The Batman

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

He's confused by the question, tilting his head again. "Uh, yeah, sure." Jason automatically answers, not exactly sure what her goal with the question was. Did she need him to.. confirm he understood?

Bryce's way with dealing with cases and just any team ups seems to be very different. Usually Bruce will have already formulated a plan or at least would have orders for them to follow after looking extensively at the case. That or he just hands it to you and expects you to figure it out and do everything.

Jason seems almost confused with what she says though, trying to give him the opportunity to say anything he might think. Bryce hums a bit, looking over the warehouse again while crouching down a bit, her cape covering her more.

"Would you like to take the north or south?"

He hums a bit, looking back at the warehouse as well and pressing a button on his helmet to turn on his own heat vision. The south entrance seems to have more people nearby. "South." He answers, pressing his lips together and waiting to see if that was the right answer.

She says, standing and moving to take out her grapple gun. Bryce looks to Jason to confirm with him before taking off to the other side of the building and to the entrance she had said she'd go through.

She slams through the door, breaking the locks and dodging a few bullets before punching a man and swinging her leg out to bring down another, disarming some of them as well.

Usually he'll either work from far range or simply use a blade close range to quickly finish whatever foes he has no problem but it's been a while since he brute forced it with little to no weapons. He manages to take a good amount of people out due to Bryce's distraction.

Once she takes down a few of them, she's caught off guard by one of them with a large automated gun, running and grabbing onto Jason's arm to duck behind a beam and some crates as the weapon is shot loudly into the area.

He tilts his head up at the sound of an automated gun before he's suddenly pulled by Bryce, stumbling a bit and following her behind the crates.

"Where the... hell did he get that?"

Jason mumbles, correcting himself before he swears. God, he really does feel more like a kid. He peeks around the crate before the guy immediately tries to shoot him in the fucking face which Jason dodges, moving backwards a bit to do so.

"Rude."

Bryce says in response, eyeing the guards and trying to figure out a better escape route via heat signatures. That way she can also see the heat of the guns. She lets go of Jason when they hide though moving to grab him on instinct when he's almost shot at.

"Be careful..."

She says softly, humming a bit. Her lenses squint again as she tries to think of what to do in this situation.

"I have a smoke bomb, or bat-smoke? Bat-bomb? Whatever the hell your brother calls it- anyways, I can take out the automated weapon and you can get the other men down."

He snorts a bit at all the names before listening to Bryce’s plan. “Ok.. be careful though.” Jason hums, mumbling the last part a bit.

She's shot twice on the torso but nothing goes through the armor, she just winces, knowing it'll bruise harshly later on. She takes the man down and breaks the gun, skidding it across the floor as she punches her way through a few of the other guards.

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

He's confused by the question, tilting his head again. "Uh, yeah, sure." Jason automatically answers, not exactly sure what her goal with the question was. Did she need him to.. confirm he understood?

Bryce's way with dealing with cases and just any team ups seems to be very different. Usually Bruce will have already formulated a plan or at least would have orders for them to follow after looking extensively at the case. That or he just hands it to you and expects you to figure it out and do everything.

Jason seems almost confused with what she says though, trying to give him the opportunity to say anything he might think. Bryce hums a bit, looking over the warehouse again while crouching down a bit, her cape covering her more.

"Would you like to take the north or south?"

He hums a bit, looking back at the warehouse as well and pressing a button on his helmet to turn on his own heat vision. The south entrance seems to have more people nearby. "South." He answers, pressing his lips together and waiting to see if that was the right answer.

She says, standing and moving to take out her grapple gun. Bryce looks to Jason to confirm with him before taking off to the other side of the building and to the entrance she had said she'd go through.

She slams through the door, breaking the locks and dodging a few bullets before punching a man and swinging her leg out to bring down another, disarming some of them as well.

Usually he'll either work from far range or simply use a blade close range to quickly finish whatever foes he has no problem but it's been a while since he brute forced it with little to no weapons. He manages to take a good amount of people out due to Bryce's distraction.

Once she takes down a few of them, she's caught off guard by one of them with a large automated gun, running and grabbing onto Jason's arm to duck behind a beam and some crates as the weapon is shot loudly into the area.

He tilts his head up at the sound of an automated gun before he's suddenly pulled by Bryce, stumbling a bit and following her behind the crates.

"Where the... hell did he get that?"

Jason mumbles, correcting himself before he swears. God, he really does feel more like a kid. He peeks around the crate before the guy immediately tries to shoot him in the fucking face which Jason dodges, moving backwards a bit to do so.

"Rude."

Bryce says in response, eyeing the guards and trying to figure out a better escape route via heat signatures. That way she can also see the heat of the guns. She lets go of Jason when they hide though moving to grab him on instinct when he's almost shot at.

"Be careful..."

She says softly, humming a bit. Her lenses squint again as she tries to think of what to do in this situation.

"I have a smoke bomb, or bat-smoke? Bat-bomb? Whatever the hell your brother calls it- anyways, I can take out the automated weapon and you can get the other men down."

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

He's confused by the question, tilting his head again. "Uh, yeah, sure." Jason automatically answers, not exactly sure what her goal with the question was. Did she need him to.. confirm he understood?

Bryce's way with dealing with cases and just any team ups seems to be very different. Usually Bruce will have already formulated a plan or at least would have orders for them to follow after looking extensively at the case. That or he just hands it to you and expects you to figure it out and do everything.

Jason seems almost confused with what she says though, trying to give him the opportunity to say anything he might think. Bryce hums a bit, looking over the warehouse again while crouching down a bit, her cape covering her more.

"Would you like to take the north or south?"

He hums a bit, looking back at the warehouse as well and pressing a button on his helmet to turn on his own heat vision. The south entrance seems to have more people nearby. "South." He answers, pressing his lips together and waiting to see if that was the right answer.

She says, standing and moving to take out her grapple gun. Bryce looks to Jason to confirm with him before taking off to the other side of the building and to the entrance she had said she'd go through.

She slams through the door, breaking the locks and dodging a few bullets before punching a man and swinging her leg out to bring down another, disarming some of them as well.

Usually he'll either work from far range or simply use a blade close range to quickly finish whatever foes he has no problem but it's been a while since he brute forced it with little to no weapons. He manages to take a good amount of people out due to Bryce's distraction.

Once she takes down a few of them, she's caught off guard by one of them with a large automated gun, running and grabbing onto Jason's arm to duck behind a beam and some crates as the weapon is shot loudly into the area.

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

He's confused by the question, tilting his head again. "Uh, yeah, sure." Jason automatically answers, not exactly sure what her goal with the question was. Did she need him to.. confirm he understood?

Bryce's way with dealing with cases and just any team ups seems to be very different. Usually Bruce will have already formulated a plan or at least would have orders for them to follow after looking extensively at the case. That or he just hands it to you and expects you to figure it out and do everything.

Jason seems almost confused with what she says though, trying to give him the opportunity to say anything he might think. Bryce hums a bit, looking over the warehouse again while crouching down a bit, her cape covering her more.

"Would you like to take the north or south?"

He hums a bit, looking back at the warehouse as well and pressing a button on his helmet to turn on his own heat vision. The south entrance seems to have more people nearby. "South." He answers, pressing his lips together and waiting to see if that was the right answer.

She says, standing and moving to take out her grapple gun. Bryce looks to Jason to confirm with him before taking off to the other side of the building and to the entrance she had said she'd go through.

She slams through the door, breaking the locks and dodging a few bullets before punching a man and swinging her leg out to bring down another, disarming some of them as well.

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

He's confused by the question, tilting his head again. "Uh, yeah, sure." Jason automatically answers, not exactly sure what her goal with the question was. Did she need him to.. confirm he understood?

Bryce's way with dealing with cases and just any team ups seems to be very different. Usually Bruce will have already formulated a plan or at least would have orders for them to follow after looking extensively at the case. That or he just hands it to you and expects you to figure it out and do everything.

Jason seems almost confused with what she says though, trying to give him the opportunity to say anything he might think. Bryce hums a bit, looking over the warehouse again while crouching down a bit, her cape covering her more.

"Would you like to take the north or south?"

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

He tends to get more animated or expressive with body language when talking to someone he's close to or a kid. Sometimes he can also use it to change what emotion he's displaying entirely, whether or not it's real.

He's a bit caught off guard by the comment but doesn't question it, humming and nodding a bit before looking over to the Iceberg Lounge. "Sure. Lead the way" Jason responds, waiting for her to go.

"Weapons deal should be happening within the Warehouse. Heat signatures say there's about...sixteen people inside. There are two entrances from either side, we could take them down that way?"

She suggests, looking to Jason to hear his thoughts since she doesn't want to just order him around or anything. Besides this is supposed to be a team up, not her treating him like a sidekick.

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

He'll have to stick to just using fists and maybe some of his daggers if needed though he isn't exactly used to using those non-lethally either. This is confirmed by what Bryce says and he feels a bit tense already. He pushes the feeling down though and just hopes this goes well though he has a lingering feeling it wont. That he'll screw up and Bryce will leave him to.

