Live to Rise

Family Issues Part 2

I DO NOT OWN ANYTHING EVERYTHING BELONGS TO DC AND KAI MACIEL THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF THIS BOOK
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Gotham

November 17, 22:40

Bruce had broken a locker and nearly his hands by punching it. His fingers hurt like crazy and looked like a bloody mess, but it still wasn't enough.

It didn't change what he had seen and heard. It didn't change the data that was now storaged on his portable computer.

It didn't change what had been done to Jason.

After cleaning the blood and bandaging his hands, Bruce sat in front of his main computer and downloaded all the information. He tried to remain as detached as he could while reading the data on Jason, but that task was becoming more futile at each sentence.

In the last two years, Bruce had done everything in his power to remove Jason Todd from his mind. His room was empty and locked; all his belongings had been given away or destroyed, including every single photograph. If he pretended that Jason had never existed, he wouldn't feel the stabbing pain of his death driving him insane with guilt and grief. As long as he tried to keep himself busy, he wouldn't feel the void Jason left in his life.

But Jason was missing and he could never forget it or allow it to ever happen again. That was the reason he had kept the glass case with his uniform in the cave, the only existing proof that boy had been a part of their lives aside from the data he had hidden in his computer.

Stop thinking. Search for answers, he thought. Regretting is not going to change a thing. Don't think of him as Jason. He's not the Jason I knew anymore. That's his body, that's subject #2620.

And so, Bruce kept working. He was trying so hard to be objective, that he didn't even notice Alfred coming down the stairs with a worried expression on his face.

After a few minutes of reading, Bruce found hidden videos on the Lazarus Project. Some of the data was missing, but he was able to make them work again. It was with a feeling of dread that he pressed play on the first video on subject #2620.

His heart stopped as soon as he saw Jason.

The boy was strapped to chair, wearing nothing but a white hospital gown. He looked too thin and his skin was almost as pale as his clothing except for the obvious injuries on his face, arms and legs. He also looked to be in a lot of pain.

"This is Dr. Edward Robb on the first recording of subject #2620. Three days after injecting the Lazarus formula, the subject is finally showing signs of understandable speech. However, other required parameters remain disappointing, such as the subject attempts of escape."

Robb walked towards Jason and forced his head to face his. The boy's eyes were red and glassy and his lips were trembling.

"What is your name?" Robb asked coldly. Jason tried to move, but the doctor held him in his place. "Answer the question: what is your name?"

"It... hurts..." Jason whispered weakly, sounding lost and confused.

"Doctor? Should we give him a painkiller?" an unseen female voice asked.

"No. It could affect the results. Besides, he won't die from the pain. Tell me your name."

"Hurts..."

"I told you to tell me your name!"

"Where...?"

"It doesn't matter where you are now. I'm asking your name."

"Bruce..."

Bruce stood up from his chair, which fell hard on the ground. His blue eyes glued to the screen.

"That's not your name. Tell me your name."

Jason began to shake even more and a single tear ran down his pale cheeks.

"It... hurts, Bruce... Hurts..."

Robb kept trying to make Jason talk, but the boy was too distressed and in too much pain. Finally, the doctor gave up.

"This was a complete waste of time. Put the subject back in his pod, we will try it again later."

Two men showed up in the video, finally untying Jason who just fell flat on the ground.

"Bruce..."

Dr. Robb approached the camera to turn it off, but not before the video zoomed on Jason's trembling body, being grabbed by the other two men.

"Sorry..."

The video turned to black at the same time Bruce punched the keyboard and fell on his knees. He kept punching the ground until he couldn't feel his hands, his vision blurring with his tears.

Slowly, Alfred walked towards his master, kneeled beside him and hugged him as his own tears fell.

"I failed him," Bruce whimpered. "I failed him again. I couldn't keep him safe, not even in death."

"Master Bruce..."

"Don't! Don't say it wasn't my fault! I brought him here, I made him Robin and I got him killed. None of this would have happened if I didn't bring into this life."

"Then he would be also dead, shot or stabbed in a dark corner of Crime Alley," Alfred told him. "You gave Master Jason a home, a family. You loved him, we all did. He is ours."

"But he still died broken and alone and now... what have they done to him? Why can't he just be in peace? Why couldn't I save him?"

Alfred hugged Bruce harder.

"He was calling me, Alfred," Bruce said. "He was hurt and scared and he was calling me, but I never came."

"Then it's time to go to him now," the old butler answered, staring at Jason's glass case. "We need to bring him home."
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Sorry for not updating sooner. My camp actually had wifi but for some reason I couldn't connect to it.

I also got heat exhaustion at camp since we were playing rugby in the full blown heat all day.

You might have noticed that I have become a fan of the Netflix show Voltron Legendary Defenders. If anyone reading this watches it, awesome.

Also I started up two new books last week: Tumblr Posts and How To Survive High School. If you could go check those out and give them some votes that would be awesome!

I'm going to start doing QOTW because why not.

QOTW: Do you play any sports?

AOTW: Yes, I play full back in rugby for the Barrhaven Scottish team and I'm in power swim 2 working towards competitive swimming. I also I'm doing bronze cross.

Be free to answer or ask any questions.

See you next week!

Voltron-Trash / Amber