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Tim has written hundred's of reports before, but this one really is one for the books
This wasn't the first report Tim had written. But it was the first one where he wasn't sure where to begin. As Bruce always told him, 'just state the facts', the only problem was there were a lot of facts. There were a lot of details and moving parts and things that hadn't yet been resolved.
Does he start from the beginning, he wasn't even involved in the beginning, or does he start from where he got involved? Those were very different times that provided a wide variety of details.
What would Dick's report consist of? He thought to himself. Dick's report would have a lot more context as to what was going on. He'd been involved from the beginning.
Tim decided those details didn't need to be rehashed.
He took a deep breath. "Just state the facts." He whispered to himself.
This case had him feeling backwards. He had no idea how to feel.
"Alright…"
-Nightwing (R. Grayson) had been receiving transmissions from an unknown source. Later disclosed to be Talia al Ghul. Reasons, conflicting.
Well, maybe conflicting wasn't the right word. No scratch that it was. Tim wasn't sure what her main objective was. He was still confused why she had asked Dick and not Bruce.
-Encrypted messages sent to Orphan ( ), Spoiler (S. Brown), and Robin ( ) to meet him in Tibet under the pretense of a Meta-human experimentation lab that needed investigating. Batman (B. Wayne) was not to come, the cover to be as previously stated, though it appears that no party was aware of the actual objective. Later discovered to be under the directions of Talia al Ghul that Batman not be apprised of the situation. Reason,...
What a reason it was if Tim was being honest with himself. It didn't appear that Dick had even been aware of all the details until he'd arrived.
-...Batman was not to be apprised of the situation.
-Oracle (B Gordon) was to send back-up if needed. Unknown if Batman would have been informed at that point in time.
No need to allude to the reason yet. The whole thing was weird, he needed to make sure the report was clear as well as matched up with the details of the case.
This absolutely insane, mind-boggling case.
-Orphan, Spoiler, and Robin met with Nightwing near lake Paiku along the border of Nepal...
Robin stared across the frozen lake. The winter air biting at every bit of exposed flesh on the three of them.
He had been scanning the area for a good portion of their hike to this location for a glimpse of this lab Nightwing had told him about. Most of them had been shutdown after the whole Granny Goode and Violet thing and then Brion staging a Coup and taking over the country, in all honesty it had really put a stall in meta-human trafficking.
Not that anyone was really upset by this development but most definitely confused.
"If we are out here for much longer my fingers are going to fall off." Spoiler announced.
"Cold?" Robin asked her.
"I get it's really cold in Gotham but this," she gestured around her, "I am not built for this."
Orphan nudged Robin's arm and pointed to a dark figure.
She gripped the handle of her sword as Robin slipped his bo-staff in hand. Just in case.
Robin glanced at Orphan for the all clear. She relaxed and waved at the figure.
It was hard to make out his features. They had all dressed for the weather. Thick coat, boots, and gloves. Faces covered and goggles to keep the snow and wind out of their eyes. Robin had hoped his suit would have provided more insulation under all this stuff.
"'Wing" Robin greeted, stowing away the staff.
"We're gonna need to continue heading east across the border into Nepal." Nightwing told them. It wasn't that odd to forego a greeting. They were on a mission. The mission was the priority.
"How far is the lab?" Robin asked him.
"There isn't one." Nightwing explains. "We're heading to an old Shadows compound a few miles east of here."
"Uh, why." Spoiler asks, her voice not hiding any bit of her emotion.
"I lied, but I couldn't afford to have B involved, otherwise this whole thing falls apart. I knew if he thought we were just looking into an experimentation lab he wouldn't… It's just important that we get to the compound quickly."
"What's at the compound? What exactly are we supposed to be doing?" Robin finds himself asking. If Batman couldn't be involved it isn't weird for Nightwing to make up a fake mission that would keep their attention.
"I've been receiving transmissions from Talia al Ghul. She's asking for our help."
"And she doesn't want Batman involved?" Spoiler sounded just as perplexed as Robin felt.
Nightwing shrugged, "I guess not. She's just trying to get a child out of the compound and away from Shadows. I have no idea why, but if Shadows wants this kid we can't let Shadows get to them."
"You know that B knows about the compound right?" Robin already sees holes in this plan as far as keeping Batman out of it. "How do you know he can't figure out what we're doing here?"
