AN: I'm a bit late. So, I left you on that cliffhanger a little bit longer than usual. But this was one of the hardest chapters I've ever written and had to make it *perfect*. I'm also still answering comments so don't worry!

This is a complete angst-fest of +7000 words by the way. Be prepared, people. Also, prepare for a lot of philosophical discussions regarding the nature of justice because that is what we *really* come to fanfic for. ;)

Warnings for: Torture, suicidal tendencies/actual suicide and referenced pedophilia (regarding the last one nothing actually happens on-page, it's just referenced in connection to the Mad Hatter)

BlueBird183: Vielen Dank für deinen Kommentar! Immer schön dich hier zu sehen! :D

Armer Nightwing ist das Motto von jedem Kapitel – besonders von diesem! Wir sind doch alle ein bisschen gemein zu unseren Lieblingscharakteren. Meinen Lieblingscharakter erkennt man immer daran, wer am meisten leidet. ;)

Nightwing und Wally sind immer in unserem Herzen dabei! Die beiden müssen es mal hinbekommen. Es wird immer trauriger, je länger sie getrennt bleiben.

Armer Jason. Themis hat ihn ganz schön reingelegt und er hat es immer noch nicht gemerkt.

Es wird noch einen weiteren Teil geben! Ich habe Pläne für noch eine storyline. ;)

Kagome04: Thank you so much for commenting! I'm so happy you are loving this story! I'm happy to deliver this chapter today! It's a juicy one! We're going to see Bruce's reaction. It's going to be painful. Poor Bruce.

30. Judgement

At midnight, Jason arrived at the meeting spot in the sewers. He frowned when Themis wasn't there. The tunnel was empty. His eyes wandered up, spotting the opened sewer grate. Had Themis already started without him?

Jason's question was answered when Themis peeked through the hole down at Jason. She grinned in triumph.

"You started without me?", Jason asked, irritation rising within him.

"I set everything up without you. The asylum is under our control."

"I thought we were partners. How long have you been here?"

"I saw an opportunity and I took it. You gonna come up or not?"

Jason sighed. Themis' powers might be useful, but she was far too unpredictable as a partner-in-crime. It made Jason question if he should work with her in the future.

When all the big villains were down, Red Hood would take over the entire city to ensure that no new player would fill that vacuum. Maybe Talia would even back him up with her new Shadows. At least, Jason hoped that Talia would come out as the victor. He refused to entertain the possibility that she would lose to Ra's.

Jason climbed up the ladder and entered the Asylum. Red light was filling the hallway, but heavy metal doors had closed off this section of the asylum from other parts. Jason frowned at the guards that littered the floor.

"You took them all out yourself?", Jason asked.

"You doubting me? I trained with the Shadows, too, you know?"

Jason stayed quiet. He was growing tired of Themis' snappy attitude.

"So", Themis whirled around, raising her arms, "Look at all these freaks. They are ours now."

Jason looked around. Two Face, Mad Hatter, Professor Pyg, Scarecrow, Poison Ivy, Killer Croc, Clayface and Harley Quinn. All caught in their cells with only a glass wall dividing them from Jason.

The villains were watching them closely. Their gazes still as if they were the predators and not the prey tonight. Jason and Themis would soon show them that the time where they could torment people without consequences was over.

"You ready to have some fun?", Themis grinned, "Who are we starting with? I'll let you decide as compensation for starting without you. We arepartners after all."

Jason frowned in surprise. Themis' generosity was a departure from her snappy attitude. Apparently, she was more interested in keeping Jason happy as her partner-in-crime than Jason had expected.

Red Hood walked along the hallway. On his way, he crossed Killer Croc's cell. The man was thumping against the glass, his tail lashing out. Croc was screaming something, but his voice was dampened.

"I silenced his cell", Themis said, "He's been like this the whole time. Very annoying."

Jason ignored Waylon's railing and looked at the control panels at each cell door. There was a button to open the cell and another one to soundproof it if an inmate got rowdy. Arkham had become quite the high-tech institution.

"You wanna start with him?", Themis asked.

Waylon kept thumbing against the glass. Themis held up a remote and used it to shock him. His body convulsed as he dropped to the floor. Jason wondered which charge could be strong enough to knock out Killer Croc.

"That's gonna keep him still for a while", Themis said, "Took the remote from one of the guards."

"We're not starting with him", Jason said.

They wouldn't judge Waylon at all. Nightwing would never forgive Jason if Jason killed his friend. But Jason wouldn't mention it to Themis for now. He wanted to keep the peace until they had eradicated the unquestionable monsters. They could hash out more details once those were dead.

Red Hood stopped in front of a cell, its occupant so small that he barely reached to Jason's waist.

The Mad Hatter grinned up at Jason. His face had always been too smug for his own good. Very punchable.

"Him?", Themis stepped next to Jason, "He is b-list at most."

"You know what he does to young girls? He's been right next on my list."

Themis tensed. She looked at the Hatter with renewed hatred. In Red Hood's books, the Hatter belonged to the same tier of irredeemable as the Joker and Zsaz.

"You are too old to become my Alice, dear", Hatter grinned.

