The air in the Batcave was thick with tension, the only sound the rhythmic hum of the Batcomputer. Jason Todd, perched on the edge of a gargoyle statue, idly spun a shard of Kryptonite between his fingers, the green glow casting an eerie sheen on his face.
"You're not serious, are you?" Tim Drake, ever the pragmatist, spoke from his usual perch on the railing.
"Oh, I'm deadly serious," Jason drawled, his eyes glinting with a dangerous light. "Bruce and Clark are being ridiculous. Damian and John are happy, and that's all that matters."
Dick Grayson, leaning against the Batcomputer, sighed. "I get it, Jay. But blackmailing Clark? That's not going to end well. Besides, it's not like Bruce isn't giving in to the pressure."
"Yeah, well, Bruce is being stubborn," Jason countered, his voice hardening. "He's letting his fear of the past dictate the present. And Clark? He's just scared of his own shadow."
The truth of his words hung heavy in the air. Damian and John had been dating for almost a year, their relationship blossoming despite the initial resistance from their fathers. Bruce, haunted by his own tragic past, was terrified of the dangers that came with a relationship between a Wayne and a Kent. Clark, burdened by the weight of his Kryptonian heritage, feared the backlash from the public and the potential harm that could be inflicted on John.
But the Bat-family, united in their love for Damian, knew this wasn't just about fear, it was about acceptance. They knew John was a good man, a worthy partner for their brother, and they were prepared to fight for their right to be together.
Dick, ever the diplomat, stepped forward. "Jason, we need to find a better way. Blackmail isn't the answer."
"Then what is?" Jason retorted, his voice sharp. "Let's be real, we're not going to convince them by being nice. We need to show them what's at stake. We need to show them what they're losing."
Tim frowned, his mind racing. "We could sit them down, tell them how much we support Damian and John. Maybe get some other heroes involved, show them it's not just us."
Jason snorted. "You think that's going to work? Bruce has gone up against the Justice League and won. He won't be swayed by a bunch of speeches."
"But maybe we can show them the support they're getting from everyone else," Tim suggested, hopeful. "We could start with Alfred. He's pretty persuasive when it comes to family matters."
Dick nodded thoughtfully. "That's not a bad idea, Tim. And we can't forget Lois. They might be able to get through to Clark."
Jason's grip tightened on the Kryptonite shard. "Fine. But if that doesn't work, I'm going through with my plan."
Dick and Tim shared a concerned look. They knew Jason's history, the lengths he'd go to protect his own, and they feared where this could lead.
"Okay, we'll start with Alfred and the Kents," Dick conceded, trying to diffuse the situation. "But no more talk of blackmail. We're a team, we solve things together."
Tim nodded eagerly. "I'll talk to Alfred first. Maybe he can help us organize an intervention without making it seem like one."
Jason rolled his eyes but agreed. "Fine, but don't take too long. I've got a plan B if they don't come around."
Tim took a deep breath and swung into action, grabbing his gear. "I'm on it. Meet me back here in two hours."
Dick watched him go, then turned to Jason. "Look, I know you're just trying to protect Damian, but we can't go rogue on this. We need to stick together."
