"Helena?"

Helena froze up, then turned around to see her father watching her with his arms crossed. "Dad!" She rubbed the back of her head sheepishly. "You're back early."

"Your Uncle Kon had an emergency at home so we ended the meeting sooner than usual." Jason glanced up at the monitor, frowning heavily. "Why are you looking at his file?"

Helena grabbed her arm, looking down. "I wanted to learn more about Uncle Damian and his name came up in my research."

"Why didn't you ask me then?"

His daughter gave him a flat look. "I'm not blind, Dad. I know how much it still hurts for you to talk about them."

Jason sighed but did not deny her words. He walked towards her, seating himself against the front of the Bat-Computer, leaning against the edge. "What do you want to know?"

Helena bit the corner of her lip. "Him," she gestured up at the screen. "He was the worst of Grandpa Bruce's rogues, right? Even worse than the Joker?"

Jason once more glanced up the screen, displaying the file of the long-deceased Ra's al Ghul, and scowled. "He was."

"And yet…he was the grandfather to my brother?"

Here, Jason couldn't help but smirk slightly. "Well, his daughter was very beautiful and a lighter shade of black to boot. Your grandpa always did have a weak spot for bad girls. Your own mother was proof enough of that. And it's not like Ra's disapproved either."

Helena blinked. "He didn't? But why?"

"Because he was a chauvinist who wanted a male heir but had issues actually throwing one with his wives. A healthy one, in any case." Jason shrugged. "Your grandpa had similar ideals to his and had the hots for Ra's' daughter, an affection she had no issues returning. If it weren't for the pesky 'no killing' rule he had and the fact that Ra's was so contemptuous of humanity that he planned on wiping most of it off the map, it would've been match made in heaven — or hell, depending on your point-of-view."

"He sounds like an asshole."

"That's because he was one, honey. Thank the Lord that he's dead too, and not coming back."

Helena peered up him speculatively. "How do you know that?"

Jason just smiled placidly at her. Helena flinched. "Right. One of those things I shouldn't ask about." She turned back to the screen. "What did he think about the rest of you?" she couldn't help but ask, her voice taking on a more curious tone.

Her father hummed as he thought the question over. "Well, he respected your Uncle Dick. Didn't really care for him much, but respected him all the same. He held your Uncle Tim in higher regard, the same kind he had for your Grandpa Bruce. Once even tried to get an heir out of him, not that it took because of your Aunt Cass."

"And speaking of your Aunt Cass, he was especially interested in her and in your Uncle Damian. Your aunt is a warrior with no peer and your uncle was his grandson, the sole healthy male al Ghul born in several generations. It was them he always wanted the most."

Helena nodded along, but then pursed her lips when he stopped speaking. "What about you?"

Jason raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"What did he think about you?"

He paused for a moment. "He didn't like me," Jason finally said, voice deliberately even. "He didn't like me, and let's just leave it at that."

The first thing Jason did the moment he and his brothers were sent to their 'cell', a luxurious and fully-furnished chamber, was set Talia down on the bed. At Jason's request (read: demand), he had been allowed to take her with them, personally carrying her in his arms as Ubu guided them to the room. The moment she was there, though, he couldn't but help stare at her, at all the wounds on her body, inflicted upon her by her own father.

This was his fault.

"Jason…?" Tim's voice broke through his self-deprecating thoughts, reminding him of their current situation.

"Search the room for medical supplies," he ordered his younger brother, and Tim quickly obeyed. He then glanced down at Damian, who was watching his mother with a pale face. Jason crouched down, and placed a gentle hand on his youngest brother, hiding his wince when the boy flinched. "You don't have to watch," he said softly.

Damian's lips pressed into a thin, determined line. "Yes," he affirmed, "I do."

Jason gave him a single, weary nod, then quickly shrugged out of the jacket he had been wearing. He headed into the bathroom and washed his hands, then took a nearby basin and filled it with cool water. He took the basin over to the side table next to the bed and placed it on it, then went back into the bathroom and took out some of the small towels, dropping them next to the basin, then taking one and soaking it into the liquid. Tim arrived with a nearby medical pack soon after — it seems Ra's had suspected something like this would happen and had prepared accordingly.

Advanced medical training was something all Robins went through, but Jason went the extra mile after Dick died, while he was preparing to be Batman. While it hadn't been enough to save Damian, it had been enough to save others, or at least ease their pain and stabilize them until they had further medical treatment. After coming back in the past, he had re-familiarized himself with the medical treatments that were available during this time, just in case, and it seems that paranoia had payed off.

