Updated 06/20/2017

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He spent the next week locked up tight in his home mulling it over. It was too much to take in, and no matter how he tried to put the pieces together, he just could not figure out how- and when this could have happened.

Vampires truly existed.

Or at least something similar.

Jason had surely not been one before his untimely demise. It just wasn't possible, not under Bruce's watchful eye and Alfred's care, but that fact forced him to admit that any legends in stories and books would be no help to him here. This had to have happened after his death. And as things stood he was unable to seek assistance with the rest of the family. It would have to remain his secret, as if Bruce got wind of the situation, Jason would surely be collected with utmost urgency and put under lock and key, while Bruce attempted a cure that could very well be non-existent… and after seeing Jason at his worst first hand he had no doubt that there would be bloodshed and potential casualties if the man was confronted.

No, Bruce would surely over-react, Dick would become obsessed with the situation and somehow some way find reason to place the blame on himself, Damian was likely to attempt a more permanent means of eliminating the threat… and the added worry that he had been assaulted, potentially altered, made the situation all the more worrisome. He could only be thankful that Babs was not exactly out in the field these days and that Steph was on vacation in Hong Kong visiting Cass. It put them out of harm's way, and while Steph could definitely hold her own, she had yet to ever cross paths with Jason and now was clearly not the time for introductions. How this had managed to stay off of Barbara's radar let alone Bruce's had him puzzled. It wasn't as though the man was invisible on film, and not once had they come across any suspicious deaths lacking blood, or with mysterious punctures. Jason had clearly been incredibly careful or had been seeking nourishment well away from Gotham where it would be impossible to tie him to unusual murders. Sunlight apparently wasn't an issue here, whether regarding burning, or especially luminous skin... he wasn't sure what to make of that either.

It was times such as these that he wished Prudence had not gone back to the League. He could have probed Ra's for answers. Now to do so would mean a trip across the globe, and he was seriously regretting taking down the man's network at this point. It figured.

The scar on his hand unnerved him. He could honestly say that he did not feel the slightest bit different- that nothing unusual had happened since that night, but all the same there was no way humanly possible for the deep wound to have knitted shut in such a short time, let alone it look months old. He could only make assumptions about potential healing factors in the man's saliva and hope that there wasn't just some delay of infection and his days were limited.

He slept poorly if at all, a constant nagging fear that he would awake to Jason looming over him had nightmares at an all-time high, and his nerves made even drifting off briefly difficult. But as the week had rolled by and he had seen no sign of the fallen Robin, his confusion took over the fear.

Had Jason fled? Had the man assumed that he would promptly run home and out him- as he really should have done, but reasoned against? Was he laying low, or was he perhaps watching him, waiting to see if he had made his move?

That thought process did little to ease his worry.

He returned to his patrol route on the eighth night all the same.

It was uneventful.

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He had been lulled into a false sense of security.

All efforts to find a contact source for Ra's had been for naught. Patrol went off without a hitch for yet another week. Bruce seemed none the wiser, and Babs had surely not said a thing, even though they must have been in view of at least one of her cameras. He suspected that the girl that had been running with Jason in the last year had something to do with that- which raised all sorts of additional concerns. He had almost forgotten about her. Now he wondered if she knew- if she was like him now as well.

With everything flitting through his mind on repeat he had let his guard down again. He had allowed himself to relax just the slightest bit, and it was perhaps this that allowed Jason the opportunity to corner him amidst the takedown of an attempted robbery.

He hadn't even seen Jason until after the fourth and final assailant hit the wall beside him with a sickening crunch of broken bones as he was quickly zip tying the third, and he was rather certain his heart skipped a beat in terror before it quickened and thrummed painfully in his chest.

Being caught off guard had the dread swell up in his chest, and he rapidly looked for some way to escape the pending situation, but it was a lost cause… Jason had him trapped in the dead end alley, just as he had managed to corner the thugs. He could attempt an aerial escape, but Jason would surely be on his tail the moment he fired the grapple, if of course he didn't just outright cut the line as he had seen him do plenty of times in the past.

He was given no further time to think as the man hurled himself at him. Any other time the Red Hood helmet would not have bothered him, but now? Now that he knew what Jason was him not being able to see what state of mind the man was in at present was terrifying. He swung his staff out before him, rolling to dodge the oncoming fist, and barely had a second's notice before a boot struck him in the chest and forced the air from his lungs. Even with the armor plating the impact left him gasping, and he hit the ground back first with no time to avoid the man's grasp.

He hissed as he was hoisted upward, yelped as his arms were twisted behind his back, and stumbled as he was force led away from the scene he had already called in, unable to break the tight grip.

Jason launched his own grapple catapulting them into the air. When they touched down on the rooftop the hold was released, and Tim wasted no time in breaking away, making a mad dash across the tar towards the scaffolding- that he never reached. A fist wrapped around his cape and jerked him backwards away from the edge and his efforts to unhitch the holds fell short as he was slammed face first against the brick wall. His cheek burned as it rubbed against the ragged surface, and he gave a shout as his shoulder popped from the socket with the forced pressure of his twisted pinned arm. He panted as the pain seared from the strain and sucked in a sharp breath as Jason frisked him with his free hand. His stomach dropped as a metallic crunch sounded, and he gazed down with dread to see the com he had resumed wearing the past week in pieces at his feet, effectively cutting him off from any potential aid.

The cowl was ripped from his head in one brisk movement. Sweat dampened hair fell over his face, plastering against his brow, and the burn in his cheek only intensified. All at once he was spun around to face him and he cursed at the white hot pain that radiated across his shoulder. Jason tilted his head observing him briefly, and Tim squeezed his eyes shut mere seconds before his arm was wrenched and shoved none too gently back in place with an audible snap.

Before he could clear the stars from his vision, Jason pressed forward, wrapping a hand around his throat and pinning him back against the wall. He swallowed thickly and reached up to claw at the man's arm as Jason leaned in towards him. The lenses of the helmet reflected his panic stricken face back at him and he slammed a fist against the Hood's chest in weak attempt at dislodging him.

A low growl echoed from the man and Tim sucked in a sharp breath that was promptly cut off with a squeeze.

"Who have you told?" He snarled, all but confirming that he had indeed fled the city with the prospects of a manhunt. "What is he planning?"

Tim swallowed again, heart hammering against his chest as he bit his lip, and tugged harder on the man's arm. Jason let out a low hiss and lifted him higher on the wall until his toes just barely touched ground.

"Tell me!" The man roared, and despite himself Tim flinched hard.

"I-I didn't…" He stammered, heaving inward as the grip loosened just enough to speak and get a breath in. "Honest- I wouldn't know what to say, what they would do…"

"You're lying." Jason snapped, and Tim let out a sharp gasp as the man bounced his skull against the brick in agitation, gritting his teeth as he blinked away the added pain.

"Why would I?" He groaned, digging his fingertips into Jason's leather clad forearm. "What would I tell them? How would I explain me knowing- tell them what happened, without them detaining me as well?" He muttered.

Much to Tim's surprise at this he released him promptly, and he wheezed as he filled his lungs and braced himself against the wall.

"We'll see…"

And Tim barely had a chance for his eyes to grow wide before Jason had a fist full of his hair and everything went black.