Chapter 13: Nightmares.
Darkness was all around him. No light. No sound but his own harsh breathing. The ground under his back was stiff and uncomfortable. The walls were all around him and he couldnt seem to move much with out touching the ceiling.
All he knew was he had to get out. He clawed away at the ceiling until he felt the wood give way and dirt piled down upon him. He continued to claw and soon felt the night air around his hand as he reached the surface.
He pulled himself from the ground and inhaled deeply filling his lungs with as much oxygen as he could. He looked around and saw a head stone and nearly fainted at the sight.
'Jason Peter Todd.
Born June 19th 1995. Died February 8th 2011.
Beloved Son, Brother, Friend.'
Jason looked down and saw he was wearing black armor plated pants with a kevlar vest with a red bat symbol on it. He looked up to see his cowl but different. Instead of yellow his eyes were a lighter shade of red then the full face mask he wore and there was no feather like armor around his back. Instead of a cape he was wearing a brown leather jacket that was weighed down from unseen weapons and gadgets.
"I never truly cared about you you know." The voice came from behind Jason. As he turned around he saw his family. Batman stood before Nightwing, Red Robin, Robin, Blackbat, Batgirl and Oracle. Batman crossed his arms. "You were just an orphan I felt sorry for."
"That's not true." Jason whispered as the family slowly vanished.
"You were a disappointment." Nightwing laughed as he vanished.
"A failure." Red Robin turned his back and vanished.
"A second rate Dick." Blackbat snorted as she vanished.
"Not even good enough to shine Tim's shoes." Batgirl giggled.
"Grandfather should have killed you instead of letting you use the Lazarus Pit." Robin smirked and crossed his arms before vanishing.
Oracle looked over Jason as the hero fell to his knees. She rolled up to him and removed his helmet revealing his face to her. She cupped him face and smiled a loving smile down on him.
"I never truly felt anything for you." She whispered before vanishing before him.
The words sunk in deep into Jason's heart. He felt his body tremble and the fight leave him. He slumped to the ground and looked forward into the empty abyss around him and grew numb.
"You cant believe everything you hear in an illusion you stupid boy." Jason looked up to stare into the single eye of Rose Wilson. She was wearing a strapless silver dress with a matching eye patch. Two identical slits ran down the outer thighs of her dress showing off her shapely legs.
"Illusion?" Jason asked confused.
"Of course." Rose laughed. "Would you really pick me over Oracle?" Rose looked down on her self. "I wouldnt."
"Rose," Jason reached out and touched his one time fling's cheek, "I... I will always..." Jason felt a sharp pain in his neck and looked around. The empty abyss began to twist and swirl around him. "What the fuck?"
Rose laughed and pecked Jason on the cheek. "Time to wake up you stupid boy." Rose laughed again and pointed a gun at Jason's face and pulled the trigger.
Jason shot up and yelled reaching for his gun to find nothing there. Before him stood a tall white armored man with his back to him. Part of his armor didnt cover his upper right arm revealing a massive bicep. His head was covered in white armor as well with blue lights that seemed to be placed over his arms and legs to show muscle like tendons.
The man turned when Jason shot up with a concerned face to reveal the armor covered part of his face and one eye. He had dark brown skin and his one revealed eye was a dark brown color. His lower face was revealed and he smiled as Jason looked at him in shock.
"Yo you're finally up!" The man shouted happily. "Man I thought you were gonna sleep forever!"
Jason looked over the tall african american man in the armor before him once more then realized it wasnt armor. The metal plates seemed to be fused to his skull and were his actual limbs.
"Cyborg?" Jason asked confused.
"Good to finally meet ya!" Cyborg smiled and rubbed the back of his metallic head. "Nightwing has told me about you."
"What happened?" Jason moved his legs to the side of the bed and stood up.
"Whohoho!" Cyborg placed on metallic hand on Jason's shoulder. "Take it easy buddy. You were gassed with some pretty bad ass fear toxin."
"Scarecrow?" Jason asked as he tried to remember what had happened.
"Not exactly." Cyborg laughed as he tried, and failed, to push Jason back onto the bed. Jason pushed past the larger man to see his cowl sitting by his cape on a small table. Jason looked over his equipment and pulled his cowl and cape back on.
"Listen Crimson," Cyborg started.
"Where's Red Bird?" Jason asked as he checked the ammo on his pistols. The right pistol still held the rubber bullets but his left pistol was missing his clip. Jason smiled under his cowl and laughed as he hit the button on the side of his cowl to reveal his mouth and jaw.
"He's awake already." A voice came from Jason's right. Jason looked and saw Nightwing standing in the doorway with his arms crossed over his chest. Jason smiled again and leaned back against the table. "Vic mind giving us a minute." It wasnt a question even though Cyborg took it as one.
"Yeah I've got," Cyborg coughed awkwardly and scratched the revealed human flesh of his arm, "Tech stuff to do." Cyborg looked to the door and made a quick exit.
Jason waited until Dick closed the door and shook his head. "This about the live ammo or the fact that we got gassed?"
