AN: Things are really ramping up! Big moves are made in this chapter – probably not in the direction any of you will like *hides*.
I wasn't sure if I should warn for anything extra this chapter. I wanted to but I didn't know for what? It feels like it is at the very screwed-up baseline this series has already established for itself. Like if you made it until here, you know what to expect? Tell me though if I missed something. The self-hate is strong in this one.
…And yes I chose a title for this chapter that sounds far more cheerful than it has any right to be.
29. Mac and Cheese
Jason returned from his meeting with Themis in the afternoon. He hadn't closed an eye for the whole night. They had put the finishing touches to their plan using a full schematic of Arkham Asylum from the Batcomputer.
The big villains were all captured in a section of the basement of the asylum. Jason and Themis would meet in the sewers at midnight. From there, they would enter the asylum through a sewer grate and find the control room. Themis would use her technology to hijack the asylum's security system while Red Hood kept the guards away. Once hijacked, they would be able to close off the section to give them as much time as they needed. It was a simple plan.
Only one thing would remain for Jason to prepare: Batman needed to be out of the way for the plan to work. Jason reached for the sleeping pills in his leather jacket with a heavy heart. Tonight, he would mix them under Bruce's dinner. The man would have a good night's sleep while Themis and Jason went to work.
N could be a problem, too. Jason hoped he was still too occupied with his break-up to notice what was going on between Jason and Bruce.
In the kitchen, Jason came face-to-face with Bruce. The man looked dead on his feet as if he had just woken up. He moved to the coffee machine, absent-mindedly pressing the buttons.
"Did you just come back home?", Bruce took in Jason's boots and the helmet in his hand.
"You just woke up, old man. You aren't one to talk", Jason collected everything he needed from the cabinets to make a sandwich.
Alfred always kept the kitchen well-stocked. Jason had no idea how Alfred managed to do all the things he did within 24 hours.
"Where is N?", Jason asked, "Is he still crying in his room?"
"I sent Nightwing on a case in Washington DC", Bruce said, "He needs the distraction."
"Washington?", Jason said, "That's quite the distance from home."
He had to suppress a smile. Bruce sending Nightwing away was perfect. It would ensure that Nightwing stayed safely away from the mess that would break out tonight.
"He has proven that he can handle it."
Jason tried not to hear the implicit: While you didn't. Bruce had told Jason he loved him. There was no reason for Jason to be jealous of Nightwing.
Jason hummed while he put cheese on his sandwich and closed the slices of bread.
"Where were you last night, Jason?", Bruce asked.
Of course, Bruce had to be like that again. He didn't even trust Jason to run around in his own city.
"Calm down, old man. It's not like I'm some 16-year-old who doesn't know what he's doing."
"No, you are an 18-year-old who doesn't know what he's doing."
Jason's face fell. Bruce wasn't even hiding that he didn't trust Jason. And Jason probably deserved it considering the sleeping pills in his pocket.
"Low blow", Jason slammed the cabinet shut.
"You are planning something with your new friend."
"I am neither confirming nor denying."
"You can't trust her."
"And you deduce that after you've seen her one time?", Jason scoffed.
"I didn't find her in the Batcomputer", Bruce said.
"Her sister was ARGUS. She knows how to stay off the radar."
"What do you even know about her?"
Jason swung around: "I know that we survived the League of Shadows together and that we share certain values. It's not like I'm best buddies with her. It's more of a business relationship."
"You are blinded by your need for revenge, Jason. You are angry and you want to see the world burn for it."
"I want to see scumbags burn for it. And it's not revenge. It's justice."
"If you don't stop, I'll-"
"Throw me into Arkham?", Jason held out his wrists, "Then, do it, old man."
Bruce froze. He looked utterly defeated as if he didn't know what to do with Jason anymore.
"Thought so", Jason turned back to his sandwich.
"Jason-", Bruce broke off.
He sounded so overwhelmed. Jason almost felt bad for him. He couldn't afford himself pity though. Red Hood was on a mission. Ultimately, it would be for the good of all of Gotham. Maybe even Batman would see it.
Someone cleared their throat behind them. Jason turned around to Damian.
"I demand to be served a sandwich", Damian said.
"Make it yourself if you want one, brat", Jason said.
Bruce sighed: "Don't talk to your brother in this way, Jason. Still, Jason is right. If you want a sandwich, you need to make it yourself, Damian."
"Do we not have two servants in this household for this purpose?"
"Nightwing and Alfred are family, you piece of shit", Jason had no patience for Damian's bullshit anymore.
The kid had his soft side. Jason had caught a glimpse of it during his conversation with Damian at the pond. But Jason had too much on his plate already to hold Damian's hand. Nightwing would have been the perfect person to coax Damian out of his shell if Damian hadn't screwed it up for himself.
Damian scowled but he approached the counter and started to gather the ingredients for a sandwich. Damian looked up at the cabinets which contained the plates. He reached for them but even on his tiptoes he was far too short.
Jason took pity on him and gave him the utensils he needed. Damian scowled at him for his efforts.
"Love you, too, little bro", Jason ruffled Damian's hair to mess with him.
Damian swatted away Jason's hand.
"We still need to talk about yesterday, Damian", Bruce said in his Dad-voice, "I won't tolerate sneaking out anymore. Today, you will stay with me in the Cave until Alfred returns from his errand and is able to supervise you."
