Thank you to everyone that read the last chapter!
Please note: this chapter contains bad language, violence, and non-consensual elements.
Chapter Five: Video Call
Rose focused on her breathing, in through her nose and out through her mouth, in through her nose and out through her mouth. Despite her attempts to calm down, the tension in the young woman's body tightened further with every floor the elevator passed. The elevator that brought her closer to the Titan's living quarters.
She could do this. It's not like she didn't first come to the tower to lie and spy for her father. This would be no different. Even as the thought entered Rose's mind, she knew it was a lie. Everything was different now. When she'd first come to the tower Rose had been filled with rage and the purpose of vengeance. She didn't care if she hurt any of the Titans in her mission, but now that she knew them her first instinct was to protect them. Her betrayal tasted bitter on her tongue and the young vigilante could do nothing to swallow it away.
The elevator dinged much too quickly, and Rose felt a spike of panic before she forced her shoulders to relax and feet to move forward. With each step she took she repeated her breathing exercise: in through her nose out through her mouth and achieved a slight lessening of the knot in her chest.
Rose was so focused on slowly her racing heart that she didn't even realize she entered the living room until a light grip on her arm jolted the young vigilante from her trance. Rose reacted out of pure instinct and twisted her arm, catching the upper arm of whoever grabbed her, and lifted a fist to defend herself. Her sight landed on Kory's stunned face, and she immediately released her and took a step back. "Sorry I just reacted!"
Kory sent her an understanding smile, warm eyes bright. "It's fine. Are you okay?"
Rose's vision blurred with tears and the young woman didn't even have to lie when she answered. "No."
A few tears slipped down the young woman's face and Starfire stepped cautiously toward her with arms open. The alien royalty didn't expect Rose to accept her offer of comfort, so she wasn't prepared when the crying girl slammed into her strong arms. The two stumbled back slightly, but Rose didn't seem to notice as she fisted the front of Kory's purple blouse, clinging to her like a lifeline.
Kory looked around the room desperately at the other Titans gathered, hoping one of them would be able to tell her what was happening. No one had ever seen this level of emotion from Rose and they all were at a loss at what to do.
Rose took a shuddering breath and readied herself. She had to convince them that she was on their side or Jason would be lost. It wasn't difficult to use her pain and distress to her advantage in convincing them. She truly felt like crying.
As soon as Rose felt Dick rest his hand on her back, she turned to him and began to ramble tearfully. "I can't find him. I tried…I checked every one of my father's safe houses that I know of. I checked everywhere I could think of, and no Jason. This is my fault! I can't lose him!"
Dick looked at the distraught girl with compassion and when he spoke it was in a soothing tone. "It's alright, Rose. We're gonna find him. Can you give Gar the addresses to the safe houses you checked out?"
Tears finally stopped Rose nodded. "Yeah."
The original Robin opened his mouth to continue but was rudely interrupted by Hank's hostile voice. "You gotta be fucking kidding me! Do you actually believe this shit?"
"Hank." Dawn warned, reaching out, but her boyfriend just waved a hand at her.
"No Dawn! What do we really know about her other than the fact that she's Deathstroke's daughter? She could have been playing us this entire time." Hank moved in closer to Rose, but Dick stepped in front of her protectively. The muscular man scoffed at the action and glared at Rose over Dick's shoulder. "Do you even give a shit about Jason?"
Rose glared back at the large man just as forcefully. "I care about Jason more than I've ever cared about anyone. You have no idea what I would do to protect him." The absolute truth in her words were clear, but Hank just narrowed his eyes further, not willing to back down.
Dick had enough and gave Hank a sharp shove. "Just back off Hank! She's clearly upset, and outside of your groundless suspicion you have nothing to prove that Rose is lying or has anything to do with Slade anymore."
The man known as Hawk in the world of vigilantes stood his ground fuming, but after one look around the room, he knew he was alone in his suspicions. Hank pushed past Dick towards the elevator. "Fine! I'll find the kid myself."
The white-haired woman sighed heavily and followed her boyfriend. "I'll go with him; make sure he doesn't get himself killed." Dawn paused next to Dick and gripped his elbow lightly. "He doesn't handle it well when the people he cares about are threatened. He'll come around. Text me if anything changes."