"There is a lab that was being used to experiment on Meta-human a few miles north east of here. I'm coming from that location, I've already taken care of the investigation if he needs convincing. We're heading south east," Nightwing gestured to the mountains in front of them, "we have no guarantee that he won't figure it out. But I think we can get it taken care of before he does."
"You know this could be a trap." Spoiler states blankly.
Nightwing nods. "I also know that if it isn't and Deathstroke gets this kid, that's on me."
Robin glances at Orphan. Her head turns slightly.
"Do you think this is a good idea?" He asked her simply.
She seems to take a moment to consider her answer before she signs three words.
I trust him.
Meaning Nightwing must feel very passionate about what he's talking about. He genuinely believes Talia is telling the truth.
Robin nods. "Okay. What do we do with the kid once we have them?"
"Talia says she has that all taken care of. We just have to get them out of there."
He turns to start heading towards the compound when Orphan grabs his wrist. She signs something else Robin can't see.
Nightwing seems to take in what he was just told.
"It's a long shot. And my source is not reliable. So the only objective is this kid." His tone is void of emotion. Meaning he wants what he's implying to be true but has accepted the idea that it isn't.
Robin wants to press. Find out the details of what all of that means.
"We need to head to the compound. Unless you want frostbite." Nightwing turns back on his heels and begins making his way into the mountains.
Tim leans back in the chair.
He glances behind him to the Robin suit. Jason's Robin suit. Still tattered and burned. Still covered in his blood.
Tim had never been one to believe in miracles. Things were accomplished, even spectacular things were accomplished, by hard work. And yet- everything worked out even though it shouldn't have. Even though they should have been captured and possibly killed by the League of Shadows for taking their 'asset', they hadn't been.
It had all worked out. A lot of this case relied on the idea that you did believe in miracles, because how else do you explain it? Science wasn't a factor, not really. Not after he'd learned everything. He hadn't survived because of science.
He'd survived off of luck, because someone had allowed him to have a miracle.
Tim shook his head slightly. He needed to focus. Finish the report and then get some sleep.
God he wanted to sleep.
Forget how physically exhausting this whole thing was. Tim didn't think he could handle hearing anymore crazy unbelievable stuff.
-The hike to Ra's al Ghul's compound in Nepal took approximately four hours in a heavy blizzard. Sight was limited, we relied on Orphan's memory of the location. Upon arrival, we remembered this was where Orphan had been rescued by Batman from David Cain.
-Talia al Ghul had been expecting Nightwing. She had not been expecting the rest of us. We were separated from Nightwing for several hours. We were provided a change of clothes and some food. We were not told the details as to what Nightwing and Talia had been up to.
Stephanie held the bowl of broth close to her face, red from the cold, to try and warm herself further. "Where do you think they took Dick?" She asked him after a moment.
Tim shrugged. "I have no idea, and to be fair she'd asked him not us." He glanced over at Cass. She sat against the far wall, back straight. "Do you want to eat something?"
Her eyes caught his gaze for half a second before returning to the door. She shook her head.
"Yeah, I'm not really hungry either."
"Well I am starving and cold." Stephanie grabbed a spoon from the table and practically inhaled her broth. "I know they're a murdering assassin cult but they make good soup. However they're sense of style." She gestured to her torso. "Awful."
"It's made to protect you. If this turns into a fight…" Tim trails off.
"You don't think it will do you?" She asked him. Her tone somehow simultaneously amused and concerned.
Cass tapped lightly on the wall behind her to get their attention. "It might. We are to escort the heir. It will be dangerous."
"The heir?" Stephanie asks her. "What heir, Talia? Dick said we were getting a kid out of here."
Cass nodded. She spelt out a name. Ibn al Xu'ffasch with her fingers.
Stephanie raised an eyebrow. "Uhh, what"
Tim's Arabic wasn't great. But he knew enough. "Why didn't she ask Bruce? Why didn't you say anything?"
Cass shrugged before signing, "I did not realize what that meant until we got here. I had only heard about him. I was under the impression he was an idea for the future. That he did not exist, at least not yet."
Stephanie's eyebrows creased together. "I'm still lost."
Tim turned to her "'Ibn al Xu'ffasch' means Son of Bat. It implies that Talia might've had Bruce's kid."
She stared for a moment, eyes wide. "Oh my god. Wh- what- I mean. Are we taking his kid to him? Do you think Dick knows that it might be his kid?"