Jason didn't know what the brat had done now but it must be serious the way Bruce was barely containing his anger. He was hiding his tense expression behind his coffee mug.
Bruce turned to Jason, a desperate edge to his voice: "Or maybe your brother wants to spend some time with you, Damian?"
The old man was trying to push Damian off to Jason. No way. Jason had already done his duty in delivering the brat to Bruce. Now, Bruce could do the raising.
Maybe it had some benefits that Damian and Nightwing didn't get along for now. It at least meant that Bruce actually had to engage with his son instead of handing him off to big bird.
Nightwing wouldn't complain. He was too family-oriented for that and he would be all over Damian by now if Damian respected him enough to have a full conversation with him.
"Sounds like you're going to have wholesome family fun. I wouldn't want to get in the way", Jason said, "I'm getting some shut-eye."
Bruce sighed.
They really needed N to come back and play the mediator again. Jason had tried and utterly failed at it. Bruce and Jason already had been two explosive personalities colliding against each other. With Damian in the mix, it was a mass car crash.
He felt bad for leaving such a mess in his wake. Once this night was over, Jason would have no choice but to flee. Batman would be after him and Nightwing might have to shoulder most of the damage control.
Jason wolfed down his sandwich in the kitchen, earning himself disgusted glares from Damian. The boy sat down and ate his own sandwich with knife and fork. Jason snickered.
He went up the stairs and prepared himself for a nap. Before he went to bed, he reached for his phone in his jacket to check if N had sent him any messages. His hand came up empty.
Jason frowned, wracking his brain where he could have left his phone. He was too tired though to check any possibilities. It didn't matter. He would need to trash his phone anyway after tonight.
Nightwing reached Washington in the early afternoon. Getting there had required him to jump onto the back of a pick-up truck and hide between the cargo. Once the vehicle drove into a different direction, Nightwing had switched rides. Needless to say, it had taken him a while to reach Washington and to find the address Angela Muñoz was currently hiding in.
A completely unremarkable townhouse in a side street that was under heavy surveillance. The ARGUS-agents were in regular clothes, but Nightwing could spot them by their attentive demeanor and regular patterns of movement.
Nightwing tilted his head. The windows and doors would be locked and secured with alarms. It would be hard to deactivate the traps and enter in the middle of the day without getting seen. Nightwing spotted a chimney. He climbed onto the roof of the house evading the sightlines of the agents.
The chimney was narrow. Nightwing couldn't discern any traps or alarms. The agents must believe that the opening was too narrow for anyone to enter. Nightwing would test that theory. He took his escrima sticks off his back and let them drop down onto the roof. They would hinder him in the narrow space.
Nightwing let himself down into the chimney. It was narrow indeed and Nightwing had to contort himself to navigate through the space. It turned out that the chimney wasn't completely straight. But he scawled the walls with his claws and managed to push himself out of the opening in the kitchen. Nightwing landed on the floor with a crouch. Listening.
There were steps on the first floor above him. Two people. Nightwing creeped up the stairs. They were in the bedroom. Nightwing opened the door, raising his clawed hands in peace when a gun was shoved into his face.
There were indeed two people in the room. Angela and the agent with the gun. He was built like a giant and Nightwing had to crane his neck to look into his eyes.
"Not here for kill", Nightwing said, "Only talk."
"Sure", the agent kept his gun aimed at Nightwing's forehead.
"Put the gun down, Thornton", Angela said, "He's on our side."
Thornton kept glaring at Nightwing.
Angela continued: "I would be dead without him. I doubt he wants to kill me now."
Thornton growled but he lowered the weapon: "How did you get in here?"
"Chimney", Nightwing wiped some leftover ash from his costume.
"No way. That's too narrow for anyone to enter", Thornton looked alarmed.
"Never assume always double-check, Batman say."
Thornton sighed: "This is why I hate protection details. Some freak always finds a way to get in."
"Maybe you need to step up your game, Thornton", Angela seemed amused, "You're here to talk, Nightwing?"
"I need know if you know someone call Themis. Woman. Early twenties."
"Sorry", Angela shook her head.
"She say her sister ARGUS-agent but dead."
"We have thousands of agents and hundreds have died in the line of duty", Thornton said, "Themis is most likely a codename though. It's the name of the Greek Goddess of justice."
Angela looked at Thornton, apparently impressed: "Not bad. I didn't know you were into antiquity."
"Putting that history-degree I never finished to good use", Thornton grinned.
Nightwing tilted his head in interest. Themis being a codename would make a lot of sense. It fit her entire schtick.
He wrote a message to Bruce: "You have picture Themis?"
Bruce answered immediately. Nightwing wasn't surprised that Batman was at work again.
"Give me a minute. I can dig one up through the security cameras by scanning for Jason last night."
Nightwing hummed in satisfaction and pocketed the phone: "Batman find picture."
"So, you really are working with him", Thornton said, "The news make it sound like you are some rogue terrorist who is about to murder us all."
"News not know. Luthor lie to them", Nightwing said.
"But they gobble it up like candy", Angela shook her head, "I can't believe that all the intel I took months to gather is suddenly disregarded just because Luthor opened his mouth and lied."
"I sorry. It because I get in contact with intel", Nightwing lowered his head.
"It's not your fault", Angela said, "Luthor would have found a convenient excuse anyway and without you, the intel would have already been destroyed."