Themis stomped towards the control panel. She opened the cell, pressing the button to Tetch's shock collar at the same time. Tetch dropped to the ground, ripping at his shock collar. Themis let him twitch on the ground for a moment before she stopped the shocks and gripped the Hatter by the throat.

Pure black energy emanated from the Hatter's body. Themis pulled the energy into herself, glowering down at the Hatter. Jason knew that he had made the right choice then. Tetch was a monster. He deserved to die in the most painful way possible. And Tetch was in pain the way his mouth was ripped open in pure agony, his eyes looking as if they would drop out of his sockets.

Hatter's body gave out quickly. Jason had to swallow some disappointment at the quick demise. He had to remind himself of the most important thing: Hatter would never make another Alice again.

"Well, that was anticlimactic", Themis dropped Tetch's body and stepped out of the cell, "I guess his tiny heart couldn't take it. My pick."

Arkham grew more restless after the villains had witnessed Hatter's demise. The villains shuffled in their cells. They were restless now that Red Hood and Themis had shown themselves as genuine threats. Themis grinned at them.

She turned to Professor Pyg. He squeaked when their gazes met, stumbling back.

"Let's slaughter that pig", Themis entered his cell.

Red Hood watched with crossed arms while Themis tortured the life out of Pyg. The man survived longer than Tetch, but ultimately his body dropped to the ground with one final squeak.

"Your turn", Themis said.

She seemed energized. Grinning widely. Her fists were balled, and her face glowed with an eagerness to bring justice. Jason felt similar. There was something intoxicating about what almost felt like a game. Killing one irredeemable monster after another. These psychopaths had brought so much pain to Gotham and its inhabitants, and they were ending it with one decisive blow.

Red Hood wouldn't allow for criminals like this to ever roam free in Gotham again. Gotham and its inhabitants were under his protection.

Jason looked at the remaining villains, his eyes stopping on Scarecrow: "He is so eager to make people fear him. Let's see if he can take it himself."

"I like your thinking, Hood", Themis entered Scarecrow's cell.

"Prepare to be scared, girl?", Crane said, "I can assure you that I will not succumb to your mind games as the others have. My mind is too strong. I am the Master of Fear."

"Let's test it", Themis gripped Crane's arm.

The man's face stayed stoic. He glowered at Themis. She glowered back. Jason entered the cell so he could intervene in case this battle of wills didn't go in their favor.

Crane's face cracked suddenly. He let out an ear-piercing scream that made goosebumps run up Jason's arms.

"Nonononono", Crane's face twisted into a disturbed grimace.

His head flew around in terror. Crane struggled caught up in his agony. One of his hits collided with Themis' arm. She let go, confusion on her face.

Jason noted the energy that surrounded her eyes – a mixture of black and dark red. Themis was looking down on her hands, transfixed by them for some reason.

Crane scattered back until he hit the wall.

"DON'T TOUCH ME", he screamed.

Red Hood passed Themis frozen body and hurried to Crane. He pushed Crane to the floor, restraining his limbs.

"Stay still, Crane", Red Hood screamed, his voice distorted.

Scarecrow didn't listen. He hit his head against the ground, the sound reverberating in the small cell.

"YOU CAN'T MAKE ME", Crane screamed.

"This is justice. You can't escape it", Jason turned to Themis, "You've gotta end this."

Crane was spindly but Jason knew not to underestimate him. Not when he regularly tussled with Batman. Themis ripped herself out of her stupor and approached them. She crouched, reaching out towards Scarecrow's wriest.

Crane wailed like an animal. He knocked his head against the floor. Again and again. The sound made Jason feel sick. He reached for the back of Crane's head, trying to cushion the impact. But Crane's spindly form twisted so hard in Jason's grip that Jason had to hold him down with both arms, lest he escape from them.

Dark red energy moved from Crane towards Themis. Crane continued hitting his head against the floor, screaming like a banshee. Then, it stopped.

Crane stilled. His body laid there, a puddle of blood around his head. Crane had smashed half of his head into gory pieces. Desperate like an animal to escape their trap.

Themis growled, pushing herself up. She paced through the cell and smashed her fist into the wall: "The coward took himself out."

The metal ached under Themis' fist. Jason frowned, staring at the giant dent Themis had just left in that wall. It shouldn't be possible. Not when these cells were designed to withstand the aggression of Killer Croc.

"Did you just do that?", Jason asked.

Themis looked down at her hands. She turned them around in amazement.

"I did", she grinned, "I've never fed on so much pain before."

Jason noted that there was still energy cursing around her eyes despite her not using her powers at the moment.

"You feed on the pain?", Jason said.

"I guess I do. I never noticed it before. It was never enough. The pain these monsters have inflicted… I've never felt anything so potent."

Jason frowned. Thinking through all these implications. Themis' grin had turned manic.

Jason said: "Maybe we should just shoot the rest. A good, old bullet to the head."

Themis turned to Jason, glaring at him: "Are you suggesting that these monsters deserve merciful ends? Something quick? Maybe even a nice kiss goodbye?"

"I'm not saying that. I'm just saying that we don't know what these powers do to you. I don't mess with that magic shit."

