AN: This chapter is huge in size and meaning. I can't even stress how many things are happening here. We are basically moving into a new phase of this story and it's gonna be painful and bittersweet and all of these wonderful emotions. It's going to be a wild ride and I'm excited to be writing it and for everyone who decides to join me on it. :D
Willowbluebird: Deine Gebete wurden erhört. Ich bin wieder da mit einem echt langen Kapitel! Es freut mich, dass die Geschichte dir so gefällt. Keine Sorge mit dem Deutsch. Deutsch ist meine Muttersprache. :D
10. Crossroads
Jason ran up the stairs not caring about the sounds he was making. He had to get to that damn Clown and put a bullet in his head.
"HOOD", Batman said, "Stop it. We need to make a plan."
"I have a plan: Go up there and put a bullet in his brain", Jason screamed, "You're building him up as some nefarious threat but under all that make-up he is a regular man. A regular man who is killed by the bullet to the head."
"A regular man who will do anything to hurt you", Batman kept following Jason, "He has no morals and he'll use these kids to get to you."
Jason balled his fists. As if he didn't know that?
Nightwing landed in front of Jason blocking his way up the stairs, signing: 'Batman right. Need plan. Joker manipulate you.'
"Of course, you're saying that Batman is right", Jason snapped at him, "Where is your collar by the way? Did he let you off your leash?"
Nightwing's face fell and Jason's rage was broken by guilt for just a moment. Nightwing bit his lip.
'I not hear Harley in flat. She somewhere else.'
"Quinn is second on my list", Jason pushed past Nightwing, "The Clown is first."
He had almost reached the right floor.
"I won't let you shoot someone tonight", Batman growled.
Jason was about to scream back but Nightwing tapped his shoulder.
'Someone need go after Harley. She part of plan.'
Jason stayed silent – shaking in simmering rage and anxiety.
"Nightwing is right", Batman said, "Hood, go after her. Nightwing and I take the Joker."
Jason bristled at the Bats' audacity. How dare the man attempt to pull Jason back from his own operation? He wasn't leaving his people alone. Not when so many of them had already died for him today.
"Why don't you stay back?", Jason glared at him, "Nightwing and I take the Clown. I'm not playing fucking back-up."
"And I'm not letting you risk this operation with your impulsiveness", Batman growled back, "All of this is just happening because you had to challenge Gotham's rogues."
The old man was cracking. The pressure was getting even to him. Jason felt a smug sense of pride at being one of the few people to make the Bat regularly lose his composure.
Red Hood was about to scream something back when Nightwing made a frustrated sound.
'I be back-up and take care of Harley. But you work together and be safe.'
"He is not working with me", Jason pointed at Batman.
"You are mistaking your stubbornness for mine, Hood", Batman replied in his annoyingly dry manner.
'You both the problem', Nightwing signed in an unusually harsh manner, 'I sick of your fighting. So, you keep it together now and work like professionals.'
Jason stopped for just a moment. Completely flabbergasted. What the hell? Nightwing had never been this assertive. Especially not since he had found his place under the Bat's thumb.
Nightwing turned around and used the railing to get down the stairs again. He seemed energized now that the collar was off. Jason had forgotten how quick Nightwing was.
"When did your golden boy grow a spine?", Jason asked.
He knew that he was being cruel. That he would be ashamed of himself for saying things like this once he got down from his rage-trip. That this wasn't about Nightwing at all but getting a rise out of Batman and using Nightwing to do it.
"He is being difficult."
Jason pushed open a metal door to the right floor. They entered a hallway. It was empty. Nothing but a dull white space without any sign of the Joker.
Jason suddenly found himself on the defensive. Just because Jason was allowed to complain about Nightwing, didn't mean Batman was.
"Just because he doesn't jump anymore at every word you say?"
"Focus, Hood", Batman said.
Jason snorted. Batman was one to talk. The old man had snapped at Jason just like Jason had snapped at him. Somehow, they always managed to get the worst out of each other.
Jason pointed at a door. It seemed inconspicuous. But Jason knew that he had stashed the kids there to keep them safe. Which had worked out splendidly.
Batman and Jason positioned themselves on each side of the door. Jason tensed and raised his gun. Still no sounds.
"No guns", Batman grunted.
"I'm using my fucking gun whether you like it or not."
Batman looked like he was about to argue.
"He's throwing kids out of window. We can't wait another second."
This seemed to shut Batman up. The Dark Knight didn't look happy though. It wasn't like Jason was happy about this either. So, the Old Man should get used to it.
"Nightwing", Batman said, "We're going in."
There was a quiet hum on the other side of the comm. As much confirmation as Nightwing could give right now. Jason felt guilty for being so hostile towards Nightwing. Playing peacemaker for Batman and Red Hood must be incredibly annoying.
Batman kicked open the door. Jason forced himself to stay methodical instead of rushing in.
They entered the flat carefully looking out for trip wires or any other traps. Jason covered Batman with his gun. Batman covered Red Hood with a raised Batarang.
They entered a living room. Jason froze. The Joker had redecorated. Green balloons were floating around the flat and goons in clown make-up were positioned in each corner of the room. A long table stood in the middle of the room. It was made up like a birthday party. Jason felt sick when he saw the street kids sitting along the table. Their limbs were bound and their faces spoke of pure terror. Bombs were strapped to their chests.
Mark sat at the end of the table. Jason tried to gauge how he was doing but Mark's head had sunk forward, obscuring his face. There was blood on Mark's shirt and on the bomb that was strapped to his chest. Tainting it with strings of blood. Jason couldn't see where Mark's wound was. The window behind him was open and the empty chair on the left side must have belonged to the dead kid, Joker had flung out of that window. Jason would never forgive himself for having allowed a child's death under his watch.
"Theeere you are", the Joker's sugar-sweet voice sing-songed as he stepped into the living room, "I thought I would have to throw another kiddie out of the window to get you to hurry up."
"Stop this madness at once, Joker", Batman growled, as if it made any difference, "No one else has to get hurt."
