A/N: Ugh, this took me forever to get back too, anyway, I`m here. Sorry to make you wait soooooo long.
Guest: Thank you, and the next chapter is here, even if a bit slow, I hope you like it ;D
Konohaflameninja: Jason is preety cool when he beats people up ^^, yes, yes she is very lucky.
"Soooo," Dick said sitting heavily in the chair next to Jason, who was looking at his older brother with a type of scornful glare that would make Batman proud and the most evil of men need to change their pants, as the older man smirked knowingly as he drank her water then continued his sentence. "Where were you last night?"
Jason only raised an eyebrow to this question, "How`d you know I was gone?"
Dick shifted in his seat, his smile getting wider, "You know, once in a while, me an Bruce do talk."
Jason shook his head smirking, "Sure Dick," he looked back, "Wha` d he say, was he worried."
"No, why?"
Jason shrugged, "Bruce decided to have a heart to heart talk a few days ago, really I think it had something to do with what he saw when he was under the Fear toxin, but either way, Its good." Jason said his smirk turning to a slightly genuine smile. Dick raised his eyebrows, blinking, "Yeah?"
He nodded, "Yeah, I feel like he`s really making an effort to trust me, to forgive my mistakes."
A new look came over his older brother`s face, "Jason, you-,"
"Dick," Jason sighed suddenly, "This isnt what i came to talk about."
Dick`s face contorted in blithe, "But I wanted to talk about what you did, where you were."
Jason groaned inwardly, running his hands over his face, his fingers brushing the scratch on his temple, an...indifferent reminder of his new friend, this one surprisingly not known to wear spandex as a regular fashion statement, "Diiiick." he moaned.
"Shut up Jason," Dick ordered lightly, not malice to it, "details."
Dick leaned back in his chair, folding one leg over the other and linking his finger tips together like he was thinking over a business deal, his uncanny blue eyes blinking in question, waiting.
They waited for a long moment, staring at each other, Dick was and innocent child like smile, and Jason merely held a placid type of dour look that seem to just rivial out, finally Jason`s own impatience got the better of him and he rolled his eyes, "I was with a friend."
"A friend?" Dick asked, he instantly pointed a long finger at him, "and dont say you were with Tim because he was at the charity event too!"
"No, not Tim." Jason sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose for a half second before glaring at Dick, "I-I was with a girl."
"oooooooh!" Dick cheered bouncing in her seat like a boisterous child in his seat, again showing that this man held more childish qualities then his own sixteen year old mind ever did. It was unnerving to see a grown man act so much like a kid hopped up on sugar. It was also why Dick`s alias as Nightwing still remained a head scratching secret, despite the only thing covering his face was a thin layer of Kevlar.
People saw Nightwing, or any super hero for that matter, as a stern, calm figure of justice and all of that, but they didnt expect that was far from close to bouncy, loveable Dick Grayson.
Jason rolled his icy blue eyes for the up tenth time, "Shut it Grayson, I didnt...do...anything, I dont take pride in being a man hoer like you."
"Me?" Dick asked with a slight blush, "Never."
Jason shot him a glowering look that made the man raise his hands in defense, "Okay, Okay, I`ll change the subject, but at least tell me her name."
Jason hissed with plain impatience "If i do that then your just going to do a back round check!"
"No I wont," Dick stated innocently, "I swear." The younger boy gritted his teeth, "fine, Isabel."
"Italian, Spanish, or was that German?" Dick asked, more to himself then anything.
"How the hell should I know?" Jason stated, he leaned forward glaring slightly, this is not where he wanted his conversation to go for this evening, "Grayson, listen to me, okay, I need to ask you something."
"Shoot," Dick said, then paused, "wait dont shoot, that would be really unfortunate if you shot me."
"Dick! Quit being an idiot, as easy as it is for you." Jason snapped and Dick giggled, and he saw it, that maniac look in his brother`s eyes that told him he was messing with his head, pulling hairs and trying to be the biggest nuisance in the whole world, Dick used to do this a lot around the time they first met, Alfred said it was his way of try to test limits, find what he could and could push.
Dick had tried it once on patrol and he`d literally did some pushing of his own, right off a roof, the older man landed in a dumpster last time, now Jason was currently looking for something to throw at the man in front of him.
Dick seemed to notice this and nodded, "Okay, okay, what did you need?"
"I needed to talk to you about Tim," Jason said, "I promised him that I`d train him and that I`d do my best for him to be Robin, I think it`s time I tell Bruce."
Dick made a face, "What makes you think that?"
