AN: Hello people. Look who couldn't resist the possibility of making this a series. But there is still so much story to be told. I have quite some plans for the overarching storylines. It's gonna be an adventure. In case you haven't read 'The Twirl of a Knife', you definitely need to read that one first to know what's going on here.
For those who are reading Time's Cost: Don't worry about it. I have the epilogue written and it will go up within the next 24 hours. (Look at me being on time on Sunday!) I only want to do a bit of formatting and editing so that I can be happy with the way I end that story. This is something unrelated that has been in the works for a long time. See it as an extra-gift because I was impatient.
I plan to update this every Sunday. It should work well for now because I have quite some stuff written. I have never successfully written a sequel to anything so bear with me. How to do that is a secret I will hopefully crack with this.
For anyone who wants/needs a refresher, I'll put a short summary of the 1st part in the end notes. I like it when authors do that because it's helpful.
Minor Birdflash (Romance is always more of a subplot in my stories.)
1. Codex
Blue light filled the streets below Jason. A ring of police cars had circled the building that was subject to an ongoing hostage situation. Jason perched on the roof across the street. It gave him a front row seat to what was happening. He had illegally hacked into the police scanner. The audio played in Jason's helmet, updating him with the current information. Currently, there was a lot of useless chatter and redundancy. Jason droned it out.
He changed a setting on his helmet to heat signatures so he could see the number of people in the building. There were dozens of people lying on the floor. Hostages. Probably restrained. More than ten goons hovered over them.
The leading cop in front of the building screamed into his megaphone. Something about the goons putting their guns down and no one getting hurt. Jason scoffed. The goons had lost their 'no one gets hurt'-card the moment they had stormed a police station and taken cops hostage.
Jason went through all the information he had gathered in his head: Ten minutes ago, a dozen goons with their unknown ringleader had stormed the GCPD. They had taken dozens of cops hostage amongst them Commissioner Gordon. All of them were collected on the ground floor with the upper floors being empty. No known demands yet. The criminals had planted two bombs on the upper floors with the leader having the detonator. To put it bluntly, a recipe for disaster. It was very unlikely that Red Hood would be able to solve this situation without any casualties.
The police scanner continued to droan on. There was a lot of hasty talking and tense nerves. Jason rolled his eyes and turned it off. Useless. Gotham's best cops – Gordon's unit – were in that building. The rest seemed overwhelmed without their Commissioner to guide them.
Heavy boots approached behind Jason. He didn't flinch. Batman's presence was to be expected. A silent part of Jason welcomed it. This situation was tricky with help. Alone, it could only result in a bloodbath.
"You are getting slow in your age, old man", Jason kept his eyes on the scene.
He was thankful for the device that distorted his voice. It gave Jason the ability to be Red Hood instead of Jason Todd.
The scene was quiet. Suspiciously so. What did these guys want? They hadn't demanded any money yet.
"You should leave, Hood", Batman's voice was all business.
Jason scoffed: "Where is the fatherly love, Bats?"
"You'll get it back as soon as you take off that helmet and come home", there was a pleading undercurrent in Bruce's voice.
Bruce must be desperate to be unable to keep it out.
"Is this about Zsaz?", Jason asked.
"You killed him. I know it", Batman said.
"It wasn't hard to deduce. I left my calling card there. And I won't apologize. The world is better off without that psychopath."
Jason's calling card had been a crudely-written 'RED HOOD' on the concrete wall of Zsaz's hideout. It had been filled with corpses when Red Hood had found Zsaz. The mutilated bodies of pour souls who had been at the wrong place at the wrong time. Red Hood had taken revenge for them when he had killed Zsaz and written his name in blood.
"This attitude is why you have to leave. I don't want any corpses tonight."
"It's gonna be hard to solve this without any bodies. We just have to make sure it's the right ones", Jason turned back to Batman for the first time.