Something loosened in Nightwing's chest. He was glad that Angela didn't blame him for tainting her hard work.
"I played with the idea of going to the press", Angela said, "They need to know that the intel came from me and that you saved my life."
Nightwing frowned. He hadn't expected Angela to go the public way.
"You shouldn't leave the safehouse", Thornton said, "We're going to have to relocate you now that Nightwing has found you. Luthor might still send somebody after you."
"It dangerous", Nightwing said.
"Maybe some danger is worth it. I screwed things up by not giving the intel to ARGUS directly. We could have launched an official investigation into Luthor without risking any doubt regarding the intel", Angela turned to Nightwing, "You risked your life for me. It's only fair that I risk something for you."
Nightwing didn't know how to react. Angela seemed… grateful? It was different from the scrutiny he had encountered ever since the truth had come out.
"A government agent backing you up should count for something", Angela said.
"This is a terrible idea", Thornton said, "You could be blacklisted for this. We aren't supposed to be in the public eye for good reason."
"Maybe it's time for me to start a new career. I'm tired of playing in the shadows. Sometimes, the light is the most effective weapon."
Nightwing asked: "You have thing for write?"
Thornton gave Nightwing a pen and a paper from his uniform.
Nightwing wrote down a number.
"Donna Troy number", Nightwing said, "She and other captives want do interview with Lois Lane."
"The Amazon?", Angela asked.
Nightwing nodded.
Angela took the paper: "You aren't coming?"
"I not can."
"I'd appreciate it if you would join us."
Nightwing frowned. He was glad that his buzzing phone saved him from having to answer. It was the blurry photo of a security camera. Jason was sitting at a bar, Themis next to him.
"Themis this woman", Nightwing showed his phone to the agents.
They stared at the image for a bit.
"I can't believe it", Thornton said, "You found her."
Nightwing tilted his head.
"That's Paula's little sister", Angela said, "Paula used to bring her into the office all the time. Holy shit, she's grown up. What was her name again?"
"Ellen Jones", Thornton said, "Sweet kid but quite the troublemaker. She vanished after Paula got killed. We tried to find her but she was just gone."
"Themis say she get support from ARGUS", Nightwing said.
"No way", Thornton said, "There is still an ARGUS-file for her as a missing person."
"Maybe secret support? Not official?"
"Possible but unlikely. Thornton and I were the closest to Paula. Ellen would have come to us if she needed something", Angela shook her head, "I feared she was dead."
Nightwing frowned: "Someone else supply her. Paula die? How?"
Thornton and Angela exchanged a glance. It made Nightwing's claws twitch.
Angela's voice was careful: "Do you remember when I told you the coworker who went to Taipei for me because I was sick?"
Nightwing closed his eyes. His claws were stopped by the fabric of his gloves. Apparently, Bruce had fortified the palms to keep Nightwing from piercing them open. So, he dug his teeth into his lip. He couldn't stop himself.
Themis had gotten close to Jason to get to Nightwing. It was all part of a large plan. Jason was in danger because of him.
Nightwing truly poisoned everyone around him. He wouldn't allow Jason to fall victim to the curse though.
Nightwing's forced his mouth open: "I kill Paula. My fault. Themis after me."
"It's not that easy", Angela argued, "You were a child. I analyzed that video. I estimated you to be around 14."
"Themis not see that way." And Nightwing didn't either.
Angela looked overwhelmed. Her thoughts were racing behind her eyes.
"Wait. Who is backing Themis then if it isn't ARGUS?", Thornton asked.
Nightwing frowned. It was a theory, but he remembered Luthor mentioning some mysterious person he had given the intel to. That person had given the intel to the hostage taker. Themis had the motive and opportunity if Luthor had supported her.
Jason had told Nightwing that she had trailed him to India. There was no way a runaway without any resources could get to India and especially Nanda Parbat by herself. With Luthor's backing though…
"I suspect Luthor", Nightwing said, "Only theory though. Not sure."
Nightwing called Jason. He needed to tell him that Themis was not who she seemed. The phone rang and went to voicemail. Jason didn't take the call.
Instead Nightwing received a message: "Sorry, can't talk right now. I'm on a stakeout."
Nightwing wondered who Jason was observing.
"Who?", Nightwing asked.
"You shouldn't know for plausible deniability."
Nightwing shook his head in disappointment. Jason was involved in some shady stuff. Nightwing had tolerated it for month but maybe it was time for an intervention.
Nightwing took off his gloves to be able to type better. It still took forever. He hated writing texts. He hated writing in general. It always made him feel stupid.
"Be careful of Themis. I talk to ARGUS-ahgents. Batman give mission investigate. ARGUS not back her. I zink Luthor do. Maybe she behind leak. Not shure but likely. Keep ahway. Please, Jason. Need you be safe and wate until I come back to Gotham."
The answer came soon:
"What the hell."
"I sorry, Jason. I not zink she your friend."
"And you're sure?"
"I kill her sister in Tapei, Jason. She after me."
"Shit. Did you tell the old man?"
"Not yet."
"You can't tell him. He'll flay me for it."
"Not zink he do. Bruce understand."
"We fought again. It was serious this time."
"What happen, Jason?"
"Just let me clean up this mess myself, please."
"Too dangerous. Need Batman help."