Bryce says before hanging up the call and grappling off the roof. She arrives before him, of course given that she was already nearby the outside of the Narrows. Loitering a bit as she waited for Jason's response. She hadn't want to enter uninvited or anything.

Bryce is waiting on a roof top nearby when she spots Jason, standing and moving towards him. She scans him, simply assessing things.

"Hi...you look well. I have the address in my visor if you'd mind following me. It should just be a simple weapons deal but I'll be able to pull out enough evidence from this to take down the operation."

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

"No– I mean. It's fine. We can check it out." Jason quickly responds to the last part before correcting himself. He isn't sure if he's more or less nervous at the idea of that but he doesn't want to decline the offer. That would be rude and he guesses he'd be fine with that. It's just.. different.

She asks, smiling softly to herself though it's not obvious in her voice. Bryce doesn't really speak in a way that's obvious with her emotions, but she definitely sounds pleasant at the moment. She shifts a bit and stands from the ledge she's knelt on.

"All I ask is to try and be non-lethal, yes? I respect that you have your way of doing things, but I'd still rather try and be civil tonight. It's up to you if you'd still like me to join."

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

He takes a moment to actually process what she's saying, taking a few seconds after she speaks think before replying. "Uh.. Yeah, sure. Do you need me to check it out for you?" Jason responds, looking back to the coffee table where all is guns and daggers are.

Bryce explains a bit more, trying to be specific and gentle with it. It's very obvious that Jason is used to a very different type of way of doing things. Bryce...well she just wish he didn't have to do any of that beforehand, but she can't go back and change things, so she continues forward. The least she can do is be kind and understanding now.

"If you'd rather I just hand off the case to you, that's fine. I'm only...suggesting to do it differently. If you'd be welcome to that."

(XXX)-XXX-XXXX

@gothams-batman

Jason was unwinding from patrol, cleaning his guns and everything quietly. He was still in the Red Hood uniform since he preferred to deal with this stuff and then take a shower and everything, if he didn't he just felt dirty. He doesn't really play music or anything in the background, he's in a safe house so he doesn't have a TV and he wouldn't use it anyways if he was in his apartment.

His phone rings when he's almost finished and he already knows who it is. He changed his phone's ringtone for Bryce's number after he first called her just incase so he could prepare. It also helped differentiate her from everyone else since this specific phone is a work phone, not the one he uses for the bats. He still checks the number and sure enough it is in fact her.

"Hi, dear. I'm not sure if you're still busy for the night but I was wondering if you'd like to help me out with something?"

The suggestion is mostly because she wants to see Jason again, but also the case she's following is leading her into his territory so she wants to be sure to not overstep or anything. At first she was simply going to ask about it or hand off the case to him but she had the idea to simply ask him to assist and decided to at least give it a try.

"It's something connected with Penguin and some of his old weapons dealings, it runs into the Narrows so I thought you could help me out more with it if you're available."

Its also not supposed to be here. Everything hurts and it feels like glass is being pushed through its veins while at the same time hes on fire fromanexplosion.

It tore it's body apart so many times, desperate to go back to the grave whereitbelonged they had to kill and restrain it multiple times but it always finds a way to escape. The lady, TaliaAlGhul, kept trying to speak to it, calm it down but it just ended up attacking her and then running.

He wanted to go home. WherewasBatman? Home seemed to be in this city, an alley filled with trash where people go to die because thatswhereyoubelong.

He wants to go home.

@jason-whoami-todd

It's been almost two years since Jason died. Bryce is on patrol, alone tonight. She and Dick had argued again a few nights ago, something that was probably her fault if she was honest, but he left back to Bludhaven and hasn't been answering her calls. Nightwing isn't in Gotham. Babs is also not talking to her, this time Bryce can't even remember what she did to anger her really, but Batgirl isn't present either. Tim has dinner with his parents tonight, Bryce wasn't going to take away from his time with his actual family.

She was...better. If better and worse had a twisted third sister named 'not actively suicidal.' Her hair is getting even longer, it was around past her collarbones when Jason was alive and she couldn't get herself to cut it ever since he's been gone. It's almost past her ribcage now, having to tie it all back to put on her cowl is a bit of a struggle but the last time she debated cutting it off she almost tried to do it herself in her bathroom, and gave up, ending up sobbing on the floor until she passed out. Alfred found her the next morning like that.

Now, she looks out at Gotham, a city she used to take pride in protecting, and just feels a sickening empty feeling. Is it really even worth it? Does she know what she's doing? She got her son killed. A Hero doesn't do that. They shouldn't. She doesn't deserve this title, this cowl. She's deep in thought, crouched and fully covered in her cape when she spots him.

A boy, skinny looking in an outfit that looks vaguely familiar. Something from the league maybe? She believes she's seen league members wear things similar. She had worn something like it when she was training with Ra's. Thats a red flag. He seems to be lost, wandering around aimlessly. The biggest thing that sticks out is...a muzzle. The teenage boy is wearing a fucking muzzle. Thats bad, this is bad.

The internal sirens in her head go off, and she makes her way down to him before properly thinking really. She jumps down, puts her hands in front of her and speaks.

"Hi...Are you lost?"

It doesnt move, doesnt speak. Not like it could with the muzzle and trying to make its mouth move to form words seems alien. It doesn't have orders to attack anyone or her. Heneverwantedtohurtanyone.

"Wait! Kid come back!!"

She calls out, turning the corner to go after him. She curses under her breath. It seems she's spooked him then. It makes sense given that he's most likely from the league. Even if he doesn't recognize who The Batman is he's more prepared to act if he feels threatened.

"I want to help you!"

It's not even sure why it's here, it was supposed to stay in the league, it had specific orders but its so loud, his brain feels like its been screaming ever since they drowned it. Someone was supposed to come and save him but they never did. Someone was supposed to help him.

"Hey there...I'm Batman, I want to help you, love. I know everything is very scary and confusing right now, but I can help you...okay?"

There are scratch marks around its eyes from clawing the lens off of his face and then continuing to try scratch its eyes out. A bunch of other scars are on its face but majority of them are hidden by its knees and straight white bangs with the rest being black and curly.

"You're in Gotham right now, I'm not sure if you came from the League or somewhere else, but I can help you, I can keep you safe."

She says slowly, her hand thrums a bit against the ground. She's been more fidgety recently, it makes her feel more grounded somehow, stops her from getting so exhausted...it helps with the things she sees that aren't real, that only seem to be getting worse somehow. She needs to focus on helping this boy, not the boy she wasn't able to help.

"It's- don't...it's going to be okay, dear, I can help you just...I don't want you to harm yourself. I'm sorry I grabbed you-"

She says, frowning but trying to speak gently. She's a little choked sounding from the shock but she recovers well and tries to take stock of the situation. She hopes he doesn't try that again at least. Shit.

She needs to get him back to the cave, a standard hospital wouldn't be able to help him, but Bryce might and she could call Leslie if she needs back up. The cave should be empty except for Alfred, she hopes that if she can get him there she'll be able to help more.

"You'll be alright. I'm not mad or anything- I only want you to be safe."

"I'm so sorry...I promise I only want to help, really I do. I know I'm a stranger and everything is very scary...but I want to get you somewhere safe, the streets aren't really. I can get you some warm food and shelter too."

Pain always helped. A weapon is supposed to be able to work through the pain, no matter how damaged it is. No matter how much he wanted to just rest and go back to being dead. There is something so familiar about her but with the rush of memories and the ringing in its ears it cant figure out what it is.

This is bad, not really anything she's necessarily equipped to help with right now, she wants to get him out of the city at least and try to explain things better, get the muzzle off or find some way for him to communicate if he can.

Bryce can help, she'll try really she will. She just needs to focus on the boy, he needs help. She can't fail him.

The muzzle looks almost stitched on, some mechanism making it so it digs into the skin and would rip some of it off if someone tried to force it off incorrectly. There might be something similar to a lever or a keyhole to release it but its hard to tell in the dark with his face mostly hidden.

"I don't want you hurt...I can help. My name is Bryce. I help people, it's my job."

She says softly, being a bit more open with him so he knows what he's dealing with better.

"We can figure things out, alright? Do you want to come with me?"

"Just follow me okay? It's only a block away."

She says softly, backing up through the alleyway, making sure he is actually following before she makes her way to where she had hid the batmobile. It's under a tarp. Jason had stolen her tires, so she decided to make some extra measures on hiding vehicle. It makes her heart ache thinking of it now.

"Put your seatbelt on, okay?"

She says, before she begins driving the batmobile out of the alleyway. She doesn't speak, focusing on the road more as she gets a bit lost in thought. Alfred said she's less talkative nowadays, she told him she was never very talkative, and he just gave her a strange look. Bryce isn't sure what that was supposed to mean really.

They get home quickly, parking smoothly in the batcave. She unlocks the doors but doesn't get out yet, glancing towards the boy briefly. She doesn't speak just looks at him. Does she really know what she's doing? She's not sure. She sighs a little and gets our.

