"Where is my son?!"
Batman stormed into Nanda Parbat, his deep voice echoing through the halls. The assassins turned and readied their weapons, getting into a synchronized fighting stance.
"I will repeat it one more time. Where is MY SON?!" His voice roared through the old cave side castle, and he started to run up the stairs, a threatening look in his eyes.
The army of ninjas moved toward him, but the voice of Ra's al Ghul made them freeze in their spots.
He called out a command in their native tongue, then turned to the enraged Batman," Hello, Detective; follow me if you wish to get information about your son."
******************Time Break*********************
"You did what?"
"I brought your son back from the land of the dead, Detective. I believe you should be thanking me." The Demon's Head said, with a blank look on his face.
Bruce seemed to take this in for a few seconds, and then frantically turned to the leader of the assassins," Where is he now?" There was a low growl in his voice."
"Are you sure you want to know what happened?"
The father glared at Ra's," I'm pretty sure I want to know what happened to my own son. Now tell me." He was clearly getting irritated at this game the he was playing.
"He returned from the pit with his mind damaged. He was deranged, and acted unlike a sane human being should. The last we saw of him was when he threw himself off of the cliff, screaming like a wild animal." Ra's said, not looking the least bit bothered by what he said happened.
"Which cliff?"
"Over there." The older man gestured to the far side of the room, and allowed the black clad figure to go look around freely.
Thousands of thoughts were rushing around Bruce's head, his brow furrowing as he walked over to the cliff he had been told about. He got to one knee and inspected the ground that led to the drop, noticing how it had recently been disturbed. The footprints that were left looked like Jason's size feet, and some of the rocks had blood stains on them, so he was barefoot and scraped his feet running.
With a sigh, Bruce stood up and walked back inside. He approached Ra's al Ghul, who was giving him expressionless look," I'm leaving, and if a single one of your assassins tries to stop me I will personally put all of them out of commission. You did this to Jason, it's your fault. Don't ever come near my family ever again!" His voice morphed into a fierce growl and he stormed out of the room.
When the shut door swung open loudly, and Batman charged out, three assassins reacted immediately. They drew their swords and attacked him, which only infuriated him more. His armored arm came up to block one of the swords and he delivered a swift kick to the man behind it. The other two attacked in a similar fashion, and Bruce took them all down, his screams of rage echoing against the walls.
He stormed through Nanda Parbat, taking down any who stood in his path. There was a flight of stairs left before the Batman was home free; his back was turned when a blade drove itself into his shoulder. Normally, his reflexes would have told him that someone was behind him, but rage was dulling his mind. When the sword pierced his armor he spun around and brought his elbow down, quickly breaking the man's arm. He started running toward his Bat Plane, his good arm clutching his bleeding one.
The plane took off, leaving a crowd of assassins behind. Bruce called Alfred on his communicator," Penny-One? Are you there?"
"I'm here Batman. What did you find at Nanda Parbat?" The crisp voice answered, seconds after Bruce spoke.
"I can't say much over the comm. unit. But, I'm on my way home." The plane shook, and the movement caused Bruce to hiss in pain, and he gripped his shoulder tighter as more blood flowed from it.
Alfred heard the hiss and responded with a concerned tone of voice," Batman? Are you okay?"
"I'm fine." He said stubbornly," See you soon." He pushed a button and the line clicked off.
Back in the BatCave
The plane landed in the cave, and Bruce stormed out," Damn Ra's al Ghul! That son of a-"
"Master Bruce, watch your language!" Alfred said before the younger man could finish his sentence.
"I know, it's just-"His leg gave out and he stumbled to the floor with a cry, wounds he didn't know about now affecting him.
Alfred rushed over to his side," Bruce!" He put Bruce's good arm over his shoulder and helped him over to the table.
"I'm fine," He said, and shrugged Alfred's arm off," We need to worry about Ra's now."
"Your health comes first right now. Sit on the table then we can talk." Bruce reluctantly limped over and sat down while Alfred stripped his armor off and examined his body. His upper abdomen was an assortment of black and blue bruises, and his shoulder was bleeding profusely. One of his knees was swollen and was throbbing, but nothing hurt Bruce more than the fact that Ra's brought Jason back unnaturally, causing him to act 'insane'.
Alfred prodded at the sword wound, causing Bruce to stiffen up and groan," Alfred, I'm fine. I just need to be stitched up, and then we can start on finding Jason."
The old man went silent, then responded softly," Jason? He's… alive?" He stumbled backwards, his face white from shock.
"Oh God, Alfred. I didn't mean to spring it on you like that." Bruce said when he saw the look on Alfred's face. He put a hand over his face, and sighed deeply.
The armor that Alfred was holding fell to the floor with a bang, and he collapsed next to it. All colour drained from his already pale face, and he whispered," He's alive… Jason…"
"That's why I went to Nanda Parbat. Ra's has this 'Lazarus Pit' it's what keeps him alive, he dips himself in it and it rejuvenates him. But, for some twisted reason he put Jason's dead body into it and…. It brought him back to life. But," Bruce sighed," But he didn't come back like himself. He-he's… insane. That's what Ra's al Ghul said."
A tear rolled down Alfred's face, and he took a shuddering breath," Do you know where he is?"
"He- ahhh." Bruce clutched his hurt shoulder, as a wave of pain shot through him, doubling over in pain. All the wounds caught up with him, and his body shook as pain racked through him.