The Dark Knight was lingering over him. Anyone else would be intimidated but Jason knew that Bruce would never go through with any of his threats against Red Hood. Bruce claimed to be able to separate Jason from Red Hood and Bruce from Batman. But they both knew that this line was more blurred than any of them wanted to admit. Bruce loved Jason too much to do anything substantial against Red Hood.
And then there was Nightwing. The awkward tether between them who didn't have any dual identity. Nightwing was just Nightwing.
Someone cleared their throat. Speaking of the devil – or the Talon rather. Nightwing stepped out of the shadows.
"Did you scope out the perimeter?", Batman's voice turned all business again.
Nightwing nodded: "13 goons plus leader. I hear leader say they have two bombs. And I find something else."
Nightwing looked uncomfortable suddenly, shuffling his foot. Batman grunted impatiently, indicating Nightwing to go on.
"Talons. Three", Nightwing said.
Jason bit his lip. The situation had been even more dangerous than he had anticipated. Even Batman seemed surprised.
"Where?", Batman's chin was tense.
"On roofs", Nightwing pointed at three different rooftops, "They good. But I know where Talons hide."
Batman said: "The leader must have bought them."
Nightwing's foot stopped shuffling. His fingertips twitched towards his palms. They were clawless now, but Nightwing hadn't lost his habit of digging his fingers into his flesh when he was upset. He always grew uncomfortable at the mention of the Talon-trade that had sprung up after the Court's fall. Talons were one of the most sought-after goods on the black market and it made Jason angry. It made all of them angry.
"It's official. This scumbag has to die", Jason said.
"He deserves to go to Blackgate", Batman said.
"He deserves death. He's buying from human traffickers to fill up his goon squad."
Batman looked like he wanted to argue back but Nightwing cleared his throat.
"We not have time."
"Leave, Hood", Batman said, "Nightwing and I have this."
Jason stood up, puffing up his chest. He was as tall and almost as broad as the old man now. It was satisfying to be on Batman's eye level and to not be dwarfed by his bulk. Jason's growth spurt in the last year had been the best thing to happen to him. Bruce straightened his back, meeting Jason's challenge.
"If you think I'm letting this scumbag who buys people run-"
Bruce broke him off: "You can't solve everything with murder, Hood."
Jason was about to go off on a whole tirade when Nightwing made an unhappy noise. Jason felt chastised, turning to his older brother. Nightwing was smaller than them, but he had both of them wrapped around his little finger.
Nightwing tilted his head: "We need Hood. Talons and bombs biggest danger now."
"Two people to take out the bombs quickly. One to get rid of the Talons before they can become a problem", Batman said.
Batman had lost his combative stance. He was thinking, his mind racing through a plan.
"Hood and I disarm the bombs. You take care of the Talons, Nightwing. Take them off the board", Batman turned to Jason, "Do you have your comm, Hood?"
Jason nodded. He didn't mention that he always had his comm with him. Batman and Red Hood might be enemies. But Jason Todd would always come running if his dad needed assistance. Until now, Batman had never called him. It stung only a bit.
Batman grunted in approval: "Let's go."
Nightwing vanished in the shadows, off to deal with the Talons. Probably picking them off one by one before they could even notice it.
Batman and Red Hood grappled to the other side of the street. Without another word, Jason went to picking one of the windows in the upper floor. Jason carefully opened it. They entered.
'You check the upper floors, I the lower ones', Batman signed.
Jason nodded.
Batman hesitated but added: 'Be careful.'
Jason nodded again. Batman and Red Hood might be fighting. But Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd met every Sunday in the manor for dinner and a Gotham Knights game.
Jason sweeped the upper floors for a bomb. They were mostly empty office rooms. Desks were overflowing with papers.
From outside, Jason could hear a cop speaking into a megaphone: "Put down the guns and leave the building. You are surrounded."
This man – this unknown assailant – had bombs, guns and most importantly Talons. Jason seriously doubted he would care what a second-rate Gotham cop told him.