"We don't even know if it is his kid. It could be nothing."
"You don't name your kid Batman's kid for no reason."
"Yeah I know." Tim sighed.
-Due to the weather, we had to stay at the compound through the night. We were told that it was expected the Shadows were going to be making a move to attack the compound soon.
-We were provided with armor and weapons in preparation for the attack. The assassins that had stayed with Ra's al Ghul after his departure from the light walked us through escape locations if it came to that. As well as to where transportation would be in the mountains.
-We at this point had not had any communication with Nightwing for six hours. Details of this time will be documented in his report.
Even now after everything Tim wasn't entirely sure what they had been doing, well he had a better idea. Most of his time there had been spent preparing to leave and help protect a kid until they got him to the intended location which naturally meant simply taking him home.
Tim doesn't even know if Dick knew that he had been asked to get Bruce's son (still a weird thing to think). He's inclined to think Dick really didn't know, but as he's gotten to know Dick over the years some of the things he's learned is that while Dick is probably one of the most loyal and trustworthy people he's met Dick is somehow also incredibly deceptive. When you're on a mission with him sometimes you're not even sure you know fully what you're even supposed to be doing.
A master manipulator. Maybe that's how he'd been able to work everything out so well despite the mess.
Tim sighed. All the still current unknown variables around this case made him uneasy. He wasn't confident he hadn't brought a mole directly to Batman's base of operation. Maybe that's how Dick felt when vouching on his behalf all that time ago.
-It had been explained to us the steps we were to take if the compound was attacked before we left. They were as follows:
1.) Double check equipment on person. Deathstroke will be making this attack personally. Do not take this lightly (As if).
2.) Head down to the Cavern directly below the Compound, Orphan remembers the way as well as the child we would be helping escape. Nightwing will meet you there with the child. Wait for them.
3.) Once they have arrived there are tunnels that will take you out of the mountain.
4.) Make your way south and using the provided transponder, which should be on you at all times, locate the secondary base. It will have the necessary transportation you will need to make your leave. Deathstroke is not aware of this location. Stay hidden.
-The compound had been attacked while we were there. We had been unable to follow the instructions given to us...
Robin ran as fast as he physically could. In all the chaos of Deathstroke attacking the compound he'd gotten separated from Spoiler and Orphan. Not ideal as he was the only one with the means of locating the landing strip so they could get out of there. This was also a bad thing because Orphan was the only one who knew where this god forsaken entrance was to the Cavern
This also meant he couldn't meet up with Nightwing and this kid they were all risking their neck for and get out of there either.
He could hear Deathstroke behind him. Robin had no room to take a moment and come up with his next course of action unless he wanted to help decorate Deathstroke's sword with his blood.
He came up on a dead end, running directly into the wall.
He dizzyingly attempted to pick himself up. "Are you kidding me?!"
He glanced to his left, an exit. The path was pitchblack. Not ideal.
Need to make a decision.
The footsteps were too close.
He needed to move.
Too slow, he felt a large hand wrap itself around his upper arm pulling him back. Robin lacked the strength to rip his arm free, but not the will to attempt. He struggled as he got pinned to the wall, that hand now wrapped around his throat.
"I suppose the Bat will just have to mourn another one of you." Deathstroke told him as he began to squeeze.
Robin was beginning to panic, he had no idea how to get out of this. There was no way out of this.
His vision began to tunnel, he accepted his fate.
Then he was on the ground coughing and sputtering. He gasped for air before he was crowded further against the wall.
Someone else was fighting Deathstroke, attempting to push back against his inhuman-like strength.
Robin could make out the blood red of his cloak but that was about it.
His next thought was I need to get the hell out of here. But he couldn't move due to the positioning of both the other assassins and Deathstroke.
Robin heard Deathstroke cry out from pain and watched as he staggered slightly back clutching his side. The assassin had stabbed him in the ribs and took the opening it provided, giving no room for any sort of recovery. His movement was deadly precise and lightning fast. It was almost frightening.
He could match Deathstroke's every blow. Robin didn't even realize he was able to move from the wall, too busy watching the deadly dance in front of him thinking that this guy could go toe to toe with Batman and Robin isn't sure who would win.
Robin then remembered himself. He needed to decide, go down the dark and ominous hallway or go back the way he came and look for the others. Either option he had to get around the two fighting men in his way.