"So, you don't think I can do it?"
"I not say that, Jason. Just very wohrry."
"Look, I won't do anything until you get here. But let's solve this as brothers. B is far more likely to forgive me if I deliver Themis to him."
Nightwing hesitated. He didn't want to get Jason in trouble. But maybe he needed to get Jason in trouble to protect him. Informing Bruce could be the right move.
Jason answered Nightwing before he could make a decision:
"If you tell, B, I'll go get her by myself. So, promise me that you won't tell him, and we'll solve it together."
Nightwing gritted his teeth at Jason's stubbornness. Jason's and Bruce's fight was tearing him apart. Getting Themis though might put an end to it. Maybe this was the wake-up call Jason needed.
Jason continued: "She's our problem. B doesn't need to get involved in this mess."
Nightwing sighed. Jason was right. Themis was Jason's friend and she had only befriended him because she was after Nightwing. Bruce shouldn't have to clean up their messes. Nightwing wouldn't burden his loved ones any more than he had to.
Nightwing bit his lip when he wrote: "I promis I not tel B."
"Can you be back before midnight?"
Nightwing calculated how long the way would take him. He needed some leeway depending on the available vehicles. But he would make it if he went now.
Nightwing wrote: "Yes."
"Great, Themis and I are meeting tonight at midnight in the sewers. We can get there first and ambush her. No big deal. She won't see it coming. No need for the old man to get involved."
"Good plan. I on way."
Jason sent Nightwing the exact location in the sewers. Nightwing tilted his head in interest. It was directly under Arkham Asylum. The weak spot that Waylon has used for his numerous escapes.
Nightwing added: "See you. Love you very much, Jason."
"I'll see you."
Nightwing frowned at the lack of a 'Love you' back. Jason called him a sap for writing and saying it so often, but Jason always replied usually. He had to be under a lot of stress. Nightwing couldn't blame him. Jason had just found out that his friend had never been his friend at all.
So, he pocketed his phone and nodded at Angela and Thornton: "Be safe."
"Good luck", Angela said.
They followed him into the kitchen.
"I want to see how someone manages to squeeze themselves through this damn chimney", Thornton grinned in anticipation.
Nightwing shrugged and climbed into the chimney. He scaled back up, digging his claws into the porous stone. Nightwing didn't know how he could have gone without his claws for so long. They felt so natural at his fingertips.
"Do you even have bones, kid?", Thornton sounded incredulous, "This is so unfair. I'm never signing up for a protection detail ever again."
Nightwing chuckled as he pulled himself out of the chimney. He picked up his escrima sticks and strapped them to his back again. Maybe not everything would be lost. Jason and Nightwing would solve this together as they had always done.
And then Jason might lay his mission to rest once and for all.
Bruce and Jason sat in the dining hall. It largely quiet except for the ticking of the old grandfather clock. The atmosphere that hung between them was tense. Jason had been surprised to see Bruce at the table mulling over a plate of Mac and Cheese. The dissatisfaction on Bruce's face was visible.
"No way Alfred made that", Jason got himself a plate and cutlery, "I don't think I've ever seen you eat Mac and Cheese."
"Alfred is too busy with watching Damian. So, I made something myself", Bruce's face lighted up in an attempt to be positive about the substandard meal – substandard meaning anything below gourmet-level for Alfred.
Jason couldn't help but be impressed by Bruce. The man was trying.
Jason showed Bruce a thumbs up: "I didn't know that you know how to make it."
"I can't. I had to look it up online."
Jason scoffed: "You're more hopeless than N and he doesn't even have to eat. What's your excuse?"
"I have never seen Nightwing cook anything", Bruce said.
"He tries, mostly with videos. He used to cook for me after school", Jason said, "And he's not terrible. He just can't season for the life of him. He used to put far too much salt into everything and when I told him that, he put salt into nothing. And he has no idea what counts as an acceptable choice for breakfast, lunch or dinner. So, it was a lot of scrambled eggs with bacon for lunch."
Bruce chuckled. Some of the tension between them melted away. It made what would follow even harder.
Jason reached into his coat. He could feel the dose of pills in his hand. This was the moment where Jason would irreversibly break his relationship with Bruce. He would take him out with the pills, go to one of his safehouses to get his equipment and meet up with Themis at midnight in the sewers.
Jason took a bite of the dish. It reminded him of home. Catherine had often made Mac and Cheese when Jason had been a child, and N had occasionally done it, too.
"In fact, this could use some more salt", Jason said, "Don't you think, Bruce?"
Bruce frowned and tasted the dish: "I think it's fine."
"Your snobby tastebuds are just not used to the taste of a real Mac and Cheese", Jason said,
"You need more salt. Trust me."
Bruce frowned but he stood up to get the salt dispenser from the kitchen. Jason took a deep breath. He leaned forward and dropped three pills into Bruce's glass. The maximum amount. Bruce was a big guy and his training had given him a certain tolerance against medication. Three pills should be necessary to knock him out until morning.
Jason bit his lip as the pills dispersed in the water. His hands were wound tight around the cutlery. This felt terrible. A betrayal that Bruce would never forgive him. Jason would lose Bruce after this and Nightwing would be pissed off at Jason. Jason doubted that his big brother would cut ties completely, but he would be hurt on Bruce's behalf.