Jason hurried to find the bombs, always watching out for hidden wires. He finally found it on the second-to-last floor hidden behind a heater.
Jason took out his equipment, muttering into his comm: "Found the first bomb. Penultimate floor behind a heater. I'll disarm it now."
Batman might hate Red Hood. But Bruce Wayne also had given both of his sons lessons in how to disarm bombs. It was part of the vigilante skillset and Bruce would never let his sons fight crime with a gap in their toolbox.
Batman grunted in approval. Meanwhile, there was a very distinct crack coming from Nightwing's end of the comm link. Jason shuddered. He assumed that Nightwing had broken a Talon's neck.
"Dispatch Talon 2. One Talon le-", Nightwing was interrupted before he could finish.
There were sounds of a scuffle and some very Talon-like snarls. And the sound of something being slammed into a brick wall followed by a sound of pain from Nightwing. The third Talon must have surprised him.
"Nightwing?", Batman said, "Status report."
"Nightwing?", Jason asked.
There was no answer from Nightwing except for some pained grunts and aggressive snarls that could come from either of the Talons.
"I found the second bomb", Batman said, "Stay focused, Hood. Nightwing can handle himself."
Jason gritted his teeth. Batman was right. Nightwing would be fine. He had to be. And this bomb in front of him was the biggest risk right now. So, Jason tuned out his comm and went to work. After a few minutes, he let out a relieved breath.
"Bomb disarmed", Jason said.
"Bomb disarmed", Batman said a few moments later.
Now the building at least wouldn't blow up. At least one thing in their favor.
"Nightwing, status report", Batman sounded slightly concerned.
Jason's stomach clenched at the sounds coming from Nightwing's comm link. There was a ripping sound that sounded like fabric and a snarl of pain.
"He older than me and he have claws", Nightwing sounded like he was choking up blood.
Jason bit his lip. Perfect. So, Nightwing had all the disadvantages when it came to Talon-status. Talons grew more powerful with age and Nightwing was a young Talon. Also, he was clawless because of Cobb's sadism.
Jason didn't miss Nightwing's accusatory tone. It was surprising because usually Nightwing worshipped the ground Batman walked on.
"We went over this, Nightwing", Batman said, "No claws."
"But I not kill people with them. I know better now. Only weak Talons not have claws."
"No Claws. Use what I taught you."
Damn Batman's stubbornness. Claws would always be Nightwing's most effective weapon no matter how much Batman made him train with those sticks. Batman was blinded by his own code.
"I could help him", Jason offered.
"No", Batman said, "We need to save the hostages. Meet me on the first floor, Hood."
Jason gritted his teeth in annoyance. He didn't want to leave Nightwing hanging to save some strangers – who were cops. But he forced himself together and went to the first floor.
Batman was there, waiting for Jason with his arms crossed. He seemed tense.
Jason didn't say anything. He simply followed Batman to the staircase where they sneaked down to the ground floor. There was a wooden door that led to the office and a metal door that must be the back exit.
Batman pressed a button on his cowl, probably heat signature vision: "Nightwing's estimation was correct. The leader with 12 goons. They have a total of 34 hostages."
"This is a mess", Jason reached for his gun, "Just let me take out the ringleader."
"No", Batman said, "We do this the old-fashioned way. We sneak in. Pick off the goons at the edges and sneak out their hostages to get the room as clear as possible. The hostages can leave through the back exit for safety. As soon as the assailants notice something is wrong, I throw a smoke bomb and we fight. Hopefully, Nightwing will have taken care of the last Talon by then and can support us."
Or Nightwing would be dead because he was at a clear disadvantage against the last Talon. Because Batman forbade him from using his most effective weapons. Jason shook his head. He didn't want to think about this.
"It would be far easier to just shoot them", Jason argued, "Fuck them. They took the risk the moment they decided to take fucking cops hostage."
"No killing", Batman gritted out.
