Liminal!Jason part 4...
Masterpost
When Red Robin called in for backup about a possibly mentally compromised Red Hood, the family assumed the worst. Mental incapacitation for Red Hood could mean bodies lining the streets. The family responded as quickly as possible.
Batman and Robin headed straight to the location. And Batman started assuming the worst, filtering through scenarios in his head of Hood suffering as he is forced to murder innocents.
Red Robin assures, that they are in a safe location. There is a possible civilian with them, but Red states suspicions about telepathy and mind control. Robin is told to maintain distance from the civilian as they approach. They don’t know how they are affecting Hood.
They arrive at the apartment, Red managing to separate Hood and the target. Batman goes in to sedate the target. The target cries out as Batman grabs him, inserting the needle and plunging the medication into him. The cry doesn’t last long and the target is asleep, restrained and being brought outside quickly, as Hood moves to intercept. Robin is told to take the target to the car and he does, as Red and Batman secure Hood.
They are all in the Batmobile and headed to the cave in under five minutes from their arrival to the apartment.
Robin watches as Father secures Jason and the stranger in different cells. He listens as Red Robin tells them about how Hood stopped in the middle of patrol, following a sound only he could hear, to a boy that started communicating with him via unknown means.
Hood said he didn’t suspect telepathy, telling Red that he was hearing their conversations out loud. He did not seem to have any insight on what the language was or how he was communicating, stating he “didn’t know how he was making the noises,” and exclaiming surprise when Red informed him that only Jason was hearing them.
Somewhere near the end of this conversation, Damian hears a growl. It was choppy and loud, claiming hurt-confused-angry. Damian turned to face the cells. He debates the merits of going to comfort those in the cells, explaining to them what is going on, and staying to explain to Father and Drake what is going on once Drake finishes with his ceaseless jabbering. When he hears a whimper that makes his chest hurt, full of alone-panic-hurt, it makes the decision for him. Damian is heading towards the cells without a second thought, heart pounding in response to the panic in the other’s voice. He is almost there when he hears a keen.
The noise causes such a physical reaction that he nearly stumbles, causing a churning and urgent need to help. His quick walk turned into a run towards the cells. The keen was a different voice. They’re both panicking in the cells.
Damian arrives at the cells, and is about to reach for the panel of the first one, wanting to open it, to help. The keening has continued, full of panic and confusion. They’re in distress, stuck and alone. Damian can help, he can explain what’s going on, he can let them out.
But he’s stopped just as he reaches the door, a voice calls “Robin, what are you doing!” A hand grips his wrist.
A rumble comes from inside the closest cell. Jason. He’s calmed some, annoyed but understanding of the situation now, and Damian breathes a sigh of relief as the other responds, confused and wary, but coming down from the panic.
There’s a purr, and then the sweetest churr, and Damian can’t help but let out a soft chuff in response. A question and declaration of support. If this is the communication Drake has been obsessing over, then everything is okay.
Damian just needs to get to them so he can explain. Damian lets out a frustrated huff, when Bruce and Drake pull at him, questioning what the hell he thinks he was doing. Damian just wants to help Jason and the other boy, and his breathy huff cuts out in a short, clipped whine as he is forced away, pain starting to blossom in his wrist from the force of Bruce’s direction.
A short growl erupts from Jason’s cell at the pain in Damian’s whine. A churr comes from the stranger’s cell, confused and slightly scared, but supportive and Damian almost balks at the stranger’s kindness in this situation. Damian is quick to let out a soft churr of his own in response, saying okay-patience-help.
Bruce and Drake are looking at him with concern, and Damian straightens himself. “What?”
They share a look with each other, Damian hears a churr from both Jason and the boy full of patience-warytrust-concern, and Bruce gives him a full-body lookover when he looks back at him.
“Why were you trying to open the cells, Robin?”
Damian squared his shoulders, and in a voice like he was giving a report, stated “They were in distress. I thought it would be wise to help keep them from panicking.”
Drake’s brow furrowed and Damian just knew he was overthinking. “How did you know they were in distress?”
Damian tried to reign in the snark, but he didn’t fully manage it. “That is your question. Not, ‘are they okay now?’, maybe ‘do they still need help?'. Where is your concern for your brother Drake?”
Bruce pinched the bridge of his nose. “Do they need help?” His eyes were closed. Damian almost felt sorry for the fear he must have felt for his compromised child. But everything is fine.
“They are stable for now.”
Drake is starting to look like he wants to strangle him, and Damian can relate to the urge. Unfortunately, that is frowned upon in their current circles.
“How did you know they were in distress, Robin?”
Damian almost wants to ignore Drake, but Bruce is looking to him for the answer as well. He clicks his tongue. “I heard them, obviously. The language they use to communicate is one with which I am familiar.”