"You can come out of there now, okay?"

It recognises the entrance as well, the cave. It grips its head to try stop the ringing and rush of memories once again. It had gotten better from when he left the pit but he can still feel the rush of memories all tainted green sometimes.

He only looks back up when Bryce speaks, looking at her before uncurling a bit and exiting the car. It's clearer now in the cave since he isnt curled up in a dark alley anymore. Definitely in league attire with that red hood over its head and gloves. There looks like there is scaring around the edge of the muzzle, from it ripping it out in a panic and tearing the skin off since the mechanism anyways dug into the skin.

"The uh...mask, does it hurt? Would you like to take it off?"

She asks, wanting to make sure thats what he wants, regardless she wants to get the thing off since it looks like it's hurting him. If he still wants to cover his face she's sure she has some cloth masks he can wear that won't damage him.

When it first came out of the pit the lady took him to the chambers and washroom to change and when he saw the mirror.. It doesnt remember what happened just that he ended up on the floor on the shards after cutting itself open with them. There was so much blood. He didnt think that was a bad thing.

Bryce tries to explain, brushing some of her hair back and leaning back against the desk, arms folded as she makes a small face, from looking at the mechanism she's able to try and think of what she can do to break or unlock it without hurting him, too much at least. A screwdriver with a specific shaped tip could work, she can use some of the tech in here to make a model of it, fit it like a key and twist on it.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to unless it's stoping something from hurting you, okay? I promise."

"Don't...it's okay- please, dear, don't hurt yourself. It'll be okay. Is something wrong?"

"Let's...just try and get the mask off alright? I'll get you a cloth one you can wear if you'd like to, the choice is yours. Just...here."

Bryce moves to pull up a chair from the desk.

"Can you wait here for me, sit down if you'd like. Please just...don't scratch anymore alright? You'll only make them bleed and hurt more."

Once she's gotten the advanced 3D printing system to take the model she created, she sits back in the chair that sits by the middle of the large desk in front of the bat-computer. Bryce sighs a little, resting her head on her chin as she looks everything over to double check and make sure the systems are going correctly. She's bone deep tired, and while she waits she almost finds herself nodding off, shooting up to try and get herself to stay awake as the printer dings.

Bryce rubs at her eyes a little before standing and walking over to it, which is a ways away from the computer. She takes out the specific screwdriver tip, looking it over to make sure everything's correct before she leaves the room into a storage area, searching for the screwdriver with removable tips that Dick had enthusiastically painted a bat symbol on a few years ago. 'Bat-driver, obviously. For your bat-screws.' He had said...Bryce needs to visit him soon and apologize. God she's a mess.

It keeps its head hidden in its knees, gripping its hair a bit and digging its nails into its scalp. The hair is around at its shoulders, all frizzy and matted with blood and dirt. There even is evidence of blunt force trauma and wounds that havent quite healed yet. The white streak looks more brown and red than white sometimes.

His clothes is hiding majority of the injuries, most from itself but a few from trying to restraint it or punishments. Not an inch of skin is visible though other hand its face so thats thankfully hidden, a mercy really. The clothes do look dirty though with some tears and if it wasnt red definitely some blood.

"Hi, dear. I don't want to hurt you or anything, and the screwdriver there is just going to be inserted into the lock in your mask so it unlatches without causing any pain. If you want to wait a little until I do it until you're ready we can. All I'm going to do is take the mask off, nothing else, I promise."

She says it slowly in a gentle tone, a bit more than she might use for children, but he seems to be a bit out of it, probably a mix of the pit and the trauma making him dissociate. She doesn't move to touch him, just looking up at him from the floor with a soft but tired look.

"No one's going to hurt or make you do anything you don't want to here, you're safe."

Bryce is certain he won't immediately believe that, but it's best to start saying it now and keep saying it so he'll be able to become more comfortable eventually.

She pauses before she gets an idea and goes to her utility belt, taking out a notepad and a small golf pencil from one of the pockets, she flips through some of the used pages before it's on a fresh one and sets that down on the desk directly near where the boy is sitting.

It would.. like that he supposes. Its not going to do anything unless told but if Bryce does it for him it wouldn't be against it. She seems nice. It doesn't know why it keeps thinking that.

When she opens her utility belt it moves to brace again, expecting a weapon or something to hurt it. They always said they wouldn't hurt him yet they always hurt the most.

It only looks back up when she puts it down and speaks again, looking at the book and pencil then glancing at her and back. Writing.. he used to like that.

"Okay...I'm gonna try and get the mask off, there's another one here if you'd prefer to keep your face covered. It's up to you, I'm not going to judge you for anything. Tap my arm if you want to stop, I'm going to have to touch your face a little but I'll be quick and gentle."

She explains, hoping that the option of being able to say no and tap out will be helpful to him. She picks up the screwdriver from the desk, and approaches him, slowly but surely.

"Can you tilt your head up a bit for me, dear?"

She blinks, thinking he might disappear or his face will turn differently, confirming it to just be some nightmare or hallucination, but he stays. Jason. It's- it can't be though, Jason died. Bryce held his cold and dead body, she carried him, she buried him. She had to change his body into civilian clothing out of the robin costume for the coroners to obscure his identity, she had to hold her baby, her child who had died because she failed him and...it can't be him. Could it?

"Jason...?"

It quickly hides its face in its knees, only the eyes peeking through and staring up at her. Why does she seem upset? Did it do something? Itsalwayshisfault.

He makes another sound of pain at that name, the pit rushing through its head with memories making him curl up more on himself and start grabbing its head, clawing at it and the scars there.

"No- no- dear I'm sorry, it's okay, I promise I didn't mean...please just-"

She's tripping over her words, trying to force herself to calm down because she's just making things worse. He's alive- he's alive, lord how in the world is he alive? He's injured and bad and it's obvious the league had something to do with this, Ra's probably if she had to guess. Those bright green eyes- the same as Talia's.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry I- I just..."

She trails off, looking him over, her hold going from restraining to just simply holding his arms gently. She takes a few breathes.

"I'm so sorry."

"Jaylad I hadn't- I didn't..."

She takes a deep breath, wiping shakily at the tears on her face. She hands him the fabric mask.

"If...if you want to put this on you can. I won't force you to, but if it makes you more comfortable feel free."

"I'm alright, sweetheart, I promise. I just...I missed you. I missed you so much. I'm happy to see you."

She says, smiling still. She wants to sob or never let him go, she wants to act out, throw something, do anything. But she can't, and she doesn't. She just smiles at her son, eyes shining with tears as she moves to put her hand gently on his, only touching softly.

Every time people say something will be ok or promise something it never is and they never keep their promise. It doesnt know where it learned this but it must be true. I promise I'll be alright, baby.

"Would you like to change into something more comfortable?"

She asks softly, looking at the league wear he's in, she's not sure if it's comfortable or not but she thinks he'd be more comfortable wearing some of his own clothing. She...hasn't given any of it away yet, or packed it up. She didn't have the heart and neither did Alfred.

"You can shower too if you'd like, then maybe we can have something to eat, yeah?"

She says when he seems to just become uncomfortable at the idea, wrapping his free arm around himself. Bryce tries not to let her worry or anything show, being gentle and kind with him. Whatever happened in the League was bad, she can tell that much, and it makes her sick to imagine what might have happened to her boy.

"It's up to you, I won't make you do anything."

"Does eating something sound easier? Regardless, after you eat and shower you can get some rest in your room too, okay? Theres locks on the door you can use and I won't come in."

He remembers emptying his entire stomach in the bathroom and washing up, rinsing his mouth a million times because the smell reminded him of when his mom.. he doesnt wanna think about that. Bryce is outside. The first time this happen she tried to come in but he kept pushing her and she eventually got the memo.

He doesnt need anyone to hover over him. He's dealt with this before, whenever someone was kind enough to give him a meal and then he'd eat it all because he was so hungry and would have to break into some shop or anywhere with a bathroom before it was too late. He can handle it

Bryce brings her hands gently up to his wrists so he'll stop, frowning. She looks him over a bit, concerned. She doesn't want him to hurt himself or anything.

"I've got you, we can just- you don't need to do anything, we don't need to choose for right now. We can wait for as long as you'd like, dear."

"It's alright...love, I'm so sorry I didn't find you sooner- everything's going to be okay, Jaylad. It's alright to cry."

Bryce says to him softly, scanning him a bit. She moves her hand away from his face, not wanting to overwhelm him too much. She's trying to take things slow and not make them worse than they already are.

"I've got you, you're safe now. We can wait for as long as you'd like."

"Hey, hey, shh it's okay, you haven't done anything wrong."

She says gently, frowning a little as his reaction as she tries to be comforting. She doesn't want him to feel bad or wrong for reaching out for her touch at all. Thats not at all what she wants.

"I'm here, Jay. I won't go anywhere."

"I'm so sorry, love. I've got you now. I'm here for you."

She slowly brings him closer, hugging the boy and letting his head rest on her shoulder. The embrace is loose enough to escape, but present enough to be comforting. Bryce squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, trying to gather herself.