Jason sighed. The old man was just making it harder for all of them.
"Nightwing?", Batman asked, "Status report."
"More time", Nightwing sounded pained, "He good."
Batman grunted in acknowledgement.
"We need to do this by ourselves, Hood. At least Nightwing made sure that the Talons won't surprise us."
Didn't mean that their odds were great. But Jason opted to stay quiet. Batman threw a package at Jason. Jason looked inside. Knockout gas.
Batman opened the door and they sneaked inside the room. Batman went left. Jason right.
The whole bullpen of the police station was taken hostage. The room was gigantic and bland. Desks behind desks that were overflowing with papers. Between the rows of desks cops were lying restrained on the floor, goons hovering over them with guns. At least, the crowded environment would make it harder to keep track of the hostages.
The ringleader stood in the center of the room. He wore nondescript clothes and his face was covered by a mask made out of black cloth. He had James Gordon in his grip and a gun pointed at the Commissioner's temple.
"Where is he? Shouldn't he be here by now?"
"I don't know", Gordon said, "I don't know what Batman thinks."
The ringleader pressed his gun deeper into Gordon's temple: "You need to do better than this, Commish. I was hired to kill Batman tonight."
"All this just to get to him?", Gordon didn't even sound surprised.
Jason listened to the conversation while he sneaked towards one of the corners of the room. There was a goon guarding five people there. They were in formal dress instead of blue uniforms. Jason assumed they were administrative workers rather than cops. The criminals must think they were a low threat from only having one goon guarding them.
"I needed to get his attention. Taking his buddy hostage should do the trick, shouldn't it?", the ringleader continued.
"You can take me hostage, but you won't be able to kill him. He is too good for someone like you."
The man grunted in annoyance: "Don't worry about that, Commish. I have a secret weapon."
Jason scoffed. Three secret weapons that Nightwing was dispatching of right now.
Gordon's face tensed. He seemed worried for Batman.
Jason reached the goon who was guarding the office workers. He jumped up from where he was crouching behind a desk, covered the goon's mouth and pulled him towards the floor where no one could see them. Jason held a pill of knockout gas under the guy's nose. The man lost consciousness quickly.
The office workers stared up at Red Hood, fear apparent in their eyes. Apparently, they hadn't expected the Red Hood to help them. Jason put a finger to where his mouth would be and took out a knife. He approached a middle-aged woman first. She tensed when Jason approached her with the knife. But he simply cut her restraints. The next ones followed quickly.
Jason pointed towards the wooden door that led to the staircase. They regained their composure quickly. The woman nodded. She gripped another woman by the wriest, pulling her with her. They were ducking behind the numerous desks, sneaking towards the door silently. The other employees followed them, understanding what they needed to do.
Jason grinned to himself. Gothamites were resourceful. They didn't lose their head in villain attacks.
"Five to safety", Jason muttered after the employees had went through the door.
He focused next on three cops on the floor who were guarded by another gunmen.
"Four to safety", Batman confirmed.
Not too bad.
"WHERE IS HE?", the leader screamed, losing patience.
"He will come", Gordon tried to calm him down.
"No", the leader pointed at a policewoman who was lying on the floor, "Apparently, they didn't get the memo over the radio. Cut her loose. I want her to go to that guy with the megaphone. If Batman doesn't turn up in five minutes, I'll shoot everyone in this room except Gordon. He alone will be enough. Tell them that. And then come back. If you don't come back in two minutes, I'll have everyone killed."
The cop stood up. She raised her hands in a gesture of peace.
"I'll tell him and come back", she said.
"You better", the ringleader said.
Jason frowned. The leader was sloppy with his hostages. Letting the cop go for a 'personal message' despite having a radio. Batman seemed to be his primary goal, the captured cops only being a means to an end. Didn't speak well for their survival chances.
"Three to safety", Batman's voice came from Jason's comm.
Jason went to taking out another goon and freeing the other three cops.