However, before the two could leave, the elevator doors opened to reveal Bruce Wayne. The billionaire stood tall with his shoulders squared, and a determined look on his face. The well-dressed man stepped off the elevator while his calculating gaze swept over the rooms occupants, assessing the situation. His forehead creased so subtly that only Dick who grew up with the man could tell. "Going somewhere, Henry? Do you have a lead on Jason?"
Hawk worked his jaw in irritation before answering in a somewhat clipped tone. "It's Hank, and no. Dawn and I are going to put our feet to the ground and try to find something."
The veteran vigilante sent Hank a disapproving look, one that Dick was very familiar with. A look that said you were the one that was wrong and missing something that should be obvious. Dick never liked that look, but it was a bit funny to see tall stubborn Hank cower slightly at it. "I see you still operate with the same level of intelligence as when I first met you."
"Hey!" Hank tried to protest, but Bruce wasn't done.
"What do you hope to accomplish by bullheadedly stomping around the city?" Bruce took a few challenging steps towards the taller man as he continued. "Do you really think you're going to find my son that way?"
"It's better than sitting around here arguing when the kid is out there alone and hurt." The dark blond tried to reason, but even as he spoke Hank moved back over by the rest of the Titans, seemingly abandoning his earlier quest to leave.
Dick started towards his father to greet him, but just barely made it to his side before Gar came crashing into the room a look of pure terror on his young face. The shapeshifter's chest heaved with an effort to supply oxygen to his protesting lungs. "Dick, it's Jason! You have to come immediately! Like right now!" Gar struggled out in a panic before the young hero turned on his heels and bolted back down the hall towards the security room. He didn't even bother to look back to make sure Dick was following.
Without a moment of hesitation both Bruce and Dick jumped into action and hurried after Gar.
Awareness slowly returned to the unconscious young man. Before even opening his eyes, Jason could tell he was no longer on the mattress in his cell. The idea that he was moved while unconscious caused a shudder to run down his spine. He didn't like the idea of being in such a vulnerable position…especially with Deathstroke.
Jason kept his eyes closed and breathing even, feigning sleep, while he tried to assess his current situation. The young man could tell he was sitting, somewhat reclined, on a cold hard surface. Probably a medical table or chair. His arms, legs, and chest were strapped down by some type of thick band. The straps didn't feel cold like metal, so Jason speculated they were made of leather. That was good. He could work with leather.
A sudden tingling sensation overcame the second Robin as he felt unwanted eyes on him. Jason used all his willpower not to flinch as footsteps grew closer, willing himself to keep up the act of sleeping.
However, the experienced mercenary wasn't fooled easily. "I know you're awake."
Jason let loose a long-exasperated sigh and struggled to open his green eyes. Just like before, the simple action of peeling his eyelids apart was strenuous. Fucking drugs.
The after-effects of the sedative he was given caused the room to annoyingly tilt as he tried to take in his new surroundings. The curly-haired vigilante had to pull in a few sharp breaths to stave off a sudden wave of nausea that hit him with the attempt.
When he felt he was no longer in danger of vomiting all over himself Jason tried again to look around. As the young hero initially thought, he was bound with leather straps to a reclining medical chair. As if he needed another reason to hate the dentist. The room Jason was in was much smaller than the room with his cell, and entirely insignificant. The walls were completely bare and painted a sterile white color. There were no windows and only one door that was shut on the wall next to him.
Deathstroke was once again dressed in his armor, except the helmet, as he stood by some kind of table near the wall in front of Jason. His back to his captive. The only thing of note in the room was a large tv mounted on that wall, which seemed so out of place that the sight caused a feeling of dread to clutch Jason's chest. The young vigilante didn't know what was about to happen, but he knew it wasn't going to be good.
Small clanging and clicking noises let the second Robin know that his captor was working on something. So, taking advantage of a distracted Slade, Jason began to struggle quietly against the restraints holding him in place.
Without turning around Slade's commanding voice resonated throughout the small room. "Save your strength for when the camera is on."
So focused on the task to break free, Jason startled at the voice. The young hero's mind was still a bit hazy from the sedative so the words his cruel captor had spoken didn't fully registered until Deathstroke shifted and Jason's sight landed on a video camera pointed directly at him.
The bound young man swallowed down a spike of panic and lunged forward as far as the restraints would allow as he bit back aggressively. "Screw you, Asshole!"
Slade approached the chair his captive was strapped to and when he reached the young man leaned over him until their faces were only inches apart. Jason flinched back as the mercenary crowded him and couldn't control the way his heart rate accelerated with the unwanted proximity.