"Take a guess." Dick said as he tossed his mask off. Jason followed suit removing his helmet cowl and domino mask. "You could have killed that man!"
"What man?" Jason asked his mind still foggy.
"Talisman!" Dick shouted.
Suddenly standing on the rooftop with Red Bird came flooding back into Jason's mind. The man wearing the mechanism on his chest had done something to them then changed into a massive muscle bound freak.
Jason shook his head and crossed his arms. "He was going to kill us. I made sure not to hit anything vital when I shot him."
"Not the point." Dick walked over to Jason. "You broke one of the big man's only rules. You used live ammo!"
"To save mine and the Demon Spawn's lives!" Jason pushed Dick causing Dick to be taken aback. "What would you know about saving lives huh?" Jason pushed Dick again. "You're the fucking golden boy! The great Dick Grayson! First and best Robin!" Jason again pushed Dick, this time his successor being pushed into the wall. "Where were you when I was being beaten half to death by Joker? When Tim and Steph caused Cassie to vanish? When Barbra put herself under the knife and lost her fucking legs?!" Jason shouted making Dick to fall back against the wall and slump down.
Dick stared up at Jason as he continued to seethe. Jason turned his back on his brother and tapped the button on the side of his helmet to cover his lower face once more. Dick got to his feet and cracked his neck.
"Alright." Dick crossed his arms and walked to right behind Jason. "You feel better now?"
"Little bit." Jason admitted. "Fuck it felt good to finally bash you Goldie."
"Well you still could have killed him." Dick said defensively. "That's not what we do."
"You need to have faith in me Dickybird." Dick stared at the back of Jason as his brother walked away from him. Jason turned his head slightly and looked at Dick through the eye slits of his red helmet. "I may not be favorite son but I'm damn sure I'm better then the best." Jason turned and pushed past Dick and left the room leaving his predecessor alone with his words.
Crimson walked the halls of Mt. Justice as though he had been doing it for years. He walked past many of the new members of Young Justice who stared at him with large awe inspired eyes. Crimson walked through a door way and ran straight into a young man wearing jeans and black t-shirt. Floating next to the young man was a green skinned red haired girl.
"Crimson!" M'Gann nearly screamed as she looked over the young man before her.
"Miss Martian?" Crimson looked over the alien in front of him and laughed. She had grown up in the past few years and had grown in beauty. "Its been awhile. How you been?" He raised his hand patted her shoulder making the young man next to her scowl at him uneasily.
"I've been good!" M'Gann laughed nervously looking at the boy next to her. "Uh, sorry!" She tapped her forehead. "Hello M'Gann introductions!" She said more to herself. "This is.."
"Connor Kent." Crimson said for her raising a hand to the boy. "Superboy himself. Nice to finally meet you."
"Crimson?" Superboy looked at M'Gann then back at Crimson. "As in Batman's old sidekick?"
"The same." Crimson kept his hand extended. "You know it's polite to shake a man's hand when he holds it out to you." Crimson smarted off. Connor scoffed and looked at M'Gann who shrugged.
Connor looked back at Crimson and look him in again. Crimson kept his body loose just in case Superboy wanted to test himself against one of the Bat's prodigies. Instead Connor smiled and laughed taking Crimson's extended hand and shaking it.
"Sorry." Superboy apologized. "I guess I just expected you to be different."
"They all do." Crimson patted Connor's arm playfully. "No hard feelings Super-Clone!" Crimson walked past the couple who stared blankly at the empty space and thought about the new nickname of Connor.
Crimson walked down the hall some more and appeared in the kitchen of Mt. Justice and looked over the table on the far side. Flashbacks to the last time he sat at that table flew through his mind. The phone conversation with Barbra and the break up that had sent him away on his travels five years ago made Crimson glared at the table. Finally a faint cough caught his attention. Across in the small living area stood four teens looking over him. One was a green skinned boy with sharp teeth and wild hair. Another was a skinny pale skinned girl wearing a dark purple hoody with a pendent of a bird holding it around her leotard of the same color. Behind them stood a red haired youth wearing a red and orange leotard with lightning bolts across his arms and legs and a lightning bolt like belt around his waist. While the girl was wearing a green kevlar suit with a quiver across her back and a crossbow attached to her upper thigh.
"K.F?" Crimson smiled as Wally West smiled big. "Artemis?"
"Impulse." Wally said as he appeared next to Jason in a blur of red and orange. "And Artemis is Tigress now."
"No shit?" Crimson laughed putting his arm around his speedster friend. "Damn everyone is growing up and shit!"
"Good to see you again Jay." Artemis smiled and nodded towards him. "Allow me to introduce some of the newest members. This is Garfield Logan," Artemis placed her hand on the green skinned boy, "AKA Beastboy."
"Greenhorn whats up?" Crimson playfully ruffled the younger boy's hair leaving him confused and embarrassed.
"And this is Raven Roth." Artemis said motioning towards the young girl.
"Let me guess!" Crimson said cutting off Artemis. "They call you Purple Hood? Violet Avenger? Goth Girl?" Crimson asked laughing. Raven nearly squinted her eyes towards him and crossed her arms.
