his disappearance? Dick, did kory and roy tell you anything about Jason before he disappeared? Dick closes his eyes to remember his meeting with the outlaws before responding,"aaah yeah, now that I think about it they told me that jay was being very quiet and he was hardly doing any missions on the field, in fact he was starting to talk about how he was wanting to not be a hero or do anything and leave the life, that he wanted to no longer be dead in the eyes of the public.
Bruce frowns while he listens to his oldest son's words, even when Bruce and Jason were starting to have a better relationship than before, he never knew that Jason was wanting to leave the life, Jason's tenure as robin may have been short but Bruce saw that Jason was determined and passionate about his new opportunity, and after all this time he still saw that even after Jason became the red hood, he still saw that little kid that wanted to help people, but his innocence was ripped away and death made him a distant and rather cold person, morally ambiguous in his brand of justice, and though he knows that Jason has started to indirectly walk back to his mentor's sense of morality there's still a lot of things that are better said in private but now wasn't the time to dwell on the past, now was the time to find his son.
"Talia must have shown Jason an opportunity to escape, if we find Talia we may find Jason" Bruce turns to Zatanna and reaches out to shake her hand " I appreciate your help zatanna, but it seems that we might have to find Jason the old way, but I would be grateful if you could help us again in the future" zatanna shakes Bruce's hand in return "no worries Bruce, you know you can count on me, besides it was fun to see you guys again" with that Zatanna says goodbye to the rest of the batfamily and with the move of a hand a fog conceals her and she vanishes.
"Cool" Dick and Tim say in unison "Tt, I've seen better" Damian scoffs "yeah from what, mindfreak? Tim says in a deadpan manner, Damian just glares at him "you're an imbecile, drake" "and I hate you too demon spawn" now it was a glare contest between them before Alfred clears his throat and says "master drake, Master Damian, now is not the time to be fighting, there's a situation that involves your brother and it should be more important than discussing about magic, real or not"
"well he started it " Tim says while pointing at Damian who keeps glaring but before Damian says anything Bruce cuts them off "enough, we have to find Jason, and in order for us to do that we need to find Talia, which only leaves us with one option" he puts on the cowl and starts to walk to the batplane and exclaims "it's time to have a little talk with Ra's, Dick you, Tim and Damian are coming with me, call Barbara and tell her about the situation and call any allies that may be in the city" Dick nods "wasn't expecting you to bring us along, ready to visit grandpa little D? He teases Damian before he receives an elbow to the gut "your humor bores me Grayson and I don't present any excitement about seeing my grandfather" they get in the plane as well and Tim is the last to board the ship, "but rally Bruce, you usually tend to go solo while meeting with Ra's, what made you change your mind" Bruce smirks but his tone still is a serious one though somewhat lighter.
"Like I said, this is a family matter"