"Three to safety", Jason said.
He looked around. Batman and he had cleared the periphery of the room without the leader or other goons noticing. They seemed high-strung. Tense. In over their heads. Any disruption could make this room explode.
"I have a clean shot", Jason muttered into his comm, "I can take him out now and end this."
"No", Batman said, "We need to sneak out more hostages."
"We have five minutes, Bats. That's insane. And they'll notice-"
"Then, be covert enough to not be noticed."
Jason rolled his eyes. This operation was getting riskier the more people they sneaked out. Someone was bound to notice at some point.
Jason counted. Eight freed by Red Hood, seven by Batman plus the cop whom the leader had sent out. This made 16 hostages safe. Not a bad number by any means. But this could still mean 18 dead hostages if they screwed this up. 18 lives that Batman was risking because of his stupid no-kill rule.
"Wait", one of the goons spoke up, "Something is wrong."
"What do you mean?", the leader snapped.
He was getting on Jason's nerve. Jason's trigger finger was itching.
"I think there are less-"
The door to the police station opened. Jason expected the cop to come back. But it was a Talon in full get-up. The black face mask. The golden knives. The golden goggles to protect their eyes. Those goggles were smeared with black blood, covering up most of the gold.
The Talon stopped in front of the leader, his hands behind his back as he lowered his head in submission. For a moment, Jason's heart made a hitch. Had they miscalculated? Was Nightwing dead?
Then, Jason recognized the graceful movements. The uniform that was slightly too big in places. The hands behind the back to hide the non-existent claws.
Nightwing must have heard that they were about to be discovered. He was buying them time with his desperate ploy.
"I ordered you to wait outside until the Bat comes", the leader glared at Nightwing through his eyeholes.
"The Bat is here", the Talon – Nightwing - said.
His voice was quiet. Emotionless. He played the role of the mindless Talon well.
His suit was covered in black blood. A disgusting amount of black blood. Jason assumed it was Nightwing's own. The third Talon apparently had made Nightwing a lot of trouble.
"How do you know?", the leader's eyes narrowed behind his eye holes.
"Because I kill Nightwing."
There was a round of surprised gasps in the room. The goons exchanged tense glances. They seemed frightened that Batman would jump out from somewhere. Not an unreasonable fear.
"He's buying us time", Batman's voice came from the comm, "Use it."
Geez. Jason wondered how Nightwing could deal with Batman's bossiness all the time. Still, he ripped himself out of his stasis and sneaked towards the goon who had warned the leader. He was guarding two cops and seemed to be one of the smarter ones. So smart that he even tried to kick out at Jason when he pulled him down and held the capsule under his nose. The goon was about to scream but Jason smothered his scream by wrapping his hand around the man's throat. The man struggled but lost consciousness after a few seconds with the combined might of the capsule and the lack of air.
"One to safety", Batman said.
This was ridiculous. They were freeing less people by the minute. And with each person painstakingly freed, this would get harder.
But Jason dutifully freed the two cops from their restraints and gave them cover while he sneaked them towards the door. It was too much of a risk now to let them go on their own.
"Two to safety."
"If you killed Nightwing, then where is his body?", the leader didn't seem convinced after the first wave of surprise.
"I rip him to pieces", Nightwing said, "Not much left."
Wow. Nightwing could play the villain in cheesy action movies if the hero business didn't work out for him. Those were some lines delivered in a deadpan-way.
"It's too bad", the leader said, "My contractors gave me so much beautiful material to use as dirt against Nightwing."
The leader pulled out a flash drive and put it onto the desk. Directly into Nightwing's view.
"I saw it. It's not pretty", the leader ran his hands over the flash drive, "So much dirt. Articles, photos, videos."
The leader shuddered: "I've never seen so much blood."
Jason soaked in a deep breath. Nightwing's body tensed as he visibly forced himself not to react. He kept his gaze down. Jason hoped the leader hadn't noticed the minuscule reaction.