It was inevitable, Jason reminded himself. They had never been destined to be a happy, little family with Red Hood's and Batman's missions clashing so violently. Jason was only ending this definitively rather than painfully drawing it out.
Bruce returned with the salt dispenser. He added some to his meal and handed it to Jason. Jason generously sprinkled salt on his food to not seem suspicious to Bruce. He tried the Mac and Cheese now. It tasted terrible but Jason kept a straight face.
Bruce took another bite and frowned at the taste: "I guess my taste buds are too sensitive after all, chum."
Jason halted. Why did the old man have to be so damn likeable now with his dad jokes and terms of endearment? It made the itch in Jason's chest swell to unbearable intensity.
Bruce reached for his glass to wash the taste away. He took a generous sip, emptying half of the glass. Jason had chosen tasteless and colorless pills for that very reason.
"Ha", Jason said, "It's delicious this way, you heathen."
Bruce took another bite as if to test this statement and another. Jason kept a close eye on him. After a while, Bruce had cleared his plate and his glass. The man might have been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but he didn't waste even mildly terrible food. Not that Bruce was exposed to bad food often with Alfred around. Another trait that Jason could respect.
Bruce yawned. He frowned in confusion.
"Tired, B?", Jason asked.
"Strange. Usually, I'm far awake by now."
It was right before patrol time.
"Peasant food knocking you out?", Jason grinned.
Bruce stood up. He looked as if he had taken Jason's statement as a challenge. His steps were uncoordinated, almost leading him to stumble.
Bruce's frown deepened. He reached for the glass, looking inside. There was nothing to see. But Bruce knew.
Bruce's eyes met Jason's. They were ripped wide open. It was the first time Jason would describe Bruce as vulnerable.
"What did you do, Jason?", Bruce had to hold himself up on the table.
Jason stood up and gripped Bruce's arm. The man swayed and tried to rip himself free. But Jason didn't let up as he pulled Bruce towards the couch. He had to use his full body weight to restrain Bruce who still posed a challenge even in his weakened state.
Jason pushed Bruce down on the couch. Bruce tried to stand up, but his legs buckled under him, making him sink into the cushions. The three pills were doing their job thoroughly.
"Jason", there was despair in Bruce's voice.
"It'll be okay", Jason said, "They are just sleeping pills. You'll just get some rest and be as good as new tomorrow morning. I promise."
"W- What are you doing?", his hand shot out, gripping Jason's lower arm.
"I'm finishing my mission", Jason said, "This is nothing against you. It's all about justice and what is right for Gotham."
"You a- a-are making a missstake", Bruce slurred as his body sank into a lying position.
"I'll solve this on my own. It's better for you and Nightwing to stay out of it", Jason said apologetically.
"Theeemis."
"Yes. I'm working with her. She's my partner."
Bruce shook his head weakly, as he struggled to keep his eyes open: "No, Jason. Not trust. N's mission-"
"Just calm down", Jason took a blanket from the other couch and draped it over Bruce, "You are right. Nightwing is on your little secret mission. He'll be safe from the fallout. You have Themis all wrong. She wants the best for Gotham. We both do."
Bruce looked frustrated, opening his mouth again. But his movements were too uncoordinated to form any coherent words. The grip on Jason's arm slackened until Bruce's arm fell back onto the couch.
Jason took a deep breath, relieved that Bruce was out now. Seeing Bruce's betrayed expression had hurt more than Jason could have anticipated. It would haunt him.
He cleared the table and wiped the cutlery thoroughly to eliminate any evidence.
Then, he walked up to Damian's room. Apparently, Alfred had wrangled Damian into playing a puzzle game. Alfred was telling Damian stories about England while Damian moped about having to do childish activities. It was endearing. One of these moments where Damian just looked like a kid instead of an entitled prince. Jason would even miss the brat after this.
"Bruce made dinner. There is still some Mac and Cheese left", Jason said, "Bruce was very tired, so he laid down on the couch."
Alfred frowned: "The young master cooking and napping instead of patrolling?"
Jason nodded at Damian, quirking his lips: "Apparently, something has been draining his energy."
Alfred looked delighted: "Maybe the young master will finally prioritize his fatherly duties over Batman. Skipping a patrol now and then can only be beneficial for his health."
"Yep", Jason said, "So, we better let him sleep. I'll cover Gotham for him."
"It is a miracle. You children truly have allowed Bruce to heal in a way he has not been able before."
Jason bit his lip in guilt. He nodded at Alfred and the demon and went down the stairs, getting out of the house as quickly as possible. It was time for Red Hood to gather his things.
Themis was hidden in the bushes on the side of the road that led to Wayne Manor. She watched the building closely.
"Come on, Jason", she muttered.
Tonight, was hinging on Jason to work. She needed him to do his part, so she could do hers. But it was taking far too long and things were getting close.
Jason's phone buzzed: "I close to Gotham."
Themis gritted her teeth. Seeing messages from this murderous psychopath always made her blood boil. She didn't understand how Jason could have such a blind spot for this killer.
Tonight, she would show Jason who he was protecting. It was time for Nightwing to take accountability for what he had done. For Paula to be avenged.
It had been convenient for her that Nightwing had left town for Batman's mission. One less annoyance to interfere with her plan before it could spring shut.