Back the way he came was likely the safest option. Before he even had a chance to act on his decision the assassin began herding him to the dark hallway that promised nothing but bad things.
Apparently this guy was good at multitasking.
Robin began to formulate another way to get away from them when the assassin actually shoved him into the dark.
"Go!" He growled, before clashing his sword against Deathstroke's, parrying and slicing. Robin is not above saying he was both impressed and frightened at how well he was doing.
Not being an idiot he decided the assassin was likely his best chance at not dying. He ran again. His chest hurt from all the heavy breathing but he knew he had to keep moving, if he stopped he was dead.
He let his fingers run alongside him against the wall to better gauge where he was at.
Robin flinched at the sound of a bang sounding similar to a smoke bomb before more footsteps echoed in the passage way. Just because that assassin helped him with Deathstroke doesn't mean that will continue. Of course fighting in the pitch black isn't exactly ideal.
He pressed himself against the wall hoping the other individual would pass without knowing he was there. The footsteps while quick were not at a running pace. They moved deliberately forward while being cautious of what might be in front of them.
Robin held his breath as they got closer.
They slowed to a stop maybe three feet from him. The blood pounded in his ears. Robin didn't dare move now.
The movement was so fast it took Robin a moment to register what was going on. He was pressed up against the wall, the assassin placed his hand over Robin's mouth in an attempt to keep him quiet. Robin could feel the warmth from his skin with how close he'd gotten.
"Don't move." He was ordered. The voice was barely audible.
Robin had a grip on the wrist that covered his mouth while the other held his bo-staff at the ready.
Slowly, the hand was moved away from his mouth. Robin let go of the assassin's wrist but didn't move anything else. Out of the corner of his eye he saw a flash light shine down the passage.
The assassin stepped past him and grabbed hold of his arm, pulling slightly for Robin to follow.
Robin kept glancing back, they maintained a good distance from the light source while the assassin kept a grip on Robin's forearm as if not to lose him. He wasn't sure how to take this. He still wasn't sure if this guy was on Robin's side or not. Robin wasn't even sure if he should ask, he was pretty confident that this guy would be able to take him out in a physical fight.
Apparently the assassin had been guiding him to the Cavern. Robin took in the large room made entirely of stone with a bright green Lazarus Pit in the middle providing the only light source. It made him feel uneasy.
He turned to the assassin. "Um, thanks, I guess." Robin told him full well he wasn't masking the awkwardness of the situation even a little.
The assassin didn't say anything. Just kind of looked him over. It was unnerving being judged like this.
"Do you know where Nightwing is?" Robin found himself asking, "I am supposed to meet him here, I guess."
The assassin made eye contact. Everything in Robin screamed to break it and look away, he fought to ignore it.
"No." He finally said after more than a moment.
"Okay, what about the other people I came with?"
The assassin shook his head.
Robin scoffed. "Of course not. We need to find them."
Robin moved to leave. Before the assassin stepped in his path. "We need to wait here."
"Move." Robin told him simply.
"You aren't getting past me."
Robin took a step back. He was not going to let this random assassin just give him orders. He needed to find the others.
The assassin tracked his movement. Robin needed to formulate some sort of plan. This guy was significantly bigger than him and had proven to be able to take on the likes of Deathstroke. This was a threat to be taken seriously.
"Robin." Spoiler exclaimed from behind the assassin.
Orphan came out of nowhere (par for the course), and circled the assassin as Spoiler came around watching the two of them. Orphan seemed to be taking him in. He clearly saw her as a threat and was ready to strike.
"Orphan?" Robin called out cautiously.
"Who is that?" Spoiler asked, clearly sensing the energy.
"I have no idea." Robin admitted. "But he saved me from Deathstroke and brought me here so I guess he's on our side. What happened to your face?" He asked her after finally seeing her fully.
A black eye already forming and what was clearly a broken nose were all Robin could really make out. He took a moment to check Orphan and saw she also clearly had gotten into it with someone.
"Savage's daughter and Lady Shiva are both here." Spoiler explained. "When Deathstroke forced you away they cornered us. It's a miracle we were able to get away."
Orphan's form relaxed. She stood straighter.
"Is he on our side?" Spoiler asked her.
Orphan answered by turning her back to him and stepping away.
The action confused the assassin. He too dropped the fighting stance and watched her walk towards them.
"Okay then, we still need to find Nightwing." Spoiler announced. "Do you have any idea where he is?"