16 hostages to go. The next group Jason was eyeing were three cops guarded by another goon. Jason needed to be careful about this if he wanted to do a stealth take-down.
The leader pointed at one of his goons and handed him the stick: "Send the contents to Vicky Vale. Nightwing is dead but maybe it can still do some damage to the Bat and the League."
Jason was about to shoot the leader right in this moment. But Nightwing signed 'No' with his hands behind his back. Jason gritted his teeth. N was about to have his hard-earned reputation be dragged through the mud for the sake of Batman's code.
The leader watched Nightwing while the goon typed on the computer. Analyzing him for any reaction. Jason had a bad feeling about this. The leader seemed far too attentive. This was more than curiosity. This was glee at destroying someone's life in front of their eyes.
"Two to safety", Batman's voice came out of the comm.
14 hostages. Nightwing had saved four lives with his stalling until now. They had been able sneak out of the backdoor to safety. Jason just hoped that the cost wasn't too high.
"Did you sent it?", the leader asked, his gaze resting on Nightwing.
Nightwing's body was tense and Jason could see him struggle against the urge to tap his foot out of nervosity.
"Yes", the goon pressed a button.
"Perfect", the leader grinned, "Vale knows all of Nightwing's dirty secrets now. It will certainly reflect badly on the League."
Jason could hear it in his tone. The leader knew that the Talon in front of him wasn't the one he had bought. He was baiting Nightwing. Nightwing didn't take the bait though. He didn't show any visible reaction.
"N", Jason forgot about the hostages for now, "He knows it's you. Get out of there."
"Stay", Batman said, "I'm about to free three more hostages. Even if he knows, his baiting is buying us time."
Jason shook his head. Nightwing had done enough by letting this guy send incriminating information to the public in front of his eyes. All to save a handful of hostages.
Sometimes, Jason worried about the values Bruce instilled in his older brother. Cobb had taught Nightwing that being a Talon was more important than his own well-being. Batman was teaching Nightwing that being a hero was more important than his own well-being. Did the ends really matter when the means were the same?
Jason didn't care to answer this question now. He had a bad feeling about this and just wanted to see his brother safe.
"N-", Jason was about to tell Nightwing to screw it.
'Get them out', Nightwing signed behind his back.
And Jason cursed internally. He had no choice. He had to play along with this. But everything revolted in him at the sight of Nightwing's martyr complex. It wasn't necessary. Jason could take the shot. But neither Nightwing nor Batman wanted him to. He had to continue to follow their plan.
So, Jason approached the next goon. He didn't have enough patience nor time to use the knockout gas. So, he punched the guy in the face, knocking him out. The two cops on the floor looked up at him in shock. Jason cut their bonds.
"You better get to that backdoor quickly."
They seemed shocked but nodded. Both crawled towards the door hidden between the desks.
Jason watched them and said once they had sneaked out: "Two to safety."
"My contractors told me a lot about Nightwing. That he deserted the court. That he hangs around a lot with the Red Hood", the leader made a small pause, "And that he lost his claws."
Nightwing kept his hands folded behind his back.
The guy knew. They knew that the guy knew. And instead of doing something about it, they continued this charade. It drove Jason insane.
"One to safety", Batman said.
11 hostages left. 11 was far less than 34. They could work with 11.
"This is getting ridiculous", Jason said, "We need to take them out. N can take the leader and protect Gordon. We take the rest with the help of smoke bombs."
Batman was quiet. He must be thinking. Measuring the risks involved in each step.
They didn't have time to think anymore. They had to act. Jason was about to speak into his comm, urging Batman to throw these damn smoke bombs. To give them the signal.
The leader shook his head, looking at Nightwing with amusement: "My contractors also gave me something else."
Nightwing didn't move. Jason had a terrible feeling about this. He internally urged Nightwing to move. To get away.