The dangerous man let his calculating gaze sweep over his captive's face. "Let's call big brother, shall we?"
Jason clenched his teeth and glared at the man. The youth opened his mouth to throw back a retort but was harshly cutoff. Without warning, Deathstroke had seized Jason's jaw in a bruising grip, and squeezed ruthlessly to pry open the young man's mouth. As the young Robin cried out with the pressure, a bundle of cloth was shoved into his mouth and the mercenary's large controlling hand immediately covered it to prevent his captive from spitting it back out. Jason thrashed his head back and forth desperately trying to dislodge the hand, but it was no use.
Unfazed by his captive's struggle Deathstroke slapped a large piece of duct tape over the young man's mouth, where his hand had just been, effectively silencing him. As his kidnapper stepped back Jason let out a muffled cry of distress and squeezed his eyes closed in frustration.
Deathstroke spoke in an unnervingly calm and soothing voice. "Calm yourself, little bird." He said as the calloused hand that was just used to silence the young man brushed a piece of Jason's curly hair from his sweaty forehead in a fatherly gesture. The action made Jason whine beneath the tape and yank his head to the side to escape the touch.
Slade chuckled at his captive's reaction. "We can't have you giving away any secrets, can we?"
Obviously not expecting a response from the gagged man, Deathstroke turned away and after a few clicks on a keyboard the security room at Titans Tower appeared on the tv. Jason's breath hitched at the horrified expression on his friend Gar's face. The captured vigilante watched as the shapeshifter stumbled out of his seat and sent the swivel chair clattering to the ground in his haste.
"Oh my God, Jason." Gar breathed out with worry. The green-haired young man moved closer to the screen as if he could jump through it to help his friend.
Jason could see Gar jump as Deathstroke began to speak and move into frame, cutting off Gar's view of Jason. "You have one minute to bring Richard Grayson to the screen, or I start cutting into your little friend." Slade illustrated the validity of his threat by moving to Jason's side and placing a curved knife against his exposed forearm. The mercenary's gaze never wavered from Gar.
Jason sucked in a sharp breath through his nose and braced himself for the pain just before his captor drew the blade across his arm in a thin slice. Crimson blood contrasted with the young man's pale skin as it slithered down the side of Jason's arm and fell to the floor. It was only a minor slice, not meant to really injure, but large enough to prove a point.
"Please stop! I'm going!" Gar's voice cracked with his panic as he scrambled from the room.
Jason leaned his head back against the headrest and squeezed his eyes closed. The young vigilante began counting in an attempt to keep track of Gar's given time limit. As he neared the minute mark and still didn't hear his friend's return the second Robin gripped the arm of the chair tighter, until the joints in his hands ached with the pressure and prepared himself for another cut. He knew Deathstroke was going to make the next one hurt.
Thankfully, just before the minute had passed, the shapeshifter's sudden voice staved Slade's blade. "I've got him! Don't…don't hurt Jason again!"
Jason snapped his eyes open once more with Gar's desperate declaration. The captured young man felt his heart clench and without his permission tears gathered in his eyes at the sight of Dick and Bruce on the screen. The tears made the green of Jason's irises more vivid, while they also highlighted the fear and pain he was feeling.
Conflicting emotions fought for dominance as Jason was filled with both relief that his family was there and fear for their safety. He knew it was irrational; Bruce and Dick were far away at Titan Tower…safe, where Slade couldn't touch them, but the young man couldn't quell his unease. Jason felt this overwhelming sense of dread that something terrible was going to happen to his dad and brother and he would be the reason it happened.
Just behind Bruce Rose appeared on the screen, and the sight of her (the traitor) standing behind his father sent Jason into a panic. He began to struggle against the thick leather bonds with screams of warning muffled by the stupid gag. His act of defiance was short lived as the knife that was used to cut his arm was suddenly pressed against his throat, stilling his useless struggle instantly.
Jason felt a tingling sensation shock through his body as a shot of adrenaline coursed through him. A thundering thump in his ears made it so the young man couldn't hear what his family and the rest of the Titans were yelling from the video call. But he could see their outrage and desperation clear on their faces as they frantically tried to get Deathstroke's attention away from him.
Slade's hot breath unexpectedly ghosted across the shell of his right ear and Jason just barely suppressed a flinch. He didn't want to accidentally cut his own throat open.