"No." Robin responded bitterly. "And neither does he apparently. I already asked."
"I mean he is supposed to meet us here with the kid." Spoiler regarded the assassin again. "He saved you from Deathstroke?"
Robin nodded. "He, uh, I don't know too many people who can fight like what I saw."
He thought for a moment before stepping slightly closer.
"Why'd you save me?" Robin asked him.
The assassin didn't look at him. "I didn't like what he said to you."
Odd response. Robin glanced up at Orphan, attempting to ask if she understood without actually saying the words.
She shook her head clearly saying he needed to leave it alone. Her head perked up as did the assassin.
"Oh thank god." Spoiler exclaimed as Nightwing stepped into view followed closely by a kid who couldn't have been older than seven.
He was dressed in the same dark clothes all the other assassins wear, the lower half of his face was covered showing green eyes that promised bad things, and a green cloak similarly colored to Ra's al Ghul's.
"Where have you been?" Robin asked him, more than a little annoyed.
"Dealing with stuff." He answered vaguely. "C'mon we need to get out of here."
"Hopefully the team can buy us some time." Spoiler seemed to say more to herself.
"The team is here?" Robin asked her. "Why?"
She shrugged. "Hold the phone, Ranger Rick over there is coming with us?"
"Yes." Nightwing's tone clearly stated that it was not the time to question that decision.
Robin heard a sword be unsheathed from behind him.
"Oh god" He muttered under his breath.
He turned to see Deathstroke, Lady Shiva, and who they recently discovered to be Savage's daughter Cassandra.
"Let's not make this difficult." Lady Shiva told them. "They come with us and the rest of you can leave."
-Vandal Savage had sent his daughter Cassandra, Deathstroke, and Lady Shiva to retrieve this child. It had not been known to anyone that the other objective was to also obtain a particular assassin from Ra's al Ghul. Reason:...
Tim froze, his fingers hovering over the keys, the words on his lips. He still couldn't wrap his mind around it. That he'd been there. That somehow Dick had figured it out from Lex Luthor of all people. That no one else had known and Dick hadn't said anything because he didn't want to let himself believe it was true.
They hadn't just been there for Ra's al Ghul's heir, but also his resurrected soldier.
-… also targeted an assassin. Reason: he is the former Robin, J. Todd, who had been killed by the Joker. Living proof individuals could be resurrected from the dead via Lazarus Pit with little to no ill effects which had not been proven to be effective and as of the time of this report has not been since. Likely wanted to experiment and study him to see why he was able to handle the effects of the pit. He is also a trophy, something Batman cares about stolen and kept from him so that he could be used against him.
-J. Todd seems to have been intimately taught all their ways. Proving that at the very least he was not interested in being a part of Deathstroke's shadows. He also had extreme dedication in getting Ibn al Xu'ffasch (later learned his English name is Damian) away from the compound to Batman.
-During the 6 hours while we had been separated from Nightwing the two had struck a deal of sorts. J. Todd was to return to Gotham with Nightwing and Nightwing would keep Batman away.
Robin decided the worst sound ever was the sound of swords scraping against one another. He came to this conclusion during the zero point two seconds he wasn't having to fend off an attack between their three assailants.
He'll be the first to admit he's not a people person. He doesn't understand them, he isn't as good at reading them as most of his peers. He really needs to get to know someone to be able to predict decisions a person might make or the pendulum of emotions they might experience from one situation to the next. Maybe Robin was misreading the whole thing, but he felt that Cassandra did not want to be there fighting them, didn't want to help kidnap a child and then also some grown man, didn't want any part of this. That she was weighed down by the expectations of her father.
Which Robin understood. More than anything, he understood what felt like unachievable expectations from the people closest to you.
Didn't seem to stop her from going for the kill shots.
Whatever conflictions she might (or might not Robin really wasn't sure) be feeling, there were expectations that must be met. She didn't have the luxury of a mistake.
Robin wondered what a conversation would be like. Of course the assassin that was tagging along slammed her head against the stone walls of the cavern with his knee which kinda ruined that train of thought. Maybe he'd remember later, if he didn't die trying to get out of here.
He missed having half his torso ripped off by a hair's breadth. He really was over this whole thing. He glanced over at the sword impaled into the stone a few feet away before managing to block another with his bo-staff.
Lady Shiva's smirk was horribly unnerving. It made his skin crawl. Her smile wasn't from unearned confidence, that's what bothered him. She out matched him, and they both knew it.