The first thing they did was take her clothes off and wash her. Tim had flinched and tried to look away as Talia gradually became more nude, as did Damian, but Jason didn't even blink. He wasn't attracted to Talia in that way, and even if he were the current state of her body wouldn't arouse anyone, not even Bruce. He didn't want even think of what Bruce would do once he found out. While his relationship with Talia had been over for a long time, Jason knew his father still cared for her and would not be happy to learn about what had happened.

After Talia was washed, they went about disinfecting her wounds and dressing them with bandages. It had taken a lot of teamwork and some awkwardness on Tim's part, but eventually they had gotten every wound cleaned and wrapped, making her resemble a mummy (pun not intended). Jason then quickly went to the wardrobe and rummaged out some clothes and dressed her, letting out a breath of relief when he was done.

"She'll live," he told a grateful Damian, picking up his youngest brother so he could sit near his mother. Damian reached out and took one of her bandaged hands, holding it tightly.

"You're a time traveler."

Jason, who had been about to go into the bathroom to clean himself up, stopped and sighed as he turned around. He gestured Tim to go on ahead, wanting to have this talk with Damian in semi-privacy. "Yes."

"I…all the evidence was pointing in that direction," Damian spoke mindfully, eyes trained on his mother. "But I didn't want to believe it. I wasn't sure what to think about it." He paused. "Is that why you took me home? Because you wanted me with the family sooner?"

Jason nodded. "You would've found our way to us either way but I…I couldn't leave you with the League a moment longer. It's no place for a child, and you weren't safe there anyway. Not with your grandfather handling your upbringing."

"So, Mother…you told Mother. And she agreed."

The second Robin smiled softly. "Your Mother loves you Damian. And deep down, she always knew that this place would do you no good. All I did was confirm it for her and finally force her to act."

Damian tightened the grip he had on Talia's hand. "We're not leaving her here, are we? When Father comes for us, he'll let us take her with us, won't he?"

"He will," Jason confirmed. "Our father loved her, Damian. Some part of him always will. And once he hears about what happened, he'll let us bring her home. I promise."

Damian smiled at him, genuine and sad.

Jason wondered what it would take to make that smile happy again.

The very moment Oracle confirmed that the boys were at the North American compound, on the other side of the country (and how Ra's got them that far in such a short amount of time, Dick did not want to know), Bruce ordered everyone into the Jumbo Bat-Jet. Well, jumbo in comparison to the other Bat-Jet, but still large enough all the same to accommodate the five vigilantes. Alfred and Stephanie were, of course staying behind, the former to help Oracle coordinate the mission. Stephanie, becoming more like herself now that the rescue mission was underway, had opted to become his caretaker instead, taking frequent trips to the kitchen upstairs (one of the few places left untouched by the attack) to bring food and drink down into the Cave.

So, it was with a growing anxious heart that Dick nervously waited in the jet as they grew gradually closer to their destination. Even with the experimental hyper-drive engine, the trip would take at least four hours to get there, giving Dick plenty enough time to wound himself up as he thought whatever potential hell his brothers were going through right now. Damian might be fine, but Tim and especially Jason? Dick didn't have a lot of faith in Ra's al Ghul's hospitality for them. Especially with the latter.

Ra's knew. There was no question about it now.

"So," Helena started, smirking. "Bruce Wayne is Batman."

Dick glared at her while Cass, sitting next to him, tilted her head. Dinah elbowed her in the arm while Bruce, currently piloting the jet, remained silent. "And is there a problem with that?"

"Oh, no. I'm just suddenly realizing how obvious it all was in hindsight. Especially considering how that new vigilante — Gotham Knight, wasn't it? — appeared around the same time Jason Wayne came back from the dead. Not to mention you, and Tim Drake…well, it's all falling into the place, isn't it?"

"Helena!" Dinah whisper-shouted, elbowing her again.

"What, Lance? I'm just stating facts. Besides, what does Ra's al Ghul want with your brothers anyway?"

"Damian is his grandson."

The entire jet fell silent as everyone glanced at the still-piloting Bruce in shock. "His mother is Talia al Ghul," he continued, ignoring the stares he was getting. Bruce wasn't one to release such vital information out so easily, so for him to come right out and say it was telling. He clearly wanted to get the boys back as soon as possible.

"How the hell did he get out from under Ra's' thumb then?"