Jason snorted. Leave it to Batman to try to negotiate with a complete maniac for the hundredth time. Wasn't the definition of madness trying to do same thing over and over again?
The Joker grinned like a Cheshire-cat: "Isn't Batsy cute? We've been dancing this dance for so long and it's still so exciting after all these years."
"It ends tonight", Jason pointed his gun at Joker's head, "Give me one reason not to blow your head off."
The Joker widened his arms: "Mutually assured destruction. If you shoot me, Hood, I'll have Harley blow up all those kiddies."
"Harley has the detonator", Batman growled, "Where is she?"
Jason frowned. Nightwing had been right to not go in with them. If he could find Harley and get the detonator from her, he could disarm this situation. They would have been trapped without any hope if they had all rushed in. And neither Batman nor Hood had considered Harley in this situation before Nightwing had pointed it out. They had been too occupied by their squabble again to consider every angle. This conflict was making both of them worse at their respective mission.
"And I know that your sidekick went after her", Joker grinned, "She has a nice surprise for him tough. A cold awakening."
Batman and Jason tensed. Harley must have gotten one of Freeze's gun from somewhere. These weapons were turning out to be a giant pain in the ass.
Joker laughed. He seemed hysterical in his amusement. Another sick joke.
"You should see your faces. The funniest thing is if anyone else had gone after Harley, you could have saved the kiddies already. It's the only weapon I had her take."
Jason felt like a fool. The Joker had known that Red Hood and Batman would rush into this situation. They turned into hot-headed idiots when they fought together. Only focused on competing against each other and proving the other wrong. It made them predictable. They had committed the exact same mistakes during the hostage situation in the police station.
"Nightwing, did you hear?", Batman said.
Nightwing hummed in confirmation.
"Don't go after Harley. That's an order."
Nightwing made a sound of protest.
"I'm serious. It's too dangerous. I want you safely out of range."
No answer.
"Do you hear me?", Batman tried to sound strict but there was fear creeping into his voice.
It struck Jason. Batman was a sanctimonious bastard with unreachable standards who chewed you out for the slightest mistake on a good day. He had called Nightwing difficult for daring to question him. But ultimately, he always cared. Jason wondered if he was the same to Batman. A difficult but ultimately beloved son.
"Nightwing, Harley will kill you. Stand down."
Jason knew that Nightwing wouldn't stand down. Not with his deep-seated martyr complex that was now complimented by a rebellious streak. He would get that detonator from Harley even at the cost of his own life.
"Those kiddies grow up so fast, right? They grow so rebellious."
"Call this off, Joker", Batman turned to Red Hood, "Get out, Hood. Find Harley."
Jason turned to the exit. Allowing himself to follow Batman's orders. His priorities were completely different now. But the Joker's goons positioned themselves in front of the exit. Gigantic guys where even Jason had to crane his neck to look at their faces. Their faces were hidden behind cheap plastic masks and they wore wigs of green hair. Jason wanted to bash their stupid faces in.
"Nah, nah", Joker said, "If anyone leaves this room, I'll tell Harley to blow up the kiddies."
Jason turned around. Looking at the table. The street kids were shivering some of them sobbing and visibly trying to keep quiet to not draw attention to themselves.
"I'll start with this one", Joker put his hand on Mark's shoulder.
Mark flinched – his face still down.
"Mark", Jason addressed him, "I'll get you out of here. I promise."
"Don't make promises you can't keep", the Joker gripped Mark by the hair and pulled his head back.
Jason soaked in a deep breath. The edges of Mark's mouth were cut open, the cut tearing through his cheeks. His mouth had been made to look like the Clown's.
Jason was burning with rage. This had to end. Now. But the Clown had them by the neck. Six kids still left on that table. They couldn't do anything without risking their lives.
Nightwing made an unhappy sound through the comms.
Batman repeated: "Stand down. We have this under control."
Did they? There was a noose around their neck in the form of a threat and Jason had no knife to cut it.
"What do you want, Joker? What is your endgame?", Batman asked.
"Why should I have an endgame? Isn't it enough to see you suffer?"
"My suffering alone isn't a fun enough game. You want to prove a point."
Jason balled his fists. He was sick of these fucking mindgames. He wanted to act.
"Don't worry, Batsy. There is another way. I told Harley to stand down if it's you that shoots me. So, take Red Hood's gun and blow my brains out. You must have felt that need at least once in your life."
There it was. The knife that could cut the noose around their neck. The out Jason had waited for. He held his gun out to Batman. Batman's face grew ashen under the cowl. His arms didn't move.
"Take the gun", Jason urged.
"Yes, Batsy. Take the gun", the Joker sounded so disgustingly gleeful.
It sickened Jason at how such a creature was still allowed to exist.
"I'm not an executioner", Batman crossed his arms.
Jason was about to tear his hair out in frustration: "The Clown is giving you a justification to kill him. So, just fucking do it already."
"Choose Batsy. Your sidekick and all those kiddies or your precious morals."
Batman was completely frozen. Jason could see his thoughts running under that cowl. But there was nothing to think about anymore. They were out of options. They had to take the out the Clown was offering them on a silver platter.
"I know you have this aversion against guns for good reason", Hood urged, "But we can't allow ourselves that right now. There is no better option than shooting him."
Batman was frozen.
Nightwing made a reassuring sound. Jason knew what that meant. Nightwing was getting Harley.
"How many people have to die in this sick game of yours?", Jason screamed at Batman, "JUST DO IT ALREADY."
The lenses of Batman's cowl closed. He was squinting his eyes shut in the face of failure. Too overwhelmed to act. And maybe even too ashamed to face Jason.
"I'm sorry, Jason", Batman muttered.
He sounded broken. Utterly defeated. And Jason had never hated him more.
Harley was on the roof of the opposite building. Nightwing had located her quickly, her flashy outfit standing out from the dark outline of the city. He saw the blue gun in her hand.
