Updated A/N at the end of the chapter
"Dickie, how's your night going so far," Jason greeted weakly as he found his brother coming out from the police station.
Dick had just gotten off work and was surprised to find Jason waiting outside for him. It wasn't unusual to find a few bruises or cuts on the man but tonight Jason looked far worse than normal. His jacket was an old one he hadn't worn in a while but the shirt and pants he wore were tattered beyond belief.
It was only after a few moments that Dick realized his brother was wearing his Red Hood gear although his armor was missing, seemed to have been torn off, "Jason, it's practically morning, what the hell happened to you?"
"Can't talk here," the man kept his head down before grabbing his brother by the shoulder for support and leading them away from the station, "I've got a safehouse nearby."
It didn't take long to reach his safehouse. Jason had many hidden and at his disposal if ever needed. Dick wasn't even surprised anymore that his brother had a safehouse in his very city. He was quick to help his brother walk as they let the rigid winter air hit them on such a harsh morning.
"No, no," Dick began to say, "It can't be. There are no crooked cops in Bludhaven."
They had taken refuge in Jason's safehouse in the city. Dick began to patch his brother up immediately as the other told him of what had happened. He hadn't told Dick of Debbie exactly although he did mention they had taken something of great value from him.
"I made you a list of the cops' names. The one's I remembered," Jason groaned as they stitched up a large gash made on his back, "Think Nightwing can do something about it?"
It was worth a shot asking his older brother for a favor. Jason knew he could count on him whenever he needed the help but this time it seemed almost irrational. It had become personal. And he wasn't sure whether it was a good idea or not to bring Dick into his affairs.
Dick thought of it although ignored the question, finishing up his work and cleaning the few stains of blood from his brothers shoulder blade, "Did you get any sleep? Try to catch a few hours-"
"No," Jason stood up immediately after Dick had finished the stitching, "I need to know if you can do this. Please. Can I count on you?"
It wasn't like Jason to ever ask for favors. Something was off. Yet Dick decided to not press on the matter. What had happened obviously made an impact on Jason. Dick had done little for his brother when he was younger, maybe this was one way he could make up for it. That and family was family. They took care of one another no matter what.
The older brother ran a hand through his hair, taking the bloodstained piece of paper from Jason's hand, "Alright. I'll see what I can do."
He could begin with the list of names. It wouldn't be tough work at all. Although he would have to start immediately.
"Tonight, Dick," Jason's eyebrows furrowed as he pulled his jacket over his shoulders and grabbed his duffel bag, "It has to be tonight."
Dick nodded, "Tonight it is."
It was even less difficult to bring Roy on board. Once he found out they had taken Debbie, the red head was ready to murder. It was Jason who kept him at bay while in his Gotham warehouse. Roy had been eating breakfast and working on one of his new prototype arrows. Jason was worse for wear. His face bruised and disheveled but his heart worn on his sleeve as he walked in to meet his friend.
"They took my helmet," Jason claimed as he dropped his duffel bag on Roy's workbench, "Fix up that armor. I need it done by tonight."
Roy nodded and began his work. He set down his cup of coffee and cracked his knuckles, opening up Jason's duffel bag as the man went to his desk on the far side of their warehouse. Jason peeled off his clothes, checking the damage done to his body in a cracked mirror hanging off the wall.
"Doing alright, Jaybird?" Roy asked as he ripped a piece of armor in his hands, ready to take it apart and reinforce it's strength.
Jason cleared his throat, nodding before going for the door leading to the roof, "Just need some air."
Watching over the gloomy horizon cleared none of his thoughts. It only served to trouble him further. With each passing hour the young man grew tired with himself. Jason kept a hand tightly over his mouth, fearing he would throw up. None of what was happening was right. It was far from civil. Just thinking of what could be happening to the poor child made him sick. Disgusted in himself. He had done it. Not Lawrence, not Delto. Him.
Would he truly be able to live with himself if any harm came to the girl?