All Robin needed to do was survive. Block, dodge, parry, not trip over the random rocks all over the ground.
He was slowing down, she was too fast for him to keep up. Too fast for him to think of a way to just get out of there.
"If it means anything little bird you fight with valiance." She chided him. "Your death will not be without purpose. The Bat has much to be proud of."
Needless to say Robin was confused by the complement. He held his position. Unsure how many more times he would be able to take this when a rock came flying from beside him nailing Shiva in the right in the temple. She dropped like a sack of flour.
Robin wasn't even sure what just happened.
Spoiler stood to his left with two rocks in one hand and another ready to be sent flying.
"Pick your jaw up and let's get the hell out of here." She threw another one at Deathstroke.
And naturally missed. Didn't stop her from throwing another.
The assassin and Nightwing were actually doing just fine. It was an odd sight to not see Nightwing pull his punches like he so often did. They move fluidly attempting to subdue Deathstroke so they could get to the landing strip.
Robin heard Lady Shiva stir behind him. He didn't even think, he just swung. His bo-staff making contact, knocking her out cold. He saw Orphan securing Cassandra further back.
"Keep throwing the rocks." Robin ordered.
"On it." Spoiler kept a good distance and just went for it.
There really were just small boulders everywhere. Most of them were roughly the size of a baseball, and Robin learned early on that if Spoiler was allowed to wreak havoc however she wanted (while it was messy and never subtle) they usually resulted in success for whatever the task at hand was. And the boulders were perfect throwing material and he knew how much she loved throwing stuff off the rooftops.
She once told him she was an expert at getting in locked doors and then proceeded to throw a brick through one of the window panes on said door. Robin really couldn't argue, she did get in the locked door.
Robin watched as she hit Deathstroke's back and shoulder. But he couldn't deal with her and Nightwing and the assassin that were also attacking him.
Orphan materialized next to him. Which he hadn't been expecting.
"Alfred's right, you need a bell." He mumbled. "We need to finish this."
She watches a second longer before her wrist flicks out.
The knife was embedded into the meat of his thigh. It slowed him down. Orphan jumped into the fight like it was second nature. She ducked under Deathstroke's outstretched arm, before using her momentum to swing up, hooking a leg around his neck to bring him down. She danced out of reach once he fell. He made a move to stand but Nightwing was there, he was ready. One swift kick and he was out like the others.
"That's not gonna last." Spoiler announces.
"No, c'mon. We need to move before back-up gets here." Nightwing tells them.
"'Wing, back up is here." Robin tells him. "We won't make it to the landing strip. Not without help."
Nightwing seemed to sigh internally before turning his attention to the kid "Where are the secret tunnels out of here?"
-We followed J. Todd and Damian out of the mountain.
-The Team and the Outsiders had come under separate tips from Cheshire (Jade Nguyen) who had not wanted this child either folded in with the Light and/or killed for being the heir to the Demon's head. They had also been mildly aware that Shadows had been after what they considered a living weapon (confirmed to also be J. Todd though they had not known it was him and at the time of this report still do not know).
-The Team and the Outsiders had come after the attacks from Shadows had begun. All members were present. See Active Roster.
-Most of the Outsider's attack was focused on the forces on the surface. Unclear if they had known about Deathstroke, Lady Shiva, and Cassandra Savage being there, or at the very least all three of them.
-They became detrimental in providing the necessary distraction for us to make our escape...
The amount of assassins attacking the compound were honestly hilariously insane. The sheer number of them was so wild that if Robin hadn't been actively involved in the situation he actually would've laughed.
Skill is extremely important, but there is something to be said about numbers. Sometimes you can be the best fighter ever and, while what you may be fighting might not have any skills to speak of, if there are too many of them… you better hope you have a will.
Regardless of the amount of them, Robin would still rather take them on than the three people they had left in the Cavern.
"Where's the landing strip?" Nightwing shouted at him through the sounds of the still raging blizzard and the battle above them.
That's when Robin remembered the transponder he'd been given. He attempted to activate it amidst the chaos ensuing all around making it rather difficult.
"South." Robin directed, ducking under weapons being thrown in his direction.
He narrowly missed a weapon attached to a long heavy chain swung at his face. Robin rolled into the snow, realizing it was up to his knees and was going to make this rather difficult.