Alfred shakily stood up and leaned Bruce back onto the table," Bruce, it's okay. I'll get you fixed up in one moment, stay calm."
The fact that his son was alive again finally sunk in, and tears cascaded down Bruce's bruised and weary face. He couldn't tell whether he was relived Jason was alive, or crying because he was alive but insane. It was a mixture of both, but his confused mind could barely focus on anything at the moment.
"… Bruce?" Alfred said, holding a needle and wearing gloves.
He shook his head," Sorry, just drifted off there for a second."
Alfred dabbed at the wound on Bruce's shoulder with an alcohol soaked cotton ball," Now might not be the best time to talk about this, but we have to talk."
"We have to find him." He said, determined.
"Yes, we do. But, you have to remember that whatever Jason is like now is not your fault." Said Alfred, and started to insert the needle into Bruce's skin.
Bruce closed his eyes and tilted his head back, trying to ignore the feeling of the needle going in and out of his shoulder," But it is my fault. He died because of me, now he's insane because of me."
"It is not at all your fault, stop blaming yourself." The older man said, while finishing up the stitches.
"It is my fault! I'm the reason he's like this!" Bruce slammed a fist down onto the table, as emotional and physical pain tore through his beaten body.
Alfred's eyes widened in concern and he reached toward Bruce, in an attempt to calm him," Bruce, calm down. It's going to be okay, Jason will be fine."
"It's not okay!" The injured man pushed Alfred away, and jumped off the table, grabbing his Batman armor. He ran to his car, and got in, ignoring Alfred's shouts to come back. Hot, angry tears were streaking down his face as his car zoomed out of the cave, leaving behind Alfred, who fell to his knees in despair.
Bruce drove around aimlessly for hours, eventually stopping at the docks and got out, locking his car behind him. His shoulder throbbed and his whole body ached, but he pushed those feelings to the back of his mind and started walking. He didn't know where or why, but his legs just moved on their own accord. He came across a group of thugs, beating up a kid and ran faster. He didn't have any of his weapons, but it didn't matter to him right now. He needed to get his mind off his own pain.
"It's the bat! Get 'em boys!" The gang turned to him and he smiled a grim smile.
All the pain he felt when Jason died came flooding back but worse. His son was alive, but suffering, and again he was to blame.
Bruce's fist came into contact with a jaw, his knee into a stomach, his foot into a face. Over and over again, the faces blurring together, the shouts all sounding the same. The night seemed to go on forever, but time didn't mean anything to Bruce, he was on a rampage. He left every person unconscious for the police, and then found some other scum bags to inflict his rage upon.
It was around four am when Bruce started getting sloppy, his movements less controlled, and his legs unsteady. A knife skimmed his stomach, and a car tire caught his jaw. He stumbled away as his vision started to go dark. His shoulder was screaming in pain, and he was bleeding from multiple wounds.
He limped to the car and collapsed against it, panting frantically. Spots gathered across his sight, but he refused to call for help. He pulled out his keys and unlocked the armored vehicle, throwing himself inside it. Bruce's shoulder thudded painfully against the inside of the car, and he groaned out loud as he started the car. The car jolted to life and he started on the road home, his eyes tempting to close as his eyesight darkened.
The communication unit crackled," Bruce, please come home."
Bruce eyed the comm. and reached an arm out to turn it off. He heard Alfred say something before he turned it off, it sounded like a desperate plea. His heart throbbed, and a wave of guilt hit Bruce, he suddenly realized what happened. He had stormed off in a rage, when Alfred was just as upset as him.
The car managed to get in before Bruce passed out. His head lolling up against his seat, as his eyes rolled into the back of his head. He heard Alfred call out, the concern in his voice evident. Then all was black, and Bruce was grateful for the lack of pain, emotional and physical.
The sound of rustling paper, and Alfred's quiet voice drew him out of his peaceful sleep. Bruce sat up with a jolt, his heart racing, only to be forced back down with strong hands.
"Shhh, Bruce. Its okay, you're okay. Lie still, you're injured." Alfred's soothing voice calmed him down.
He cracked his weary eyes open," Alfred… Oh God… Alfred I'm so sorry…" His voice rasped.
"It's fine," The old man said, offering a kind smile," Bruce, you had every right to get mad. But, what isn't okay is going on a bloody rampage, and nearly getting yourself killed! Your shoulder was still wounded, and now you came back with a concussion, two broken ribs, a knife was dragged along your stomach and you have a broken ankle!" His kind smile transformed into a reprimanding frown.
Bruce winced," I just needed to get out."
"Next time you want to beat things senseless make sure you're not about to drop due to injuries. Now, enough of me berating you. Let's talk about Jason while I fix you up."
"Well the only thing that Ra's told me was that," He gritted his teeth in pain when Alfred started stitching his side," That he dove off a cliff and swam away. Into the ocean. We know nothing else about where he is right now. I think the closest lead we have is to look around the towns nearest to Nanda Parbat's ocean, we should start there."
Alfred applied pressure to Bruce's ribs, causing him to cry out in pain," Sorry Bruce, I didn't know how bad it was. When you get to feeling better, then I swear we will search the entire Earth to find Jason."
"Really?" Bruce asked, shocked how Alfred agreed so readily.
"I promise."