"I'm unavailable right now. If you can't reach me, don't reach me."

Bruce tries not to let his panic show when his call goes unanswered before being directed to voicemail for the fourth time in a row. He doesn't succeed, but he doesn't really care right now. Not when his son could be hurt or worse!

He ignores the look Talia is giving him and tries Jason's number again. It rings until it goes to voicemail. Again.

"Beloved," Talia starts and Bruce almost cracks.

Images of Jason's lifeless body fill his mind, as news reports from Jason's last known location replays continue to fill the cave. He can't help it. He already lost his son once, he won't survive it if it happens again.

"I will call him." Talia orders firmly, directing Bruce to a seat.

"If I can't reach him, I doubt even you can." Jason knows how he worries. If he was alright, he would let Bruce know.

Talia may have bonded with Bruce's son while he was in her care but Jason is his son. It's not the same.

Talia gives him a look, almost like the one she gets when she thinks he's being stupid but not quite. He's too worried about Jason to be bothered. She doesn't say anything more as she pulls out her cellphone and dials.

The phone barely rings before Talia is speaking into the receiver.

"Habibi." She greets , voice very fond and affectionate in a way he's only ever heard her sound when she's talking with Damian.

"I saw the news. Are you well?"

Bruce stares dumbfoundead as she lets out a small laugh. He can't hear anything from the other end of the call, but the thought of Jason making Talia laugh, causes jealousy to burn hot and fierce within him. Jason used to make him laugh.

"Of course, my love."

Bruce makes grabby hands for the phone, but Talia sidesteps him without missing a beat.

"Call your father, you know how he is."

She smiles again, Bruce can't get over how much softer her eyes are when she does that.

"Stay safe. Love you." then she turns to Bruce after hanging up. "He is fine, just a bit busy."

"What was that?" Bruce explodes. "Since when are you and Jason chummy?"

Talia lifts a brow at him, like he's a bratty child throwing a tantrum. Like he's making a mountain out of a molehill and she didn't just have a whole conversation with his son, when said son sent his calls to voicemail.

"Since he is my son?"

"He's my son."

"I'm aware, Beloved."

"He sent my calls to voicemail but he answered yours on the first ring." Bruce did not whine. He is Batman. Batman does not whine.

"My calls are important."

He ignores the insult, snatching her phone to get the phone number Talia had just used. Maybe she has a special contact that Bruce doesn't have.

It turns out to be the exact same eleven digits he has. He dials it again on his phone. Listening to the phone ring and sighing when it is sent to voicemail.

It usually involves more training which Jason can't turn down because she probably knows he'll never turn learning new skills. But he's starting to think it's less about him being strong enough to beat batman and more her plan to stop him from going after Batman. Which is why he's leaving now, with her current distraction.

He has no idea what happened, but tensions have been high in the base for a couple of days. Jason would let his curiosity get the better of him and ask her, if it the incident didn't align so beautifully with his own plans.

He zips his weapon's bag shut, then stuffs a couple of t-shirt into a duffle bag. He's shrugging on his leather jacket when he hears the soft click of the door closing behind him.

Jason turns, slightly startled and draws his weapon as he moves, only to exhale harshly when he sees who has invaded his room. Then he tenses when he sees the brat's current state.

Damian is drenched in blood, from his head down to his toe. His clothes are soaked.

The joy doesn't move further into the room. He stands with his back to the door, a box, dripping blood is clutched in his little hands.

"Dami?" Jason asks, as he abandons his current activity to approach the kid.

The brat doesn't respond. He watches quietly as squats down to meet his eye, pouting adorably when he notices the the bags Jason had packed.

"Hey," Jason calls, pulling his attention to him. "Are you hurt?" the kid is not bleeding anywhere that Jason can see, but he's cover in blood, so there's no telling how much of it is his.Instead of answering, he shoves the box in his hand at Jason, pushing the box a bit more forcefully when Jason hesitates before taking the box. At Damian's expectant stare, he lays the box on the ground to view its content.