"I thought we talked about not giving away any secrets?" The mercenary whispered in his ear so only Jason could hear him. He pulled Jason's unruly curls back, extending his neck further, the warning clear.
The thumping invading his hearing finally lessened so the second Robin could hear his family's words calling out to his captor, pleading with the dangerous man to let him go. Their frantic voices mixed with Slade's gravelly much too close one as he continued his threat with a poisonous hiss. "How do you think they'll feel if I slit your throat right now? Do you think they could survive it? Knowing they failed to save you."
Yes, Jason thought almost bitterly. They didn't need him. Bruce was fine before Jason, and he would be fine after he was gone. Dick…well Dick would blame himself for a while, but Jason wasn't that important to the original Robin. Sure, Dick had been trying to build a brotherly relationship with him recently, but Jason doubted his death would leave that much of an impact on his supposed brother.
After what felt like an eternity, Slade released his tight grip on Jason and stalked towards the camera, his massive frame mostly blocking the captured young man from view. Dick watched as Jason sagged in relief of not having a knife pushed against his jugular anymore and had to make a conscious effort to refocus his attention on the dangerous man threatening his little brother's life.
"Dick Grayson, are you ready to face retribution for killing my son?" Slade said with conviction.
Dick narrowed his brown eyes and had to take a steadying breath to stop himself from answering the dangerous man with his initial reaction. He wanted to remind Deathstroke, to shout at him, that it was his fault that his son was dead. However, the original Robin knew antagonizing the revenge driven knife welding man wouldn't help Jason who was completely at his mercy.
Dick suddenly felt the familiar weight of Bruce's large hand on his shoulder, and the knowledge that his father was with him helped calm the young man. Bruce was here, and together they would save Jason. "Whatever you want to do to me is fine. Just leave Jason out of this. He has nothing to do with what happened to Jericho."
Always methodical, Deathstroke let the silence stretch just long enough to unbalance his enemy. "Meet me alone and ready to fight at the warehouse where I took your brother, and I'll let the boy go."
Dick glanced at Gar feverishly typing on his tablet where he sat on the floor in the corner, out of view of the camera. The shapeshifter was trying to trace Deathstroke and Jason's location and by the way he kept shaking his head back and forth Dick could tell it wasn't going well. He needed to buy the young hero more time.
"How can I be sure you're going to let Jason go? You didn't follow your word last time."
Slade hummed and without saying anything walked around behind his captive, causing Jason to tense in his bonds. Jason sucked in a deep breath through his nose in anticipation of another slice with the knife. However, he didn't expect the garrote wire that Deathstroke wrapped in a flash around his neck to abruptly cut off his air supply.
Rose, who had been a silent observer till this point lunged forward and screamed urgently, "NO!" At the exact same time that Dick cried out, "ALRIGHT STOP!"
After a few more agonizing seconds Slade released Jason who immediately coughed behind the gag and struggled to pull oxygen into his abused lungs. Dick watched in concern, noting every unsteady breath that Jason successfully took, a sick feeling assaulting his stomach as he noticed Jason shaking with the effort. The original Robin didn't realize that he was holding his own breath until a painful pressure in his chest made itself known.
The mercenary's hulking form moved around to the front of Jason's chair once more. "Meet me in one hour." With his words Deathstroke severed the connection with Jason, still struggling to fully catch his breath as the last thing they saw.
Not giving his captive a chance to fully recover from his last attack, Slade unlatched the straps holding Jason down and easily manhandled him from the room. The mercenary dragged the young hero across the basement and back to his cell. Unceremoniously, Slade tossed Jason onto the bed the impact knocking out what little precious air he had managed to get from his already abused lungs. Dazed, the young man could do nothing to stop Deathstroke as he snapped a thick metal cuff around his right wrist. The loud sound of the cell door being slammed closed jarred Jason into action. With little care, the injured man ripped the tape from his own face and spit the cloth out, breathing greedily.
"Dick is going to kick your ass, you sick freak!" Jason croaked past the burning in his throat, and immediately was seized by a coughing fit. "Hey Asshole, I'm talking to you!" He called out to Slade in annoyance as the man completely ignored him and walked up the stairs.
Overcome with frustration at the hopeless situation, fear for his family's wellbeing, and pain Jason began to yank frantically on the chain connecting him to the wall. The young man grit his teeth as he strained with all his strength against the tether in vain before collapsing to the ground next to the bed and breaking down.
End Chapter
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