âI bet on losing dogs,,â
Canât draw this out cause I have art college homework to do but I simply have to write this out cause I need to share. Hella angst incoming for the Pup Fiction AU sorry,,
The reveal of Red Hoodâs identity stung, stung more than the clasps keeping Bruceâs hands behind his back, stung more than the black eye, stung more than the busted lip and broken nose. The news made his brain come to a screeching holt, the fear for his kids paused to the fear OF his kid.
His sweet baby Jay, taken from him too soon at sixteen standing in front of him now at twenty-two. His once dark eyes now an unsavory green that was a side effect of being resurrected. His baby who once clung to him after having a nightmare now looked at him with pure hate and a snarl. Faded scars littering his nose and upper lip, the unnatural blonde in his boyâs curled bangs. He grew, god did he grew. Everything about Jason was all wrong. The violence, the guns.. Bruce felt like he couldnât breath.
Then there was Tim unconscious from the ruthless beating Red Hood, Jason, had done. He was bleeding from his head and his breathing was shallow and Bruce feared he was going to have burry him too if he doesnât get looked at soon. Bruce was spiraling unsure of what to do now. His boys, his poor boys..
Jason cocks the hand held gun pointing it at Tim hands steady. âHow does it feel that another Robin is going to die because of you tonight?â
âJay, no, we donât kill-â
âMaybe you do, but Iâve changed, Bruce.â
The shot echoes through the building and Bruce swiftly looked away, feeling bile rise in his throat. He slowly looks back fearing the worst, only to see Connor standing in between Jason and Tim. The bullet on the floor at his feet and a hole in his pajama shirt.
Jason shocked drops his hand down and steps back, âWhat the hell, Connor!?â
Connor was shaking from adrenaline but his eyes revealed how stunned he was to see his once dead brother was standing in front of him. He slowly looks around to survey the scene before looking horrified at Jason.
âWhat have you done, Jay,,?â
âWhat have I done? What have I DONE?!â Jason laughs but it sounds bitter and slightly wet from the unshed tears, âwhat have YOU done!?â He raises the gun again, slightly more shaky then he was before. Bruceâs breath catches in his throat, what was Connor doing? He knows he shouldnât be out, what about his powers? What if they fail him? He canât take his youngest being in danger.
âI die and you all just move on and replaced me like I was last nights trash!â
He fires another shot which catches Connorâs shoulder and he jerks only slightly but just like before the bullet only leaves a hole in his shirt. Connor shakes his head and steps forward, âWe didnât replace you,, Tim didnât-â
âDonât say that pathetic excuseâs name!â
âYou werenât replaced Jay-â
Another shot rings out this time ricocheting off of Connorâs hip.
âI was! None of you cared that the Joker killed me!â
âJason.â Connor keeps walking towards him, Jasonâs hand gets worse and a slight hiccup can be heard as he quietly starts crying. Connor looks at him earnestly eyes also shiny with tears,
âJay, we love you so muchâ
âNo you donât!â The next fire missed connor completely hitting the floor by his feet.
âWe were so lost Jay. Dick refused to visit. Alfred always set out a plate for you. Dad,â Connor starts to openly sob, Jason no longer has the strength to keep the gun up and it falls heavily to his side. âDad wasnât the same, Jay. I refused to leave my bed, I hardly ate, I nearly flunked my grade..â
The gun finally clatters to the ground.
âWe were spiraling without you Jay,â Connor stops walking and ever slightly turned his head to where Tim was wheezing quietly, then back to Jason. âWe didnât go looking for Tim, Jay. He found us. Found us and put us back together. Dick visits again, Alfred has someone to drink tea with, Dad has someone watching his back. He helped me with everything. Jay, he SAVED us. Saved us from something I thought we wouldnât come back from after you.â
âI said SHUT UPâ Jason shoves Connor away from him and swiftly disappears into the shadows of the warehouse. Just like that he was gone. Connor thought about going after him, he knew Jasonâs heartbeat anywhere. But a sickly wet wheeze from Tim had him pause and turn around. One at a time, and Tim called first.
Connor made swift and quiet work of undoing the clasps that kept Batman from escaping. âYou shouldnât be here Connorâ
âYou disobeyed my instructions!â
Connor moves away from Bruce to check over Tim carefully. He needed a professional with the way the wheezing was sounding, and he definitely had a concussion. Batman went to go pick Robin up only for Connor to scoop him up first. âYouâre injured, Iâve got him.â
Bruce nods and leads the way to the Batmobile with a limp in silence.
Once situated, Bruce canât help but think out loud while Connor was strategically wiping some of the dried blood off of Timâs forehead. âHow did you know we needed help?â
Without looking up from his ministrations, âTim..â he sighs quietly and faces his dad. âI know you donât want me on the field, Dad. But,, Tim thought it was best that I trained with him anyways, get a grip on my powers with practice. We knew you wouldnât approve so we were always quiet about it. Unfortunately Iâm just as much as a worry wort like you and pops so I had to figure out something for him to use if he needed back up..â
Bruce clenches his jaw, ofcourse heâs not pleased with this knowledge, furious about how this whole night is really going. However, he canât necessarily be mad at this moment, Tim was smart and the secret training came in handy tonight. Connor flashes something shiny at him, looking into his sonâs hand to see a small dog whistle looped around a thin chain, it had dried blood on it, thatâs when it clicked that it was Timâs.
âI may not hear at great distances or anything like Pops can.â Connor puts the necklace in his pocket awkwardly âbut I can hear whistles unlike humans can. Tim and I tested the distance and everything and promised to use it Incase of emergency situations,,â
Bruce nodded along, it made sense and extremely clever. Very Tim. The adrenaline and emotions from tonight was starting to crash on him, he didnât have the energy to think it even be upset with Connor or Tim, or even Jason at that. He just made a quick drive back to the Cave so Tim could get proper attention. Heâll deal with the fall out in the morningâŚ