"It'll be alright...I promise."

He's home now, that's all Bryce can really latch onto, because she doesn't want to fail him again. She won't. Never again, she'll make it up to him, she'll help him through all of this, she swears on it.

"It's okay hon...it's okay."

He chokes on the words, the mouth movements feeling so foreign and like something lost. It hasn’t spoken in a year, voice rough from disuse and at the same time screaming its water filled lungs out.

"Yeah, baby, it's me. It- It's Mom. I've got you."

Its also not supposed to be here. Everything hurts and it feels like glass is being pushed through its veins while at the same time hes on fire fromanexplosion.

It tore it's body apart so many times, desperate to go back to the grave whereitbelonged they had to kill and restrain it multiple times but it always finds a way to escape. The lady, TaliaAlGhul, kept trying to speak to it, calm it down but it just ended up attacking her and then running.

He wanted to go home. WherewasBatman? Home seemed to be in this city, an alley filled with trash where people go to die because thatswhereyoubelong.

He wants to go home.

@jason-whoami-todd

It's been almost two years since Jason died. Bryce is on patrol, alone tonight. She and Dick had argued again a few nights ago, something that was probably her fault if she was honest, but he left back to Bludhaven and hasn't been answering her calls. Nightwing isn't in Gotham. Babs is also not talking to her, this time Bryce can't even remember what she did to anger her really, but Batgirl isn't present either. Tim has dinner with his parents tonight, Bryce wasn't going to take away from his time with his actual family.

She was...better. If better and worse had a twisted third sister named 'not actively suicidal.' Her hair is getting even longer, it was around past her collarbones when Jason was alive and she couldn't get herself to cut it ever since he's been gone. It's almost past her ribcage now, having to tie it all back to put on her cowl is a bit of a struggle but the last time she debated cutting it off she almost tried to do it herself in her bathroom, and gave up, ending up sobbing on the floor until she passed out. Alfred found her the next morning like that.

Now, she looks out at Gotham, a city she used to take pride in protecting, and just feels a sickening empty feeling. Is it really even worth it? Does she know what she's doing? She got her son killed. A Hero doesn't do that. They shouldn't. She doesn't deserve this title, this cowl. She's deep in thought, crouched and fully covered in her cape when she spots him.

A boy, skinny looking in an outfit that looks vaguely familiar. Something from the league maybe? She believes she's seen league members wear things similar. She had worn something like it when she was training with Ra's. Thats a red flag. He seems to be lost, wandering around aimlessly. The biggest thing that sticks out is...a muzzle. The teenage boy is wearing a fucking muzzle. Thats bad, this is bad.

The internal sirens in her head go off, and she makes her way down to him before properly thinking really. She jumps down, puts her hands in front of her and speaks.

"Hi...Are you lost?"

It doesnt move, doesnt speak. Not like it could with the muzzle and trying to make its mouth move to form words seems alien. It doesn't have orders to attack anyone or her. Heneverwantedtohurtanyone.

"Wait! Kid come back!!"

She calls out, turning the corner to go after him. She curses under her breath. It seems she's spooked him then. It makes sense given that he's most likely from the league. Even if he doesn't recognize who The Batman is he's more prepared to act if he feels threatened.

"I want to help you!"

It's not even sure why it's here, it was supposed to stay in the league, it had specific orders but its so loud, his brain feels like its been screaming ever since they drowned it. Someone was supposed to come and save him but they never did. Someone was supposed to help him.

"Hey there...I'm Batman, I want to help you, love. I know everything is very scary and confusing right now, but I can help you...okay?"

There are scratch marks around its eyes from clawing the lens off of his face and then continuing to try scratch its eyes out. A bunch of other scars are on its face but majority of them are hidden by its knees and straight white bangs with the rest being black and curly.

"You're in Gotham right now, I'm not sure if you came from the League or somewhere else, but I can help you, I can keep you safe."

She says slowly, her hand thrums a bit against the ground. She's been more fidgety recently, it makes her feel more grounded somehow, stops her from getting so exhausted...it helps with the things she sees that aren't real, that only seem to be getting worse somehow. She needs to focus on helping this boy, not the boy she wasn't able to help.

"It's- don't...it's going to be okay, dear, I can help you just...I don't want you to harm yourself. I'm sorry I grabbed you-"

She says, frowning but trying to speak gently. She's a little choked sounding from the shock but she recovers well and tries to take stock of the situation. She hopes he doesn't try that again at least. Shit.

She needs to get him back to the cave, a standard hospital wouldn't be able to help him, but Bryce might and she could call Leslie if she needs back up. The cave should be empty except for Alfred, she hopes that if she can get him there she'll be able to help more.

"You'll be alright. I'm not mad or anything- I only want you to be safe."

"I'm so sorry...I promise I only want to help, really I do. I know I'm a stranger and everything is very scary...but I want to get you somewhere safe, the streets aren't really. I can get you some warm food and shelter too."

Pain always helped. A weapon is supposed to be able to work through the pain, no matter how damaged it is. No matter how much he wanted to just rest and go back to being dead. There is something so familiar about her but with the rush of memories and the ringing in its ears it cant figure out what it is.

This is bad, not really anything she's necessarily equipped to help with right now, she wants to get him out of the city at least and try to explain things better, get the muzzle off or find some way for him to communicate if he can.

Bryce can help, she'll try really she will. She just needs to focus on the boy, he needs help. She can't fail him.

The muzzle looks almost stitched on, some mechanism making it so it digs into the skin and would rip some of it off if someone tried to force it off incorrectly. There might be something similar to a lever or a keyhole to release it but its hard to tell in the dark with his face mostly hidden.

"I don't want you hurt...I can help. My name is Bryce. I help people, it's my job."

She says softly, being a bit more open with him so he knows what he's dealing with better.

"We can figure things out, alright? Do you want to come with me?"

"Just follow me okay? It's only a block away."

She says softly, backing up through the alleyway, making sure he is actually following before she makes her way to where she had hid the batmobile. It's under a tarp. Jason had stolen her tires, so she decided to make some extra measures on hiding vehicle. It makes her heart ache thinking of it now.

"Put your seatbelt on, okay?"

She says, before she begins driving the batmobile out of the alleyway. She doesn't speak, focusing on the road more as she gets a bit lost in thought. Alfred said she's less talkative nowadays, she told him she was never very talkative, and he just gave her a strange look. Bryce isn't sure what that was supposed to mean really.

They get home quickly, parking smoothly in the batcave. She unlocks the doors but doesn't get out yet, glancing towards the boy briefly. She doesn't speak just looks at him. Does she really know what she's doing? She's not sure. She sighs a little and gets our.

"You can come out of there now, okay?"

It recognises the entrance as well, the cave. It grips its head to try stop the ringing and rush of memories once again. It had gotten better from when he left the pit but he can still feel the rush of memories all tainted green sometimes.

He only looks back up when Bryce speaks, looking at her before uncurling a bit and exiting the car. It's clearer now in the cave since he isnt curled up in a dark alley anymore. Definitely in league attire with that red hood over its head and gloves. There looks like there is scaring around the edge of the muzzle, from it ripping it out in a panic and tearing the skin off since the mechanism anyways dug into the skin.

"The uh...mask, does it hurt? Would you like to take it off?"

She asks, wanting to make sure thats what he wants, regardless she wants to get the thing off since it looks like it's hurting him. If he still wants to cover his face she's sure she has some cloth masks he can wear that won't damage him.

When it first came out of the pit the lady took him to the chambers and washroom to change and when he saw the mirror.. It doesnt remember what happened just that he ended up on the floor on the shards after cutting itself open with them. There was so much blood. He didnt think that was a bad thing.

Bryce tries to explain, brushing some of her hair back and leaning back against the desk, arms folded as she makes a small face, from looking at the mechanism she's able to try and think of what she can do to break or unlock it without hurting him, too much at least. A screwdriver with a specific shaped tip could work, she can use some of the tech in here to make a model of it, fit it like a key and twist on it.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to unless it's stoping something from hurting you, okay? I promise."

"Don't...it's okay- please, dear, don't hurt yourself. It'll be okay. Is something wrong?"

"Let's...just try and get the mask off alright? I'll get you a cloth one you can wear if you'd like to, the choice is yours. Just...here."

Bryce moves to pull up a chair from the desk.

"Can you wait here for me, sit down if you'd like. Please just...don't scratch anymore alright? You'll only make them bleed and hurt more."

Once she's gotten the advanced 3D printing system to take the model she created, she sits back in the chair that sits by the middle of the large desk in front of the bat-computer. Bryce sighs a little, resting her head on her chin as she looks everything over to double check and make sure the systems are going correctly. She's bone deep tired, and while she waits she almost finds herself nodding off, shooting up to try and get herself to stay awake as the printer dings.

Bryce rubs at her eyes a little before standing and walking over to it, which is a ways away from the computer. She takes out the specific screwdriver tip, looking it over to make sure everything's correct before she leaves the room into a storage area, searching for the screwdriver with removable tips that Dick had enthusiastically painted a bat symbol on a few years ago. 'Bat-driver, obviously. For your bat-screws.' He had said...Bryce needs to visit him soon and apologize. God she's a mess.

