Jason could feel it bubbling inside him, his anger reaching its climax. Ever since he had been brought back to life and become the Red Hood, he had felt his anger take over more easily. At first he hadn't cared, his anger had made him all the more terrifying. But having his family back in his life had made him more aware how out of control he could get.
Right now he wasn't even sure why he was angry. Bruce telling him to return to the manor for sleep wasn't the worst thing the man had ever said to him. And besides, it was true, he hadn't slept in several days. He was exhausted. So why was he angry?
Knowing how far his anger could build, Jason headed down to the gym, to take some anger out on the equipment. The gym was empty, Tim was in his room completing an assignment, Alfred out on errands, Bruce at work and Dick was somewhere with the Titans. He figured he had a few hours of alone time before any of his family appeared. Pulling out one of the punching bags he began trowing his fists towards it, releasing the tension in his body.
An hour passed and Jason finally felt his exhaustion wash over him. Leaving the bag where it hung, Jason dragged himself from the gyms, shoulders slumped. It had been a while since he had fully been able to drop his guard, to let himself fully relax in his surroundings. The sun had disappeared, leaving the large house in an army kind of darkness.
As Jason reached the staircase something moved from the living room doorway. Sudden panic at being caught unaware caused him to quickly turn and lash out, punching out in the darkness. His fist connected with something and the figure fell back with a yelp.
'What the hell?' Jason felt around the wall for the light switch. As light flooded the hall, Jason saw blood coating his knuckles. Looking down he saw his brother on the floor, blood pouring from his nose.
'Dick?'
'I think you broke my nose!'
He helped him to his feel. 'What the hell are you doing snooping around in the dark?'
'I just got back, I didn't think anyone was home. Damn Jay, I'm bleeding.' Dick removed his hands from his nose, blood was dripping from them.
'Don't be such a drama queen, it will stop in a minute.' Taking his brother by his shoulder, he led him to the couch. 'Stay here, I'll go and get a towel.'
Heading to the kitchen, Jason suddenly came to the realisation of what he had done. Bruce was going to kill him, and Alfred for that matter. He had to patch Dick up and convince him not to go squealing to the old man.
When he returned to the living room his eyes widened at the sight of Dick. The eighteen year olds nose had not stopped bleeding, instead his shirt from was now soaked in blood.
'What the hell?'
'It won't stop bleeding!'
'Pinch your nose!'
'Don't you think I've been trying that!'
Jason brought his hand to Dick's nose to pinch it himself, only to make Dick whimper in pain and flinch back.
'Pretty sure it's broken.' Said Jason as Dick moaned. 'Man up, haven't you ever broken your nose before?'
'Of course I have.'
Jason stared at his older brother for a moment, he looked as drained as Jason felt himself.
'Long day?'
Dick just nodded, keeping the towel pressed to his nose. The cream cotten rag was slowly turning crimson. Jason glanced at the clock above the fireplace. It had been nearly twenty minutes since he had smacked Dick in the face, the blood was still coming. Dick was pale and had started to shake slightly.
Jason thought over his options. It was clear he needed help but to call anyone would result in Bruce finding out what he had done. Despite the front he wore, deep down there was a art of him that didn't want to disappoint his adoptive father. But his mind was suddenly made up when Dick moaned and slumped forward. Jay lurched to the floor to steady him. Drops of blood dripped onto the carpet.
'Tim!' Jason cried, 'Tim!'
Tim must have heard the desperation in his voice because Jason heard hurried footsteps coming down the staircase. Tim appeared in the door war.
'What the heck?'
'Don't ask questions, just go get Dad!'
Tim disappeared back upstairs, presumably to retrieve is phone. His foot steps echoed loudly on the stair case and along the corridor. Jason could hear his younger brothers foot steps through the ceiling.
He looked back to Dick, whose face had paled more in the last few minutes. The towel the young man had pressed to his nose was now visibly dripping blood. Panicked, Jason quickly pulled off his T-shirt. Taking the towel away from Dick and replacing it with his shirt. He knew he was in trouble when Dick didn't complain that the shirt was still wet with sweat.
Tim reappeared. 'Dad's on his way. He said to call Leslie if the bleeding doesn't stop in another five minutes.'
Some part of him was a little bit miffed at hearing Tim's news. Of course Bruce would head straight home from patrol for the Golden Boy. But Jason shook off those feelings quickly. After all, it was his fault Dick was bleeding so badly in the first place.
'Jay...' Dick slurred.
'What?'
'I think I'm gonna be sick...'
Jason quickly lurched to the left, narrowly avoiding being covered in a mixture of blood and bile, as his brother threw up onto the carpet.
'Alfred is not going to be happy.' Jason muttered.
'Sorry.'
Jason ignored him, instead glancing at the clock on the mantle piece. This was getting way to serious. Nose bleeds were not meant to last this long or bleed this much! He removed the shirt from Dick's nose hoping to see the flow of blood had slowed, but the blood was still pouring down the young mans face.
'Tim, call Leslieā¦and call an ambulance.'
'But wont they ask what happened, what do we stay when they ask how he broke his nose?' asked Tim.
'We tell the truth. I punched Dick, it was me who broke his nose. This happened to Dick Grayson not Nightwing. It'll be ok Tim.'