Too bad that Nightwing's investigation had allowed him to deduce Themis' true motives. Her entire plan would have collapsed if Nightwing had contacted Batman first. It had only been Nightwing's loyalty for Jason that had saved Themis' plan. She had played right into it so that Nightwing would be where she wanted him to be. Themis needed just one final puzzle piece from the Manor to make the trap perfect.
She was waiting for Jason to leave so she could get it. He had told her that he would go to one of his safehouses before their meeting in the sewers to gather his equipment. This was the window she needed. With Batman out, the Manor was without a protector.
A red motorcycle left the Wayne grounds and crossed the road in front of her. Themis smiled to herself. This was going well.
Themis answered Nightwing's message with a thumbs-up, pocketing the phone. He would be exactly where she needed him to be.
She put on special goggles – courtesy of Lex Luthor – that allowed her to see any alarm system such as laser traps. Themis found a considerable number on the Manor grounds, but the tech allowed her to avoid them.
She looked up, identifying one of the windows as Jason's. Her observations of the Manor were paying off. Jason had sneaked out of his window often enough. Themis would sneak in for a change.
She climbed up a tree near Jason's window and picked the lock. Paula had been the one to teach her how to pick locks. It had been a fun bonding activity for them. Not a classic hobby but they had never been conventional. Their nuclear family had been lost the moment their parents had died in that car crash.
Themis considered those years with Paula the happiest of her life. They had been a mess.
Paula the overwhelmed young adult who should have never been pushed into so much responsibility and Themis, the teenager with anger issues and freaky powers that could only be used to hurt. Somehow, they had made their little chaos work.
Then, a psycho with a knife had destroyed it.
Themis hadn't known the truth for years. It had been covered up – by the Court as it turned out.
After Paula's murder, she had been pushed from foster home to foster home. Too angry for anyone to keep. Themis hadn't stayed in foster care long. She had been sick of the pitying glances soon, deciding to run away and find her own way.
Gotham's callousness had been a welcome change. In this town, she could make it on her own with her rage and her strange meta-powers. The power of justice was especially potent in a city where everyone was drowning in their sins.
Only Lex Luthor had shown her the truth.
Themis had cried when she had seen the Taipei-tape. Her sister had been different from the others. She hadn't run away without plan or – even more foolishly – tried to fight. No. Paula had tried to escape through the window. And she had almost made it climbing over a pile of bodies.
But then that little psychopath had seen her, and Paula had known that she wouldn't be able to fight or run from him. Instead, she had desperately tried to get through to him.
For a moment, it had looked like she had succeeded. He had tilted his head. He had heard her. If anyone could have done it, it had to have been Paula. The warmest and most protective person in Themis' life.
But it hadn't been enough. The little psychopath had shoved his claws into her stomach, killing her within seconds. And to add insult to injury, he had closed her eyelids as if he cared. No. Nightwing didn't get to pull this act – the one of the tortured, remorseful killer. Themis saw right through his little façade.
Even if he felt bad about it, it didn't change anything. Themis' sister was still dead and Nightwing's aura was a deep blackish red. No matter what he did, he couldn't wash off that blood.
Seeing him in the Manor had only strengthened her resolve. Nightwing had caused so much pain in the world. He didn't deserve to have an adoring little brother, a mentor in Batman and to be accepted by the world's hero community. He needed to burn for Paula's sake and for the hundreds of other victims.
So, Themis entered Jason's room and listened for the voices. Just what she needed.
Nightwing hurried through the sewers. He straightened his back trying to shake the unwelcome memories that came up every time he entered the sewers. The Gotham Court wasn't far off. The place where Nightwing had been held captive and tormented for years – the place where Dick Grayson had died.
Nightwing felt himself grow increasingly unsure. This felt like a bad plan. It would be far safer to have Bruce with them. If Themis worked with Luthor, she could pull out all kinds of tech. Probably even something that could restrain a Talon. It would turn Nightwing from an alley for Jason to a liability. They needed Batman.
Nightwing would try to convince Jason to tell Bruce once they met. Bruce would never reject Jason for hurt feelings when it came to a life and death matter. They could put everyone's hurt feelings aside for safety.
Nightwing reached the spot, looking for Jason. Someone approached from a sidearm. Two sets of steps. Nightwing tilted his head.
"CREATURE, RUN", someone screamed.
It was Damian. Nightwing froze. What was his youngest brother doing here? Why would Damian tell him to run? The kid didn't even view Nightwing as human and in return, Nightwing didn't particularly like Damian.
Still, he was supposed to be the kid's big brother. He couldn't just leave Damian no matter the animosity between them.
"Shut up, brat", Themis stepped out behind the wall.
She had a knife to Damian's throat. His limbs were bound with zip-ties. It looked painful.
"Themis", Nightwing tried to reach out for Damian.
The kid's face was blank. He was trying to keep up his haughty demeanor.
"No step further", Themis said.
"What this?", Nightwing asked, "Where Jason?"
Themis took a phone out of her pocket and dumped it into the sewer water. Nightwing froze. He had walked into a terrible trap. How stupid could he have been?
"Savor the feeling", Themis said, "This is how Paula felt before she died. There was no escape for her either."
"Paula Jones", the name weighed heavily on Nightwing's tongue, "You Ellen Jones, her sister."
Themis scoffed: "They told me you were a mindless, little puppet. But you figured it out like some wannabe-Sherlock Holmes. Another reason why I don't buy the innocent act you put on."