Just seeing it made Nightwing's gut twist in dread. He imagined the ray hitting him. The substance eating itself through his electrum and poisoning his body piece by piece. It was a nasty way to die but Nightwing was ready if he had to. It was his duty to protect – his moral obligation. Nightwing had protected people the moment he had met Jason. This need had only sharpened with Batman's teachings. Nightwing wasn't eager to sacrifice himself to protect others – not anymore – but he would if he had to.
Still, Nightwing waited. Crouching behind a gargoyle. Waiting if Batman and Red Hood would come up with a plan. Listening to what was going on in the room. Hearing Joker's cruel ultimatum. Jason's anger and Bruce's desperate apology. It was this moment that Nightwing knew that Batman was out of options.
Nightwing nodded to himself, accepting whatever would happen next. Batman was without a plan. So, Nightwing would do his duty as a partner and catch his mentor.
Nightwing pulled something out of his belt. The gun felt heavy and wrong in his hand. Nightwing had snatched it from Jason when Batman and Red Hood had fought. Red Hood always carried three guns. One missing didn't affect much. Nightwing hadn't known what he wanted to do with the weapon at the time. The Talon in him had just seen it as another weapon to use. A possible option that Nightwing disliked but couldn't completely exclude.
Nightwing checked the gun. It was fully functional. Nightwing expected nothing less from Jason. Talons barely used guns as the Court had preferred old-fashioned knives. Just because a Talon used a gun rarely, didn't mean that a Talon wasn't deadly efficient with it. A Talon was a weapon that had to wield all weapons with precisions.
Nightwing observed Harley. Freeze gun in one hand, detonator in the other. Nightwing had a free shot. He could shoot her like an assassin - from behind a gargoyle. She wouldn't notice before it was too late.
But Nightwing wasn't an assassin. And not a hero either. He was a Talon trying to use his abilities for good.
So, Nightwing hid the gun in the back of his belt and approached Harley. He made a small sound to catch her attention. Harley turned around, not surprised by his presence. She pointed the freeze gun at him. Dread settled into Nightwing's stomach. He had considered Harley a friend once. A victim of a cruel and seemingly all-powerful master – just like Nightwing had been. He had hoped that they could find solidarity in each other. And they had felt that connection in the jungle just for a tiny moment in time. Now, that moment seemed too far away to matter. But Nightwing tried to make it matter again.
He signed: 'Hello, Harley.'
"You can't convert me, Zombie. I love Mr. J. I'm his partner in life and crime."
'You are if you push detonator. You still have chance to put it down and stop this.'
"Why would I do that, Zombie? I love him. I want to do this. You should leave before you make me do something, I'll feel bad about. I won't regret it though because I did it for him."
Nightwing tilted his head: 'He manipulate you. He use you as tool just like Cobb did me. People like us not matter to these monsters.'
"People like us?", Harley asked.
'Victims.'
Harley bristled at that: "I'm not a victim. I'm Harley-fucking-Quinn. I own this city together with him."
'You decide tonight. If you put this detonator down, you are victim. Someone who deserve help and protection. I give it to you. I fight for you. I know pain you go through and I do everything to support you. If you choose victimize others because someone hurt you, you become villain, too."
"You are projecting your own issues onto me."
Harley was talking like the psychiatrist she had once been.
'Maybe. But I remember you tell me that you want help people", Nightwing made a pause and added, 'Doctor Q-u-i-n-z-e-l.'
Harley froze. Rage marred her features.
"You can't fucking guilt-trip me. Leave before I shoot you."
Nightwing's stomach dropped. Harley was choosing her path.
'Batman and I can help you get away and keep safe from Joker. He not get you.'
"I don't want to get away from him. Doctor Quinzel wanted to help people but – newsflash – Doctor's Quinzel's life sucked. I chose to become a villain years ago. I want this. Get it into your slow brain, Zombie."
Harley's insult grew crueller. More biting.
'Harley is reason I can speak right now. You tell me to learn sign. You help me.'
"Go away, Nightwing", Harley's hand quivered, "Don't force me to kill you."
'You not want kill me. So, not kill me.'
"It doesn't work like that. Wanting doesn't mean anything. You know that. I'll kill you for him. Don't make me choose between him and you, Zombie. I'll put him over anything – and no matter how kind you are to me – it won't change anything."
The quiver had vanished from Harley's hand. She had lost all her nagging doubts. Nightwing knew that she would kill him if Nightwing continued to corner her. She wasn't completely devoted to the Joker. Her tiny moment of hesitation had shown it. But she was still more than devoted enough to burn the whole world for him if he demanded it. Just as Nightwing had killed hundreds of people for an organization he had hated from the core of his being.
Nightwing forced his face to stay blank. Go into mission-mode. Harley wasn't a friend in this moment. She was a target that Talon had to take out before she could take out Talon.
Nightwing raised his hands as if he wanted to sign something else but dropped them in seeming resignation.
"Go away, Zombie", Harley said.
Nightwing's right hand brushed his utility belt. He gripped the gun where Harley couldn't see it. He acted like he was about to leave.
Nightwing's attempts at convincing Harley had failed. There was only one mission left: Keep Harley from pushing that detonator.
Talons were trained to kill with every weapon. They knew what killed instantly and what gave the victim a fighting chance (the spots to avoid except in torture as Cobb had described them). Nightwing drew the gun, targeting her wriest. The side with which she was holding the detonator. It was a crazy target to take. Small and easy to miss when in motion. But Nightwing was a Talon and Talon were trained for nothing but precision – even with weapons the Court didn't like.
Harley's eyes widened in surprise. She hadn't been prepared for Nightwing to go this far. Nightwing shot at her wriest. A millisecond quicker than her. Harley shot, too. The blue blast racing out of her gun. Nightwing threw himself back. The blast narrowly going over his body.
Harley went down. The detonator clattered onto the roof.
Nightwing threw a Batarang at Harley's other hand. She screamed as it embedded itself in her flesh. Forcing her to lose the gun.
