I do not own Young Justice or any related characters.
Bruce was rather shocked to see Tim standing behind the fallen villain, a crowbar in hand and a determined expression on his face. The shock, however, turned to worry when the boy fell himself, unconsciousness obviously overtaking him. As he dashed forward to pick Robin up, he noticed Red Hood doing the same to drag Dick out from under the Joker.
As they both held the unconscious boys, their masked eyes met.
It was then that the full realization of what had happened hit him.
Jason was alive.
His son, who he had found dead, brutally murdered by the sick monster at his feet, was somehow here. He had buried Jason, had seen the boy's body pale in death, yet he was standing right in front of him, his raven hair as disorderly as it always had been, his eyes hard...
"H-how?" Bruce eventually choked out. The question seemed to amuse Jason, though the teen's expression still seemed to be so... bitter. Bitter and angry.
"That is the million dollar question, Bruce. All I know is that I woke up in a Lazarus Pit." Jason responded, chuckling darkly. He stood up, supporting Dick with one arm.
Bruce followed, but with Tim.
"But- why didn't you come back home?"
Despite the fact he had only moments before been walking to the Batmobile, Jason froze, his back to Bruce. Eventually, the teen turned, pure anger on his face.
"Why didn't I come back home? Maybe I would have, if you showed I meant more than a freaking maniac."
Bruce felt his mouth go dry at the words.
"What- What do you mean?"
There was a laugh, bitterness and anger lacing the sound.
"Isn't it obvious, Bruce? I was dead. This sicko murdered me," he signaled to the unconscious Joker with his free hand. "After that, on top of everything else the damn clown has done, I thought that you'd erase this stain on humanity. But when I come back, though, he was still alive and kicking." His expression managed to turn even grimmer than it had been only moments before. "Also still having the time of his freaking life torturing Robins, clearly."
Bruce swallowed thickly, his mind racing for a way to respond.
"Jason..." Even saying his son's name to the boy himself, instead of just in memory of him, made his heart race. "You know... You know I don't kill."
Still holding Dick up, Jason bent down, grabbing his helmet, which had been laying on the ground.
"Of course you don't..." The words were muttered, but something seemed to break inside Jason, for the next sentence was yelled. "You couldn't bring yourself to rid the world of murdering, psychotic scum, even after he killed someone you supposedly cared about. Even a few minutes ago, when he had just tortured the kid, and was threatening Dick, you wouldn't do it. You couldn't even put him down to save Dick!"
The tension was as thick as molasses when a heavy grown interrupted Bruce's response. They both looked at Dick, who had been the one to groan, as his eyes slowly opened.
"Wha's goin on?" he slurred out, his eyes glazing over the warehouse in confusion. They eventually settled on Jason, and a small smile reached his lips.
"Hey, Jay. Why's Timmy hurt?" Dick winced suddenly. "Why'm I hurt?"
Jason forced a clearly fake smile onto his face, but it seemed to fool the injured Nightwing.
"There... There was just an accident with the Joker, but everything is better now. Bruce and I will just get you and the kid back to the car, and Alfie will fix you up at the Cave. Does that sound good, Dickie-Bird?"
The smile on Dick's face grew.
"I missed you, Jay..."
The words shocked Jason for a moment, but he quickly regained his composure.
"... I missed you too, Wingnut."
Dick laughed lightly, though he winced again almost immediately afterwards.
"I can't beli've tha nickname stuck..."
"I will never forgive you for making me watch that dumb Care Bears movie with you."
"You were as bor'd as I was, Jay..."
Jason chuckled lightly, for once actually sounding genuine, and started moving forward.
"Lets just forget about that and head towards the car, okay?"
"Sure, Jay..."
Bruce could only stare after them for a moment, before he quickly followed his two oldest sons, his youngest still clutched to his side.
When he finally caught up with them, Jason was helping Dick into the passenger seat of the Batmobile.
"Are you comin' with us, Jay?" Dick asked, his voice pleading.
Bruce say Jason freeze at the question, his face showing clear signs of an internal struggle.
".. Not today. But I'm sure I'll see you around, Dickie-Bird."
"Promise?"
"... I promise."
Jason closed the door, then turned to Bruce, his anger from earlier returning almost instantly.
"I don't... cut that, can't agree with your whole 'no killing' rule. I get you're afraid to lose yourself if you wipe out some of the scum of Gotham. What you should really be afraid of, though..."
The teen glanced at Batmobile where Dick lay, and then stared intently at the still unconscious Tim.
"... is losing those you care about if you don't."
Jason laced his helmet back on his head, covering his features once again.
"I'm not giving up my own mission, Bats. What you are doing just isn't working. Whatever you do, though... Just take care of the kid. There shouldn't be anyone else who has to go through what I did."
Jason paused for a moment, before speaking again, his voice dark.
"And, damn it Bruce, try not to be an ass to Dick. You know how sensitive he is."
With that, the teen ran off, leaving Bruce alone in the alley with the unconscious Tim, the Batmobile holding Dick, and the sound of distant police cars rushing to the scene.
Helping Tim into the back seat, he was soon behind the steering wheel, and heading back towards the manor. After a few minutes of driving, he called Alfred up.
"Yes, Master Bruce?" Alfred asked seconds after the call was initiated.
"Prepare medical attention for both Dick and Tim."
"But, Master Tim was not supposed to go out tonight!"
"He must have snuck out."
"I must ask, what happened?"
Bruce didn't know how to answer. The events of the night were many, and extremely painful in every way imaginable.
"... I'll explain when you're done getting them fixed up."
He just could not bring himself to explain right now.
"Br'ce?" Dick asked, turning his head towards the older man.
"... Yes?"
"Do ya think Jay'll be okay?"
For the second time in as many minutes, Bruce had no idea how to answer a question.
"... Eventually. He's broken right now, but... just because something is broken, doesn't mean it can't be fixed."
Dick smiled out the window.
"Next time I see him, I am going to hug the hell out of Jaybird."
A smile managed to creep onto Bruce's lips at the words.
"... You do that, Dick."
D'arvit. There is only a epilogue left.
I don't want it to ennnddd...