"Because of our heart to heart talk, because Joker was just put away so he wont be getting out for at least a month or two and because there`s nothing more we- I can teach him." Jason sighed running his hands through his black hair, glancing at his older brother thoughtfully who returned the look.
That wasn't just it though, sure he`d made the promise to get Tim to be Robin and train him as best he could an when the time came he`d have his back when they finally went to Bruce about him wanting to join, but there was also Cassandra, she was all alone and he and Tim were her only family outside of knowing Barbara who didnt know she was Black bat. There were so many moving parts and turning wheels and he had to be careful with every decisions he made or everything could fall apart. Things were going good, Tim was at his top game, Cassandra was opening up and talking more, Bruce and he had a good relationship, the only problem was Captain and Barbara. Captain Gordon had been shot when the Joker had gone to the Captain`s house unsuspectingly, Barbara was with her father and refused to talk to anyone. Though with what happened everyone thought it best to leave her to wait for her father to wake up.
Plus, he was done with all the lies, he hated lying to Bruce and Dick and Barbara and Alfred. He hated lying period. Thought the problem for what to do with Cassandra was still also a main concern, weather he tell Bruce everything at once, or wait and pull the consequences further. The longer he waited the the more he knew how angry Bruce would get because of his complete betrayal of trust.
Jason knew that Dick would have his back all the way, but to the idea of Dick going down for his actions made him more then annoyed. This was his problem and his problem alone.
Dick let out a long breath.
"yeah, Just...ugh god Bruce is going to kill us" he said with a tired groan, he looked up meeting his brothers eyes, "But yeah, I guess this would be a good time, Just wait a few days, give me time to figure out how we should break it to him."
Jason only blinked, "No, I know how I`m going to tell him already Dick."
"I told you that I`d help you Jaybird, that doesnt change now." Dick stated plainly but Jason still shook his head.
"No. if Bruce knows you knew this whole time he`ll give you the silent treatment too, and with Barbara looking after her Dad then Bruce`ll just refuse to talk to anyone and we can have that, if he gets pissed off, and I know he will, then you`ll need to talk to him, calm his ass down." Jason said He could tell that Dick was still adamant about helping tell Bruce but Jason just said, "I`ve got it under control."
"I hope so. Jason, I really do."
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
The elevator to the batcave opened with a small his and his icy blue eyes adjusted to the all to familiar darkness with ease before he pushed his way further in, his eyes instantly snapping to his mentor who was already pulling on his cowl in a hurry. At the sound of the elevator Bruce looked up at him and gave him a small nod. "Jason. good your back, I`ve got some rather urgent and serious information just now and I need you to man the computers."
"Thats what I`m here for." Jason smirked as he wheeled the chair over, instantly Bruce grabbed something from the table and threw it to Jason who caught the small vial, a yellowing green liquid that glowed slightly, it was familiar but different.
"Bane`s Venom?" Jason asked curiously.
Bruce only blinked once, "yes, some one is experimenting with it again-,"
"God, can he ever just keep it for himself?" Jason hissed.
Bruce huffed with obvious annoyance and both amusement, "No, it`s to valuable and no doubt penguin got a hold of some and is selling it to the highest bidder."
"So, you`ve found it and are going to destroy it now right? Thats why your going out?" Jason asked, a little hope full, But Bruce shook his head.
"No, No only does someone have it but you`ve changed it and have used it, and now their selling it again." he sighed, "the worst part is, I cant get to him now."
"Why not? Over seas? Diplomatic immunity?" Jason asked pausing and narrowing his eyes at the last one, it was still somewhat of a touchy subject for him.
Again Bruce shook his head, "No, he`s dead, he tested the new venom on himself and sold it out to quickly, he didnt realize that it was slowly killing him till it was too late, now I have track the shipments and take them back here to be disposed of, but still have yet to know what it does other then kill its host, find out whats in it and what it does, and hopefully we wont have to see it all up close."
Jason nodded, looking at the vial again with narrowed eyes before headed over the the computer while Bruce headed to the car. "I`ll keep you updated with anything I find."
"Ditto." Jason nodded and instantly started working.
Only once Bruce was gone did he pause and sigh, he should have told him about Tim and Cassandra, though maybe things were just tooomplicated right now to even bother trying to tell Bruce.
And then there was Barbara. He growled inwardly, God she was going to flip out. Not only becasue of the over laying layer of secrets but also because of Cassandra, she`d taken a liking to the girl and they were friends if anything and everything was happening under her nose. not to mention her glimps of a boy wonder at her own house thought he hoped the shock of her father being shot would propel the urge to investigate.
He hated himself more now, not just after that sick thought.
