The Ex

8. The plan revealed

  Bruce had been up for two days straight looking for Jason. He felt responsible since he was the one who called him and Red Robin in to help. Talia was able to predict him too easily, and Bruce did not like that.
  It wasn't until the third day that Bruce finally got some sleep, and the only reason being Alfred made him. Jason had been taken by the Joker a couple times in his second life, and everytime Bruce was determined to find him as quickly as possible before the Joker repeated History. He had succeeded everytime, but this time, Talia was involved. Bruce knew that Talia still had a soft spot for Jason. He knew that Talia would keep him alive. For now at least. So he allowed himself to get a little rest before going back to it.
  Day Five of Jason's kidnapping was when they finally heard word from Talia. She hacked into the batcomputer and broadcasted a message.

  "Hello, Bruce." She smiled. "Do you miss me, my love?"

"Where is he?" Bruce demanded. The sound of him yelling alerted the other members of the batfamily to go to the cave.

  "Who? The real Joker? Or... Jason Todd?" She turned the camera to reveal Jason. He wasn't hanging from the ceiling anymore. This time he was just laying down on the floor. Still bound and gagged and in his costume, but what really concerned Bruce was his appearance. Jason looked just as Bruce had found him the day he died, minus the dead part from the explosion, but in critical condition.

  Bruce was strong before. Knowing full well he wouldn't give up Damian for Jason. And even though he still wouldn't, the sight of Jason nearly broke him. It brought back the day. His biggest failure. Letting Jason die.

"I'll explain what's going to happen." Talia began. "You have two options. You can give me Damian, and I will give you Jason. Or, you can keep Damian, and Jason will become my protégé. I will breed him to become the leader of the league of assassins."

  "Jason would never!" Dick yelled, being the first person down to the cave.

"You're right. You've changed him. Helped him to slightly become the person he was before. The one that didn't go on killing sprees. But he could easily do it again." Talia threatened. "After another dip in the Lazarus pit."

  Everyone was in the cave when she said that and everyone froze. The Lazarus pit is was caused Jason to go crazy from his anger. If he went in twice, they might never get the real Jason back again.

  "If you chose to save Jason, meet me in two weeks at the place where he was reborn. It seems only fitting." Talia said before ending the call.

  Everyone in the cave was still silent. No one wanted to speak first, so Bruce decided to do it.

"She's taking him to the Lazarus pit she used to bring him back. Qurac. At least we a location." Bruce said. "The only thing is, I have the feeling she'll take him somewhere else until two weeks pass. We need tl get going."

  "But we don't have a plan." Barbara pointed out.

  There was another moment of silence. Damian being the one to break it this time.

"I have to go back to her." He stated.

  "No." Bruce ordered. "Damian-"

"I have to." Damian continued.

  "Since when do you care about Jason?" Tim questioned.

"I'm not doing this for Jason. But if I was to become the leader of the league of assassins, I could hold myself back. If Jason goes back into that Lazarus pit, he won't be able to. It's the logical thing to do." Damian explained.

  "Damian! I'm not letting you do this." Bruce yelled.

"Then at least use it as a safe plan. If all else fails." Damian said.

  "Fine. But only if all else fails." Bruce glared.

"Then what's plan A?" Dick asked.

  "We start working on it right away. We also need to have a plan B." Bruce explained.

"I thought my plan was plan B?" Damian asked.

  "You're plan is plan Z. I said if all else fails." Bruce glared again.

  Bruce refused to lose one of his sons. Even if Jason was different, Bruce still loved him. Especially since he still feels guilt over what happened to him, even if it was really Joker and Talia's fault.

  "We only have two weeks." Bruce began. "So let's get to work."