Clutching the filthy toy in his left hand, Jason brought up the sad excuse for a bunny. It was old and torn. One of its ears threatening to fall off at any moment. What may have once been a lovely companion for a child now mocked him and his mistakes.
"Just you and me, Stevie," Jason shook his head and brought a cigarette to his lips.
Not a moment later did Roy appear, his hands stained and filthy as he walked over to his friend. He quickly noticed the bunny in one hand and cigarette in the other but refused to comment on either.
Roy shrugged, slipping his hands into his pockets, "Quit beating yourself up about it, Jason. It won't help with anything. Iv'e got your new armor done. Might even be able to fix you up a helmet before you go."
He knew his friend was afraid. Not for himself but for the young girl he grew to care for. For the young girl he grew to love as his own. The one who had given him purpose. The same who made him laugh as when he was a boy and the same who helped rid him of all worries while he was with her. She had been gifted to him by some unknown force.
Roy was beyond grateful for the ray of sunshine which illuminated Jason's somber life. She gave him reason to be careful on nights of patrol. Why he took care of himself and made sure to return home in one piece. It was only a matter of time before he broke down again. Roy would have none of it.
"Screw the armor. Forget the helmet," Jason's raspy voice had broken the silence which fell upon them, "I'm going without it. No reinforcement. If I can't get her back like this I don't deserve to get her back at all."
It would be fair game. Delto himself had no armor on his person. All he had were his hired cops and goons, half of which Dick would take care of. Other than that, he had simple weapons. Pistols and knives, Jason's favorite toys of all.
"They'll see your face, Jason," the red head remarked.
Jason shrugged and pursed his lips, "They'll all be corpses by the end of tonight."
Roy immediately volunteered to help his partner in crime. He would surely be able to succeed by himself. What Jason simply didn't understand is he didn't have to. The red head would always have his back no matter what.
Dick himself had contacted and warned them to be careful that night. Nightwing had done as promised and more. He found information for Jason as well as immobilized any police force from his end. A tricky job although not impossible for the man. They had found their stolen captive. Debbie.
Which was how the two partners found themselves at the edge of Gotham. Just off the basin, a large thicket of green. A blanketed piece of woodland. A gorgeous view if Jason said so himself. Cold yet calming as night slowly set. They would be searching for a compound of some kind. An old forgotten farm.
His piece of strength hanging from his belt, Stevie the lucky rabbit. Jason had no armor, only his jacket to keep him both safe and warm. Roy at his side just the same. The man gripped his hat and gave it a light tug down his forehead. He'd been instructed to leave his own weapons by Jason.
The young man nodded and took a deep breath, "With me, Harper?"
Roy gave his most cheeky smile, "To the end, Todd."
Within the confines of the dark room she was being held in, Debbie did her best to stay as quiet as ever possible. She hadn't known the reason behind her abduction but she knew Red Hood would come for her. He just had to. He knew how to fix things, he always did.
The vigilante had taught her many things. One of which was to never give up a fight.
Debbie's hands and feet were bound. Itchy, thick rope keeping her from escaping. For the last hour she'd been scratching her ties along a broken edge of a mirror on the wall. Although she had little to no light, the young blonde was able to improvise and began searching, feeling along the long walls of the bedroom which she was being held in.
With the windows covered and nailed shut, only a sliver of light made it's way to her during the day. She was a patient girl, Taking her time, biting and using the forgotten mirror to loosen her ties. And after that hour of desperate patience, she felt the comfortable loosening of the tight grip on her wrists.
Jason didn't mean for either of them to get hurt. He and Roy had infiltrated the old farm smoothly. Taking out the few guards out in the field and those on the porch. Yet once they were found, all hell soon broke loose in the dining room and living room.
"Having fun, Harper," Jason was quick to state with a sly grin as he took cover behind a table.
Bullets flew past the two as they hid in the dining room. Roy jumped over and lay down beside Jason, half empty gun in hand as he kept pressure on his bleeding shoulder. Roy laughed dryly, "I was never much of a gun sort of guy."