Some nameless assassin. Robin had his taser at the ready, he didn't have time to get into a fight like this. Just as the assassin was about to lunge a wall of wind and ice sent Robin flying down the side of the mountain.
He glanced back as he stood back up and made out Superboy taking care of the would be assailant.
Robin didn't question it, he took the opening it provided to catch up with the others who, thank god, weren't too far ahead of him.
Most of the fight was taking place at the compound. They're group remained unnoticed traveling in the valley below, despite the stark contrast between the dark colors they were all wearing against the snow.
The armor they'd been given didn't provide much insulation. Robin felt as if his bones were vibrating from how violently he was shivering.
With how bad the blizzard was, Robin was concerned that once they got to the landing strip they still wouldn't be able to leave. The visibility was too limited. Of course Deathstroke had ventured out in it with what appeared to be his entire army. All for this kid.
The Compound was heavily fortified and extremely difficult to get to even if you know where you're going, but had practically no one there. Just a few of Ra's al Ghul's most loyal assassins. All in all, there were maybe fifteen or so left.
The blizzard unfortunately provided cover for Deathstroke and Shiva to come up from behind them.
Robin felt Deathstroke ram into his shoulder pushing him off to the side and lunging at the assassin, pinning him to the ground. He didn't even have a chance to get his bearings as Lady Shiva moved past him at almost inhuman speeds towards the kid.
Following her were twenty or so other assassins. Robin had a couple seconds before he'd have to engage with them in any sort of capacity.
The assassin was pinned to the ground and clearly struggling to break free, the position that he was being held in didn't offer many escape routes. Nightwing and the kid were now dealing with Shiva, Orphan was making her way over to them to assist. Leaving just him and Spoiler against the incoming assassin in the middle of the godforsaken blinding snowstorm.
He could make out Spoiler a couple feet to his right. She was ready.
There was a sound of something rushing towards them, like they're feet weren't even touching the ground. The force pushed past them, sending the assassins flying in all directions.
Kid Flash stood in front of them, his staple grin displayed proudly. "You know you could've asked us to help."
Robin didn't have a response. He was the help.
"Go, we got this." Kid Flash continued.
He and Spoiler glanced at each other before moving to assist the assassin that Deathstroke was way too interested in.
The three of them were able to remove Deathstroke. The assassin continued to impress with his skill. Despite the worst of circumstances, he held his own just fine. Robin decided to come in from behind, unfortunately his chest was met with Deathstroke's elbow knocking all the air from his lungs and turning his vision dark.
Robin swore he heard the roar of a large jet, as he began to make an attempt to get his feet underneath him.
He saw Wonder Girl and Superboy engage Deathstroke.
'When had they gotten here?' He thought to himself.
Robin decided they could hold him while he helped get this kid as far away as possible. Some stepped close, a hand wrapped around his arm helping him stand. It took him a moment to recognize that it was Nightwing.
He felt Nightwing mess with his belt before taking a step back.
"Wha- OH MY GOD!" Robin gripped the line pulling him up and away from the action.
He looked up to the origin of the line and saw the Bat-plane. He had never been more relieved to see it.
Just as he climbed into the cavity of the plane he glanced back down and saw who he believed might be Batman. Inside he saw the kid was already in there with Orphan and Spoiler.
Robin glanced up at the controls.
"I thought he couldn't be involved." Robin asked them.
Orphan shrugged.
"Yeah, I don't really care right now." Spoiler announced.
-… Nightwing had an emergency beacon provided by Oracle for back-up in case it was needed. The Team and the Outsiders were not back-up.
-Batman was not aware of the details surrounding this case. (Has been updated thoroughly, was not happy (is he ever?) that Nightwing had not disclosed several of the sensitive details surrounding this case. Argument insured. Unsure of the outcome).
-It appeared much negotiation on Nightwing's part was needed to convince J. Todd to get in the Bat-plane.
-Oracle was able to guide the plane out of the blizzard and back to Gotham. Also relayed that the heir and the assassin were out of harm's way.
-According to Oracle, the Team had made an attempt to involve them in this mission before learning that they were already in Nepal. Oracle had not sent them as back-up, nor did she imply that they should go…
Looking back, Tim is convinced they would've died if they hadn't shown up. They had been more than a little annoyed that they hadn't even been considered for this mission. All Tim could really tell them was to take those grievances to Dick as he's the one who put the team for this mission together.