"It's not magic, Jason", Themis said, "My grief after my sister's death awakened my dormant metagene. It's a gift for what was taken from me and I intend to use it."

Jason bit his lip, his thoughts racing. Themis couldn't see his pensive expression behind the helmet.

Themis said: "Choose the next one."

Jason sighed: "Just don't let it get to your head."

"It won't. I've always kept my eyes on our mission."

The 'Unlike you' was implied.

"And there is your snappy attitude again", Jason muttered.

"It's not like you aren't a sarcastic, little shit."

Jason found himself smiling. It's true. His sarcasm must have caused more than a few grey hairs on Bruce's head- No. Jason couldn't think about Bruce.

Red Hood chose Two-Face next. He grinned maniacally, finding all of this apparently very amusing. Jason watched from the side while Themis used her powers on the villain. He wondered if there was still anything left of the shining Harvey Dent Gotham had known.

"He won't crack", Themis glared at Two-Face's grinning masquerade.

"You think you can break the likes of me, girlie?", the villain asked.

Two-Face didn't crack. But Harvey did. The grin turned into a pained frown. Tears spilled out of his eyes.

"I never wanted this", Harvey tore at his hair, his eyes blinded by pain, "I didn't do this. Please. It was him."

Harvey's appearance caught Red Hood off-guard. It made him freeze up. Harvey looked pitiful in his last moments. Like the district attorney who had acid spilled in his face because he had become too dangerous for the Gotham mob.

Jason couldn't help but see that victim when Harvey convulsed on the floor as his heart gave out. He had been Gotham's shining star before the attack. Bruce's closest friend. Now, he had been tortured to death by Two-Face's sins.

Jason looked down at Harvey, his face twisted in pain even in death. He wondered if Harvey deserved this. Two-Face did. Red Hood had chosen him to die for a reason. But Harvey? Harvey had been the unfortunate hostage in Two-Face's body.

Or was Two-Face just the manifestation of what Harvey had always wanted? Those sick urges that Harvey had suppressed? Jason didn't know. No matter, what Two-Face was to Harvey Dent, the man had been mentally ill. For the first time tonight, Jason wondered if he had chosen the wrong person to die.

All the villains were frightened now that they had seen Dent break. They were making more noise, trying to escape their cells. It was useless.

Themis was already in the next cell. Clayface shrunk back, his eyes terrified. Themis reached for his wriest.

Clayface screamed while Themis sucked an orange aura out of him. The color was reminiscent of Basil's clay body. Completely different from the blood red or black that Jason had seen from the other villains. He wondered what it meant. Did a black aura symbolize a higher level of corruption? It had been the color of Hatter's and Pyg's energy.

Jason wondered if he had just fallen into a rabbit hole. Where did he have to draw the line? What counted as irredeemable? Jason's wasn't sure anymore. He had seen Two-Face as irredeemable when he had chosen him, but it had been Harvey who had suffered these last few moments.

Themis didn't seem to have any hang-ups over the colors of the auras. She pressed her searing grip into Clayface's wriest.

Basil screamed. His body looked as if it wanted to reform itself to escape. But the inhibitor collar forced him into a solid shape.

Basil's screams were hard to withstand. He writhed under Themis while she glared down at him.

Jason tried to recount how many people Karlo had killed. The man had caused mayhem just like all Gotham-villains. An unspeakable amount of destruction. But he was different from Hatter, Joker or even Two-Face. Karlo wasn't a sadist. Most of his destruction came from a loss of control.

Jason continued watching, glad that the helmet was dampening Karlo's screams.

"Why won't you die?", Themis screamed.

Karlo didn't answer, too caught up in his pain. Jason hurried into the cell without another thought. He tried to pull Themis back, but she was too strong at this point.

"He won't die", Jason said, "He hasn't caused enough pain."

Themis glared at Jason: "I'll be the judge of that."

"You've been using your power on him for almost ten minutes. He doesn't deserve this. You are just torturing him at this point."

"With pain that he inflicted", Themis said, "The pain I inflict can never be unjust."

Jason kicked against Themis' wriest, making her let go. Karlo stopped screaming. Instead, he dropped to the ground, crying.

Themis pushed herself up to her full height, glaring at Jason with her arms crossed.

"Look", Jason said, "Karlo isn't in control most of the time. He makes himself look normal to fit in with people, but he can't hold it for long. So, he loses control and those around him discover he is Clayface which makes it worse. Most of the times when Batman fights him, it's to reign him in during an anxiety attack. He can't help it."

"It sounds like you are making excuses for him."

"I'm just telling you why Karlo does what he does. He's different from monsters like Hatter or Joker. He doesn't hurt people for fun. He's just lost. Why can't you see that?"

"Maybe because I look at the result. At all the buildings and lives destroyed. The world is safer without Clayface."

Jason stood there, shocked at Themis' ruthlessness. There was no nuance in the way Themis treated these villains. She just saw the result, not the reasons for why these people did what they did. No attempt to have any compassion for someone like Basil Karlo who had lost all autonomy over his body and was shunned by most people for his appearance.