"Jason," Dick finally said, sighing. "Jason convinced Talia to go behind her father's back and let him bring Damian and Cass to Gotham."

"Ah," Dinah nodded, "So that's why he took Jason too."

Cass nibbled on her lips as she and Dick exchanged looks. Dinah did not fail to notice this and she frowned. "Is that not it? What else could he want besides his grandson?"

The siblings cringed.

"He wants the knowledge in my head," Jason said, exhaling deeply. Tim and him and finished cleaning themselves up and were now all seated around Talia's bed with Damian. Both his brothers stared at him with worry.

"And are you going to give it to him?" Tim ventured hesitantly.

"No. I can't. The things in my head…I'll be condemning the world if I give even a fraction of it to him. But…" He looked at his brothers, swallowing deeply. "I can't let him have you two either."

"Jason, he won't kill us. We're more useful to him alive than dead right now."

"That's what I'm worried about."

The boys exchanged looks. "What do you mean?" Damian asked, looking so unlike his usual arrogant self.

Jason gazed at them both sadly, a mirthless smile on his face. "You're so young," he stated wonderingly. "So young. And he'll take advantage of that, to make you into weapons of his own choosing. You won't outlive your usefulness. I will."

Tim blinked. "What are you talking about, Jason? You were Batman, you've got years of experience behind you. He'd have more use for you than us."

Jason shook his head. "No. It's you he'll want in the end, because you're still so very young. You might have experienced more than most children your ages have, but there's still so much you need to learn. Things that only come with more experiences, with time. And if he has you under his thumb during that time…" He closed his eyes for a moment. "I'm sure — no, I know that your characters are strong, made of steel. But it's raw, molten steel that can still be easily shaped into whatever he wants, especially with the kind of methods he likes to employ."

"But me? I'm old. This body may be young, but my mind, my soul, is old. I've seen conflict on a level you can scarcely comprehend, saved this world more times than I count. I've killed people and spared others. Lost friends. Lost family, including you both. I've fallen in and out of love, have broken hearts and had my own broken in turn. I've raised children, watched them grow up into adults with their own lives, with their own trials and tribulations. I've lived my life," Jason sighed, and smiled at both of his brothers sadly, "I've lived my life, and because of that, I know myself. I have no doubt he can bend me, even break me, but he can't mold me into something I'm not. Because I decided long ago what kind of person I wanted be, and made every effort to temper myself into that person as much as I could. So no, he won't want me. He'll probably kill me, to be honest."

"What!" Damian exclaimed before anyone else could react. "But why? The knowledge in your head is invaluable—"

"Which is why he'll kill me," Jason pointed out. "There's a limit to that knowledge. I only know so much. Eventually it's going to run out, and after that I'll become a liability. A threat, even. An advantage is only an advantage if you're the only person who has it, after all, and he can't risk me falling back into our father's hands. Then the knowledge becomes functionally useless because I'll be able to counteract any plans he might conceive of."

The boys looked helpless now. "Then what do we do? We have no idea where we are, and this place is crawling with assassins, including some of the dangerous in the world," Tim slid his hand through his hair, "Even if Bruce and others do find us in time, he'll need something like the Justice League backing him if he's going to get all of us out safely. And with the League off-world…"

"Hey, hey. None of that." Jason bent over to clasp his hands on his younger brother's shoulders, "Think like that and we're never getting out of here. And we are getting out of here." He looked at Damian. "All of us."

Damian's face brightened, if only a little bit, when he realized the implication. They weren't going to abandon his mother, no matter what happened.

"I know it seems hopeless," Jason continued, "But it's nothing I haven't been through before, you know, being Batman and all," his lips quirked up a bit at the joke, but he pressed on before they could react, "And I promise you, we're going to get out of here. We're going to get out of here and we're going to go home, just in time for Dick's birthday. And we're probably going to spend it eating some of the most unhealthiest food in the world, because he's Dick Grayson and all his teeth are literally made out of sugar. And it's going to be glorious, because we'll get to watch Bruce deal with a hyperactive ex-circus acrobat. Alright?"

The boys nodded. Jason smiled, this time more genuinely, and pulled them both into a strong hug. Their faces buried into his shoulders, they didn't see the way his eyes darkened.

Hurry up, Bruce. Don't make a liar out of me.

Bruce narrowed his eyes as the jet grew closer and closer to the compound. Turning on the autopilot, he got out of his seat and faced his team. Each of them were gearing up for landing, readying themselves for the assault on the compound.