Nightwing flipped towards the detonator. Taking it and storing it in his belt. Harley stared at the freeze gun. She was about to lunge at it. But Nightwing shot his grappling gun at her ankle, pulling her back. He reached the freeze gun crushing it in front of Harley's face.
"NIGHTWING", Batman's voice sounded fearful.
Jason screamed.
Some of the dread in Nightwing's chest lifted at the destroyed gun. New dread came at seeing Harley's downed body. Her wriest was bleeding heavily. It was a less risky spot, but Harley could still bleed out if Nightwing had hit an artery and she didn't get treatment soon.
There was more panicked screaming in his comm. Nightwing fell to his knees. Taking some bandages out of his belt to wrap Harley's wriest. She was cursing at Nightwing. Screaming at him for ruining everything for Mister J.
Nightwing needed to let Bruce and Jason know that he was okay. He couldn't keep them in a state of uncertainty. Nightwing was a Talon. A good Talon reported to their maste- mentor. Nightwing opened his mouth.
A good Talon reported. A good Talon reported. A good Talon reported.
A small sound came out of Nightwing's mouth. Nothing more. He couldn't do this. He couldn't trick his conditioning. It was branded into him and Nightwing could never get rid of it. All these tricks Talon-hunters exploited to get their prize? Nightwing was just as vulnerable to them as any other Talon. He could shoot a wriest with complete accuracy and speed, but he couldn't get himself to speak once anxiety had shut down his mind.
"THE BASTARD SHOT ME", Harley screamed, "HE SHOT ME, PUDDIN'. BATS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. I'M SO SORRY, MR. J. PLEASE FORGIVE ME."
"Nightwing, what did you do?", Batman's voice was low.
Dangerous. He sounded angry. Nightwing had used a gun. He had broken Batman's first rule.
But Nightwing raised his chin. He had done what had been needed to save all these kids. It hadn't been what the larger-than-life heroes of the League would have done. They would have found another way. A way to get the detonator from Harley without shooting a gun. But it was what a Talon could do who was trying to use his abilities for good.
Nightwing pressed down on Harley's wriest. He could feel the blood taint the bandage. He must have hit one of her wriest arteries. More survivable than other arteries in her body but still dangerous.
Nightwing dialled the emergency number. A woman was on the other hand, saying: "911? How can I help you?"
Nightwing opened his mouth. He hadn't thought this through. How was he supposed to answer?
"What is your emergency?"
Harley was still cursing at him, her voice growing more sluggish. She glared at Nightwing.
"What is your emergency?", the woman grew more impatient.
This was Gotham. She must believe that this was a prank call. She would end the call and Harley would bleed out because Nightwing was too screwed up to talk.
Nightwing searched for eye contact with Harley. He pointed at his throat. She stopped cursing at him. She must see his desperation. Her eyes had grown glassier. But she was still conscious and perceptive enough to see what he was trying to tell her.
Letting go off Harley's wriest for just a moment to sign: 'Please. Tell them where we are. If we ever were friends, save yourself.'
Harley frowned. She seemed bewildered at Nightwing's actions.
But to Nightwing's surprise she opened her mouth.
"Gun shot", Harley said, "Wriest."
She told them the address.
The woman asked for more details, but Harley stayed quiet. Refusing to say anything more. Nightwing sighed in relief. She wasn't completely lost. She still wanted to save herself.
"We're on our way", the woman said, "Hold on."
Nightwing hummed. He carried Harley down onto the street. Away from that cursed roof. He carefully put her down and continued to press on her wound.
"He would have never called an ambulance for me", Harley slurred.
Nightwing tilted his head. He waited for her to elaborate. But she didn't.
Her head fell onto her shoulder. She was losing consciousness. Nightwing had to keep her awake.
He hummed the song he had hummed for Harley in the jungle. Harley needed some time to realize it. Once she did though, she sang the lyrics in a quiet, shaky voice. Nightwing smiled He leaned over Harley as her head laid in his lap and he put pressure on her wriest. Maybe their friendship wasn't as meaningless as Harley had said. Maybe it could withstand two gunshots and a detonator that had never been pushed.
Nightwing hoped that Batman and Red Hood had everything under control with the Joker. The Clown's leverage was gone now.
Batman despised guns. Even almost thirty years after the fateful night in that alley, he still jerked up from nightmares that ended with the sound of a gunshot.
In Batman's early career, there had been a handful of instances where he had frozen at that terrible noise. One of these gunshots had cost him dearly as it had hit his thigh. He had nearly bled out that night. Batman had barely dragged himself into the car, having the autopilot take him to the Batcave. Afterwards, Batman had made Alfred shoot various guns hundreds of times in the Cave – until he didn't even flinch.
Batman didn't fear guns anymore. He knew how to take one apart, maintain one, carry one and ultimately how to shoot one. But this didn't mean that he would ever use one on any living being. Even if it was handed to him by his son to kill the Joker. Even if the Joker blackmailed him to do it.
Batman couldn't – wouldn't – do it. He wouldn't kill. He wouldn't satisfy this vengeful little boy inside of him that wouldn't stop killing once Batman had started. The boy that had come out that night in that alley as Bruce had cried over the bodies of his parents.
Batman could see that vengeful, little boy inside of Red Hood. He could see how murderous and brutal Red Hood was growing. And Bruce didn't know how to keep him from descending into impulse. Jason was destroying his soul in front of Bruce's eyes and Bruce had to act now to keep him from being irredeemable.
A gunshot echoed from the other side of the comm. Bruce froze for the first time in over a decade. Pictures were flashing in front of his eyes. His parents' bodies twisting into the image of Nightwing freezing slowly from the inside. The substance eating away at the electrum in his body and making his blood vessels burst. A torturous death and everything Bruce had tried to protect Nightwing from.
Bruce shouldn't have taken Nightwing to this operation. He should have forced him to put the collar back on and send him back to the Manor. Maybe even lock him in to ensure his stubborn son couldn't follow. Nightwing would have felt angry and betrayed but he would still be alive.
"NIGHTWING", Bruce couldn't keep the terror out of his voice.