Jason had no illusions about what a box, dripping blood could possibly contain, but the breathe is still knocked out of him, like a hard punch, when he sees the severed head of green hair and pale skin.

There's no denying whose head it is.

How? Jason wants to ask.

Why? he doesn't ask.

The words fail him. He knows why, after all. They both do.

With one last glance at the content of the box, he shoves it aside to pull Damian in his arms, blood and all. Damian hugs him back just as tightly, if a little desperately.

Jason is so overwhelmed by the well of emotions bubbling inside of him. He doesn't realize he's sobbing until Damian pulls back to wipe away his tears.

There are no words for what he feels. He feels heavy and light all at once. Like he could drift off in the wind at any moment, while also being weighed down by an anchor.

"Dami- " He chokes.

Jason was Damian's sexual awakening. He was thirteen at the time, and for the longest time, Damian was Jason sexual. He watched Jason uphold all the virtues his father and grandfather claim as their mission statement, all the while never losing his humanity or kindness, like his father and grandfather did.

It's inevitable that Damian would fall for him. At first, it was a silly crush. Something he knew he just had to wait out. He'll get over it when his heart catches up to his superior brain he tells himself. These are just teenage hormones floating about in his body and messing his body chemistry.

But then he finds out why Jason inspires such loyalty in those who really know him.

Damian has seen Jason put down a child trafficker with extreme prejudice one minute and the next minute, he's gently comforting the victims. He sees how much Jason cares for the people he's fighting to save and how hard to he works to make sure they know they're safe and will never be victimized again.

For Damian, Jason is the ideal. He has hobbies that other guys would consider a threat to their masculinity, but Jason doesn't care. Damian wants to be like Jason. He wants to be able to cry when he's sad, do what he enjoys and not always be the strong one in his friend group all the time, without being judged for it.

So when Damian realized this crush has grown into something fierce, there was only one thing to do. He is a Wayne and an al Ghul. They always got what they want.

Damian pulled out all the stops - short of confessing - to communicate how he feels to Jason. From gifts he knows Jason would appreciate (like books and weapons) to having running missions together. Sometimes, the missions took them out of Gotham.

But even if Jason wasn't the most oblivious man in the universe, Damian is still a child and he would never see the brat as anything more. So when Damian suddenly decided he wanted support street art/performances with him, Jason thought it was because the brat was bored. At least he didn't criticize it much, and what criticism he did have was usually helpful.

When the brat started asking for his assistance more on missions, Jason went because despite his obvious skills, someone had to keep an eye on the brat. The kid was good company when he's not being a prickly little shit.

After months of getting nowhere, Damian gives up. Damian may be mature for his age but Jason is never going to see him as anything other than a kid. It hurts, but he understands that it's part of what makes Jason who he is. He would be a hypocrite if he killed pedophiles, while dating someone underage.

In the following years, they maintain a good relationship. Even when Damian had to leave Gotham and return to the League at the age of seventeen. Ra's al Ghul has gone unchecked for too long, the League is in disarray and Talia wants no part of the it. She refuses to be sucked back in.

His father did not agree with his decision to return. Dick understood why he was doing it, but he didn't approve of Damian's decision. He was worried Damian would fall into the same pitfall that Ra's fell into. After all, absolute power corrupts absolutely. They didn't want to have to meet the new Demon's Head on the field as an enemy. Jason made sure he knew what taking the position of the Demon's Head would entail, and that he was ready for it. He has no room. To judge anyone for choosing their path in life, but he needs to make sure Damian knew what he was getting into.

They didn't keep in touch for the next few years after Damian left Gotham. Steering the League back to the purpose they were created was a full time job for the new Demon Head, and the Red Hood is always busy, operating on a global scale now.

It's not until five years later, when Damian is twenty two and Jason is twenty eight that they see each other again. A threat arises that forces the Red Hood and the League to join forces.

Damian thought he had gotten over his first love. He's not prepared for the onslaught of emotions that attacked him at the sight of Jason.

PAIRING: JASON TODD & BRUCE WAYNE

Angst.