Tim understood the choices Dick made for this mission. Talia had asked him to come and get Damian because she believed calling and telling Bruce directly would just bring more attention sooner and it wouldn't have worked out this well. Tim also isn't sure that if Bruce had been the one to go and get Damian that Jason would've also come.
That tip came from Lex Luthor during an under the table weapon's transport being done by LexCorp in Bludhaven now understood to be an attempt to get Dick's attention. Tim isn't sure why Luthor told him. Jason was supposed to be a secret weapon of sorts, a trophy, a science experiment, a highly valuable asset to them in the future. And Luthor told Dick and completely ruined any chance of that happening.
When Tim discussed that later with Dick, even he admitted that he couldn't figure out what the gain was to tell them about Jason and it likely had to do with inner circle drama like a while back when they had been given the tip about the Orphanage from Vandal Savage telling them where Granny Goode had taken Violet and what she had discovered.
Jason also had yet to actually speak to Bruce. Tim had also learned through Dick that Jason felt completely betrayed by him. That not only had he let Jason die, not only had he replaced Jason with Tim a mere six weeks after his death (it'd been longer than that if Tim remembers correctly. But he does remember making his case to become Robin around then.), but Bruce had left Jason's killer alive.
He'd forgiven Dick apparently. Had decided that Dick had been the only one that actually tried to avenge Jason (Tim had no idea what that meant and Dick out right refused to elaborate) and was the only one in his eyes that was trying to make things right.
It'd been several weeks since then. Tim hadn't been able to really process everything in this report until now.
A lot had happened.
Bruce's biological child was now living in the manor with them.
Jason was alive and currently with Dick until something better could be figured out that also worked with the terms of their agreement.
The Compound had been destroyed and no one knew where Ra's al Ghul and Talia were, though Bruce was confident they had returned to Infinity Island. Tim was even confused as to why they'd left to hide at the Compound when the island was much more fortified. Maybe it didn't matter.
Tim yawned, stretching and feeling his spine snap and pop.
He needed to get this done so he could go to bed.
-… nor did she imply that they should go.
-Once everyone had returned to Gotham Batman let the assassin know he was aware that he was J. Todd.
-J. Todd did not allow the conversation to continue. Nightwing stepped in and explained that the two had struck up a deal and that at the moment Batman needed to trust that he had it covered.
-A stand-off ensued. Nightwing got his way. The pair returned to Bludhaven.
-End of Report.
Tim saved the report and added it to the long term secure file Bruce kept on the computer. He would read through it on his own time and possibly modify it as he saw fit.
He stood up, more than ready to just crash, he glanced back at Jason's suit.
It hadn't been moved. When Alfred had asked if he should put it away, Bruce simply stated that it changed nothing.
Tim could understand why he would think that. The Jason Todd he'd lost really was gone. The person who came back was similar to that kid and yet so very different.
Tim himself didn't really feel any different being Robin, he was still trying to live up to the legacies left behind. The Robin who had changed practically everything, had formed teams of sidekicks, had proved these gods could take on partners and they'd be better for it, and for a while proved Batman actually had a heart. And the other had given his life to protect someone who had betrayed him.
He still felt unworthy of the colors despite what Dick and Bruce told him. How does one live up to all that?
Of course that was too deep a thought right now with a fried brain.
He opened the door to his bedroom leaning back against it once it was shut.
There was a flash of movement outside his window. He wasn't so tired that he wasn't put immediately on edge.
He grabbed the first thing he could find, which just so happened to be a world history textbook (extremely frightening if Tim was honest, he absolutely hated this thing), ready to defend himself.
Slowly and carefully he opened the window.
"Gonna brain me with a textbook?" A voice asked him.
Tim didn't exactly relax, but he didn't think anything was going to kill him.
"What are you doing here Jason?" Tim asked him, tossing the book on his bed.
Jason sighed as he seemed to gather his words. "I just wanted to make it clear that my grievances are with Bruce, and Bruce only."
Tim wasn't sure what to make of that. "Ah- uh- oh- okay. Was that all?"
He regarded Tim for a moment. "You're a weird kid. Maybe he's right, maybe you aren't so bad."
And with that almost complement he jumped from the ledge he'd secured himself on down to the ground and left.
Tim blinked, before shaking his head and pulling the window shut.
Weird.
He knocked the textbook off the bed and onto the floor and was asleep before he even hit the pillow.
A longer one for today.