"We can't treat all these people the same", Jason said.

"They all kill. They are all monsters", Themis pointed at Clayface, "Just look at him. He looks like a monster. But fine. We're sparing Clayface if it's so important to you."

Themis left the cell and walked up to Croc's cell: "He is next."

"No", Jason stepped in front of her.

"Why? He eats people. You defending a fucking cannibal now?"

"He's bettered himself recently. He's a friend."

Themis crossed her arms: "I can see his aura. It's dark red."

"He's changed. He deserves a chance."

"You are quite arbitrary in who deserves to face judgement and who doesn't – or should I say selfish?"

"What do you mean?", Red Hood balled his fists.

"As long as you view a mass killer as your brother, you won't do what needs to be done."

And there she was. Talking about Nightwing again.

"He's my brother because he's a good person. The best I've ever known."

"I don't care if he is nice. I care about his body count. You can't erase that. He's killed more people than some of the monsters here. I can see it on him."

"He was brainwashed and forced. It's not the same."

Themis scoffed: "I'm disappointed in you, Hood."

"And I'm worried about you", Jason looked at Themis' glowing eyes, "I think you are getting power-hungry. You are losing sight of what we are here for."

"And what are we here for?"

"Justice", Jason said, "And to keep the truly irredeemable pigs here from hurting anyone else. We killed Hatter, Pyg, Scarecrow and Two-Face. That's enough. The rest is not completely irredeemable."

Jason wasn't even sure if Harvey had been completely irredeemable. Maybe any other hospital than Arkham could have helped him. But he didn't mention it to Themis.

"Your judgment is clouded, Hood. You are being too soft."

"And you are viewing everyone as a monster without the potential to better themselves. I won't let you hurt Croc", Jason tried to push Themis back, but his attempt barely did anything to her. The energy was changing her in front of Jason's eyes.

Themis balled her fist: "You can't stop me, Hood. But I'll give you one last chance to see the truth. Think of the Gotham we can build together. A Gotham without crime. Where no child loses their parents anymore."

Jason stayed quiet. He wanted the Gotham that Themis described. But he wondered if it was possible. Even if you could achieve a crimeless Gotham, was torturing all these villains to death without prejudice the right way?

"It's possible if we don't compromise", Themis indicated Jason to follow her, "I'll make you see that."

They walked towards the end of the hallway. Jason dreaded what Themis wanted to show him. He forced his body language to seem decisive when his head just felt confused.

He saw how eager Themis was to dish out this pain. It didn't feel right to him. As if Themis wasn't doing this for a genuine wish to see justice done but instead for her own selfish desires. She was literally feeding off the pain she made others feel.

Or maybe Jason was being unfair to her? Themis hadn't known that she could get stronger through using her powers. She had never absorbed so much energy before.

They crossed Harley's cell on the way. The clown tried to say something, but Jason didn't understand anything. Themis had silenced Harley's cell just like Croc's.

Jason was glad for it for once. He had intentionally avoided Harley until now. She had helped the Joker blow up Jason's headquarters. She had helped him kill those street kids and disfigure Mark. If she wasn't N's friend, Jason would have already picked her. The clown had crossed the line the moment she had been ready to kill a bunch of street kids for her boyfriend.

But Nightwing didn't see it that way. He was giving Harley chance after chance, believing in some underlying, good nature. Maybe Nightwing was too soft. Themis had called Red Hood too soft though. So, maybe they were both too cruel? What had once been black and white to Jason had revealed itself as shade over shade of grey.

"The Clown kept jabbering away. I had to put her on silent", Themis said, already past Harley's cell.

Jason threw a glance at Harley. She was signing something. Jason wanted to ignore it but the glimpse he caught made him watch.

'-Your friend kidnapped Nightwing and some kid', Harley signed, "She called him your little brother? Is Batman adopting again?'

Jason stopped: 'What do you mean?'

Quinn was implying some outrageous things in her blabbering. It was irritating. Jason wished she would get to the point. But Jason needed to listen if there was only a chance that Quinn was right. He would always listen when it came to Nightwing and Quinn knew that.

Harley shook her head: 'You are so dense. She kidnapped N and is about to torture him to death. She's got a real hate-boner for him.'

'She wouldn't', Jason signed on reflex.

Upon reconsideration, Jason wasn't so sure. Themis didhave a strange hatred for Nightwing. But they were friends. She wouldn't dare for Jason's sake, would she?

'Are you playing mind games with me?', Jason asked.

'I'm not', Harley looked annoyed, 'Open your damn eyes. I wouldn't lie to you about Nightwing.'

'Last time we met, you tried to kill him. Forgive me of being skeptical of your trustworthiness.'

Harley shrugged: 'It's beaus before bros. I'm devoted to my relationships. But I still appreciate Zombie when he doesn't get in the way. And I don't want him to be tortured to death.'

Jason lowered his hands. He didn't know how to respond. Harley had made him doubt. There was no way Themis could have kidnapped N, right? Nightwing was hard to catch and he was out of town currently on Batman's mysterious errand.

"Hood, you coming?", Themis called from behind a corner, where the hallway continued.