POST RHATO 25 AND RIP ALFRED PENNYWORTH

The news of the Joker's death rocks all of Gotham City. Especially the caped crusaders and sworn protectors.

For Bruce Wayne, it is a time for sober reflections.

In the decades since he started his quest to make Gotham safe, Bruce has gained a lot. A family, friends and allies. But he has lost just as much, if not more.

Although, not all to the clown.

Still, the news of the Joker's death gives Bruce a lot to think about. Mostly of the son he lost to the clown's machinations; and despite his miraculous resurrection, Bruce never got him back.

Bruce always thought that if the clown died, it would be by Jason's hand. He's still not certain that Jason had nothing to do with the accident that caused the Joker to slip and break his neck. But Red Hood hasn't been in Gotham for almost two years.

There's a bouquet of white lilies, set up tastefully on his desk, when he goes in to work the next day. There's no name from the sender, but it's signed My sincerest condolences in Jason's cursive.

It's the most Bruce has heard from his son since Alfred's funeral.

All his kids returned at some point, even Dick. Bruce had thought the meeting at the bar would be the start of a new chapter, what with Alfred gone and the family needing to stick together. But Jason's new chapter did not include the family.

Bruce's son has been legally resurrected, but he has never been more lost to Bruce. He had thought they were making progress, following the Penguin's shooting and their talk after Roy's death.

But Jason had set them back by taking over the Iceberg Lounge and declaring himself a legal entity.

He can admit that Jason has been doing a lot of good for the people of lower Gotham, who he fondly refers to as his people. Red Hood operates out of Gotham, but Jason Todd has been very active in Gotham.

It's all Bruce has been trying to teach Jason. He only wishes that Jason would leave the criminal lifestyle behind.

The flowers seem to be just an innocent bouquet. No hidden message, bomb or harmful substances. Besides the message, that is.

Bruce isn't sure if the note is meant to be mocking, sarcastic or sincere. You never know with Jason, it could be all three. But receiving a condolence message a few hours after the Joker's death is announced is no coincidence.

He knows it's not an invitation, but he takes it as one.

A couple of minutes later, he's driving downtown to where he knows Jason spends most of his free time these days.

Bruce has never set foot in the Catherine Todd Community Center. Not even when it was opened. The news had had a field day, all speculating why Gotham's biggest philanthropist didn't show up for his son.

He gets some suspicious looks as he steps out of the car, but he ignores them.

When he asks to see Jason, he gets even more suspicious looks, before Jason appears.

"You sure about this?" the young man at the front desk asks Jason under his breath.

If Bruce wasn't so well-trained, he wouldn't have picked up the words.

Bruce recognizes the man. He used to be Two Face's henchman.

Jason only nods before leading Bruce to his office.

Bruce takes a quick look around the office. It's pretty standard for an office, big and spacious with bits of personal touches. Like the art on the wall, the framed photographs on the desk and the replica of Red Hood's helmet on the shelf at the far side of the office.

"If you're here to ask for the location of a Lazarus Pit, you're in the wrong place," Jason informs him as he puts the desk between them. "You're better off asking Ra's."

Jason doesn't sit, and he doesn't offer Bruce a seat. They stand there, with the mahogany desk between them as they size each other up.

"That's not why I'm here."

"No?" Jason asks.

It's clear that Jason doesn't believe him. Bruce doesn't know why Jason believes Bruce would go to such lengths for someone like Joker.

"Then why are you here?"

"How are you?" Bruce asks instead. He's worried about Jason. About how he's doing and how he's taking the news.

"I'm peachy," Jason snorts. "But then again, I didn't just lose my greatest love," he says in a sarcastic voice. "How are you doing, Bruce?"

"I'm alright," Bruce says carefully. "I got your flowers." And then, because it's as good as anything to begin a conversation, he asks, "Why did you send them?"

Jason shrugs. "It seemed appropriate."

He's trying to look relaxed and carefree, but Bruce can see how tense he really is.