It keeps its head hidden in its knees, gripping its hair a bit and digging its nails into its scalp. The hair is around at its shoulders, all frizzy and matted with blood and dirt. There even is evidence of blunt force trauma and wounds that havent quite healed yet. The white streak looks more brown and red than white sometimes.

His clothes is hiding majority of the injuries, most from itself but a few from trying to restraint it or punishments. Not an inch of skin is visible though other hand its face so thats thankfully hidden, a mercy really. The clothes do look dirty though with some tears and if it wasnt red definitely some blood.

"Hi, dear. I don't want to hurt you or anything, and the screwdriver there is just going to be inserted into the lock in your mask so it unlatches without causing any pain. If you want to wait a little until I do it until you're ready we can. All I'm going to do is take the mask off, nothing else, I promise."

She says it slowly in a gentle tone, a bit more than she might use for children, but he seems to be a bit out of it, probably a mix of the pit and the trauma making him dissociate. She doesn't move to touch him, just looking up at him from the floor with a soft but tired look.

"No one's going to hurt or make you do anything you don't want to here, you're safe."

Bryce is certain he won't immediately believe that, but it's best to start saying it now and keep saying it so he'll be able to become more comfortable eventually.

She pauses before she gets an idea and goes to her utility belt, taking out a notepad and a small golf pencil from one of the pockets, she flips through some of the used pages before it's on a fresh one and sets that down on the desk directly near where the boy is sitting.

It would.. like that he supposes. Its not going to do anything unless told but if Bryce does it for him it wouldn't be against it. She seems nice. It doesn't know why it keeps thinking that.

When she opens her utility belt it moves to brace again, expecting a weapon or something to hurt it. They always said they wouldn't hurt him yet they always hurt the most.

It only looks back up when she puts it down and speaks again, looking at the book and pencil then glancing at her and back. Writing.. he used to like that.

"Okay...I'm gonna try and get the mask off, there's another one here if you'd prefer to keep your face covered. It's up to you, I'm not going to judge you for anything. Tap my arm if you want to stop, I'm going to have to touch your face a little but I'll be quick and gentle."

She explains, hoping that the option of being able to say no and tap out will be helpful to him. She picks up the screwdriver from the desk, and approaches him, slowly but surely.

"Can you tilt your head up a bit for me, dear?"

She blinks, thinking he might disappear or his face will turn differently, confirming it to just be some nightmare or hallucination, but he stays. Jason. It's- it can't be though, Jason died. Bryce held his cold and dead body, she carried him, she buried him. She had to change his body into civilian clothing out of the robin costume for the coroners to obscure his identity, she had to hold her baby, her child who had died because she failed him and...it can't be him. Could it?

"Jason...?"

It quickly hides its face in its knees, only the eyes peeking through and staring up at her. Why does she seem upset? Did it do something? Itsalwayshisfault.

He makes another sound of pain at that name, the pit rushing through its head with memories making him curl up more on himself and start grabbing its head, clawing at it and the scars there.

"No- no- dear I'm sorry, it's okay, I promise I didn't mean...please just-"

She's tripping over her words, trying to force herself to calm down because she's just making things worse. He's alive- he's alive, lord how in the world is he alive? He's injured and bad and it's obvious the league had something to do with this, Ra's probably if she had to guess. Those bright green eyes- the same as Talia's.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry I- I just..."

She trails off, looking him over, her hold going from restraining to just simply holding his arms gently. She takes a few breathes.

"I'm so sorry."

"Jaylad I hadn't- I didn't..."

She takes a deep breath, wiping shakily at the tears on her face. She hands him the fabric mask.

"If...if you want to put this on you can. I won't force you to, but if it makes you more comfortable feel free."

"I'm alright, sweetheart, I promise. I just...I missed you. I missed you so much. I'm happy to see you."

She says, smiling still. She wants to sob or never let him go, she wants to act out, throw something, do anything. But she can't, and she doesn't. She just smiles at her son, eyes shining with tears as she moves to put her hand gently on his, only touching softly.

Every time people say something will be ok or promise something it never is and they never keep their promise. It doesnt know where it learned this but it must be true. I promise I'll be alright, baby.

"Would you like to change into something more comfortable?"

She asks softly, looking at the league wear he's in, she's not sure if it's comfortable or not but she thinks he'd be more comfortable wearing some of his own clothing. She...hasn't given any of it away yet, or packed it up. She didn't have the heart and neither did Alfred.

"You can shower too if you'd like, then maybe we can have something to eat, yeah?"

She says when he seems to just become uncomfortable at the idea, wrapping his free arm around himself. Bryce tries not to let her worry or anything show, being gentle and kind with him. Whatever happened in the League was bad, she can tell that much, and it makes her sick to imagine what might have happened to her boy.

"It's up to you, I won't make you do anything."

"Does eating something sound easier? Regardless, after you eat and shower you can get some rest in your room too, okay? Theres locks on the door you can use and I won't come in."

He remembers emptying his entire stomach in the bathroom and washing up, rinsing his mouth a million times because the smell reminded him of when his mom.. he doesnt wanna think about that. Bryce is outside. The first time this happen she tried to come in but he kept pushing her and she eventually got the memo.

He doesnt need anyone to hover over him. He's dealt with this before, whenever someone was kind enough to give him a meal and then he'd eat it all because he was so hungry and would have to break into some shop or anywhere with a bathroom before it was too late. He can handle it

Bryce brings her hands gently up to his wrists so he'll stop, frowning. She looks him over a bit, concerned. She doesn't want him to hurt himself or anything.

"I've got you, we can just- you don't need to do anything, we don't need to choose for right now. We can wait for as long as you'd like, dear."

"It's alright...love, I'm so sorry I didn't find you sooner- everything's going to be okay, Jaylad. It's alright to cry."

Bryce says to him softly, scanning him a bit. She moves her hand away from his face, not wanting to overwhelm him too much. She's trying to take things slow and not make them worse than they already are.

"I've got you, you're safe now. We can wait for as long as you'd like."

"Hey, hey, shh it's okay, you haven't done anything wrong."

She says gently, frowning a little as his reaction as she tries to be comforting. She doesn't want him to feel bad or wrong for reaching out for her touch at all. Thats not at all what she wants.

"I'm here, Jay. I won't go anywhere."

"I'm so sorry, love. I've got you now. I'm here for you."

She slowly brings him closer, hugging the boy and letting his head rest on her shoulder. The embrace is loose enough to escape, but present enough to be comforting. Bryce squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, trying to gather herself.

"It'll be alright...I promise."

He's home now, that's all Bryce can really latch onto, because she doesn't want to fail him again. She won't. Never again, she'll make it up to him, she'll help him through all of this, she swears on it.

"It's okay hon...it's okay."

He chokes on the words, the mouth movements feeling so foreign and like something lost. It hasn’t spoken in a year, voice rough from disuse and at the same time screaming its water filled lungs out.

"Yeah, baby, it's me. It- It's Mom. I've got you."

Its also not supposed to be here. Everything hurts and it feels like glass is being pushed through its veins while at the same time hes on fire fromanexplosion.

It tore it's body apart so many times, desperate to go back to the grave whereitbelonged they had to kill and restrain it multiple times but it always finds a way to escape. The lady, TaliaAlGhul, kept trying to speak to it, calm it down but it just ended up attacking her and then running.

He wanted to go home. WherewasBatman? Home seemed to be in this city, an alley filled with trash where people go to die because thatswhereyoubelong.

He wants to go home.

@jason-whoami-todd

It's been almost two years since Jason died. Bryce is on patrol, alone tonight. She and Dick had argued again a few nights ago, something that was probably her fault if she was honest, but he left back to Bludhaven and hasn't been answering her calls. Nightwing isn't in Gotham. Babs is also not talking to her, this time Bryce can't even remember what she did to anger her really, but Batgirl isn't present either. Tim has dinner with his parents tonight, Bryce wasn't going to take away from his time with his actual family.

She was...better. If better and worse had a twisted third sister named 'not actively suicidal.' Her hair is getting even longer, it was around past her collarbones when Jason was alive and she couldn't get herself to cut it ever since he's been gone. It's almost past her ribcage now, having to tie it all back to put on her cowl is a bit of a struggle but the last time she debated cutting it off she almost tried to do it herself in her bathroom, and gave up, ending up sobbing on the floor until she passed out. Alfred found her the next morning like that.

Now, she looks out at Gotham, a city she used to take pride in protecting, and just feels a sickening empty feeling. Is it really even worth it? Does she know what she's doing? She got her son killed. A Hero doesn't do that. They shouldn't. She doesn't deserve this title, this cowl. She's deep in thought, crouched and fully covered in her cape when she spots him.

