My Ghost

six

jason's point of view

My eyes scan the cave walls, running over every jagged edge of the rock and the naturally made ceiling my voice echoes off of. In the distance I can hear the faint rushing of water, and if this wasn't the place of my worst memories, it would've been calming. But the darkness reminded me of my grave, the rocks of the cliff, the room of my past... there was no escaping the thoughts that haunted me. I lean against the wall of the Batcave, doing my best to suppress every memory of this place. I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. They were only painful now.

Bruce had called me here for reasons I didn't fully understand, but as soon as I saw Nightwing walk into the room, I wished I hadn't come. The last time I'd seen the "perfect son" was a couple of weeks ago, and we did nothing but argue. I honestly can't recall a time where we truly got along.

"Well if it isn't Gotham's least wanted," he greets me dryly, plopping himself in Bruce's chair in front of the main computer.

"Great to see you too, Dick," I mutter, my arms crossed over my chest. "Glad to see you're as lovely as ever."

He rolls his eyes, setting his feet on the desk. "So... how'd you handle the news?"

I look at him, confused. What news? "Ray died a while ago, Dick," I tell him, unsure of what else he could be referring to.

Dick bursts out laughing, and I'm quickly getting pissed off. What the fuck was so funny?

"I know that, air head. The news from tonight? The reason we're both here?"

I shake my head. "No clue. I usually try to avoid family reunions, especially on Christmas, but sadly I didn't realize this was one."

"Aw come on, you're happy to see us!" I hear a voice say, and I roll my eyes, letting out a sigh. From across the room I see him exit the secret elevator and walk his way over. That damned yellow cape glides behind him as he moves, and he has a permanent smirk on his face.

"You're the last person I wanted to see tonight," I assure him, turning to Dick. "For once, you weren't!"

"I'm touched," Dick grumbles, taking his feet off of the desk.

"Bruce should be down any second."

"Why are you here, Tim?" I ask, annoyed and angry. The last thing I wanted was to have a potluck with my goddamn replacement and the "family" I left behind.

"I'm Robin, I'm involved with all of this," he answers. "Maybe when you were Robin you didn't give a shit but-"

"Stop right fucking there," I warn him, uncrossing my arms and storming my way across the room to come face to face with him. "You don't get to criticize me. Got it? You weren't there for any of it, and you have no idea how hard I worked."

"Back off, Jason."

I groan, of course Bruce chose now to show up. Why couldn't he wait until after I beat the twerp to a bloody pulp?

"Why am I here?" I ask him, frustrated. The sooner I left, the better I would feel.

Bruce glances over at Dick and he shrugs in return. I watch the two of them... they know something I don't.

"What the hell is going on?" I demand. "I don't like secrets."

"Here's the suit cam," Nightwing says, ignoring my questions as he walks over to Bruce and hands him the small device. "Worked like a charm, everything should be recorded on there."

"Good work, Dick," Bruce says, walking over to the computer with the device, now sitting in the seat Dick was just in. I audibly sigh, I didn't come here to watch Dick be praised the same as I had when I was younger.