"I was told it's what you do when someone loses a loved one." Then he fixes his luminous green eyes on Bruce. "Did you not like them? I specifically told the florist to make sure they're lilies, because I know they're your favorite."

Bruce hums.

"You have five minutes to state why you're here," Jason informs him when he doesn't say anything more. "After that, I'm having security toss you out."

Now that he's here, he doesn't know why he made the decision to come.

Checking up on Jason to see how he's taking the news of the clown's death seemed like a good reason. He needed to be sure Jason wouldn't do anything brash. Jason has a history of lashing out when things feel out of his control and it's important that he knows he doesn't have to deal with this alone.

"I wanted to make sure you were okay, in light of the recent news," Bruce tells him. "I know how you feel about the Joker and I can't blame you, given your history. We've had our differences, but you will never stop being family, Jason. You don't have to deal with this alone. I'm here for you."

Jason stares incredulously at him, his mouth hanging half-open in surprise.

"Wow!" Jason exclaims. "Joker's death must have hit you harder than I thought if you're checking up on me."

"Jason--" Bruce starts, absolutely horrified that he thinks Bruce cares so little about him. He takes a step forward, but stops himself when Jason flinches. "The Joker's death means nothing to me, Jason. I only care about you."

"Are you fucking kidding me?" Jason explodes. "And where was your concern when he killed me? When I came back lost and confused? Tell me, Bruce, where were you when I was just a boy that needed his father?

"Now your favorite playmate is gone, and you need someone to take your frustration out on? I mean, why not dust up the old punching bag? Jason’s always good at taking a hit, isn't he? All you have to do is give him a little kick in the ass.

"This may come as a surprise to you, Bruce, seeing as you have no concept of it, but I've moved on. I don't spend all my days thinking about what a hypocrite you are or about a clown that should have died a long time ago.

"So, you can take your concern and shove it up your ass. I'm sure one of your other flock will do just fine for a punching bag. If not, you're rich enough to get a new one."

As if he's been waiting for her cue, the door opens and Jason's Amazon teammate steps in.

"Little One," she says, giving Bruce a once over and then promptly dismissing him to fix her eyes on Jason, "they're ready."

There's so much Bruce needs Jason to know. So much he has to tell him, but then Jason turns to him with a steady gaze. He doesn't have to say anything, Bruce gets his message.

The Amazon looks eager to throw him out, but Bruce leaves before she gets the chance.

RELATIONSHIP: BRUCE WAYNE & JASON TODD

"What's going on?" Dick Grayson asks, stepping into the kitchen. He has his game face on and strategically occupies the vacant seat between Bruce Wayne and Jason Todd.

Ever the mediator, Jason thinks, rolling his eyes and getting to his feet.

He knows what's coming. Dick will side with Bruce and try to convince Jason to change his mind. Jason knows he already lost, but maybe that can be delayed further if he puts enough distance between himself and the occupants of Wayne Manor.

"The invitation to Master Jason's graduation arrived today." It's Alfred Pennyworth, who until now has chosen to ignore Jason and Bruce, who answers. "He has declined to attend the ceremony."

At times like this, Jason wishes he could go back to the time when he was trying to kill the Bats and they were trying to put him in Arkham.

Ah. Fun times.

Unfortunately, life likes to fuck him over and Dick catches up to him just as he's about to get on his bike.

"Hey, Little Wing," Dick says, skidding to a stop. "What's this about you not going to your graduation?"

Jason rolls his eyes. "That's all it is."

"Come on, Jay." Dick gives him one of his blinding grins.

"Why can't I skip my graduation without the world ending?" Jason snaps before Dick can continue with whatever platitude he was preparing to spout. "You can drop out of college, and that's okay. Tim drops out of high school and it's no big deal. Hell, Damian decided he was too grown up for school and no one batted an eye. But I don't want to attend my graduation and it's the apocalypse!"

"You know that's not why Alfred and Bruce are concerned," Dick says, turning his sad eyes on Jason. "It's not the same."