Nightwing looked at Damian. He looked unharmed apart from the knife to his throat. Nightwing couldn't move without risking him.
"I sorry for your sister", Nightwing raised his hands.
"Did you even remember that she existed?"
Nightwing saw no point in lying: "Much part of my life is very blurry or gone. The Court scramble much my memories."
"And there you are: Pulling the innocent act again."
"I not believe I innocent", Nightwing said, "You right. I kill her. I deserve burn for it. But Damian not part of this. He innocent."
"There is no innocent bone in this brat's body. I see his aura. Not as red as yours but considerable. 10 and already a psychopath."
Damian flinched.
"He a child. Please, Themis. I come with you. I do what you want. Let him go", Nightwing went on his knees and put his hands behind his head.
"You think I buy this act? No. The brat is my security. He'll face judgement like everyone else."
"Judgement?"
"I'll make him feel all the pain he's ever inflicted. Let's see if his little heart can take it."
Nightwing could see it in front of his eyes. Damian writhing on the floor in pain. Jason had told him about Themis' powers. Nightwing didn't know what to think of them. But no matter whether they were real justice or not, it wasn't fair to punish a child for pain he had been forced to inflict.
Damian was too young. He could still change. Unlearn what had been branded into him.
"He not know any better. They raise him like a killer", Nightwing said.
"Tell that to the dozens of people he has killed. He's a psychopath."
Nightwing felt irritation flare up within him. How could Themis already write off a child as irredeemable?
Nightwing looked at Damian: "Ignore what she say, Damian. You not lost cause."
Themis scoffed: "Like you?"
Nightwing frowned. Confused.
"No. Not like me. I different. Worse."
Nightwing had never been a child. He had always been created as a monster trained to kill. Someone forced into the disfigured corpse of a child.
"Damian kid", Nightwing didn't want to talk about himself, "You not can just ignore reasons for what he do. Not fair."
"It isn't fair to the family members who have lost their loved ones."
Nightwing's teeth dug into his lips. He was losing this. There was no way he would get through to Themis.
"We are under Arkham Asylum", Themis said, "This is the entrance that Croc uses to escape."
Nightwing looked up, spotting a sewer grate above them.
"You are so good at following orders, aren't you? So, how about you open that sewer grate for me and take out the guards."
"What your plan?"
"Cleanse Gotham of its irredeemable filth – you included", Themis' gaze was cold, calculating.
It made Nightwing shiver. He met Damian's eyes again. The boy's façade was cracking. Terror was flittering across his features.
Nightwing needed to end this quickly even if it would kill him. And Nightwing made no mistake. If Themis could truly turn all the pain you had inflicted against you, Nightwing was dead. He had brought too much suffering into this world to survive something like this – even with his Talon-physiology.
A part of him welcomed such a death. There was something poetic in it. A cosmic justice for everyone Nightwing had forced to suffer – Dick Grayson most of all. With Nightwing dead, Dick's body could finally rest.
Nightwing didn't know where he would end up in the afterlife. He wasn't sure if he believed in any heaven or hell. He believed in the idea of a soul and that he had already lost it. There was no way someone like Nightwing could still have a soul or deserved one.
Maybe the pain Themis inflicted on him would count for something together with the people Nightwing had saved. Maybe it would keep him from being punished in the darkest corners of the afterlife. Nightwing didn't expect to be rewarded but it would be nice to not have to suffer with the biggest monsters. Nightwing had tried after all, even if all the efforts in the world would never be enough.
"Open that sewer grate", Themis ordered him.
Nightwing nodded at Damian, trying to reassure him. The boy would survive. If Themis' power was truly justice, it wouldn't kill a child.
Nightwing climbed up a ladder. He pushed his body against the grate but found himself too weak to open it. They must have reinforced it against Croc. Instead, Nightwing pushed his claws through the opening of the sewer grate, turning the screws. It was cumbersome work and his claws slipped multiple times. But Nightwing managed to loosen all of the screws. This time, the grate budged.
"Take out all the guards", Themis said, "Don't even dare disobeying or the little psycho will regret it."
"I do what you want. Not hurt him", Nightwing said.
He slipped through the opening. Gotham's most notorious villains were all caught behind glass. Nightwing came face-to-face with Killer Croc. He was sitting on the cot in his tiny cell, staring at Nightwing with disbelief.
Waylon stood up: "Zombie? What are you doing here? Are you here to bust me out?"
Nightwing didn't have any energy to talk to Waylon now. He tilted his head, listening for the guards. One of them was approaching from the end of the hallway, raising his gun.
Nightwing rolled out of the way of the bullet and kicked the gun out of the guard's hand. He restrained the guard with his own cuffs. The man screamed before Nightwing could gag him. Nightwing sighed as more guards ran at him, attracted by the noise. He threw a Batarang at them to take their guns.
Nightwing jumped up when two guards ran at him from both sides, kicking them with a split in the air. They went down. Nightwing flinched at the cracks coming from their bodies. He looked down at the unconscious men. One of them definitely had their collarbone broken.
Great. Add that to Nightwing's infinite pain count.
One burly guard lunged at Nightwing. He held out a tranquilizer needle trying to push it into Nightwing's neck. Nightwing gripped his wriest, and pushed his hand back.
The guard's eyes widened. Nightwing tranquilized him with the needle making the man drop to the floor.