A boy, skinny looking in an outfit that looks vaguely familiar. Something from the league maybe? She believes she's seen league members wear things similar. She had worn something like it when she was training with Ra's. Thats a red flag. He seems to be lost, wandering around aimlessly. The biggest thing that sticks out is...a muzzle. The teenage boy is wearing a fucking muzzle. Thats bad, this is bad.

The internal sirens in her head go off, and she makes her way down to him before properly thinking really. She jumps down, puts her hands in front of her and speaks.

"Hi...Are you lost?"

It doesnt move, doesnt speak. Not like it could with the muzzle and trying to make its mouth move to form words seems alien. It doesn't have orders to attack anyone or her. Heneverwantedtohurtanyone.

"Wait! Kid come back!!"

She calls out, turning the corner to go after him. She curses under her breath. It seems she's spooked him then. It makes sense given that he's most likely from the league. Even if he doesn't recognize who The Batman is he's more prepared to act if he feels threatened.

"I want to help you!"

It's not even sure why it's here, it was supposed to stay in the league, it had specific orders but its so loud, his brain feels like its been screaming ever since they drowned it. Someone was supposed to come and save him but they never did. Someone was supposed to help him.

"Hey there...I'm Batman, I want to help you, love. I know everything is very scary and confusing right now, but I can help you...okay?"

There are scratch marks around its eyes from clawing the lens off of his face and then continuing to try scratch its eyes out. A bunch of other scars are on its face but majority of them are hidden by its knees and straight white bangs with the rest being black and curly.

"You're in Gotham right now, I'm not sure if you came from the League or somewhere else, but I can help you, I can keep you safe."

She says slowly, her hand thrums a bit against the ground. She's been more fidgety recently, it makes her feel more grounded somehow, stops her from getting so exhausted...it helps with the things she sees that aren't real, that only seem to be getting worse somehow. She needs to focus on helping this boy, not the boy she wasn't able to help.

"It's- don't...it's going to be okay, dear, I can help you just...I don't want you to harm yourself. I'm sorry I grabbed you-"

She says, frowning but trying to speak gently. She's a little choked sounding from the shock but she recovers well and tries to take stock of the situation. She hopes he doesn't try that again at least. Shit.

She needs to get him back to the cave, a standard hospital wouldn't be able to help him, but Bryce might and she could call Leslie if she needs back up. The cave should be empty except for Alfred, she hopes that if she can get him there she'll be able to help more.

"You'll be alright. I'm not mad or anything- I only want you to be safe."

"I'm so sorry...I promise I only want to help, really I do. I know I'm a stranger and everything is very scary...but I want to get you somewhere safe, the streets aren't really. I can get you some warm food and shelter too."

Pain always helped. A weapon is supposed to be able to work through the pain, no matter how damaged it is. No matter how much he wanted to just rest and go back to being dead. There is something so familiar about her but with the rush of memories and the ringing in its ears it cant figure out what it is.

This is bad, not really anything she's necessarily equipped to help with right now, she wants to get him out of the city at least and try to explain things better, get the muzzle off or find some way for him to communicate if he can.

Bryce can help, she'll try really she will. She just needs to focus on the boy, he needs help. She can't fail him.

The muzzle looks almost stitched on, some mechanism making it so it digs into the skin and would rip some of it off if someone tried to force it off incorrectly. There might be something similar to a lever or a keyhole to release it but its hard to tell in the dark with his face mostly hidden.

"I don't want you hurt...I can help. My name is Bryce. I help people, it's my job."

She says softly, being a bit more open with him so he knows what he's dealing with better.

"We can figure things out, alright? Do you want to come with me?"

"Just follow me okay? It's only a block away."

She says softly, backing up through the alleyway, making sure he is actually following before she makes her way to where she had hid the batmobile. It's under a tarp. Jason had stolen her tires, so she decided to make some extra measures on hiding vehicle. It makes her heart ache thinking of it now.

"Put your seatbelt on, okay?"

She says, before she begins driving the batmobile out of the alleyway. She doesn't speak, focusing on the road more as she gets a bit lost in thought. Alfred said she's less talkative nowadays, she told him she was never very talkative, and he just gave her a strange look. Bryce isn't sure what that was supposed to mean really.

They get home quickly, parking smoothly in the batcave. She unlocks the doors but doesn't get out yet, glancing towards the boy briefly. She doesn't speak just looks at him. Does she really know what she's doing? She's not sure. She sighs a little and gets our.

"You can come out of there now, okay?"

It recognises the entrance as well, the cave. It grips its head to try stop the ringing and rush of memories once again. It had gotten better from when he left the pit but he can still feel the rush of memories all tainted green sometimes.

He only looks back up when Bryce speaks, looking at her before uncurling a bit and exiting the car. It's clearer now in the cave since he isnt curled up in a dark alley anymore. Definitely in league attire with that red hood over its head and gloves. There looks like there is scaring around the edge of the muzzle, from it ripping it out in a panic and tearing the skin off since the mechanism anyways dug into the skin.

"The uh...mask, does it hurt? Would you like to take it off?"

She asks, wanting to make sure thats what he wants, regardless she wants to get the thing off since it looks like it's hurting him. If he still wants to cover his face she's sure she has some cloth masks he can wear that won't damage him.

When it first came out of the pit the lady took him to the chambers and washroom to change and when he saw the mirror.. It doesnt remember what happened just that he ended up on the floor on the shards after cutting itself open with them. There was so much blood. He didnt think that was a bad thing.

Bryce tries to explain, brushing some of her hair back and leaning back against the desk, arms folded as she makes a small face, from looking at the mechanism she's able to try and think of what she can do to break or unlock it without hurting him, too much at least. A screwdriver with a specific shaped tip could work, she can use some of the tech in here to make a model of it, fit it like a key and twist on it.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to unless it's stoping something from hurting you, okay? I promise."

"Don't...it's okay- please, dear, don't hurt yourself. It'll be okay. Is something wrong?"

"Let's...just try and get the mask off alright? I'll get you a cloth one you can wear if you'd like to, the choice is yours. Just...here."

Bryce moves to pull up a chair from the desk.

"Can you wait here for me, sit down if you'd like. Please just...don't scratch anymore alright? You'll only make them bleed and hurt more."

Once she's gotten the advanced 3D printing system to take the model she created, she sits back in the chair that sits by the middle of the large desk in front of the bat-computer. Bryce sighs a little, resting her head on her chin as she looks everything over to double check and make sure the systems are going correctly. She's bone deep tired, and while she waits she almost finds herself nodding off, shooting up to try and get herself to stay awake as the printer dings.

Bryce rubs at her eyes a little before standing and walking over to it, which is a ways away from the computer. She takes out the specific screwdriver tip, looking it over to make sure everything's correct before she leaves the room into a storage area, searching for the screwdriver with removable tips that Dick had enthusiastically painted a bat symbol on a few years ago. 'Bat-driver, obviously. For your bat-screws.' He had said...Bryce needs to visit him soon and apologize. God she's a mess.

It keeps its head hidden in its knees, gripping its hair a bit and digging its nails into its scalp. The hair is around at its shoulders, all frizzy and matted with blood and dirt. There even is evidence of blunt force trauma and wounds that havent quite healed yet. The white streak looks more brown and red than white sometimes.

His clothes is hiding majority of the injuries, most from itself but a few from trying to restraint it or punishments. Not an inch of skin is visible though other hand its face so thats thankfully hidden, a mercy really. The clothes do look dirty though with some tears and if it wasnt red definitely some blood.

"Hi, dear. I don't want to hurt you or anything, and the screwdriver there is just going to be inserted into the lock in your mask so it unlatches without causing any pain. If you want to wait a little until I do it until you're ready we can. All I'm going to do is take the mask off, nothing else, I promise."

She says it slowly in a gentle tone, a bit more than she might use for children, but he seems to be a bit out of it, probably a mix of the pit and the trauma making him dissociate. She doesn't move to touch him, just looking up at him from the floor with a soft but tired look.

"No one's going to hurt or make you do anything you don't want to here, you're safe."

Bryce is certain he won't immediately believe that, but it's best to start saying it now and keep saying it so he'll be able to become more comfortable eventually.

She pauses before she gets an idea and goes to her utility belt, taking out a notepad and a small golf pencil from one of the pockets, she flips through some of the used pages before it's on a fresh one and sets that down on the desk directly near where the boy is sitting.

It would.. like that he supposes. Its not going to do anything unless told but if Bryce does it for him it wouldn't be against it. She seems nice. It doesn't know why it keeps thinking that.

When she opens her utility belt it moves to brace again, expecting a weapon or something to hurt it. They always said they wouldn't hurt him yet they always hurt the most.

It only looks back up when she puts it down and speaks again, looking at the book and pencil then glancing at her and back. Writing.. he used to like that.

"Okay...I'm gonna try and get the mask off, there's another one here if you'd prefer to keep your face covered. It's up to you, I'm not going to judge you for anything. Tap my arm if you want to stop, I'm going to have to touch your face a little but I'll be quick and gentle."

She explains, hoping that the option of being able to say no and tap out will be helpful to him. She picks up the screwdriver from the desk, and approaches him, slowly but surely.