Quinn's signing got more insistent: 'You need backup. That bitch is all powered up now and feeding on Nightwing will only make it worse. Just click that button and let me out.'

Jason scoffed: 'Of course, Quinn. I should have known that this was some ruse to get me to release you.'

Harley crossed her arms and turned her back to Jason. She looked like she was moping.

Jason shook his head, not paying her any mind anymore. This was just one of her games. She was trying to appeal to Jason's weak points.

Harley had mentioned Jason's brothers in plural though. How could she have known about Damian if all of this was a ruse?

Damnit. Quinn had made him doubt. Maybe she was right. Maybe Themis had somehow gotten her hands on his brothers. But where were they?

Themis peaked around the corner: "Come on, Hood."

The energy cursing around her eyes was ominous. Jason wasn't sure if he could fight her at this point even if he tried. So, he decided to play along for now. If Themis had his brothers, Jason had to play it carefully.

He followed Themis around a corner to the last cells, feeling like he was walking into a trap. Jason looked to his right. The cell looked empty at first, then Jason recognized the small figure inside, huddled on the floor. Damian.

Jason thumped against the glass. The boy didn't move. His eyes were ripped open, an absent quality to them. Damian was trembling.

Jason ran to Damian's cell door and pressed the button to open it. He ran inside, shaking Damian's body. The kid's head lolled around. He didn't react.

Jason picked Damian up, cradling him in his arms. He hurried out of the cell. Quinn had told him the truth. Themis had kidnapped Jason's brothers. But where was N? And why had Themis done this?

Themis stood in front of another cell. The glass was coated in ice. Her back was to Jason.

"What did you do?", Jason screamed.

"I used my powers on him", Themis said, "Surprisingly, his heart didn't give out. I think I taught him a lesson though."

"He's a child. What is wrong with you?"

"All excuses for the pain he inflicted."

"No. You are making excuses for tormenting people without regret."

Themis' face fell: "Don't beat me over the head with morality, Jason. Where is your compassion for the families of the victims of those scumbags?"

"Your sister's murderer. He's here", Jason said.

"Yep", Themis turned back to the icy cell, "Exactly where he deserves to be. It's beautiful."

"N killed your sister", Jason voiced it the moment he realized it, "I was an idiot for not seeing it sooner. The way you've always hated him. How you asked him about Taipei. Quinn's warning. You lured him here somehow – with Damian, right? N tried to protect him."

"You served your family on a silver platter to me, Jason. I could just go into the Manor, overwhelm that butler of yours and take the brat. No Batman to protect them. Almost makes me believe that you love them less than you claim to."

"Alfred?"

"He's alive. Probably just concussed. I have no score to settle with him."

Jason stepped next to Themis. The cell didn't hold Mr. Freeze as Jason had assumed initially. Freeze was in Metropolis, working with Lex Luthor.

Nightwing was lying on the floor. He looked weak in the cold, unable to move by himself. The collar around his neck had stolen his last strength. And the straitjacket was such a cruel detail. It made Jason feel sick.

N's gaze met Jason's. Jason wished he could take off his helmet. Let Nightwing see his face. But he was weaker without his helmet, and he suspected that he might need the extra-protection in a possible fight.

"I thought you wouldn't do this to me because of our friendship", Jason said.

"Are we truly friends, Jason? You betrayed me the moment you called my sister's killer your family."

Jason scoffed: "You only got close to me because you wanted to get to him. Who is the traitor here, Themis?"

Themis scowled at him.

Jason continued: "It doesn't have to end with more people hurt. Just let me and my brothers go and leave Gotham."

"No", Themis looked at Nigthwing, her eyes hungry, "He'll pay tonight. I've been after my sister's killer for years. Something about the official story didn't add up and Lex Luthor showed me the truth."

"Luthor? That guy is a supervillain who fights Superman for breakfast. He has a bigger body count than any of the people in here. Can't you see his aura?"

Themis stayed quiet.

Jason scoffed: "You do. But he gives you what you want so you don't inflict your justice on him. He gave you all that juicy intel on Nightwing to leak. You couldn't resist that."

"I do what I need to do."

"So, you admit that your justice is just petty revenge?"

"As if you are better than me, Hood."

"You're right. I'm not. No single person is objective. I shouldn't have the power to judge people by myself and neither should you - neither should anyone. Batman has tried to tell me that for a long time now, but I was too stubborn to listen."

"Don't come at me with this philosophical shit", Themis balled her fists, "I'm sick of it."

"Maybe you should think about that philosophical shit if justice is your end goal."

Themis ignored him: "I'm ending this."

"You're right", Jason strolled past her and pressed on the button to open the cell, "This is over. We are all going home."

Themis' fists aimed for Jason's head. He dodged it, but a roundhouse kick caught him in the chest. Jason had the air pushed out of him as he was thrown back. Themis had never kicked this hard. His head collided with the opposite glass wall. He was thankful for the protection of his helmet.

Themis used the distraction to slip into Nightwing's cell. She closed the door behind herself and pushed the button on a device. Immediately, the lights in the asylum went out. Jason could only see because of his helmet's night vision. Batman had made it resistant to most EMPs. He suspected that Themis had gotten her little toy from Luthor.