Jason was screaming. Bruce's mind was racing too quickly to understand what. The Joker was laughing.
There were only vague noises on the other side. It sounded like something was being smashed. Bruce frowned.
Harley cursed suddenly. She was alive. Bruce couldn't hear anything from Nightwing. Was he dead or just silent?
Harley's screaming became clearer. She was cursing at Nightwing. Angry at him for some reason.
"THE BASTARD SHOT ME", Harley screamed, "HE SHOT ME, PUDDIN'. BATS AREN'T SUPPOSED TO DO THAT. I'M SO SORRY, MR. J. PLEASE FORGIVE ME."
Bruce frowned. Nightwing had shot a gun? Was Harley dying? Had the Joker's game pushed Nightwing to throw all his hard-earned morals over-board? Had Bruce's teachings been this fragile?
"Nightwing, what did you do?", Bruce's voice was low as he tried to keep his anger in check.
No answer. Either Nightwing didn't want to answer or he couldn't. Bruce was about to scold his partner for daring to break Batman's first rule when something in the corner of his eye caught his attention. Jason's body had coiled into pure righteous rage. His gun was still pointed at the laughing Joker.
"You lost your leverage", Jason said, "Game over. Burn in hell."
Batman knew what Jason would do. Jason's finger was twitching on that trigger. Batman tackled Red Hood. Ripping him to the floor.
"You lost your control over your sidekicks, Batman", the Joker's voice sounded wet, "Isn't this the biggest joke of all?"
Joker was still laughing but Red Hood had hit him. There was blood spreading on Joker's purple suit.
Batman growled and reached for Jason's gun, but Jason smashed his elbow into Batman's chin. Spots filled Batman's vision. But he gritted his teeth and punched the gun out of Jason's hand. Jason procured a knife with a ragged edge and pushed it into Bruce's shoulder, slashing the Batsuit. Bruce soaked in a breath. He hadn't expected Jason to go this far this quickly. But now all the safeties were off.
Jason procured another gun from somewhere and shot at the Joker again. The Clown's laughing was growing weaker.
"Stop it, Jason", Batman tried to pin Jason to the floor, "This is over. They'll go to Arkham."
But Red Hood's strength was equal to Batman's now and Jason was able to shove him off. He stood up.
"I'm not allowing these scumbags to run free again."
Red Hood focused on the Joker's goons. They looked at their dying boss in bewilderment and helplessness.
Bang. Bang. Bang. Bang.
Red Hood executed them one after the other.
"NO", Batman screamed.
Bruce could feel red rage in front of his eyes. At this needless loss of life and Jason's arrogance to believe that he could be judge, jury and executioner all in one.
Bruce punched Red Hood in the face. The helmet broke under the force. It crumbled away revealing half of Jason's face underneath. It was twisted in rage and murderous righteousness.
Jason dodged another one of Bruce's punches and hurried to the Joker.
"Taste your own medicine, psychopath", Jason pushed the Joker out of the open window.
The Clown laughed on his way down. Bruce screamed and jumped after the Joker. He had to save life at all cost. Bruce owed it to that little boy who had learned through trauma how valuable life was.
"I'm not letting you fucking save him", Jason screamed, jumping after him.
His voice was still distorted. But the helmet had been damaged. The modulator acting up. It made Jason's voice sound grotesque. Like the voice of a vengeful machine.
Jason collided with Bruce. Keeping him from catching the laughing form of the Joker. The Joker collided with the pavement. His body hitting it with a sickening crunch.
Bruce continued falling. Frozen at the loss of life in front of him. Batman had failed. He fell until an arm gripped his chest.
"I'm not letting you die for that monster", Jason said.
Jason got both of them down. Holding them with his own line. They landed roughly on the pavement and Bruce felt the force in his knees.
The Joker's body laid in front of them. A mess of blood, bones, make-up and green hair. Surprisingly human after he had terrorized Gotham for over a decade. Red Hood had killed him. Bruce breathed heavily. Feeling his age in his long-suffering knees. He stared at the Joker. Gotham's biggest villain broken – at the hands of Bruce's son.
"WHAT DID YOU DO?", Bruce screamed at Jason.
Red Hood had never crossed the line so blatantly in front of Batman. Jason had just taken five lives in front of Bruce's eyes without any regrets. The Joker and his goons.
"I made sure we are all safe."
"You didn't save anyone. They would have gone to Arkham."
"And they would have gotten out and killed even more people."
"You don't know that. People can change. And even if they don't, they still have a right to life."
"The Joker would have changed? He would have only killed more people."
"I would have protected them."
"Like you protected that kid?", Jason pointed at the mangled body of the street kid whom the Joker had thrown out of the window.
"I can't trust you anymore, Jason. I was lenient with you because you are my son. But I can't let you keep slaughtering people."
Jason's face twisted: "So, what? You're going to throw me into Arkham for killing that monster?"
"I'm bringing you to Arkham for your own good. You can't keep killing without any restraint or moral consideration. Our morals are not above anyone else's, Jason. We can't put them above anyone else's. Before you understand that, I can't let you run around", Bruce felt the desperation in his voice.
He didn't want to send his son to Arkham. Didn't want to force him into that terrible place. But Jason was harming people. He was judging them without having any right to.
He hadn't known what had caused these Joker-goons to be here tonight. Maybe they had been in a desperate situation and needed the money. Maybe the Clown had threatened them. They didn't know.
Jason hadn't known if they could change. He had just decided that he was righteous in ending their lives when Batman and Red Hood could have easily restrained them after Nightwing had removed Joker's leverage.
Jason needed help. Help that Bruce couldn't give. Only the professionals at Arkham could. They knew how to deal with… villains. Thinking of Jason this way sickened Bruce. But what else was the Red Hood?
Only now, did he notice the blue lights that filled the streets. An ambulance was standing in the middle of it, paramedics loading Harley Quinn into the vehicle. Nightwing stood at the side, blood staining his gloves and the sleeves of his suit. Nightwing looked over to Batman. He visibly steeled his features.