"You're right; it's not the same. At least I completed the units requirement and the diploma will be sent in the mail. So how about you and everyone else get off my case? Tell Bruce I'll let him have it if it will make him feel better."

It's mean and Jason hates himself, even as the words leave his mouth, but he doesn't take them back. He doesn't hear Dick's response. Too busy hightailing it away from the manor on his bike. Jason can’t take another moment of Dick's sad eyes.

Jason doesn't doubt for one second, that this is what Talia hoped for when she forwarded his mails to the Manor. He should have expected it when she didn't respond to his announcement that he was skipping the ceremony.

By some miracle, he manages to avoid Dick and the rest of the Bats for the next couple of weeks. In that time, he's blissfully free of any talks about his graduation ceremony.

Just one more week, and Jason can put this whole thing behind him.

Turns out, he should have been less focused on Dick coming after him to make his case, and more concerned about Bruce refusing to take no for an answer.

Jason has just finished dismantling a human trafficking ring, disguised as a modeling agency in Tokyo. He plans to take a couple of days to rest in his hotel and enjoy the tourist attractions before returning to Gotham. That plan goes out the window the moment he finds Bruce, not Batman, waiting for him in his hotel room.

"Whatever it is," Jason sighs tiredly, too exhausted to get in a screaming match with Bruce, "I'm sure it can wait a few days until I return to Gotham."

Bruce actually looks sorry when he answers, "Your graduation is in a week."

This is Jason’s personal hell. Willis was right. Nothing good ever comes from going to school.

"What does it matter?" Jason asks. Since he's not getting into a fight, he's going to take a shower. "I already made it clear I'm not going."

"Why?" Bruce asks and he sounds so genuinely confused, Jason can't tell if he's faking it.

"Why?" Jason snarls angrily. "Haven't I made myself clear enough?"

"No, you haven't," Bruce replies as he shakes his head. "You've said a lot of things to derail the point, but nothing about the reason you don't want to attend your graduation."

"Because I can do what I want and I don't want to attend? Because it’s a stupid ceremony? Because--"

His voice cuts off when Bruce places a hand on his shoulder.

"Jaylad," Bruce says, so softly that it makes Jason feel like a kid again.

Jason takes in a shuddering breath to distract himself from the burning behind his eyes.

"Do you remember your first day of school after coming to the manor?" Bruce asks. His hand has traveled up to Jason's temple, brushing his hair back.

Does Jason remember?! Like Jason could ever forget. It was one of the best days of Jason's life.

"I'd never seen anyone so excited about school," Bruce continues. "Alfred and I thought your excitement would diminish with time, but it never did. Every day was the first day all over again. As much as you loved being Robin, you never let it get in the way of your education.

"You were always so excited to learn, and not just in school. Everything you came across was a chance to learn something new. I'd never met anyone that could soak up information like you can, Jay. And I know how excited you were to graduate high-school, because you never thought you would. What's the real reason you don't want to go?"

"It's not like I don't want to go, okay?"

Jason scrubs his eyes to hide the tears gathered there. He's never heard Bruce string together so many words about him that didn't include a scold or an insult. It's a heady feeling and Jason doesn't know what to do with it.

"I'm a fraud. I didn't even want to go to school. But Talia said she wouldn't train me unless I got a life outside my revenge. I thought with how much she looked down on the western world, their educational system would annoy her more than anything."

"I see," Bruce says in that carefully controlled tone he uses when he's mimicking an emotionless robot. "But you didn't have to continue after your training."

"It was just something to do, and for a while it was all I had." Jason shrugs. "And now they expect me to give a speech about the experience when the only reason I went was because I was blinded by revenge."

"Sometimes, I want to turn back the clock to before…" Bruce swallows heavily and Jason can see the effort it takes to continue speaking. "If only it will save us both the pain and heartbreak you've been through. Losing you was the worst thing I'd ever been through. You were so young, so bright and full of life. There's so much we had planned, many of those things we'll never get the chance to do.