Jason pulled out his phone and scrolled down to Barbara`s name, they were all giving her space to cope and care for her father, but he needed to talk to her. he had to know if she was going to press on this whole Robin thing, if she was he had to at least say something so she wouldnt go yelling at Bruce, thinking that he was responsible.
Not only would that make her angry because of secrets but it would make Bruce impossible to calm down, if there was anything he hated more then being lied to it was being made to look like a fool and if Barbara confronted him he`d be so pissed that he`d let this go on so long without being noticed.
"I was wondering what that noise was."
Jason jumped a little in his seat, looking over to see Alfred coming over with a silver tray, a small amused smile on his face at Jason`s confused expression.
"Wha`?" he frowned.
Alfred put the tray down, "You were thinking to the point where I`d thought I`d developed the power to read minds, I`d ask what you were so into but I assume it would`nt be pleasant news."
Jason shook his head, "No, I-I`m just worried about Babs, I want to call her but I`m also worried that she`ll be angry that I tried."
"Ah, Girl trouble," Alfred said, Jason gave him a half hearted glare but the old man ignored it, "If you wish to set up a lunch date to talk to Miss Gordon, then I will be more then happy to call ahead for you, if you are so worried about her reaction to the thought of help."
It wasnt so much the thought of help that he thought would make her mad but the idea that they had a Robin and one that was there when her father was shot, would she blame Tim for what happened to her dad? Or him and unknowingly Bruce for even having a Robin in the first place.
"Yeah." Jason sighed, "I guess, Thanks Alfi."
"It`s not trouble, Miss Gordon is a smart and reasonable young woman and seems like an unlikely person to have any miss guided anger issues." Alfred said, Jason only looked back to the keys in response. Trying to push Barbara out of his mind.
XXX
He didnt know where he was, thought he could feel the pounding in his chest, hear his heart beating like it would burst from his chest. He looked around, it was dark but not pitch black, and his eyes adjusted to the small little hallway, pictures hung crookedly on the walls but when he looked at them the faces became blurred.
He took a step forward and he almost cried out at the fact he couldnt feel it, his boots touching the ground of the weight on his legs, he`d forgotten, forgotten how it felt to walk, to take one step. He never thought he had to really remember, never thought that it was something he could forget, either way he continued on, walking forward but feeling as if it were more like he was just gliding down the hallway, his hands touched the walls, gloves make a swishing nose as it came in contact with the stained paint.
Finally; the hall opened up the the living room, he wanted to fall, but his hands clung to the walls like a life line. He knew were he was now, a light was sweeping in the the broken front door, off to the far side of the room was the door way tot he kitchen, that door had been knocked completely off its hinges, a body lying on the fallen door, blood pooling around it. On back of the sofa, face hidden but the black spandex clear as to who it was, lay there , un-moving in the shredded suit, blood soaking the tan sofa where Nightwing lay.
further down was a the shattered and broken coffee table, Barbara laid there, hands on her bleeding stomach and wet tears still sliding down her pale face, lifeless green eyes looking at him, her fear still etched in her pretty features.
A laugh, something distant, still sounding crazed and inhuman but...low, like a chuckle. The sound seemed to come out of it`s own personal fog as a shadow suddenly peered in the door way as if it`d been there the whole time, and on the ground was a boy, thirteen, in bright shinny colors, but it was ripped and torn and the childs gasps for fear echoed in the silent room like nothing else.
"Tim." Jason gasped taking a step towards his brother, his friend, his protege. But at that moment he fell, hitting the ground, thought his eyes never left Tim. "Tim!"
A click echoed around the room, and he opened his mouth in a desperate cry, trying to claw his way, to block the boy somehow but the shot rang out and Tim fell with a thud a line of crimson trailing down his forehead.
"NO!" he cried, rushing forward and finally before able to grab the boy and pull him into his arms, holding the boys head to his chest and shaking his own head in disbelieving horror. The dark figure, only recognizable by its outline and tiny dot like green eyes, knelled down in front of him.
the figure blew smoke from the gun, white teeth spreading in a grin, "too slow."
Jason instantly jolted upright, his arms hurting from where the keys of the computer made an print on his skin, he`d fallen asleep at the computer. He had to blink a few times for his eyes to adjust the the painful light of the computer before he could glance at the time, which read 4:23.
Bruce left a few hours ago and would`ve had some information by now, though he doubted that his sleeping form could`ve produced a clear sentence much less retain anything Bruce must`ve said while he was asleep, he pulled the communicating device out of his ear and ruffled his already messy hair, instinctively pulling on the white part of his hair before placing the item back in his ear.