"Can you tilt your head up a bit for me, dear?"

She blinks, thinking he might disappear or his face will turn differently, confirming it to just be some nightmare or hallucination, but he stays. Jason. It's- it can't be though, Jason died. Bryce held his cold and dead body, she carried him, she buried him. She had to change his body into civilian clothing out of the robin costume for the coroners to obscure his identity, she had to hold her baby, her child who had died because she failed him and...it can't be him. Could it?

"Jason...?"

It quickly hides its face in its knees, only the eyes peeking through and staring up at her. Why does she seem upset? Did it do something? Itsalwayshisfault.

He makes another sound of pain at that name, the pit rushing through its head with memories making him curl up more on himself and start grabbing its head, clawing at it and the scars there.

"No- no- dear I'm sorry, it's okay, I promise I didn't mean...please just-"

She's tripping over her words, trying to force herself to calm down because she's just making things worse. He's alive- he's alive, lord how in the world is he alive? He's injured and bad and it's obvious the league had something to do with this, Ra's probably if she had to guess. Those bright green eyes- the same as Talia's.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry I- I just..."

She trails off, looking him over, her hold going from restraining to just simply holding his arms gently. She takes a few breathes.

"I'm so sorry."

"Jaylad I hadn't- I didn't..."

She takes a deep breath, wiping shakily at the tears on her face. She hands him the fabric mask.

"If...if you want to put this on you can. I won't force you to, but if it makes you more comfortable feel free."

"I'm alright, sweetheart, I promise. I just...I missed you. I missed you so much. I'm happy to see you."

She says, smiling still. She wants to sob or never let him go, she wants to act out, throw something, do anything. But she can't, and she doesn't. She just smiles at her son, eyes shining with tears as she moves to put her hand gently on his, only touching softly.

Every time people say something will be ok or promise something it never is and they never keep their promise. It doesnt know where it learned this but it must be true. I promise I'll be alright, baby.

"Would you like to change into something more comfortable?"

She asks softly, looking at the league wear he's in, she's not sure if it's comfortable or not but she thinks he'd be more comfortable wearing some of his own clothing. She...hasn't given any of it away yet, or packed it up. She didn't have the heart and neither did Alfred.

"You can shower too if you'd like, then maybe we can have something to eat, yeah?"

She says when he seems to just become uncomfortable at the idea, wrapping his free arm around himself. Bryce tries not to let her worry or anything show, being gentle and kind with him. Whatever happened in the League was bad, she can tell that much, and it makes her sick to imagine what might have happened to her boy.

"It's up to you, I won't make you do anything."

"Does eating something sound easier? Regardless, after you eat and shower you can get some rest in your room too, okay? Theres locks on the door you can use and I won't come in."

He remembers emptying his entire stomach in the bathroom and washing up, rinsing his mouth a million times because the smell reminded him of when his mom.. he doesnt wanna think about that. Bryce is outside. The first time this happen she tried to come in but he kept pushing her and she eventually got the memo.

He doesnt need anyone to hover over him. He's dealt with this before, whenever someone was kind enough to give him a meal and then he'd eat it all because he was so hungry and would have to break into some shop or anywhere with a bathroom before it was too late. He can handle it

Bryce brings her hands gently up to his wrists so he'll stop, frowning. She looks him over a bit, concerned. She doesn't want him to hurt himself or anything.

"I've got you, we can just- you don't need to do anything, we don't need to choose for right now. We can wait for as long as you'd like, dear."

"It's alright...love, I'm so sorry I didn't find you sooner- everything's going to be okay, Jaylad. It's alright to cry."

Bryce says to him softly, scanning him a bit. She moves her hand away from his face, not wanting to overwhelm him too much. She's trying to take things slow and not make them worse than they already are.

"I've got you, you're safe now. We can wait for as long as you'd like."

"Hey, hey, shh it's okay, you haven't done anything wrong."

She says gently, frowning a little as his reaction as she tries to be comforting. She doesn't want him to feel bad or wrong for reaching out for her touch at all. Thats not at all what she wants.

"I'm here, Jay. I won't go anywhere."

"I'm so sorry, love. I've got you now. I'm here for you."

She slowly brings him closer, hugging the boy and letting his head rest on her shoulder. The embrace is loose enough to escape, but present enough to be comforting. Bryce squeezes her eyes shut for a moment, trying to gather herself.

"It'll be alright...I promise."

He's home now, that's all Bryce can really latch onto, because she doesn't want to fail him again. She won't. Never again, she'll make it up to him, she'll help him through all of this, she swears on it.

"It's okay hon...it's okay."

Its also not supposed to be here. Everything hurts and it feels like glass is being pushed through its veins while at the same time hes on fire fromanexplosion.

It tore it's body apart so many times, desperate to go back to the grave whereitbelonged they had to kill and restrain it multiple times but it always finds a way to escape. The lady, TaliaAlGhul, kept trying to speak to it, calm it down but it just ended up attacking her and then running.

He wanted to go home. WherewasBatman? Home seemed to be in this city, an alley filled with trash where people go to die because thatswhereyoubelong.

He wants to go home.

@jason-whoami-todd

It's been almost two years since Jason died. Bryce is on patrol, alone tonight. She and Dick had argued again a few nights ago, something that was probably her fault if she was honest, but he left back to Bludhaven and hasn't been answering her calls. Nightwing isn't in Gotham. Babs is also not talking to her, this time Bryce can't even remember what she did to anger her really, but Batgirl isn't present either. Tim has dinner with his parents tonight, Bryce wasn't going to take away from his time with his actual family.

She was...better. If better and worse had a twisted third sister named 'not actively suicidal.' Her hair is getting even longer, it was around past her collarbones when Jason was alive and she couldn't get herself to cut it ever since he's been gone. It's almost past her ribcage now, having to tie it all back to put on her cowl is a bit of a struggle but the last time she debated cutting it off she almost tried to do it herself in her bathroom, and gave up, ending up sobbing on the floor until she passed out. Alfred found her the next morning like that.

Now, she looks out at Gotham, a city she used to take pride in protecting, and just feels a sickening empty feeling. Is it really even worth it? Does she know what she's doing? She got her son killed. A Hero doesn't do that. They shouldn't. She doesn't deserve this title, this cowl. She's deep in thought, crouched and fully covered in her cape when she spots him.

A boy, skinny looking in an outfit that looks vaguely familiar. Something from the league maybe? She believes she's seen league members wear things similar. She had worn something like it when she was training with Ra's. Thats a red flag. He seems to be lost, wandering around aimlessly. The biggest thing that sticks out is...a muzzle. The teenage boy is wearing a fucking muzzle. Thats bad, this is bad.

The internal sirens in her head go off, and she makes her way down to him before properly thinking really. She jumps down, puts her hands in front of her and speaks.

"Hi...Are you lost?"

It doesnt move, doesnt speak. Not like it could with the muzzle and trying to make its mouth move to form words seems alien. It doesn't have orders to attack anyone or her. Heneverwantedtohurtanyone.

"Wait! Kid come back!!"

She calls out, turning the corner to go after him. She curses under her breath. It seems she's spooked him then. It makes sense given that he's most likely from the league. Even if he doesn't recognize who The Batman is he's more prepared to act if he feels threatened.

"I want to help you!"

It's not even sure why it's here, it was supposed to stay in the league, it had specific orders but its so loud, his brain feels like its been screaming ever since they drowned it. Someone was supposed to come and save him but they never did. Someone was supposed to help him.

"Hey there...I'm Batman, I want to help you, love. I know everything is very scary and confusing right now, but I can help you...okay?"

There are scratch marks around its eyes from clawing the lens off of his face and then continuing to try scratch its eyes out. A bunch of other scars are on its face but majority of them are hidden by its knees and straight white bangs with the rest being black and curly.

"You're in Gotham right now, I'm not sure if you came from the League or somewhere else, but I can help you, I can keep you safe."

She says slowly, her hand thrums a bit against the ground. She's been more fidgety recently, it makes her feel more grounded somehow, stops her from getting so exhausted...it helps with the things she sees that aren't real, that only seem to be getting worse somehow. She needs to focus on helping this boy, not the boy she wasn't able to help.

"It's- don't...it's going to be okay, dear, I can help you just...I don't want you to harm yourself. I'm sorry I grabbed you-"

She says, frowning but trying to speak gently. She's a little choked sounding from the shock but she recovers well and tries to take stock of the situation. She hopes he doesn't try that again at least. Shit.

She needs to get him back to the cave, a standard hospital wouldn't be able to help him, but Bryce might and she could call Leslie if she needs back up. The cave should be empty except for Alfred, she hopes that if she can get him there she'll be able to help more.

"You'll be alright. I'm not mad or anything- I only want you to be safe."

"I'm so sorry...I promise I only want to help, really I do. I know I'm a stranger and everything is very scary...but I want to get you somewhere safe, the streets aren't really. I can get you some warm food and shelter too."

Pain always helped. A weapon is supposed to be able to work through the pain, no matter how damaged it is. No matter how much he wanted to just rest and go back to being dead. There is something so familiar about her but with the rush of memories and the ringing in its ears it cant figure out what it is.