The Joker had been right. Batman had lost control over both his sons. He had failed them. Made them feel like they had to resort to killing to fulfil their missions.
"You killed Harley Quinn", Batman zeroed in on Nightwing.
Nightwing shook his head and signed: 'Harley not dead. I shoot her in the wriest. Not lethal with medical attention.'
"You don't know for sure", Batman couldn't keep the disappointment out of his voice, "Guns kill."
It wasn't up for discussion. If you picked up a gun, you were ready to kill. Batman expected Nightwing to be ashamed. But Nightwing met Batman's gaze.
'I know you not like. But I a Talon. I hit where I want hit.'
"This is not over", Batman glared at Nightwing, "You are coming with me to the Cave and you better hope that I can clean up this mess you caused tonight. And you-", Batman turned to Jason, "I need you to turn yourself in. Don't make it harder than it needs to be, Jason."
"I'm not going quietly", Jason pulled another knife out of his boot.
Bruce raised his fists. He wasn't eager to enter this fight. But if Bruce didn't contain Jason now, he would continue to kill. Eventually, Jason would do something he could not come back from. Jason needed rehabilitation. He was still young enough to change his ways. Bruce needed to be there for Jason now and push him back onto the right way. Jason would appreciate it – eventually.
Jason lunged at Bruce with the knife. Bruce dodged.
He kicked Jason in the back of his knee. Jason's leg broke down from under him and he collapsed. Bruce gripped Jason's shoulder, pulling it into a tight grip. He was restraining Jason with the least pain possible.
"Yield, Jason", Bruce spoke as if they were in a training fight, "You can't win this."
Jason growled. He must know that Bruce was right. Jason had never beaten Bruce in a spar.
Jason grabbed a loose brick from the ground and smashed it against Bruce's arm. Bruce gritted his teeth. It was painful. Jason hadn't held back. But Bruce didn't let go. He took out a pair of handcuffs.
"It's for your own good, Jason", Bruce said, "Arkham will help you. They have experts who know how to help you."
"Arkham has never helped anyone", Jason spit back, "It's just as useless as you, Old Man."
Bruce felt a pinch in his chest. Did Jason think so little of him? Was their relationship so broken at this point?
A gush of wind near his face was the only warning Bruce got. A silent foot was about to hit Bruce's head. Bruce dodged - letting go of Jason in the process. Jason pulled himself free and jumped up.
Bruce came face-to-face with Nightwing. His protegee looked upset. Signing so quickly that Bruce could barely keep up.
'I not let you throw my little brother into Arkham. Jason not belong there.'
"Don't you see it?", Bruce said, "Jason has long crossed the line. He is killing people without any regard for life."
'He family. You not do that to family.'
Nightwing wasn't disagreeing with him about Jason's stance on killing. He knew about the warehouses of bloodied corpses that Red Hood regularly left in his wake.
"You of all people know what killing does to people. Jason doesn't know what it will do to him. He doesn't understand it."
Nightwing bit his lip. The new anxious habit he had developed. Nightwing knew that Bruce was right. He was defending Jason out of deep-seated loyalty. Not because he believed that Jason killing was justified. Bruce needed to convince Nightwing to stand down. Batman would defeat Red Hood. He could defeat Nightwing if the fight went his way. Both of them together? No chance.
Bruce continued: "You didn't train him to kill. You trained him to protect himself and others. He is using what you taught him to attack and torture people. For revenge."
Nightwing frowned. There was black blood staining his lip now. He shook his head as if he was trying to get Bruce's words out of his head.
"He killed Cobb against your wishes. This is about his own need for revenge – not about the wishes of the victims of the people he's slaughtering."
Nightwing froze at the mention of Cobb.
"You don't get to pull that card", Jason lunged at Bruce again.
Bruce dodged. He kicked Jason in the stomach. Jason was shoved back but retained his footing. He growled, attacking Bruce with the ferocity of an enraged bull. Bruce kept dodging him. Eventually Jason would tire himself out and Bruce could restrain him.
At least that was the plan until Nightwing flipped at him with a speed that Bruce couldn't dodge. He could only block Nightwing's foot to his collarbone. It would have been a nasty hit if it had gotten him. It would have smashed Bruce's collarbone at once. Possibly a fight-ending injury.
Jason's fist hit Bruce's cheek. He hadn't been able to evade. Still occupied with dodging Nightwing's attacks. The force ripped Bruce to the floor. Jason was so strong. And he was using all his strength for destruction.
Jason was on Bruce, his face twisted in pure rage. Bruce wondered if Jason would attack him while Bruce was down. If his rage was strong enough. Nightwing seemed to worry the same because he ripped Jason off Bruce and glared at him.
Nightwing signed at Jason: 'Not kick when down.'
Jason simply growled in response. The rage seemed to have short-circuited his brain.
Nightwing approached Bruce and restrained him with Bruce's own cuffs. His protegee looked apologetic while he pulled the cuffs as tightly as he could. He searched Bruce's utility belt and took Bruce's ice pellets out as a precaution. Bruce had taught Nightwing well. A year ago, the former assassin wouldn't have had this foresight. It made Bruce proud even in the middle of this disaster.
"You aren't helping him by shielding him from responsibility", Bruce said, "I hope you see that."
Nightwing continued chewing on his torn lip, not allowing it to heal: 'I not leave family behind.'
No. Nightwing was too loyal to do that.
Nightwing signed: 'Thank you for protect me.'
"I can't protect you anymore."
Batman wouldn't be able to justify Nightwing's behaviour to the League. Teaming up with Red Hood would be proof of his villainous nature.
'I know. I need make own decisions now and you train me good so I can.'
Bruce's eyes felt wet. Nightwing would leave. And Bruce couldn't keep him from leaving. It was his biggest fear when it came to Nightwing. His beautifully loyal son all by himself in a world that was out to get him? Terrifying.
"You're not ready", Bruce said.
Nightwing was still so traumatized. So fragile. He had barely started living and still looked so painfully young. He would look this way a long time because of his slow aging. Eventually, Jason would overtake him.