"It'll last a while. Enough time for me to get to work", Themis said, "Arkham's doors are designed to stay closed if the power goes out. But we both know that right? We both read the blueprints you provided."

Jason growled. She was just rubbing it in at this point. Damian was still motionless. Jason put the boy down carefully. He hammered against the cell trying desperately to get in.

Nightwing looked disoriented in the dark with the collar taking out his enhanced sight, but he weakly turned his head towards the sound and mouthed into its direction. Jason needed a moment to make out what N was trying to say.

'Run', N mouthed over and over, no actual sound coming from his mouth.

Jason shook his head: "I won't leave you. I'm staying and you are going to make it."

Nightwing made an unhappy noise. That idiot martyr. Jason would slap him if he wasn't so worried for him.

"Damn it, N", Jason cursed, "You need to believe in yourself."

He hammered against the glass again, knowing that it was useless. Jason even tried to shoot the door, but the bullets just ricocheted off. He had to put the gun away when one of the stray projectiles almost hit Damian.

Jason kept banging at the door. Screaming at Themis. But he was powerless.

Her hand reached out for Nightwing's hand, digging into his skin. The helmet's night vision gave the scene a green tint. Still, Jason could see the dark energy that flared up around Themis' eyes. It terrified him.

Nightwing tensed when Themis gripped his wriest, expecting the pain. He wasn't prepared for the anguish that came down on him. It felt like a giant wave of torment that overwhelmed his body in its entirety.

But when Nightwing focused, he could distinguish the different facets of the pain. The sensation of having his throat cut open a hundred times. Claws that dug into his stomach and mangled his insides. His nails being ripped out over and over again until he was reduced to tears. The burning feeling at the soles of his feet.

Memories flooded his brain. Images of all the instances where Nightwing had hurt others. Themis wanted him to see it. Live through it again while also feeling the pain of his victims this time.

The memories were vying for dominance. Nightwing felt his mind falling apart from being pulled into a thousand different directions at once. He tried to focus on one memory, one pain.

Nightwing was in Arkham dispatching the guards at Themis' behest. He jammed the needle into the neck of the burly guard. (Nightwing's own neck pricked.)

It was a small pain. Nightwing wanted to remain in it. Focus solely on this tiny sensation. But Themis' power didn't allow him to stay complacent – to indulge. It wanted to punish him.

The powers ripped him out of this small feeling and pushed him into a vat of endless sensations, most more painful than the tiny prick at his neck.

Nightwing was in the Court's headquarters. He felt Cobb's gaze on him as the Head-Talon supervised their training. There was a weariness in the air. The Talons had been training for so long that their limbs ached.

But no one dared to show any sign of weakness. The last Talon who had done so, had been sent to the freezing chamber. Nightwing couldn't bear another captivity in the cold. The loneliness that came with being trapped by himself without being able to move. It made any piece of resistance he could muster crumble. Nightwing was too weak to resist again. He had tried but he would always fail. Cobb made sure of that. Resistance only brought pain and all that pain was ultimately for nothing.

There was blood clinging to Nightwing's neck from all the times Cobb had already slid Nightwing's throat today as punishment. Nightwing had hesitated where a good Talon shouldn't. Cobb was watching his every move. Nightwing had to be brutal now if he wanted to avoid another freezing.

Nightwing looked at his opponent. Golden eyes meeting golden eyes. The other Talon's eyes were empty – at least for anyone who wasn't a Talon. Nightwing noted the desperation in his prey. It could only help Nightwing prevail.

Nightwing and his opponent had both been weak today. Waiting for their prey to recover when they should have gone for the kill. Pulling their punches. Letting their opponents slaughter them.

Nightwing's opponent didn't want to serve the masters either. He looked tired. As if he wanted it to end. Cobb disapproved. Good Talons didn't want anything. And good Talons weren't tired. But they both were. It felt like a secret between them. Good Talons didn't have secrets either.

That's why Cobb had paired them. It was a test. Only one of them would prevail. It would sever their shared secret, re-establish the natural order.

Nightwing circled the other Talon. His opponent was slow. Weak - despite being just as young a Talon as Nightwing. Nightwing noted the fragile spots in him. He would use them to not be frozen again. He couldn't be frozen again.

Cobb yelled at them to start. Nightwing lunged at his opponent before he could make a move. His knee dug into his opponent's sternum. The crack reverberated through the training room. (A burning pain erupted in Nightwing's own chest.) The Talon fell to the ground with Nightwing on top of him. (Nightwing felt his head hit the sand. The pressure on his chest intensified. A throbbing sensation.)

Nightwing saw the Talon's throat. It would be easy to slash. Make it quick. But Cobb demanded of Nightwing to be brutal. Brutal Talons were good Talons. Good Talons were rewarded by not being frozen.

So, Nightwing slashed his claws into the other Talon's body. Taking strip after strip of flesh. (Nightwing's own body was being torn apart. His skin was being peeled off his limbs.) The Talon under him screamed in agony, letting his passive façade drop. Such a weak Talon. Showing pain. Good Talons didn't scream.