"Remember the plan. We're doing a three-prong attack. Batgirl and Nightwing will serve as the initial distraction. I will serve as a secondary distraction masquerading as the actual rescue attempt. Huntress, Black Canary, you will find the boys and bring them to the jet. The moment they're secure, we pull out and retreat from the compound. The moment we're back in the air, we should be safe. Ra's won't have the time to pursue us."

He went to his utility belt and took out something and handed it to Helena. Huntress blinked when he saw what it was — a comm link. "Batman?" she asked hesitantly.

"You give this to Jason the moment you see him. He'll want to be in the know and this way he won't try to steal yours."

Dinah raised an eyebrow. "And you're just going to let him?"

Bruce shrugged. "If there's anything I've learned these past few months, it's that there's no point in trying to stop him."

"Valid point," Dick had to concede.

"You know, you still haven't told us what Ra's wants with your second eldest son," Helena pointed out.

The three Waynes exchanged hesitant looks. "It's a long story," Dick finally said. "A long story that we'll tell you after all this is over. No matter what happens, though, we need to get them all out of there. Ra's cannot have them — any of them."

"And he won't," Dinah said comfortingly, placing a hand on Dick's shoulder. "You'll get them back. Huntress and I promise. Right, Huntress?"

Helena grumbled a bit but nodded.

"Thank you, Dinah, Helena," Dick said in gratitude, with Cass nodding happily beside him. The two siblings then glanced at their father.

Bruce stared at them both, crossing his arms before finally sighing and giving his assent. "Thank you. For doing this."

Both women raised their eyebrows. It wasn't often the Bat gave his thanks, after all.

"Come on," Bruce suddenly barked, startling everyone. "It's time to get this show on the road."

"Right," Dick nodded, before looking at his sister. "Just follow my lead, alright? We're going through the back."

"Ours is through the servant's entrance," Helena noted as she looked at the map on her communicator, Dinah leaning over her shoulder.

"And I'll be going through the front," Bruce asserted. "Be careful, everyone. We'll only have a short window before Ra's realizes what's going on and acts accordingly. Huntress, Black Canary, find my sons as quickly as possible and then flee back to the jet. The moment you're outside the compound, contact us and we'll stop our attacks and retreat back with you. Understood?"

"Understood!" was chorused throughout the cabin.

"Good. Let's roll, everyone." With that, Bruce put back on his cowl and began to exit the plane.

As everyone went to follow him, Cass cast one last look at her oldest brother. They hadn't spent a lot of time together, but she loved and trusted him all the same. There was something magnetic about him, something Jason had commented on when speaking about Dick to her, and she could sense it now. She knew she could trust him to watch her back, like she would watch his.

Dick noticed her looking at him, and smiled gently at her. "Hey, you know we're gonna get them back, right?"

"I know. I just…not expect this for first mission."

Dick winced. "Yeah, neither did any of us. I know for a fact Jason would've wanted you to start off with muggers like the rest of us."

"He is not be happy when we save him, is he?" Cass asked knowingly.

"No," Dick admitted. "Not in the least."

"J-Jason? Damian?"

"Mother," Damian gasped out as he watched his mother's eyes flutter open. Jason quickly stood up and looked at Talia, making sure she wouldn't move too much and reopen her wounds. Tim made his way next to him, not sure how to react to this woman. It was the first time they had met in-person after all, even if he had read about her before in the files in Bruce's computer.

"I-I'm sorry…I tried to—" she coughed. Jason placed a gentle hand on her shoulder.

"It's alright Talia. It wasn't your fault. Just rest for now."

Talia shifted her desperate eyes toward him. "H-He knows, Jason. E-Everything you told me."

Jason smiled gently at her. "Well then, it's a good thing I didn't tell you everything, did I?"

"S-Still…too much…"

"And we'll deal with later. Rest Talia. Heal. Bruce will be coming for us soon."

"Bruce?" Her voice sounded hopeful.

"Bruce."

That seemed to calm her down, and her eyes closed again, her body falling back into a deep sleep. Damian seemed to be near tears now. He had never seen his mother like this, so weak and in fear. Tim reached over and grabbed him, and this time Damian didn't fight him off as they embraced. Jason then embraced them both, muttering soothing words into their ears.