'Maybe', Nightwing's features softened, 'But I not get readier if you keep controlling me.'
It was the most Nightwing had ever criticized Bruce's parenting. Maybe Bruce had been too controlling with his protegee. But could you blame him considering the circumstances? The Court had basically installed a switch in Nightwing's mind that anyone could flip to control him if they found it. It was terrifying. How could Batman let Nightwing go out into the world with that knowledge?
'Danger part of our lives', Nightwing signed, 'And you teach me how deal. Now, I need figure out rest.'
Bruce bit his lip. He didn't know what Nightwing was searching for here. Bruce's approval? Bruce couldn't give it. He couldn't let Nightwing leave in good conscience. But Bruce knew that his approval didn't matter anymore. Nightwing had decided that he wanted to go. He only wanted to explain his reasons to Bruce – felt like he owed him this sign of respect.
'They going say lot bad things about me.'
"None of it is true", Bruce said with conviction.
Nightwing tilted his head: 'You not believe? Even when shoot Harley today?'
Bruce despised that Nightwing had used a gun. But deep down he knew that Quinn would be dead if Nightwing had wanted her dead.
"You knew what you were doing. Doesn't mean that I have to like it."
Nightwing knew what he was doing more often than Bruce was giving him credit for. He was more than a blindly obedient Talon now. Tonight, he had thought more strategically than Red Hood and Batman – who both had been blinded by rage.
'I in unique position. Everyone believe I evil and I can use it for go where League cannot.'
Bruce thought of Deathstroke's offer, his stomach twisting. He knew where Nightwing was going, and he hated just the thought of it.
"Deathstroke knows how to manipulate you. If anyone can exploit a Talon's conditioning, he can."
'He backstab me. But he not use my conditioning against me. I know.'
Everything screamed inside of Bruce. How could Nightwing be this naïve? Be this sure of Deathstroke's character of all people?
'He make me offer in Q-u-r-a-c. He not force me when he can before.'
Bruce had to admit that Deathstroke had this strange respect (and maybe even affection?) for Nightwing which mostly manifested itself in the mercenary trying to get under Nightwing's skin. It more than a bit creepy.
Bruce wondered where it came from. If Deathstroke respected Nightwing's tenacity and skills. If Nightwing reminded Slade of his son Joey. Or if it was something more sinister like a school kid pulling the pig tails of his crush. Bruce hoped it was the first two because he would hunt Deathstroke down and break every bone in his body if it was the last one.
Bruce took a deep breathe forcing himself to leave things on good terms with at least one of his children: "I don't like this, but you showed me that I can't keep you from doing what you want to do. Just remember that you always have a home here."
Nightwing smiled softly. He leaned forward and hugged Bruce. Bruce savoured the hug. It was the last he would see of Nightwing for a while. (Maybe ever, the paranoid voice in his head added.)
"I there for you if you call me', Nightwing signed.
He stood up walking towards Red Hood. Jason was waiting in the shadow. They grappled up the opposite building. Vanishing. Bruce was full-on crying now.
He heard police sirens approaching. They would get quite the sight with a crying and restrained Batman. Bruce should get out of those handcuffs and vanish. But he couldn't muster the energy to. He was mourning his sons. Both of them.
Red Hood and Nightwing fled over the rooftops. They were both outlaws once again. Right where they had started. Nightwing had thrown his shaky hero status out of the window tonight. All for Jason.
Jason didn't know what to think of it. He had hated seeing Nightwing so obedient towards the League, but he also knew that Nightwing loved the League and its shining heroes. Even if he couldn't be a part of it.
They entered an empty flat in downtown Gotham. Nightwing used a Batarang to pick the lock of the window.
Both were silent as they cleaned their bloody hands and pulled off the dirtied costumes piece by piece. Nightwing took the first shower. Cleaning himself off the blood with trained efficiency. Jason took a bit more time. When he left the bathroom in stolen clothes, he was faced with the concerned face of his big brother.
"So, you're going to play undercover-buddies with Deathstroke?", Jason asked – cutting through the bullshit.
Nightwing nodded: 'The League cannot fight Light on own terms. I need use opportunity Deathstroke give me.'
"You can't trust that bastard."
'I know. I not. But best chance for destroy Talon-trade and find D-o-n-n-a-T-r-o-y.'
"You are weirdly fixated on that Amazon. Why not let the League find her?"
'She a good person. She not deserve this.'
The cynical part of Jason told him that good people vanished every day. But he kept his mouth shut. Now was not the time for cynical comments. Not after Nightwing had thrown his sheltered hero-life over-board for Jason's sake.
Nightwing rummaged through the kitchen cabinets, procuring a first-aid kit. He indicated Jason to sit down on the couch. Jason did.
Nightwing checked Jason over for injuries. Systematic and careful at the same time. Jason let him sew his wounds shut. It was weirdly intimate. Jason hadn't had this quiet companionship with his big brother in a long time – and he wouldn't again soon.
"I can't come with you", Jason said.
Nightwing halted in the middle of sewing a wound on Jason's shoulder shut, signing: 'I know. I know you want go somewhere else. Somewhere I can't follow.'
Jason nodded: "I have to be better. If I want to rid Gotham of crime, I need to be better than Batman. I can't fulfil my mission with the threat of him throwing me into Arkham breathing down on my neck. I need to train."
Nightwing finished sewing the wound shut. He was less tender now. Jason forced himself to stay quiet.
Nightwing looked at Jason with troubled, golden eyes: 'Training I not want give you.'
"You trained me brilliantly. But I need more than to protect if I want to enact real justice."
'Revenge.'
"Revenge? Justice? It's all the same."
Nightwing looked saddened: 'Batman right. You cross lines. You going regret it.'
"I won't. I'm not like you. I'm a killer. And I need to learn from the worst of the worst if I want to fulfil my mission."
'You need worry that you not become part of the worst.'
"You only protect me from him to scold me?", Jason felt himself get defensive.