Nightwing tilted his head again, listening for more guards. The villains were moving in their cells, some jeering at the show.
"What the hell, Zombie? What are you doing?", Waylon asked, "I thought you were a hero. But you are working with Deathstroke?"
Waylon's doubt in him hurt. But Nightwing ignored him as he had no time to explain.
He approached the sewer grate and looked down at Themis: "Everything clear."
"I'll cut the boy's throat if you are lying", Themis said.
"I not lie", Nightwing gritted his teeth in annoyance.
He had been an assassin, not a liar.
Themis climbed through the opening, pulling Damian with her. She looked satisfied with the knocked-out guards.
Themis held out something to Nightwing. A gun.
"It's a freeze gun, courtesy of Mister Freeze", Themis said, "I want you to shoot yourself with it."
"You want me kill myself? You let Damian go then?"
"It won't kill you", Themis said, "Just knock you out so that you can't betray me."
Nightwing took the gun: "Promise me not hurt Damian."
"The brat will survive if he deserves it", Themis pushed the knife closer to Damian's throat to mark her words.
Blood tinted the blade. Damian was trying very hard to keep a straight face.
"Unhand me, wrench", Damian ordered.
Themis scoffed and slapped him. Damian's gritted his teeth at her. Nightwing recognized his reaction for what it was: That of a desperate, little boy who knew that he had lost. They both had.
Nightwing closed his eyes in defeat reminding himself that he deserved this. He had wanted to burn. Now, he would burn. Themis would make sure of it.
Nightwing held the gun up to his chest and shot. The ice pierced his chest and made his body crumble to the ground. Nightwing embraced the unconsciousness.
When he regained consciousness, Nightwing's eyes were still closed. It felt too exhausting to open his eyelids. He was lying on the floor, curled up in a fetal position. A deep coldness had settled in his chest. The cold came from everywhere. From inside him, from the ground – even from the air around him. It felt like it would never leave.
He forced open his eyelids. Everything around him was foggy with mist hanging in the air. He was behind the glass now, locked in one of the cells. The cold was unbearable. It made his body heavy and tired. Nightwing suspected that Themis had used the same mechanism that kept Mr. Freeze's cell cold.
Nightwing just wanted this pain to end. But he needed to get out of here. For Damian. He didn't know where the kid was or what Themis had done to him. So, Nightwing tried to push his body into a straight position. His legs were too heavy. Panic rose within him, and he tried to stretch his arms. Maybe he could pull himself over the floor with his claws.
But his arms wouldn't move. Nightwing looked down at himself with exhaustion. Something cold was clasped around his neck. The familiar feeling of the inhibitor collar. His arms were restrained in a straitjacket and his ankles tied together with zip-ties that dug into his skin. They were glinting in black blood.
The tightness of the restraints made Nightwing panic. He needed to get out of here. But how could he get out of here if he couldn't even move? The cold damned him to a barely conscious state that ensured he stayed aware but ultimately passive.
Themis had restrained him with scary accuracy. Not even the Court had been this thorough with its Talons. There was no way Nightwing could get out of here on his own. He was stuck.
The realization made his body relax. Nightwing went lax on the floor, the cold making him feel floaty. There was a freedom in realizing that he was powerless. That he didn't need to make the hard decisions anymore because he wasn't allowed to. He could just go with what his captor wanted with him. It felt just like in the Court and the screwed-up part of Nightwing's brain had craved it.
Nightwing found himself laughing. A weak, but continuous chuckle that must look completely insane to anyone watching him. He was at the end of his rope and the only thing left to do now was laugh about it.
Or was he crying about it? Nightwing's head was too clouded to know.
Themis approached the cell, her expression annoyed: "What is so funny?"
Nightwing tried to open his mouth. He didn't know what to answer. But it didn't matter because his voice was gone again.
"The straitjacket is a nice touch, isn't it? Truly makes you look like the deranged lunatic you are", Themis smirked at him in satisfaction.
Nightwing tried to ask for Damian, but his vocal cords felt brittle in the cold, as if one word could make them break. His signing was gone, too. Impossible with the restraints.
He had stopped laughing. Maybe he wasn't completely deranged then. But there wasn't much left to push him over the edge now.
Maybe Themis' power would drive him insane. Leave him as just another Arkham-patient. He certainly was freakish enough to fit in here. He had the screwed-up history, the body count and the disfigured look. A broken, little puppet who had utterly failed at cutting his strings.
"We're waiting for Jason", Themis said, "He's going to be here soon to witness your judgment."
Nightwing allowed his mind to just drift away. He would burn soon. Killed by the weight of his past crimes. The self-destructive streak within him awaited it eagerly.
Nightwing knew that his self-destruction had been responsible for breaking his relationship with Wally. This gigantic part of Nightwing that Wally just couldn't love. Nightwing couldn't blame Wally. He hated that part of himself, too. And he hated that he was still self-aware enough to hate it.
AN:
:,( :,( :,(
…I continue to be amazed by how utterly Nightwing hates himself.
But do you know that feeling when everything goes utterly wrong, and you just laugh about it because you don't know what to do anymore? No? Is it just me? Okay.
So, the trap sprang shut and Jason really dug his own grave. Let's hope he can get his family out of it!
Also, holy shit this story is getting long. I've never juggled so many storylines, but I feel like I've finally made them run together.