The man took something out of his coat. A blue gun. Nightwing's fingers dug into his palms and Jason's breath hitched. This had just went from a tense situation to a disaster.
The blue gun had been created by Mr. Freeze for Lex Luthor. A gun that could kill Talons by making the electrum in their body freeze and explode. This close range, not even Nightwing could dodge it with absolute certainty. It was a risk they couldn't take.
"Nightwing, get out of there", even Batman sounded tense.
Jason wanted to scream 'How?'. How was N supposed to get out of there when the gun would kill him no matter where it hit him? It could hit him in the finger and the substance would still spread through his body. Nightwing's body would freeze, and he would be in terrible pain as the substance burnt through his electrum.
"Hello, Nightwing", the leader smiled, finally letting the ruse drop, "I must say I'm disappointed. What a desperate, little attempt. You can't hide those missing claws."
Nightwing didn't say anything. He simply took off the black face mask and dropped it to the floor. N must have been eager to get it off. Jason couldn't imagine what it must feel like to wear the Talon uniform again.
N's response dry: "Not more desperate than your attempt at get Batman attention."
Jason smirked to himself. Proud of Nightwing's backtalk. The former assassin hadn't even dared to talk back a few years ago – to no one.
The leader laughed: "So mouthy for a Talon. You should remember your place. The three Talons you dispatched? I bought them."
Nightwing's fingers dug into his palms for real now. Drawing black blood. Nightwing snarled. Mentioning Talon-trade always got to him.
The leader grinned, his mouth visible through a hole he had cut: "The gentleman who sells them has his ways to control them. He shoots them up with drugs – among others. It makes them beautifully pliant. So obedient. Ready for their next master to buy them."
Nightwing tilted his head. Blood dripped down his fingers as he visibly struggled to keep himself together.
"How much do you little animal want to kill me?", the leader still held the gun with a steady hand.
"Kid", Gordon's voice was a warning.
The Commissioner had mostly stayed quiet, analyzing the situation with keen eyes. He seemed worried that the leader's taunting would get to Nightwing.
"I not kill", Nightwing raised his chin, the golden eyes determined.
He forced his hands open again. His palms stitched themselves together, making a fleshy sound.
"The files we sent to Vicky Vale tell a different story. Taipei? How many people were in that room? Hundreds? I saw the whole thing. So much blood", the leader shook his head, "The public will see it now, too. Amazing. You let me destroy your reputation right in front of you. That's dedication to the Bat. My contractor was right to entrust me this material. Such a beautiful, little weapon. It's nothing but the truth."
"Who is your c- con-?", Nightwing made a frustrated noise when he couldn't pronounce the word.
"Contractor?", the leader sounded smug.
It made Jason want to shoot him even more. What a piece of shit.
"You would love to know", the leader said.
Nightwing tilted his head in the other direction. Jason could see him think.
"Let them go", Nightwing said, "You just need me for lure Batman."
"I know that Batman is here", the leader raised his voice and looked around the room, "You think I'm too stupid to see that more than half of my hostages are gone, Bats?"
This was terrible. This was a disaster. They had completely underestimated this guy. He had never needed those cops. It had always been about Batman.
"Come out, Bats."
"Stay down, Hood. No guns", Batman spoke into the comm, "I've got this under control."
What a liar the old man was. He was winging this. Hoping for an opening.
Batman came out of his corner with raised hands: "This is not necessary. Let all of them go."
"Nah", the leader grinned, "I'm enjoying this. Seeing the great Knight squirm."
He raised the blue gun, putting it to Nightwing's forehead. The muzzle stood out starkly against Nightwing's sickly-white skin. Fear flittered over Nightwing's face.
"I have your police liaison and your sidekick at the end of my guns. This must be what true power feels like. I expected you to be better, Batman. My contractors told me that Nightwing would be your weakness. So, they told me all his weaknesses."
Nightwing's face fell at the idea of being used as leverage against Batman. Jason knew that N would beat himself up over this for weeks.