This is bad, not really anything she's necessarily equipped to help with right now, she wants to get him out of the city at least and try to explain things better, get the muzzle off or find some way for him to communicate if he can.

Bryce can help, she'll try really she will. She just needs to focus on the boy, he needs help. She can't fail him.

The muzzle looks almost stitched on, some mechanism making it so it digs into the skin and would rip some of it off if someone tried to force it off incorrectly. There might be something similar to a lever or a keyhole to release it but its hard to tell in the dark with his face mostly hidden.

"I don't want you hurt...I can help. My name is Bryce. I help people, it's my job."

She says softly, being a bit more open with him so he knows what he's dealing with better.

"We can figure things out, alright? Do you want to come with me?"

"Just follow me okay? It's only a block away."

She says softly, backing up through the alleyway, making sure he is actually following before she makes her way to where she had hid the batmobile. It's under a tarp. Jason had stolen her tires, so she decided to make some extra measures on hiding vehicle. It makes her heart ache thinking of it now.

"Put your seatbelt on, okay?"

She says, before she begins driving the batmobile out of the alleyway. She doesn't speak, focusing on the road more as she gets a bit lost in thought. Alfred said she's less talkative nowadays, she told him she was never very talkative, and he just gave her a strange look. Bryce isn't sure what that was supposed to mean really.

They get home quickly, parking smoothly in the batcave. She unlocks the doors but doesn't get out yet, glancing towards the boy briefly. She doesn't speak just looks at him. Does she really know what she's doing? She's not sure. She sighs a little and gets our.

"You can come out of there now, okay?"

It recognises the entrance as well, the cave. It grips its head to try stop the ringing and rush of memories once again. It had gotten better from when he left the pit but he can still feel the rush of memories all tainted green sometimes.

He only looks back up when Bryce speaks, looking at her before uncurling a bit and exiting the car. It's clearer now in the cave since he isnt curled up in a dark alley anymore. Definitely in league attire with that red hood over its head and gloves. There looks like there is scaring around the edge of the muzzle, from it ripping it out in a panic and tearing the skin off since the mechanism anyways dug into the skin.

"The uh...mask, does it hurt? Would you like to take it off?"

She asks, wanting to make sure thats what he wants, regardless she wants to get the thing off since it looks like it's hurting him. If he still wants to cover his face she's sure she has some cloth masks he can wear that won't damage him.

When it first came out of the pit the lady took him to the chambers and washroom to change and when he saw the mirror.. It doesnt remember what happened just that he ended up on the floor on the shards after cutting itself open with them. There was so much blood. He didnt think that was a bad thing.

Bryce tries to explain, brushing some of her hair back and leaning back against the desk, arms folded as she makes a small face, from looking at the mechanism she's able to try and think of what she can do to break or unlock it without hurting him, too much at least. A screwdriver with a specific shaped tip could work, she can use some of the tech in here to make a model of it, fit it like a key and twist on it.

"I'm not going to do anything you don't want me to unless it's stoping something from hurting you, okay? I promise."

"Don't...it's okay- please, dear, don't hurt yourself. It'll be okay. Is something wrong?"

"Let's...just try and get the mask off alright? I'll get you a cloth one you can wear if you'd like to, the choice is yours. Just...here."

Bryce moves to pull up a chair from the desk.

"Can you wait here for me, sit down if you'd like. Please just...don't scratch anymore alright? You'll only make them bleed and hurt more."

Once she's gotten the advanced 3D printing system to take the model she created, she sits back in the chair that sits by the middle of the large desk in front of the bat-computer. Bryce sighs a little, resting her head on her chin as she looks everything over to double check and make sure the systems are going correctly. She's bone deep tired, and while she waits she almost finds herself nodding off, shooting up to try and get herself to stay awake as the printer dings.

Bryce rubs at her eyes a little before standing and walking over to it, which is a ways away from the computer. She takes out the specific screwdriver tip, looking it over to make sure everything's correct before she leaves the room into a storage area, searching for the screwdriver with removable tips that Dick had enthusiastically painted a bat symbol on a few years ago. 'Bat-driver, obviously. For your bat-screws.' He had said...Bryce needs to visit him soon and apologize. God she's a mess.

It keeps its head hidden in its knees, gripping its hair a bit and digging its nails into its scalp. The hair is around at its shoulders, all frizzy and matted with blood and dirt. There even is evidence of blunt force trauma and wounds that havent quite healed yet. The white streak looks more brown and red than white sometimes.

His clothes is hiding majority of the injuries, most from itself but a few from trying to restraint it or punishments. Not an inch of skin is visible though other hand its face so thats thankfully hidden, a mercy really. The clothes do look dirty though with some tears and if it wasnt red definitely some blood.

"Hi, dear. I don't want to hurt you or anything, and the screwdriver there is just going to be inserted into the lock in your mask so it unlatches without causing any pain. If you want to wait a little until I do it until you're ready we can. All I'm going to do is take the mask off, nothing else, I promise."

She says it slowly in a gentle tone, a bit more than she might use for children, but he seems to be a bit out of it, probably a mix of the pit and the trauma making him dissociate. She doesn't move to touch him, just looking up at him from the floor with a soft but tired look.

"No one's going to hurt or make you do anything you don't want to here, you're safe."

Bryce is certain he won't immediately believe that, but it's best to start saying it now and keep saying it so he'll be able to become more comfortable eventually.

She pauses before she gets an idea and goes to her utility belt, taking out a notepad and a small golf pencil from one of the pockets, she flips through some of the used pages before it's on a fresh one and sets that down on the desk directly near where the boy is sitting.

It would.. like that he supposes. Its not going to do anything unless told but if Bryce does it for him it wouldn't be against it. She seems nice. It doesn't know why it keeps thinking that.

When she opens her utility belt it moves to brace again, expecting a weapon or something to hurt it. They always said they wouldn't hurt him yet they always hurt the most.

It only looks back up when she puts it down and speaks again, looking at the book and pencil then glancing at her and back. Writing.. he used to like that.

"Okay...I'm gonna try and get the mask off, there's another one here if you'd prefer to keep your face covered. It's up to you, I'm not going to judge you for anything. Tap my arm if you want to stop, I'm going to have to touch your face a little but I'll be quick and gentle."

She explains, hoping that the option of being able to say no and tap out will be helpful to him. She picks up the screwdriver from the desk, and approaches him, slowly but surely.

"Can you tilt your head up a bit for me, dear?"

She blinks, thinking he might disappear or his face will turn differently, confirming it to just be some nightmare or hallucination, but he stays. Jason. It's- it can't be though, Jason died. Bryce held his cold and dead body, she carried him, she buried him. She had to change his body into civilian clothing out of the robin costume for the coroners to obscure his identity, she had to hold her baby, her child who had died because she failed him and...it can't be him. Could it?

"Jason...?"

It quickly hides its face in its knees, only the eyes peeking through and staring up at her. Why does she seem upset? Did it do something? Itsalwayshisfault.

He makes another sound of pain at that name, the pit rushing through its head with memories making him curl up more on himself and start grabbing its head, clawing at it and the scars there.

"No- no- dear I'm sorry, it's okay, I promise I didn't mean...please just-"

She's tripping over her words, trying to force herself to calm down because she's just making things worse. He's alive- he's alive, lord how in the world is he alive? He's injured and bad and it's obvious the league had something to do with this, Ra's probably if she had to guess. Those bright green eyes- the same as Talia's.

"You didn't do anything wrong, I'm sorry I- I just..."

She trails off, looking him over, her hold going from restraining to just simply holding his arms gently. She takes a few breathes.

"I'm so sorry."

"Jaylad I hadn't- I didn't..."

She takes a deep breath, wiping shakily at the tears on her face. She hands him the fabric mask.

"If...if you want to put this on you can. I won't force you to, but if it makes you more comfortable feel free."

"I'm alright, sweetheart, I promise. I just...I missed you. I missed you so much. I'm happy to see you."

She says, smiling still. She wants to sob or never let him go, she wants to act out, throw something, do anything. But she can't, and she doesn't. She just smiles at her son, eyes shining with tears as she moves to put her hand gently on his, only touching softly.

Every time people say something will be ok or promise something it never is and they never keep their promise. It doesnt know where it learned this but it must be true. I promise I'll be alright, baby.

"Would you like to change into something more comfortable?"

She asks softly, looking at the league wear he's in, she's not sure if it's comfortable or not but she thinks he'd be more comfortable wearing some of his own clothing. She...hasn't given any of it away yet, or packed it up. She didn't have the heart and neither did Alfred.

"You can shower too if you'd like, then maybe we can have something to eat, yeah?"

She says when he seems to just become uncomfortable at the idea, wrapping his free arm around himself. Bryce tries not to let her worry or anything show, being gentle and kind with him. Whatever happened in the League was bad, she can tell that much, and it makes her sick to imagine what might have happened to her boy.

"It's up to you, I won't make you do anything."