Last one until I graduate and enter the world of adults, me thinks. Man, that is terrifying.
Inspired by: 'Skulls' by Bastille.
"I don't want to rest in peace. I'd rather be the ghost that annoys you."
He and Todd had never been particularly close. Sure, they were family. Yes, they would do anything to protect each other if they could. But in terms of actual relationship? Superman probably knew each of them better than they knew each other.
But Todd was the most fun to tease. Most fun to mess with.
And Damian was in a mischievous mood. Especially since Nightwing had, more or less, kidnapped the Heretic and barred him from the manor. All in the name of peace, tranquility and relaxation.
Yeah, well. Nightwing would get what's due later.
Damian watched as the Red Hood, Starfire and Arsenal continued to fight the badass-wannabes who somehow got their hands on humanoid robots. None of them were in danger, not really. In fact, while Damian hadn't heard the whole conversation, he was pretty sure Arsenal and Hood were currently enrapt in a childish competition of one-upping each other. So, there was no real reason Damian couldn't throw another obstacle into his brother's routine.
"You need to chill out, Dami." Nightwing had said. "You need to have fun."
Oh, he'd have fun all right.
The battle moved into an alleyway. Arsenal jumped to the fire escape. Starfire floated a few feet above him. The criminals – who had just robbed a butcher shop, pet store and an old lady feeding birds – pulled out guns, shooting without aim. Arsenal and Starfire destroyed or melted the weapons, noticing at the last second the mob of robots heading Jason's way. Before either could move, Jason ran up the wall, slashing downwards with the mystic swords. As the robots popped and fizzled, Jason back flipped from the wall, landing softly on the ground.
"Nice move. 'Wing teach you that?" Arsenal snorted.
"He wishes." Jason's voice came out muffled under the helmet, a little electronic. Was that a new feature? One of the enemies jumped forward in a moment of bravery, a gun still pointing forwards. Jason wasn't scared, but moved to take a step back anyway.
Damian popped in behind him. Using all the concentration and power he could, he stuck his leg out. Jason hit it, and toppled backwards, landing in a pile of rotting garbage bags.
"Graceful," Starfire quipped, taking the moment of confusion to her advantage and disarming the gunman standing above Jason.
"That one's from Red Robin, right?" Arsenal cackled. "What'd you even trip on?"
"Shut up. Let's get this done." Jason muttered as he moved. Damian grinned as his brother looked around. Before he could stand back up, Damian reached out, unhooking the clasp of the gun holsters. As Jason shifted, his weapons clattered the ground. "What the-"
Damian spun around to Jason's other side, hitting the release of the helmet. The hiss of air sounded as Jason turned to find his abuser.
"Any day now, Hood!" Arsenal shouted gleefully. "These robots are apparently regenerative. Friggen' sweet if you ask me, but I'll admire them after you help me take them down!"
Damian glanced up, waving an open palm towards the delinquents and their machines. They were thrown backwards and, for a moment, the robots were scrambled. Damian smirked as he climbed the wall nearby. Jason, smacking the helmet release back down, moved to stand up again. Damian reached out to the fire escape ladder and threw it downwards. It flew down, hitting the front of the helmet as Jason looked up.
"Jesus Christ!" Jason's electronic voice shouted. "What the hell, Arsenal?! Do you want my help or not!"
Roy had moved up to the second level of the escape and glanced back, bemused. "What the hell…what?"
"Boys, you may fight later," Starfire scolded, watching the frightened criminals run out of the alley. The robots, however, stayed and continued to advance on the trio. "But for now, I think we have bigger problems."
Damian threw his arm out again. The running criminals suddenly flattened to the ground on the sidewalk. He could hear sirens. Distant, but on their way.
"Heat sensing target locks." Roy whistled, loading his bow as a robot looked up at him. "Cool."
"Not cool. We're the targets." Jason growled as he stood. Damian hopped down from the wall and kicked at the guns Jason leaned down to grab. Jason paused and took a step forward to try again. Damian kicked them away once more. Jason stood full height and looked around. Seeing nothing, he turned towards his weapons and tried again. Damian put all his power into it and kicked at the holsters a third time, laughing as they went slightly airborne. Jason straightened again and looked towards the sky as he sighed. "I swear to God…"
"Hood!" Starfire called. "Now!"
"Screw it," Jason breathed, turning back to the battle with the glowing swords. He took three steps and felt something tug at his foot. He stumbled, internally panicked, but caught himself. Damian frowned and stuck his leg out again. Jason crashed into it and collapsed, helmet slamming into the ground.
"Jaybird, what is wrong with you?" Arsenal snapped. Arrows went flying into the machines, as did starbolts.
"Nothing!" Jason snapped, moving to a kneel and unlocking his helmet, throwing it to the side. The domino underneath still protected his identity. "It's damn sabotage."
"From who?" Starfire asked, a robot groaning as it melted.
"I don't know," Jason's eyes narrowed, sweeping the alley. "But I have a few ideas."
Damian wasn't listening, though. He was too busy crouched behind Jason, hooking the bootstraps together. Jason went to move again, and fell forward on his hands. He exhaled and closed his eyes, dropping his head to look down at his shoes.
"But good plan, I guess." Roy drawled as Jason shifted to sit on his ass. "I mean, one of us have to be bait and draw their attention, right?"
"Yeah, totally." Jason deadpanned. As he leaned down to fix his shoes, he hissed, "I hate you so much, you little shit."
Damian grinned. So Todd wasn't as dumb as he looked.
"If you're going to fuck with me, at least get rid of those robots." He muttered. "But do it nicely, so Roy can play with them later, or whatever he wants to do."
Damian acquiesced, and nodded towards the robots. Their sensor lights all went dim, and most of them split in half down the middle.
Starfire and Arsenal watched for a moment before turning towards their still-seated teammate. Starfire floated downwards slightly. "Jason…?"
"Don't ask." Jason closed his eyes and waved his hand. "Just…go check on those dudes on the street out there before the cops get here and…don't ask."
Kori and Roy shared a look before moving out to the road, taking the most intact robot with them.
"That was dumb. And I'm sure you found it real fucking funny," Jason snapped, quickly fixing his boots. "Maybe I should reconsider helping 'Wing get you back."
Damian hummed a chuckle as he rolled the apparently cracked helmet back towards its owner. Jason picked it up without looking away from his boots and moved it into his line of vision. He ran his fingers and palms over the helmet's wound.
"Maybe I'll just go replace the one you took from me last time with this one. It was my favorite, you know." Jason mused, patting the helmet and standing. Damian reached out and pushed him a little. Jason moved with the shove, overdramatizing the motion. "Yeah, well. Stop stealing my stuff, bro."
Jason paused again, looking back up at the sky. The police hadn't made it to the scene in the street yet, but the old woman who had been mugged had. And boy, was she giving those criminals an earful. After a moment he sighed. "We're trying, Damian. It's taxing, and Dickie and I have some other stuff going on, but we're trying. I want to say we're getting close but…God, you should see the look of pathetic hope he still gets when he thinks a lead is going to pan out."
Jason shook his head, clipping the broken helmet to his belt. He started moving towards the alley mouth, slowing as he neared his guns. He bent to hook a finger around the holster when they skittered away from him again.
Jason froze in place. He barked a laugh as he pushed his tongue into his cheek and smirked. "I hate you, you little shit." He repeated. "I hate you so much."