"I'm sorry, Batman", Nightwing sounded devastated.
His voice was quiet as if he had to force each word out.
Jason pulled out his gun. He would end this now. This had gone on for too long. Jason was sick of waiting for an opening. He had an opening. He could kill this piece of shit right now.
Jason raised his gun and shot the leader into the head.
The man didn't expect it. He was dead the moment the bullet hit his skull and crashed to the floor. It seemed easy after everything they had just gone through. Ridiculously easy.
Nightwing and Batman reacted immediately. Batman threw a smoke bomb. Both vigilantes vanished in the smoke to dispatch of the last handful of goons and free the hostages. It was over within seconds. No one dead but the leader. As it should have been from the beginning.
Jason hurried towards the blue gun. He took it apart, taking out the bullets and putting them into the pocket of his leatherjacket. Red Hood would never trust anyone else with those bullets that could kill his big brother. Jason kicked the gun into a corner.
When he turned around, Batman stood behind him. A pillar of fatherly disapproval.
"You killed him, Hood", Batman's voice was dark, booming.
His disappointment filled the whole room, making Jason choke on the thick emotion.
"I won't apologize. He would have killed Nightwing and Gordon. I ended this in seconds."
Batman growled: "We don't kill."
"You don't kill. I can do what I want."
"You aren't above the law. I could have you arrested."
"Then, do it", Jason held out his arms, "Arrest me."
Batman didn't move.
"You would never do it, old man", Jason said.
This was too much for Batman. Jason could see his chin twitch in anger.
"Try me, Hood."
Jason laughed: "Be honest: You are a fucking coward. You never do what is needed."
Batman growled: "I respect life."
"And I respect life enough to protect it."
"You kill one person, Hood, and it becomes easier with each one. You lose self-restraint."
Their fight went on. At some point, Jason didn't even know what he was screaming. He was too angry. This damn code had almost cost him his brother. It would continue to cost them innocents if Batman didn't budge. And scumbags would run free without repercussion. Jason could no longer watch this.
This had to end.
AN:
Summary: The Twirl of a Knife (in case anyone may need it)
Dick is abducted by the Court after his parents' death and turned into a Talon. He is trained by his Great-Grandfather William Cobb. Batman eventually takes down the Gotham Court and Talon runs free. He meets Jason on the street and saves his life. They become best brothers and Talon trains Jason who takes over the Gotham underground as Red Hood.
Batman notices them and is suspicious of them. However, Talon bonds with the Team - especially Wally and Artemis - who has her own villainous past. Eventually, Cobb abducts Talon and brainwashes him again. The Team, Jason and Batman save Talon though. Jason also kills Black Mask (very satisfying).
Talon feels guilty and is forcibly recruited for the Suicide Squad. Jason and Batman save him from that but Talon gets some bonding time with the rest of the squad (Cheshire, Harley, Croc and Boomerang), almost dies and takes on the name Nightwing as his Rebirth.
Nightwing and Wally get together (YAY!) and Nightwing is Batman's partner now because Bruce finally got over some of his emotional constipation. However, Cobb terrorizes Nightwing. Deathstroke also gets pulled into this because Cobb takes over his role as enforcer of the Light. Deathstroke and Nightwing steal a gun from Lexcorp that can kill Talons as a weapon against Cobb.
Jason and Deathstroke team up and try to take on Cobb on their own in the Gotham sewers – they fail. Batman, Nightwing and the Team follow them and there is a confrontation. Nightwing gets his claws pulled out, but manages to outsmart Cobb emotionally and restrain him. Jason beheads Cobb – especially to Batman's displeasure.
Ending: Nightwing joins the Team and lives with Bruce. Artemis confesses the extent of her dark past to the Team – who still accept her (of course!). Meanwhile, Jason decides that his and Bruce's ideologies don't mesh and moves out of the Manor.
(This summary feels excessive but it's a +150k story so…)