Their trance of comfort was broken when a loud explosion rocked the building. The three boys immediately separated, with Jason grabbing a nearby lamp for impromptu weaponry as he stood in front of the door. Tim was also preparing himself behind him, while Damian huddled close to his injured mother, ready to shield her himself at a moment's notice.

Slowly, the door opened. Jason held the lamp aloft, only to lower it in relief when he saw it was Dinah Laurel Lance — the Black Canary. She seemed to recognize him as well, as she opened the door fully and quickly went inside, followed by Helena Bertinelli, aka Huntress.

"Dinah, Helena," Jason breathed out in relief, causing both women to blink.

"You know our names?" Helena asked, suspicious.

"Of course I do, I'm a bat," Jason set down the lamp. "I take it you're the rescue team. I'm guessing both Batman and Nightwing are acting as diversions."

"And Batgirl."

Jason froze. "Batgirl," he said flatly.

To everyone else in the room it surrounded terrifying.

Slowly, both women nodded.

Jason quickly put a hand to his forehead, muttering a quick 'kill him later' and then sighed. He glanced at the two women again and gave a 'give me' gesture. Blinking again, Helena quickly took out the comm Bruce had handed her. Jason swiped it from her hand, activating it and place it into his ear in one smooth motion. "O? B? N? Are you all there?"

"We're here, J." And there was Batman's customary growl, which filled Jason with even more relief. "Status report."

"All of us are fine, but we've got an issue. We have one extra, and she's heavily injured and unconscious."

"Who?"

Jason sighed again. "It's Talia, B. Ra's tortured her. That's how he found out."

There was silence over the line as everyone processed that statement. "I see," Batman's voice was deathly quiet, but everyone could hear the rage emanating from him. "I take it you don't plan on leaving her behind?"

"No. I'm not inclined to in the least, and D would never forgive us."

"Then one of you will have to carry her. Huntress and Canary will protect you and guide you back to the jet. Understood?"

"Understood. J out." Jason turned off the comm briefly and then quickly shooed Damian away from the bed, picking up Talia and carrying her in his arms bridal-style. Then he glanced back at everyone, face set into a serious line. "Let's go."

Unfortunately, leaving was easier said than done. While most of the forces were trying to fight off the two-pronged attack by Batman, Nightwing, and Batgirl, Ra's had the foresight to send a few to guard his new captives, who had quickly noticed their escape. That meant that they had to quickly rush through the compound, taking several shortcuts suggested by Oracle. Those shortcuts unfortunately led back to the main chamber, which had been seemingly emptied.

Seemingly.

To absolutely no one's surprise, the moment they tried to approach the exit, ninjas appeared from the shadows, by the dozen, to guard it. Followed by the terrifying bunch of super-assassins that were there during the boys' initial audience with Ra's. Followed by Ra's himself.

Jason hated everything.

"Did you honestly believe I would let you go that easily, Detective?" Ra's asked him, amused, as his minions drew weapons and prepared themselves for battle.

Jason narrowed his eyes as he handed off Talia to Tim, gesturing him to go and stay behind him, Huntress, and Canary with Damian. "I was hoping you would, even though I knew better. You're never going to let me go, are you?"

"I cannot allow the knowledge in your head fall back into my enemy's hands, especially if I cannot make use of it myself. Either you stay here with me, or you die, Jason Todd. No other option is acceptable."

"To you, maybe." Jason stood next to Huntress and Canary, settling into a stance.

Then the walls exploded.

Batman charged in through one hole, Nightwing and Batgirl the other. All three took one look at the scene, then at Jason, then at Damian and Tim, and then at Talia.

Cue chaos.

As he twisted the arm of one ninja and spin-kicked another, Jason had to wonder how in the hell he had ended up in this situation. Oh right, because of Ra's al Ghul, one of the select few people he would never regret killing.

Ever.

In some ways, Ra's was worst than the Joker. The Joker might be a murderous psychopath who wanted to watch the world burn, but at least he wasn't afraid to admit it. Ra's was the same, but tried to hide it under a veneer of well-intentioned extremism. This is for the best, he would say, The world will be better off like this. And because he was polite and occasionally didn't kick puppies, people genuinely believed he honestly did have good intentions at heart.

Not Jason. Never Jason. Jason had grown up on the streets of Gotham, had seen the worst the world had to offer, and knew a con when he saw one. And Ra's al Ghul? Ra's al Ghul was pulling the biggest con of them all, and since he was six hundred years old, had some combat skill, and access to fancy hot springs that could bring back the dead, it actually seemed believable. Even Jason's own family, the most paranoid, pessimistic people on the planet (by superhero standards, at least) couldn't help but think there was something good about him, that he had something resembling honor. Even Bruce, the most paranoid of them all, who knew damn well what kind of monster Ra's was, seemed to still believe the monster still had standards.