Reassured that they were not about to reveal the identity of the Bat clan, Tim first rang Leslie who forwarded him to the ambulance. The doctor catching a lift with them to be at the manor faster.
Through all of this Dick had gone very quiet. He slumped forward little more, almost completely being held up by Jason. His face was so pale that the sleepless bags under his eyes looked unnaturally profound. His lips had turned almost completely white and Jason noted that the insomniac had started to full on tremble.
After a few more moments sat in silence, Tim's phone vibrated. The youngest of them looked down to the device before he started typing.
'Bruce is back, he's just going up from the cave.'
As if on cue the book case opened and Bruce hurried out, looking very disheveled. He had obviously changed out of his uniform in great haste. He made his way straight to Dick, examining the boys nose through all of the blood.
'How long has it been bleeding?'
'Nearly forty five minutes.' Said Jason, confidently.
Bruce looked beyond concerned. He gently stroked Dick's hair until the blue and red lights could be seen at the end of the drive way. Wasting no time, Bruce picked Dick up, cradling him to his chest and ran out to meet Leslie.
Jason went to the window and watched as his brother was carried into the back of the ambulance, still holding his sweaty t-shirt to his broken nose. Leslie was at Dick's side, shining a torch in his eyes and feeling the area around his nose. One of the paramedics closed the doors of the vehicle and soon they were gone.
'You should get some sleep, you look exhausted. Bruce will let us know when they've fixed Dick.' said Tim. When Jason didn't move, Tim tried again. 'Or you could explain how the hell you managed to hurt Dick so badly?'
'Shut up, replacement.' Jay mumbled, moving away from the window and making his way up the stairs. He would have to explain the situation eventually, but he'll be damned if the first person he opened up to was Drake.
Kicking open the door to his room and slamming it behind him, Jason threw himself onto the bed. Forcing himself not to think about what was going on down at the hospital, he allowed himself to relax and finally exhaustion claimed him.
oOoOoOoOoOo
It was light outside when he was awoken by a gentle nudging of his shoulder. Opening his eyes slightly he saw a blurred black and white figure standing beside him.
'Good Morning, Master Jason. I trust you slept well.' said Alfred. In his hand he held a mug of coffee, which he passed to Jason once he was sat upright.
'Any news on Grayson?'
'Master Bruce rang early this morning. Master Dick had to have his nose cauterised and is being monitored for blood loss but will be discharged later today, once they've placed the cast.'
Jason groaned. Crap, so he did break his nose.
'Master Dick would also like me to inform you that the situation was an accident and that you are by no means to "beat yourself up" over it.'
Jason rolled his eyes. Trust Dick to be thinking of everyone but himself while literally having his nose welded. But, he had to admit, knowing that Dick did not blame him for the situation did make him feel a bit better.
'Master Bruce on the other hand, would like to have a word with you once he returns.'Alfred might as well have slapped the smirk off his face with the speed Jason's grin turned to a scowl. Dickie Bird may have forgiven him but Bruce apparently wasn't going to be that easy.
Dick and Bruce returned later that afternoon. Dick looked tired and his face was badly bruised around the cast over his nose but he still greeted them with a smile, be it a rather gentle one. After he had made his way up to bed, Bruce turned to face Jason.
'Explain.'
'It was dark, I was tired and Dick somehow managed to sneak up on me.'
'And you're first instinct was the lash out? Dick was really hurt. What on earth is going on with you lately?'
Jason's shoulders slumped. It was time to come clean. He told Bruce about his anger and how it would build and raise its ugly heard more and more often since he was brought back to life in the Lazirus Pit. He also explained how he always felt on guard and alert. It was exhausting to the point he was so tired that he couldn't sleep. When Dick had come up behind him, his guard was down and he had panicked.
Bruce listened quietly. When the young man was finished, he rested a strong hand on his shoulder.
'There is no weakness in asking for help Jason. What you went through...I would be surprised if you weren't struggling.'
Jason blinked at his adoptive father, taken aback by his kindness. But then, this was Bruce, not Batman.
'I'll talk to Dinah, see if she can talk with you a few days a week until start to feel less stressed. We'll sort it out Jason.' He slapped his sons back as he walked away.
Jason felt like a weight had been lifted. He had been so freaked at the idea of Bruce finding out about his inner turmoil, worrying that the man would think him weak. Or he would get angry, especially after putting Dick through a night of hell in the hospital. But they were his family, he was beginning to realise this as time went on. His family, as dysfunctional as they seemed, they were there for him.
Smiling to himself, Jason took the stairs to go and check on Dick. He was sure his older brother would be thrilled to discover he was finally getting some anger management.
A/N Holy crap, I've actually updated! I'm sorry I've been away so long, but I was working so hard at university and was stressing myself out. But it was worth it, and I am proud to say I am graduating this summer with a first degree with honours. (Yay!) But anyway, I know this ending of this chapter SUCKS, but I have been writing this chapter for nearly a year (thats how little free time I had!) and I needed to end it for my own sanity. But I hope you enjoyed it. I will be trying to update a little more reguarly (more than once a year lmao). So if you have any ideas of chapters that you want to me write, feel free to share in the review or you can PM me. I reply to every message I get and I love hearing from you guys. Again sorry, for being away so long. Hope you enjoyed this chapter. Please Review! Karin xxx
