The Batplane was designed to prevent catastrophe, even in the worst of circumstances.
Statistically speaking with a man as experienced and prepared as Batman behind the controls this shouldn’t have happened.
Probability became irrelevant.
She still went down.
Bruce is practically catatonic as Jason tugs him out of the wreckage, he’s using pure will power to look back praying that his children are not dead.
That he didn’t kill them.
Jason seems to be consistently obscuring his vision, he’s about to demand his second moves when-
Batman has woken up.
Jason’s positioning is not accidental, it’s the protocol Batman himself put in place.
Used for victims, in order to not further traumatize them.
Protect them having to gaze upon corpses.
Jason is hiding his dead brothers from their Father.
The Red Hood is attempting mercy, the way any bat would and any other day Bruce would be thankful.
Today Bruce begs for the mercy Red Hood is most infamous for, but Jaylad only has rubber.
-
Dick is willing to actually attend church after this debacle the moment they get back to civilization he’s finding one.
Everyone unharmed other than cuts and bruises is enough to thank god.
Bruce seems to be the most fucked up but neither himself or Tim can pinpoint why, Jason had done an assessment while dragging him but nothing medically seems amiss.
“Shock?” Damian’s suggestion certainly the most likely but, considering this is Bruce, all of them are…doubtful.
A plane crash is not the worst thing to happen to Batman would this result in such an excessive response?
All four of them have gathered to peer at the clearly not doing too hot Bruce who’s still unmoving from the tree Jason had pretty nicely leaned him up against. Waiting for something…
“Maybe it’s the cherry on the cake, camels back kinda thing…I mean respectfully he wasn’t all that sane originally love him- but…” Tim’s idea certainly had merit as fucked as everything that just came out of his mouth is.
And based on Jason and Damian’s lack of protest clearly an example of saying the quiet part out loud.
“Father is extremely..Father, however Drake’s hypothesis does seem to have merit.” Damian sounds almost amused his littlest brother giving a kick to their Dad’s still form really doesn’t help.
Jason actually laughs still smoking the cigarette that even in a plane crash is never far from his hand.
“Ok well, I’m so glad I hardwired the young justice comns to my suit so give or take thirty minutes and Impulse will be here with a ship for all us. I debated telling Kon to hang back and wait but given Bruce’s overall…issue figured he should go straight to Alfred.” Tim’s and Damian’s racing hearts has alerted Kon and Jon to the issue luckily but neither himself or Jason particularly wanted to be flown back by their little brothers worried boyfriends.
So said little brother’s other worried boyfriend’s spaceship was a good alternative.
“You too could have gone while we hung back-“
“Neither of us were going to leave-“
“We’re not abandoning you-“
“Jason is right you-“
“Jaylad-“ Bruce’s voice is weak. Nothing quite like a newly awaken adopted Dad to destroy brotherly banter.
Even if the fact that Bruce is ignoring all of them to stare at Jason slightly stings.
“Nice of you to join the land of the living, was worried we were gonna have to find you an Arkham cell, I hear they’re cozy.” Bruce doesn’t seem to even understand Jason only nodding.
“No Jay, you were right..you always were Arkham doesn’t work…”
Ice, every muscle has turned to ice glancing as Tim and Damian the coldness is clearly catching. Jason’s stumbling back, never in a million years did anyone think Bruce would say that.
“The Joker deserved to die for killing you Jay and I deserve this too, please Jason.” Bruce is begging, pleading Jason is staring at him and Dick has no fucking idea what to do. Neither him or Jason seems can puzzle out what the fuck Bruce is even asking.
Tim sucking in a breathe draws their attention, Damian going four shades paler is heart-attack inducing.
His little brother’s in a second going from horror to anger.
Damain’s already stalking forward moving too quick for them to even attempt at grabbing him. Tim actively pushing him away to follow.
Damain yanking Bruce by the collar of his suit no regard for a possible head injury slamming Batman into the tree. A five foot three teenager holding a grown man would be comical if it wasn’t for the darkness in those green eyes.
“Never in my life Bruce did I think you stoop so low and I had to practically leash you after Jason’s death-“ Tim’s radiating fury.
“Father it is only because of Richard’s disappointment that I do not run you through, than again isn’t that what you want-
“Asking Jason, our brother, WHO YOU, practically disowned to kill you because what you think we’re fucking dead? Oh right how could I forgot Bruce fucking Wayne always has to be the martyr!”
“Your a hypocrite and when I say this know I mean it, any hint of respect you even earned is gone your not my Father and certainly not my Batman. If it wasn’t for my brothers I would be on the first plane to Mother, at least when I bend the knee to Grandfather I know I’m not worshipping a coward.”
Dick’s not present for what happens after mind hiding in a much safer place.
Both him and Jason check out.
Later he will learn that Bart and Kon picked them up, wrapped them in shock blankets.
Bruce is sent somewhere, for a man that once mattered so much he seemed meaningless now.
Tim and Alfred have some discussion that results in said man leaving the manor. Damian not a step behind his little brothers united.
Tim takes over as Batman, Damian his Robin. They run Wayne Enterprises.
Arkham was overhauled.
By the time they are present again his little brothers have set up a well oiled machined.
Both himself and Jason have been coxed into therapy and it’s six months later as he’s watering a bonsai tree and Jason is reading two feet away in the library that they even realize somehow they have no responsibilities and aren’t actively contributing to society.
“Shh Richard look at the tree.”
“Jason I have a new book…”
“This is not gonna work forever you little shits!”
“Look me dead in the face and tell me you are not enjoying your back no longer hurting!”
“Little brothers are the worst.”
“We give you a garden of bonsai trees there is just no pleasing you sometimes Richard!”
“Bludhaven needs me!”
“Dick, Jason guess who’s here?”
“WALLY, KORY, DONNA, ROY, GARTH?!?!”
“ARTEMIS, RENA, KID DEVIl?”
“Nicely done Batman.”
“Right back at you Robin.”