The weak Talon stopped moving.

"Up", Cobb ordered.

And Nightwing stood up, folding his hands behind his back. He stayed still while Cobb took a blade out of his belt and thrusted it into Nightwing's hand.

"Behead the creature", Cobb said, "Freezing is useless for it. It's too weak."

The blade was heavy in Nightwing's hand. He felt himself nod mechanically. Feeling his mind dulled.

The Talon's body was stitching itself back together again. He jerked up. Terror now apparent in his eyes. Nightwing pressed him back down into the sand with his foot while he was still weakened. (Pressure on Nightwing's chest.) The Talon made a desperate noise. Nightwing ignored it. He leaned down and cut the Talon's neck with one slash of the blade. (Nightwing's own neck was cut clean off.)

The Talon was dead. Nightwing rose again without looking at the Talon's severed head.

Cobb stepped up behind Nightwing and pushed his hand into Nightwing's neck: "You passed the test for today. But if I see you this weak one more time, I'll put you on ice. The right motivation always works wonders for you."

Cobb pushed Nightwing's head down: "Look at your kill."

And Nightwing did. The golden eyes of the weak Talon were truly empty now. Unfeeling. Nightwing wished he could be just as empty. He was alone with his secret now.

"I decide when you die", Cobb stepped away, "So, don't believe that I'll let you go just because you are pretending to be less capable than you are. It's disgraceful."

Disgraceful.

The word reverberated through Nightwing's mind even after he was ripped out of the memory. He had barely remembered that moment. It had been buried in the depths of his head, forgotten in the daily cruelty of surviving of the Court and scattered by the electro shocks that had fried Nightwing's brain.

Themis' power ripped it all back to the forefront. It showed Nightwing how much pain he had inflicted on that poor Talon just for his own selfish need to avoid the freezing chamber.

Nightwing could have lost on purpose. He could have taken the punishment for the sake of that Talon. But he had been too weak to do it. Too worn down. So, he had acted like the monster the Court wanted him to be – not even granting the Talon a dignified defeat.

And worst of all? Nightwing had barely even remembered this moment. He didn't even know what a terrible person he truly was. How many of these forgotten moments would Themis rip out of the depths of Nightwing's mind?

Memories flashed before Nightwing's eyes. Dozens of assassinations that had been a blur to him before. He felt punches break his throat. Knives littering every part of his body. Even the bullet of a sniper rifle to his head. The rare kill by gun.

And then Nightwing was in hell. That conference room in Taipei was hazy. Nightwing's mind had been half there. Scattered. He had lost his mask in the chaos. The warm weight of blood covering his face. He was dripping in it. Stained. Tainted. (Nightwing's whole body was burning. The pain was so all-encompassing that Nightwing couldn't tell it apart anymore. It had to be the pain of every person lying on the floor of that conference room. All in agony because of Nightwing.)

The fighting had died down. Nightwing's hazy mind vaguely noted Cheshire, Sportsmaster and Cobb finishing off the last few victims on that floor.

Nightwing should help. He had to help. Or Cobb would punish him for being weak. He couldn't be weak. Good Talons weren't weak.

The sound of a window handle being ripped to the side was piercing in the wide room. Nightwing's head snapped up. He saw the woman. She was standing on a pile of bodies. All the people who had tried to flee through the window. Her breath was short. Racing as if it tried to get as many breaths in as possible before her inevitable demise.

Talon had spotted her. And Talon always killed his prey.

The woman – Paula - was holding herself up with trembling arms. A knife with a golden handle stuck in her shoulder. (Nightwing's own shoulder throbbed, the agony numbed by pure terror and adrenaline.)

Paula was ripping at the window, frantically trying to open it, her bloodied hands slipping. Still, she was closer to escape than the others. Nightwing mechanically took a knife out of his uniform and threw it at Paula's hand. (The blade pierced Nightwing's palm.)

She dropped down as she lost grip of the window handle. Nightwing approached, his feet feeling heavy. Paula raised her hands in defense. The knife was still stuck in her flesh. (Nightwing's hand throbbed.)

Paula spoke, her voice shaky: "I know you don't want to do this. You were brainwashed and you feel like there is no way out. But I'm with ARGUS – a government agency. We can get you out of here."

Nightwing's hazy mind barely registered her words. The Court had electrocuted his mind again in preparation for the mission. Talon had to be perfect. Nightwing couldn't hesitate.

The desperation on Paula's face deepened: "Please, I have a little sister. She's roughly the same age as you. Our parents are dead. I'm her sole caretaker. She's alone without me."

Some of the haze in Nightwing's head cleared. Little sister? He tilted his head.

Paula continued: "I have to protect her. I don't know what will happen to her if I don't make it out of here."

Nightwing approached her, tightening his hand around the knife. He wanted to be weak now. Be a weak Talon who was too slow to finish off prey.

But Cobb would see. He always knew when Nightwing acted weaker than he was. Pretended. Nightwing hadn't pretended in a long time. Not since the Court had frozen him for a year for the crime of pretending too much. He had been a good Talon since then. He hadn't shown even a sliver of the secret tucked away in his scattered mind.