"Bats, you there?" he asked, using the back of his hand to wipe the dried drool from the side of his mouth.
"Hmm, good your awake, do you have an update on the new venom?" Batman asked, Jason sniffed and cheeked looking over the calculation that the computer was making.
"Found a few ingredients, but there`s still a tone more, want me to put it through human trial testing to see side affects?" Jason asked.
There was a pause, "Yes, go head, I`ve found a small batch earlier so we`ll be able to run a few more test on it later."
"Mmh." Jason acknowledged and pulled out a slate, taking two more samples and shoving on into the computer and another under a microscope, he looked into it, turning back to the computer and pulling up Bane`s venom scan and trials. There was a considerable difference in the cell structure which made it obvious the multiple changes in the formula.
After a moment he decided to ditch the computer, leaving it to analyse the New Venom in several different ways while he worked on his own curiosity at the lab table, having pulled out a vial of pure, normal, Bane venom and then New Venom. He grabbed two slides and a scalpel. Beside him, Ace barked in interest, he scratched the dogs fuzzy head fondly before he brought the scalpel to the tip of his own finger, taking his blood and placing it on the slides before bandaging the wound and adding the two different venom to each right before he watched the affects on the blood.
When finally he, and the computer, came to two very similar conclusions he alerted Batman, "Hey bats, got an update for ya`."
"Lets hear it." Bruce said.
"Bane`s normal venom is as we already know, full of neurotoxin`s, thats one of the main reason`s he goes all mad, angry and loopy, it doesnt kill him because it`s pretty low maintenance and the other drugs balance it off, as much as if doesn't look like it, Bane`s venom is relatively stable, but this-this New venom, I swear this guy probably threw in whatever he had on him at the moment, It`s completely out of whack, it takes a moment tot settle which is why it doesnt kill instantly, but all these chemicals were never meant to mix like this, once it enters the blood stream it locate the blood vessels, attaches onto them and momentarily starts...improving."
"Improving?"
"Yeah, As in you a super solider for a few hours at the most, the adrenaline kick in this thing is actually really impressive, but without it continually mixing through your blood, it starts falling apart in your blood, Bane doesn't have this problem because he runs venom through his body continuously, this guy though drinking it or injecting it once was enough, he was dead wrong." Jason huffed.
"But he took the drug two days before he died, how could he have survived so long?" Bruce asked, more to himself then anything.
"Mm," Jason said getting Bruce `s attention once more, "Computer says this shit is super addictive, once you start you cant really stop, if you even can then you wouldnt be able to unless you have an extreme system flush, I swear once this stuff starts breaking down in your system, lets just say drinking bleach would be an upside to this stuffs side affects."
"Yes I`d assume so," Bruce sighed, "Alright, I`ve still got to find the rest of this New Venom, get some sleep Jason."
He groaned, rubbing the back of his neck in annoyance. He knew he wasnt going to be able to sleep tonight, but he didnt want to worry Bruce nor Alfred, so he faintly agreed. "Just a sec, this stuff needs to be heated at all times before it enters the blood. I can show the similar heat signatures and send it to the car, thought there maybe a few other false trails with the same heat signature. This may take awhile, you sure you dont need my help?"
"You`ve been a great help already Jason, now get some sleep, your exhausted, I can hear it in your voice." Bruce said, "Get to bed, thats an order."
an amused grin spread across his face, "Aye` aye Captain."
Slowly he pulled the communicator out of his ear and gave a tired sigh before reaching down to pet the large brute of a dog that lay beside him. He made his way upstairs, he knew he would never be able to sleep after the vivid dream he had from just falling asleep at the desk. So he took a quick shower, hoping to wake himself up further and maybe straighten his unruly hair.
He pulled himself into the arm chair and grab the closest book he saw, he flipped through it, his eyes glazing over the words as he wasnt really reading it, nor did he feel like reading. His mind was racing with too many thoughts to do anything other then sit there.
Just the thought of his nightmare made his skin tingle with an uneasiness that he knew wouldnt leave him for a while. He wanted to call Barbara even now but it was around five in the morning and he knew she would`nt be awake. Other then that he was...content to sit and let his mind work through his thoughts. The things he needed to work through. Tim and Cass, Bruce and Barbara, even Dick was a bit of a nuisance because of his need to help.
Jason sighed, sinking further into the chair, either way, he was still talking to Barbara tomorrow then he had to inform Tim and Cassandra about his decision to tell Bruce, then there was this whole New Venom business that put a stopper on things.
He shook his head, a yawn breaking through his lips and he thoughts became more clouded before he was proved wrong and his eyes shut on their own accord, pulling him into another nightmare filled sleep.