He was tired of people questioning him. Not after Jason had lost everything tonight.
'I protect you because you my little brother', Nightwing signed back, angrily, 'Because I love you and I worry about you.'
And that took the anger right out of Jason's sails. How could he be angry after that admission? Jason sighed, leaning back on the couch. Exhaustion had long seeped into his bones. Only the adrenaline had kept him from feeling it.
'Sleep, Jason. I keep watch.'
"You can't keep me from going", Jason said, "I'm going to learn what you and Batman won't teach me."
Nightwing bit his lip, drawing blood again. He draped a blanket over Jason. Nightwing's attitude screamed of a quiet exasperation that Jason was too tired to deal with. His eyes fell shut.
When Jason woke up, Nightwing was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast for Jason. The clattering of the plates was slightly passive-aggressive. Nightwing was killing him with kindness.
"Morning", Jason said.
Nightwing tilted his head. Jason could see him categorizing Jason's wounds.
"I'm fine", Jason said.
"Eat", Nightwing put an omelette on a plate.
His voice must have come back during the night. He lost it less nowadays and in shorter periods. It made Jason proud.
Jason dug into the omelette. It was horribly seasoned. Nightwing's food was always horribly seasoned. But what could Jason expect from an undead assassin who had never eaten in his life? Usually, Nightwing handed Jason spices with his food so he could make it less bland but today he didn't.
"You learn from Alfred's passive-aggressive playbook?", Jason asked, smirking to himself.
Nightwing frowned and searched for the salt. He put it in front of Jason. Then, there was awkward silence. Nightwing started cleaning the dishes. The flat looked cleaner in general. Jason suspected Nightwing had stress-cleaned during the night to get his mind off things.
Jason finished his omelette and Nightwing snatched the plate away, cleaning it as well. Meanwhile, Jason stuffed all his belongings into a duffle bag he had found in the closet. He left a crumpled hundred bucks on the table thanking their involuntary host. The flat was well-maintained but simple. Jason doubted that the owner had much money to spare for uninvited houseguests who used their things.
Nightwing put on Zatanna's glamour charm. He looked normal now. The way Dick Grayson would have looked like as an adult. No one would know that it was Nightwing underneath. The League had never told the government that Nightwing had been Dick Grayson once. And even if it had, the government had no idea what Dick Grayson would have looked like.
Batman wouldn't tell them. The old man sat on the tallest moral high horse you could imagine, but he loved Nightwing. And he would at least keep the government off his trail.
"Dick Grayson would have been a handsome guy", Jason said.
If he hadn't been killed as an eight-year-old, Jason added silently.
Nightwing looked at himself in the mirror: "I not know."
Jason scoffed: "Believe me. You better get used to girls fawning over you if you keep running around in this form."
Nightwing tilted his head. It gave him this kicked puppy look that would make him even cuter.
"I love Wally."
Jason deflated. He had tried to lift the mood a bit. But Nightwing had pulled it back into the gutter by reminding Jason that he missed his boyfriend and probably wouldn't see him for a while. All because Jason was following his mission of justice and revenge which would require him to leave Nightwing behind.
"You shouldn't have thrown everything away for me", Jason said.
"It not completely for you. I need leave for own reasons, too."
Jason didn't know what to reply to that.
He cleared his throat: "Let's go."
Nightwing had packed his own backpack. They left the flat like normal people through the front door. Jason pulled the hood of his hoodie deeper into his face.
They stepped onto the street. Nightwing put on a pair of sunglasses to cover his sensitive eyes. It was the final stop for them. They would go their separate ways now.
Nightwing to work with Deathstroke and Jason to train with people who would teach him to fight, torture and kill like a demon.
"I'm sorry for being so cruel to you yesterday. I was pissed at Bruce and used you to wind him up. I didn't mean any of it. Really shitty from me", Jason needed to clear this up in case he wouldn't come back home.
Nightwing hugged Jason. It was one of his real hugs. The most earnest kind. Jason would miss it.
"Stay safe", Jason said, "Deathstroke will stab you in the back."
"I know. You stay safe, too, Jason. I there for you if need me. I drop everything and come."
Jason knew that Nightwing was being genuine. Nightwing was always genuine.
"Protect your conscience", Nightwing clapped Jason's shoulder, searching for some final contact.
Jason's stomach churned. He nodded just to make Nightwing happy. After last night, Jason was sure he had lost the last parts of his conscience. After the Joker had torn it apart through his mind games.
Jason nodded at Nightwing one last time and left. He could feel Nightwing's eyes on his back. Wondering if they would ever see each other again. Jason hoped so. He would fight. Hopefully, his determination and willingness to do anything would be enough to survive in the hostile environment of the League of Shadows.
AN: Did I promise too much?
Jason killing the Clown was so satisfying for me to write. I hate it when he is presented as this otherworldly threat who turns people into Jokers through some weird gas when he dies. In my opinion, the Joker is so dangerous because he has no moral restraint whatsoever while Batman is led by it. Like Joker would blow up a bus of schoolchildren to win a fight which makes him so unpredictable and dangerous. Still, he is a regular guy in make-up who dies from being shot (and flung out of a window Lol – loved writing that part – I may have some unresolved issues with the Clown) like everyone else.
Also, I love writing Nightwing's and Harley's tragic friendship so much. Those two get each other but are also forced to fight each other because they are on opposing sides.
Alsooo, look at our boy Nightwing becoming confident in his Talon-abilities. He started out as a mindless Talon. Then, he became Batman's protegee and forced himself to supress any Talon-traits/skills and now he's learning that he can use his abilities in his own way for doing good. I'm a proud author.
Our trio is broken up at this point. :,(
Jason is going to study with the League of Shadows and meet some exciting characters. Nightwing is going undercover with Slade. And Bruce - the poor man - has empty-nest syndrome now. It's like your kids going off to college but far more dangerous. Well, it depends… Gotham College could be as dangerous as the League of Shadows. But honestly, give Bruce a hug. The poor man is not doing well.