✱ Do You Really Want to Do This? – Stephanie finds herself fighting someone she doesn’t want to fight—a friend under mind control, a reluctant villain, or someone who used to be on the same side. I mean, it practically writes itself considering the amount of toxins Jason can be infected with on a daily basis that'll make him lose his mind. - @jp-todd-rp
The first swing nearly took her head off.
Stephanie ducked, heart lurching in her chest. Jason’s eyes—normally so sharp and alive behind that helmet—were wild, unfocused. His breath came in ragged snarls as he swung again, gun in one hand, knife in the other, his whole body coiled in aggression.
“Jason!” Steph’s voice cracked as she backflipped onto the ledge, grappling hook already in her palm—not to use on him, but just to keep her distance. “Come on! It’s me!”
He didn’t answer. Didn’t even hesitate. He came at her again.
Her stomach twisted. It wasn’t him—it was whatever crap that gas or dart had pumped into his system. Fear toxin? Venom? Some new cocktail. It didn’t matter. She couldn’t hurt him, couldn’t fight him like he was some random thug. But if she didn’t slow him down, he was going to kill her.
She tossed smoke pellets, darting through the haze, her voice echoing. “Jason! Look at me! It’s Steph, okay? Spoiler! Not an enemy!”
His blade flashed through the smoke, forcing her to parry with her staff. The vibration rattled her arms; he was stronger, angrier, barely himself.
Steph gritted her teeth. Her only chance was to ground him—literally. She waited until his swing overextended, then dove in, slamming an electrified batarang against his armored wrist. Sparks flared but the knife didn't fall from his grip.
“Snap out of it!” she shouted, voice trembling. Her staff jammed against his chestplate, keeping distance. Her heart pounded as Jason’s knife screeched against her staff.
For a split second, her mind spun—Bruce would know how to counter this, how to restrain him without harm and Babs could trace what toxin he’d been hit with and feed her an antidote formula in real time, if Stephanie managed to dodge him for that long.