Taipei was another test. Cobb wanted to see if the secret was truly gone. Nightwing couldn't reveal the secret. It would get him frozen again. Another year of loneliness.

"You lost your parents, too. They stole you from them. They are monsters. I can get you out of here. I can protect you, too. I promise. Just don't do this", Paula begged.

Nightwing felt confusion flare up again. The haze in his mind getting stronger. Paula was wrong. Nightwing was a Talon. Talons were weapons. They didn't have parents. They were made. They served. And they weren't worthy of protection.

Nightwing shoved his claws into Paula's stomach. (His insides were torn apart.) He twisted his hand to make it go over quicker. (Pain digging even deeper into him.) Paula dropped to the ground. Blood running out of her mouth. (Nightwing's body felt like his insides had been scooped out. Hollow.)

Paula's dead eyes stared up at him. Nightwing closed them. He felt the secret wanting to come out. Nightwing couldn't show the secret. He couldn't fall apart here. It would bring him even more pain down the line. He kept his head up, not looking at the carnage.

But he could smell it. The drench of blood, tears and feces hanging heavily in the air. It clouded Nightwing's mind again and he welcomed the emptiness. He barely even noticed Cobb shoving him out of the window, chiding him for losing his mask and digging his claws into the back of Nightwing's neck. His mind stayed inside that hazy room. The secret was safe for now.

Nightwing tried to hold on to the secret. The knowledge that even in his most brutal hour he had never wanted to serve the Court. Not completely. He had wantedthat the wanted to serve the Court but had never actually wanted it.

Nightwing's thoughts felt hazier now. He wondered if he was even making sense at this point as Themis just kept taking and taking and taking. Ripping out parts of Nightwing he had never known existed. Nightwing grew numb to it, his mind splintering as Themis dragged it into a thousand directions at once.

Taipei wouldn't let him go – through all of it. It tormented him. Every corner of him.

Nightwing was floating. Too much to feel at once. It was making his body shut down. Nightwing couldn't take it anymore. He just wanted to leave. But he couldn't. Themis made him face it. Everything.

He just wanted to be gone.

"Come on, little Robin", a pleasant voice said, "Jump into my arms."

And Nightwing did. He leaped at the voice.

Nightwing felt small. He had never felt so small and so light. His arms were pulled taunt as he was gripping a trapeze bar. He was flying towards the other side, towards the voice. When he reached the voice, his foot collided with something soft. (A light kick hit Nightwing's stomach. Barely more powerful than a feather.)

"You got me there", the voice laughed as she pulled Nightwing into her arms.

"Sorry, Mommy", a childish voice – Nightwing's voice – said.

He sounded so small. So innocent.

The woman laughed: "I'm forgetting how strong you are getting. One day, my little Robin can fly without me."

Nightwing giggled: "I don't want to fly without you, Mommy."

"I'll remind you of that when you are a rebellious, little teenager."

Nightwing looked up, reaching out with his arm towards his Mom's shoulder. Mary Grayson squeezed his hand, smiling down at him. She had crystal, blue eyes. Just like her son. They were shining with a good-naturedness that Nightwing couldn't help but be drawn in by.

He felt her strong arm around his body. Holding him up. Protecting him.

He wanted to stay with her. She would make sure that he was safe.

"What's a Robin, Mommy?"

"I never told you?"

"Nah."

"It's a colorful, little bird – just like you", Mary carried Nightwing out of the circus tent, "There should be some around here. They always linger around the popcorn cart trying to scoop up a treat. Just like another someone I know."

Nightwing squinted his eyes shut at the bright sun. He giggled, squirming in Mary's arms. Little Nightwing was restless.

"There he is – the little troublemaker", Mary nodded at a red-breasted bird who was sitting in front of a food cart, "I always think of you when I see him."

The bird was picking at a piece of popcorn that laid on the dusty ground. Little Nightwing squirmed even harder. He jumped out of Mary's arms, approaching the bird with wobbly legs. The robin flew away with the piece of popcorn in its beak. Little Nightwing looked after it, amazed by how effortlessly it soared through the air.

"Why doesn't he want to play with me?", little Nightwing looked up at Mary, "He's so cute."

Mary laughed: "Little birds like their freedom. You'll see that one day."

"Ahw", little Nightwing sounded disappointed.

"You can play with me", Mary held out her hand, "After lunch."

Little Nightwing ran back to his mother, gripping her hand. He allowed himself to be led away by her.

Nightwing wanted to stay in the memory. Get away from the pain. The memory had calmed something within him. His mind felt cloudy instead of numb now. Blissful.

Nightwing soared away like that Robin.

AN: You may scream at me for leaving you with another cliffhanger *just let me hide away in my evil lair*

Nightwing was just like: "I've got enough of this story. I'm out of here." :,(

At least, he caught a glimpse of his mom. Little Nightwing being too cute for this world.

But Jason finally saw it! He had his epiphany! Also, Themis just went into complete villain-mode this chapter.

Can't believe I killed that many Gotham-villains. I hope I won't need them in the future. Let me just kill half of Batman's rogues in this story really quickly.