"If you really don't want to attend your graduation, you have my support. But if you do decide to go, nothing will make me happier than to be a proud parent in that hall, cheering you on as you give your speech and accept your degree. Because you're not a fraud, Jason. Talia may have given you the ultimatum, but you saw it through. You did the work and now your hard work has paid off.” Bruce grips his shoulder. “I couldn't be more proud of you."

Jason's breath catches and he feels the dam holding back his tears break as tears pours freely from his eyes. He wants to say something, but his throat is tight with emotion.

Bruce doesn't hesitate to pull Jason into a tight hug. It feels exactly like it did when Jason was a kid and the safest place in the world was his dad's arms.

"You're okay, Jaylad," Bruce murmurs, comforting him as his tears soak Bruce's dress shirt. "I have you."

It takes a while, but he finally calms down long enough to say what he really wants. What he needs Bruce to hear.

"Thanks, Dad," Jason chokes. "Also, I'd love to have you at my graduation."

Warning for mentions of child torture and death.

Cameron Greenwich groans, pain lighting up in his entire body. Batman's hit had landed harder than he's known for. A kick from Nightwing impacts the side of his head, momentarily blinding him as he crashes to the ground. He feels the tear in his mouth and the trickle of blood dripping down his chin before his vision clears enough to see it.

The hits continue a moment longer, after he stops bothering to defend himself. The level of violence being dealt on his person by the Bats would be a strange occurrence, but Cameron supposes an industrial freezer filled with the bodies and body parts of his victims is enough to incite anger in those with no appreciation for art.

Such a shame, considering how committed the Bats are to their themes.

So what if his victims are mostly kids? They make the best subjects and models. So expressive, their emotions can be seen in every line of their little bodies. Not to mention, he selected them carefully. Only getting models from the Narrows and Park Row. Where he knows they won't be missed. 

Still, there is little the Bats can do. His lawyers have already been alerted. He pays them well to make things like this go away. A few weeks of inconveniences before he's back to work is a small price to pay for art.

"This is your last warning," Nightwing growls at him, his anger visible in every muscle twitch.

Cameron's fingers itch for a scalpel. He's not one for older models, but he wants so badly to see Nightwing strapped to his table. How beautiful he would look, filled with fear, as he begged prettily for his life when Cameron cut him open.

"And you'll do what next time?" Cameron's laugh turns into a coughing fit to clear his airway of the blood choking him. "Bats don't kill. But I'll be back in a few months. Maybe we can get together then." He can't help but add a saucy little wink. 

Predictably, Batman and Nightwing don't have an answer for him. They cuff him and disappear out of the window of his skyrise apartment and into the night. Which is a little strange, since he knows the Bats usually wait until the cops are on the scene before they disappear. 

Before he leaves, Nightwing's eyes linger on the shadow to Cameron's right; he gives a nod and jumps off. 

Cameron snorts as he watches them go.

There's nothing for him to do but wait and listen as the sound of sirens grow closer. He's prepared to do just that, when the shadows, the spot Nightwing had been watching, moves. Red Hood steps forward. 

He hadn't even been aware Red Hood was present this entire time. It's usually impossible to miss the Hood when he's present. What with the giant red helmet, his loud guns, and even more annoying quips.

The chill that accompanies Hood as he steps closer, has nothing to do with the temperature of the room. 

Cameron’s not worried for his life. There's just something unsettling about this vigilante that encourages everybody to steer clear of his path. Cameron heard all about Hood's debut years ago, and he's comforted with the knowledge that the Bats have neutered the Red Hood. But as he watches the Hood approach, he feels his insides freeze. 

Cameron swallows.

Red Hood advances towards him like a predator stalking its prey.

"You're right. Bats don't kill."

Even through the robotic voice, Cameron can hear the sinister grin Hood has on his face under the helmet.

Hood leans down; a gloved hand tips Cameron’s face up so he's staring at the red helmet. He is too transfixed to look away from the blank red face. 

Models experience fear - never the artist. Yet, Cameron has never been so afraid in his life. 

"But I do," Hood continues in the same voice. "And I'll be waiting for you when you get out."