"Just Raven." Raven said angrily.
"I'm sticking with Goth Girl." Crimson said from behind his helmet. He clapped his hands and looked around. "This is great running into everyone again but where is Red Bird? I wanna get the fuck out of here before Goldie wants to talk again."
"Right here Todd." Damien lifted from the furthest seat in the room holding a book in his hand. He was wearing all but his half face mask and looked over his new mentor. "I woke up two hours ago. I've been wanting to leave for 119 minutes!"
Crimson shrugged to the Young Justice members and walked towards his sidekick. "Kids what are you gonna do right?" Crimson flicked Damien's ear causing the young hero to yelp in pain and glare towards him. "Get your stuff we're leaving."
"I dont think that's such a good idea yet." Cyborg had entered the room and was standing in the doorway blocking anyone from leaving or exiting. "You two need to rest a bit more before we let you leave."
"We can rest at home." Crimson said as he walked towards the larger man, not slowing down as he closed the gap.
"I have to insis...WHOA!" Cyborg was launched forward from a push from behind and Nightwing stood in his place. Crimson barely side stepped the falling half man as Nightwing cracked his neck.
"You wanna leave Jay?" Nightwing asked removing his domino mask. "Prove what you just said to me then."
"You've got to be kidding right?" Crimson laughed and looked over Dick. "You dreaming or something?"
"No." Dick said as he stood at the ready. "But I'll be your nightmare!"
Jason tossed his helmet and his domino mask off to the side and cracked his knuckles. "No weapons."
"No gadgets." Dick said removing his gloves as Jason removed his 'x'-shaped utility belt from around his chest and his cape.
"Bring it on Golden Boy." Jason smirked.
Dick and Jason ran at each other each block the others strike. Impulse held back Damien who tried to jump in and fight as well while Beastboy and Raven watched in shocked amazement as the former Boy Wonders fought against each other.
"Who the hell do you think you are?" Dick yelled as he tossed Jason over his shoulder and kicked the boy in mid air in the back sending him across the room. Before Jason could fully recover from the attack Dick front flipped and twisted in mid air sending a kick for Jason's face.
Jason backed up just enough for Dick to land before him and Jason rammed his body into the older man's back. As Jason rammed into Dick, he wrapped his arms around his successor's stomach and lifted him up and over his back tossing him over his head. Dick hit the ground on his upper back and rolled back as Jason kipped up and turned around smiling.
"Just call me Brock Lesnar! I took your ass to Suplex City!" Jason laughed.
Dick ran forward and speared Jason into the wall causing the younger dark red haired boy to cough in pain. Dick slumped down next to Jason and laughed.
"Believe that." Dick laughed.
Jason and Dick looked at each other once before each rolled away and flipped onto their feet in a mirrored fashioned. Dick ran forward and went for a left hay-maker as Jason ducked low and went for an uppercut.
The two connected with each other hard sending the other staggering back before running forward and started exchanging punches. As Jason lunged forward for another punch and Dick brought his foot up to kick at Jason's face a batarang flung out and embedded itself in the wall between the two causing both to stop and stare at the darkened hallway off to the side.
The other members of Young Justice and Damian were staring at the tall shadowy figure in the doorway. Batman walked from the shadows and stared over at his first two sidekicks then back at Red Bird who stared up at his father in awe. Batman walked over and leaned down in front of Damian.
"Are you ok son?" Batman looked over his biological son and examined his every limb.
"Yes father." Damian nearly whispered.
Batman stood up and looked back at Jason and made a b-line for him.
"Bats look I can explain..." Jason was stopped mid-sentence with a Bat-Glare from Batman and he stared at the ground instead.
"ROBIN," Batman spoke loudly, "Comes back to Gotham with me. Apparently I was wrong thinking he could learn from you."
"What?" Damian and Jason asked at the same time.
"Father please," Damian stepped forward, "Todd and I are making headway in Gorge City. I'm learning a lot with him."
"You're coming home." Batman said sternly.
"Batman," Jason was staring at the ground and Batman turned his face back towards him. Jason connected with a punch right to Batman's face sending him staggering back a step in shock. Everyone who was watching gasped and Dick's eyes nearly popped from his skull. "You son of a bitch!" Jason yelled. "The minute me and Demon Spawn start working like a team, the minute we actually make head way in the city, THE FUCKING MINUTE IT FEELS LIKE THINGS WILL FINALLY WORK OUT YOU HAVE TO RUIN IT?!" Batman stared at Jason emotionless. "You want Robin? Then give Blondie the outfit! But RED BIRD," Points at Damian, "Stays with Crimson in Gorge City!"
Batman stepped up to Jason and the Young Justice members sulked away fearing for the worse. Dick stepped up.
"Batman..." Dick was hushed with a single raised hand from Batman.
Batman looked over Jason with emotionless stare and crossed his arms over his chest. "You swear this wont happen again?"
"Swear." Jason nodded his head.
"You swear to keep him safe?" Batman's voice cracked just a enough to make Jason smile and relax.
"Hey," Jason shrugged and looked over Damian, "He is my brother after all."
