Not As It Seems

vengeance

By the time the two had finished battling, Ra's Al Ghul was dead with Deathstroke not looking too good either, barely holding onto life.

Jason smirked, picking up the stray sword on the ground and making his way over to where Deathstroke was kneeling. He tucked the sword under Deathstroke's chin, forcing him to look up at the teen. "Well, I must admit, I totally thought Ra's would kill you. Oh, well. My turn."

As Jason was dragging the blade slowly across Slade's throat, Dick called out to him. "Jason, no!" Jason tensed, whirling around to face his older brother. "This isn't you. You don't have to do this, please."

Jason's face slacked and he nodded. "You're right, what am I doing?" He sheathed the sword, walking into the field of heroes and crouching next to Dick. "Thanks, Dickiebird, for reminding me of who I am."

"No pro-"

Jason turned to Slade with no emotion. "Right arm." Slade lifted the blade that was still in his hand and slashed down. "Again." Slade did as he was told, making the heroes flinch as Jason turned his back on them, approaching Slade. He slid the mask off the older assassin, leaning in to whisper in his ear. "This is what you deserve for trying to make me kill Dick. Now the neck."

Slade did not hesitate to drag the blade across his neck in one fell swoop, collapsing to the ground in a lifeless heap.

The heroes stared in shock as Jason grinned down at the body. "Jay...what are you doing?"

He turned to them and shrugged. "Fulfilling my end of the deal."

"What?"

"You heard the boy." All eyes turned to Talia as she walked up behind Jason and placed her hands on his shoulders.

"Talia, Jason just killed your father. Wh-"

Talia cut Bruce off with a chuckle. "Beloved, he was simply, as he put it, fulfilling our deal." When the heroes scrunched up their faces in confusion, she sighed. "I've wanted the throne for ages now, Jason was simply a means to an end. He killed Deathstroke and my father for me and I-" She looked down at the teen. "-would set him free."

Jason smirked, handing the mask to Talia. He knelt down in front of her but not before sending a subtle nod to Jade, who took off into the headquarters. He looked up at Talia, sending a nod her way as well. She slid on the mask, placing a hand on his head.

"Thank you, Talia." Jason murmured, averting his eyes to the ground.

"Of course, child." She replied, voice muffled by the mask. "We had a deal and I always uphold my end." She dragged her hand down the side of his face, grabbing his chin and lifting it to look at her. "But tell me, is this really what you want?"

Jason smirked. "More than anything."

"Very well. Shame, such a waste of talent."

"Talia, whatever you are about to do, don't. You'll have the whole Justice League and our team after you." Wonder Woman snarled.

Talia just let out a laugh. "Are you forgetting the fact that I have you at my mercy?"

Wonder Woman was about to reply when Jason interrupted them. "Talia, you have yet to complete the deal."

"Jason, you can still back out of this. Please, I don't know what she is going to do, but let us help you." Dick pleaded, watching as Jason's face broke out into a small smile.

"Oh, Dick. I don't need any help. I am exactly where I want to be." He turned back to Talia, his smile growing. "If you will, Talia."

"As you wish." She took a deep breath before saying the two words that stopped everyone's breathing. "Self destruct."

Everyone watched as Jason tensed up before collapsing fully on the crowd, convulsing as blood dripped out of his nose and ears. He continued to convulse for a moment before he fell still, very still, his face facing away from the heroes.

"Jason! What have you done, Talia?" Dick cried out, waiting for Jason's chest to rise with a breath.

It didn't.

Talia took the mask off, tossing it to the ground. "Isn't it obvious? I commanded the techno-virus in your brother to self destruct, and since it is embedded in his brain, well..." She gestured to the limp form of Jason. "It fried his brain."

"You monster! You will pay for this."

"It is what the boy wanted. When I approached him with my plan years ago, after I resurrected him, he agreed on one condition. I give him what he wants, a way out of the Shadows." She shrugged. "It wasn't until a few months ago that he told me what it was."

"Jason...Jason wanted to die?" Talia nodded. "Why?"

"He couldn't bare the horrors my father and Deathstroke forced him to commit and he knew he could not return to the hero community, having been fundamentally changed by his time here. So this was his only option." Talia clucked her tongue, kneeling down next to Jason and closing his eyes. "A shame, really. He would've been a nice asset to have around here. But alas, I always uphold my end of deals, especially when he did so much for me."

"Talia-"

Bruce was cut off by the spikes emanating the electricity suddenly stopping, allowing the heroes to get to their feet.

Talia was shocked. "What is the meaning of this? I did not release you!"

"I did." Talia whipped around to see Jade holding her sai under her throat, eyes narrowed under her mask.

"Cheshire, how dare you?! You will be punished for this!"

Jade shrugged. "Consider this my resignation letter." She nodded down to Jason. "That's what Jason asked me to do, sort of as a final request. And who am I to deny the requests of a dying boy?"

Talia growled, going to draw her weapon but was stopped by a punch to the face from a glowering Dick Grayson. He bypassed the female assassins to kneel next to Jason, rolling his brother over so he could see his face. "Jason...Oh, Jason." He felt the tears fall down his face.

"Dickie...?" Dick's eyes practically fell out of his head when he saw Jason drag his eyes open, taking in a shuddering breath. He gave a half hearted smirk, one that looked like it took a lot of effort. "'M'sorry for...trying to kill you."

"Jason, none of that matters now. Come on, let's get you on the ship an-"

"No...this is meant to be." Jason wheezed out. "'Sides...won't make it to...medical attention."

Dick got a steely look in his eye, turning to glare at Talia. "Bring us to the pit."