There were still too many men firing at them. They hadn't done any planning yet it seemed to Jason this was the sloppiest rescue mission they had ever partaken in. Terrible really. But his partner at his side reassured him that all would be well in the end. Even if he was wounded they clung to the hope and adrenaline of the night.
Jason continued to fire his gun, hitting two other henchmen before turning back once again, his gun now empty, "That's it. I'm out. Give me your gun."
Beside him, Roy chuckled, tossing his gun to the man and brought up an old fire lantern, a large toothy grin now on his face, "How about a barbeque?"
Without a second though t, Roy threw the lantern as hard as he possibly could. Jason was quick with his shot, making the entire living room catch fire, engulfing many of those caught in the blast.
"Run, idiot!" Roy yelled at his friend.
And that was exactly what he did. Jason was sure Roy would be able to take care of himself and take out any other henchmen in their way. The entire house would catch fire sooner than later with the stunt Roy had pulled. Although efficient, Jason now had to retrieve Debbie before the house fell on him.
Jason had made it up the stairs, few henchmen around as most were either dead or making their escape. The young man coughed as the fire quickly spread from the living room. Catching on the curtains, rugs, devouring furniture.
He crashed, dragging himself along the walls before kicking down yet another door, "Debbie! C'mon, baby girl... Debs!"
And then suddenly there she was.
The heat quickly became unbearable. Flames quickly traveling up the stairs and on Jason's tail as he rushed into the bedroom, the small blonde standing with her back to him. He was quick to drop down at her side, flames creeping into the bedroom.
"Red?" she whimpered as the man buried her within his chest, bringing her as close to him as ever.
He suddenly felt a wet warmth along his side. Not his blood. It couldn't be. Looking down, Jason noticed the piece of glass grasped tightly in Debbie's palm, her own hand now oozing hot blood.
"Debs..."
Her face was sticky, filthy and stained in blood. Her eyes ever so soft now observing in terror the body on the floor, hidden by the bed she had been sleeping in for the last few nights.
"Jason... I'm sorry," she suddenly sobbed into his chest, dropping the piece of glass and clutching his jacket, bringing him closer to her.
"Oh, princess..."
Whispering comfortable words to her ear, Debbie sobbed into the mans chest. Wrapping her arms around him, her smalls hands stained Jason's jacket. Not that he minded, he was just so relieved to have found her.
Only once he picked her up did Jason realize who's body it was that lay forgotten on the floor. The same person who had taken his girl away from him, the one who Debbie had dealt with herself. His poor little girl. Such a beautiful girl with an innocent nature. Now with blood on her own hands.
They barely made it out of the burning home. Roy eagerly awaiting them, tired yet still on alert. No one was left.
"Del-"
Jason cut him off with a shake of his head. They would not ever bring up the subject again. Perhaps he would tell Roy of what happened but not while it was still so freshly being processed by Jason's own mind.
Dropping her gently to stand on the grass, Jason wiped Debbie's face. She now knew who he was. No more keeping it a secret. Debbie surely had put the pieces together. She was a smart girl after all.
Smiling, the young man brought her chin up, "What's on your mind, kid?"
"You came for me."
Jason could help but let out a low chuckle, "Of course. We made a deal remember?" With that being said, he pulled a very filthy and injured stuffed rabbit from his side.
"Stevie," she breathed out.
Others may judge him for the actions he'd taken. But Jason cared very little. At his side, Roy gave a light squeeze to his shoulder, proud and just as happy that they had their girl back. Debbie, although disheveled and injured from her hand couldn't help but let a soft smile appear on her lips. She was back home. Back with those she loved and loved her in return. She'd found her family once again.
"Let's go home, princess."
Finally done with this story! Well if I'm going to be completely honest I finished it quite a while ago but forgot to update it. But on the plus side I've written a few chapters for a sequel of sorts which I have posted a new story called Crazy Little Thing so totally go read that! Although I will be trying a little something different with that story and will be using it to test out different ways of writing what's in my mind. Anyway thank you so much for those who read this I have been wanting to write this story for years! Okay maybe just since late 2016 but whatever. Have and awesome day/night!
Go read Crazy Little Thing!