ʀᴇᴄʟᴜsᴇ! homesick

CH 26 Part 1: They Don't Know That We Know They Know...

Guilt ate me up from the inside out.

I have many regrets in life, but leaving Jason was one of the worst.

It was eating away physically at my cells, at my heart, at my body, leaving it shriveled and withered and tired. My attacks became worse, and it was harder and harder to hide their true effects on my from my family.

I didn't go out as Dark Web as much, I wanted to avoid confronting the Red Hood as much as I could. It didn't feel like me anymore, it felt like too much of a second skin.

I could tell our last conversation, weeks ago, it bothered him too. I haven't seen Jason since that morning, and I planned on never seeing him again. It was easier this way. I would always choose bad over worse.

But the Red Hood only became more violent. He stopped pulling his punches, his death toll only rose. This was not the person I knew.

But did I ever really know him?

Rumor on the street had even said that he joined the Black Mask to have total control of crime, of Gotham City.

I didn't know what to believe anymore.

After patrol, I always made it to the BatCave the earliest, because I was pathetic really. I was good at avoidance, and good at running away. After all, it's what got me into this situation.

Robin came next with Nightwing, and Red Robin was mad that I had left him in the dust, again.

Batman always was late coming home after patrol, whether is was his paranoia or insomnia. He was the most dedicated out of all of us.

Tonight, Batman had patrol seaside tonight. We didn't expect him to be back anytime soon.

I was chatting with Oracle, or Barbara, when the BatMobile roars into the cave.

Batman comes out and slams the door, from his patrol in a flurry, out of breath and out of his mind. I had never seen him like this. Based on everyone else's reaction, this was a first.

He keeps repeating, "It can't be him, it can't. It can't..."

"Bruce. Bruce!" Tim calls out when he doesn't respond the first time.

Bruce stops pacing and looks at him. "What?"

"What happened?"

"The Red Hood knows who I am. He knows all of our identities. He's..." He sighs in annoyance.

My face turned white. What was Jason planning? Why now?

"How?" Damian demands.

"I found the Red Hood at the docks with Black Mask, they were planning something. Something big. Something about a kidnapping, a murder, and after that, they would be able to command the crime of Gotham through respect and intimidation alone."

"Who would they kidnap?" I ask, trying to bring a face to mind and failing. Who would have that much affect on Gotham City?

"I don't know." The Dark Knight was frustrated to say the least. "But then the Red Hold spotted me, like he could sense I was there. They started shooting, and I started to chase the Red Hood-"

"Why didn't you call for backup, Father?" Damian asks offended.

"There wasn't time." Bruce says, trying to get back to explaining.

"There's always time for backup, you just have to contact Oracle." Tim says.

"You know-" Batman says, but it interrupted.

"No, you just wanted to do it by yourself. 'I work alone,' right B?" Dick says with a scoff.

I interrupt what's about to be an incoming fight. "Guys, this isn't bag-on-Bruce-time, we can do that later. Bruce. What happened?"