But not Jason. Jason had never been fooled, not even for a second. Would have killed Ra's without a second thought if given half the chance — and had, in fact, killed Ra's in the previous timeline after the bastard tried to take Damian's body. For all the man's espousal of how this was for his family, that the planet needed to be cleansed so they could inherit the earth, Jason knew what they really were to him: a means to an end.

Talia's torture was proof enough of that. One betrayal too many, and even though this betrayal was grander than all the others the fact that he would even consider doing such a thing to his own daughter highlighted how little family actually meant to Ra's. His attempt to take over Damian's body was another such revealing act. He tried to destroy his grandson's life so he could continue living his, despite all his claims about 'needing an heir' to carry on the family legacy after he was gone for good. And who could ever forget the forgotten children?

Dear old Nyssa, abandoned to Nazis for refusing to bend to his whims, ignoring her desperate pleas for help as they gradually exterminated her family, his family. And then there was Dusan, an albino, a cripple, so eager for his father's love yet denied it no matter how hard he tried to earn it. Eventually banished and forced to abandon his own daughter, who was only kept along because she wasn't a cripple, because she could be better kept in line by using her father's supposed dishonor.

Family wasn't something to cherish for Ra's. Just more valuable tools to further his own goals under the guise of their own welfare. Ra's al Ghul was everything Jason could ever hate in a person, the kind of person that Jason could and did in fact kill and lose not a wink of sleep over it. And he knew it, and that's why he could never approve of Jason like the others of Bruce's brood. Because Jason was the one person who truly saw him for what he really was, and condemned him for it.

So when he lifts his eyes, and spot Ra's across the chaos, standing idly by, his rage overcomes him, and he makes a choice.

It isn't hard to fight his way through the ninjas. They were competent insomuch that it took more than a single punch won't knock them out, but not by much. Combined with having several allies dealing with them and covering his back, Jason finds his way close to Ra's soon enough, a sword in hand, ready to drive it through the old man's heart. It wouldn't take because of the Pit, he knew, but it would provide a sufficient enough distraction for them to at least get away, and that's all he really cared about now. He could deal with Bruce's disapproval later. It'd hardly be the first time.

Except, when he gets there, the old man is already moving away. He had predicted Jason's eventual attack it seems, and was moving in the opposite direction and leaving some defenders in his wake. Jason has to dodge Merlyn's arrows before Huntress takes him on, ducks under Cain's blows until Black Canary bowls into him. He's closing in when Rose makes her appearance, a crazed look in her eye.

"TODD!" She screams.

Jason was not in the mood. He runs toward her, baseball slides between her legs and pulls on her foot, causing her to fall face first into the ground. He kicks her in the head for good measure, then continues his pursuit of Ra's. She won't be a problem for a while, he was certain.

Unfortunately, Ravager's latest humiliation seemed to have caught the attention of her father, because Deathstroke gets in his way soon enough, sword already brandished. Jason brandishes his in turn, but before they can engage, another roar catches their attention and yup, there's Nightwing. Deathstroke gives him one last glare before charging back at his arch-rival for another one of their famous duels. Jason gives one last prayer of luck for Dick before searching again for his own prey.

He reluctantly ignores the ongoing duel between mother and daughter, but only after making sure that Batgirl is holding her own. It seems all that training with Dragon had not been for naught — Cass would survive, he had faith in that much. So he keeps going and going, and then there's Ubu, and he's not so easily moved. Jason has to fall to the ground to dodge one of his massive swings, quickly rolling forward to knock the big man to the ground. He's quick here, with repeated hard blows to the face, and then he gets off the unconscious man, and finally, there's Ra's.

Except Ra's has his own plans.

He's engaging Tim, and there's Damian too, trying to shield his mother and it isn't soon before Ra's swats his younger brother aside. Then he's pulling his sword back and—and—

It's not even a choice.

Jason runs. Faster than he has ever had before in this life. He runs and his pushes them both away and—

Blood splatters the floor.

"JASON!"

Not entirely proud of this chapter, but then again this is just the build up to the good stuff. The chapters I've been waiting to write since the very beginning of this story. Get ready for tears, everyone!

Next chapter: memories.