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Ow, ow.
Red dribbled down the side of his suit, coating his lovely Red Hood armour in a layer of glossy red, which, to be fair, was very hard to see because he wore black. But hey, it’s not his fault those crooks had guns! They’d looked like normal street thugs, the black ski masks, the black tracksuit.
“What a way to welcome me, boys!” Hood called out, tone tight. Fine, whatever! They wanted to use guns, now he could officially say that they started it! Suck it, Bruce!
Pulling a gun from its holster, he aimed the weapon at the nearest crook and fired a (rubber, due to Bruce’s whining) bullet into the guy's knee, who yelped like a wuss and dropped to the floor, holding the back of his knee tightly. Red Hood jumped aside as more bullets rained down on his position, and he weaved out of the way before the pallet that had been behind him collapsed and landed in a heap of splinters.
“Easy with the property damage, guys!” Hood sighed, the voice modulator in his mask making his voice more intimidating and thankfully hiding how his teeth were grit. Damn, he was going to have to repair the car they just made Swiss cheese-
Hood rolled behind the hole-covered car's side, grimacing as he heard the window shattering.
He spared a glance down, it had been a lucky shot to his hip bullet skimming through the skin, right between the armour. He wanted to strangle the bastard who dared shoot at him-, but nooo, Bruce would go on another rant about how killing their opponents made them as bad as them-
Yeah, well maybe if they hadn’t tried to kill him first, maybe they coulda’ talked it out!
Hood sprung up, aiming his gun at the final two -
And he fired twice, hand steady. One bullet bounced off the back of the larger man’s head, another flung off the other guy’s back, they fell almost in sync, and Jason would have been proud!.. If he wasn’t currently bleeding.
“Tut, tut, tut…” Jason stretched as he stood up and slid his gun back into the holster. “Parties over, guys.” He really should tie them up and drop them off at the police station, but with how he felt his blood rush outta’ his head, leaving him partially dizzy? Nope. Too much effort.
The guy who Red Hood had shot in the knee glared up, eyes watery. “L-Look, we didn’t mean for trouble-” Red Hood cut him off.
“Yeah, yeah, okay, you were just following orders-” Hood waved a dismissive hand about lazily. “-You’re not from Gotham, are you, boys?”
They all shook their heads - well, aside from the one that he’d accidentally shot in the back of the head who seemed to be unresponsive and unconscious. Hood sighed, glad that the camera quality was so shit in Crime Alley, which stopped Oracle from telling him off when he used too much force, or, in this case, got hurt.
“Cool, cool,” Hood nodded, placing his hands on his hips, trying to act nonchalant, as Dick has called him. “So, if I let you off right now you’ll go crawling back to wherever you came from?”
More certain nods. Hood clapped his hands together loudly, ignoring how his side pulled in protest.
“Okayy… So, I’m gonna turn a blind eye all of a sudden!” Hood explained, damn his side was stinging as he moved, fabric catching on his wound. “And, if I see you again here in Crime Alley, I won’t be so kind!”
And then Hood pulled out his grapple, turned and pointed, and then was gliding through the air, ignoring his side. Ow. Not the best he’d felt in his very eventful lifetime, but certainly not the worst, nowhere near.
Where is he going, you may ask?
He… doesn’t really know himself.
Red Hood ponders as he flies through the air, cold wind blowing through his slowly crumpling posture. He could go to his apartment, but he lacked medical supplies or anything of use after it had been ransacked by some lowlife- But that was a story for another day. He then debates a safe house, but the pain is slowly growing and he can’t be bothered to go scavenge through them for mediocre supplies.
So, unfortunately, that leaves one place. One place that is warm, filled with emergency supplies, and comes with a very, very kind assistant who probably wishes to see him and help!
… The Bat Cave.
A strong throbbing in his side almost makes his grip on the grapple slip, but he tightens his fingers around its thin handle. Red Hood sighs deeply, before changing his direction so he was travelling towards the Manor, not away from it.
His weekly checkup in the Manor is overdue, anyway. It’s about time he pays a visit.
Red Hood grunts, trying to block out the sharp stabbing pains coming from his hip as he swings like Tarzan through Gotham, before finally spotting the Manor. The grapple retracts and Red Hood lands on the long driveway in typical-reckless-Todd-behaviour, before tucking it away into his belt.
Red Hood almost hobbles over to the front door, he really should just dive through a window, catch the Bats by surprise, yet he infuriatingly lacks the energy required.
He reaches the door and stares at it for a second. If anyone, excluding Alfred, opened the door, he may be in a tiny bit of trouble. They might freak out a bit because Hood smells like dirt, sweat and probably blood. Hell, if Jason could smell himself he’d also probably be repulsed.
Red Hood raises his hand to knock- but the door opens before that.
“Hello, my boy.” Alfred smiles, it’s a knowing smile, and Hood suspects that he knew he’d been standing at the porch for a hot minute.
“Hi, Alfie.” Red Hood greets, giving a tiny, hesitant wave. Alfred steps aside, opening the door wider and gesturing inside the Manor with a single, careful wave.
“Come in, come in. We’ve been expecting your arrival.” The butler beckons, which is only… Slightly unsettling. But hey - We?? Jason suspected maybe Barbs had been tracking his patrol, or maybe it had been Tim this time. “And, I think you should remove that helmet of yours.”
Right. Jason forgot he was still technically Red Hood, and whilst he stepped into the Manor he reached up and undid the lock mechanism. The mask released and Jason pulled it off, before slipping out of his boots and leaving them messily by the front door. He did feel bad for Alfred, he would definitely apologise later for it, but right now his side was stinging with every minor movement, and he didn’t want to crouch down.
Jason had his helmet under his arm, before rather quickly walking down towards the hidden entrance to the Bat Cave. Not quick enough to be a concern, but quick enough to get Jason there in time.
Ow, ow. Every step was starting to hurt just a tiny bit more-
“Little wiiiing!” A voice sang from down the hallway. Dick.
“AHA! I knew we couldn’t resist movie night! You owe me 10 bucks!” That was a cheery Steph. And oh, is that why they’d been expecting him?
“I remain corrected.” Damian sighed.
“Are we sure that’s Jason?” A very surprised Tim asked.
“Yep,” Jason called back, purposely popping the ‘p’, partially while hobbling into the main living room, hiding how the sting in his side made him want to curl in on himself and sleep in a nice, warm bed- “It’s me.”
Dick had vaulted off the sofa in record time, immediately prancing over with his arms outstretched. “Oh, Little Wing! You’ve grown so big!” Dick was smirking. Jason wanted to punch him in the politest way possible. “Awhh, give your brother a biiiig hug!” The acrobat tried to lunge for Jason, yet he moved out of the way.
“I’ll pass.” Jason winced, the large step he had to take to avoid his brother slightly pulling at his side. He didn’t even spare a glance at Dick’s offended face, nor his siblings' amused gazes. “Anywho, I got something I gotta deal with in the Cave.”
“What activity could possibly be more enticing than the comfort of movies and blankets with warm snacks?” Damian questioned, sitting up on the sofa and tracking Jason like a hawk. Stubborn kid.
“Dying again?” Jason teased, getting a collection of groans from multiple faces. Technically, he may or may not be on that pathway already. “Not to worry, Dami. I’ll be back.” As he walked by, he patted Damian on the head who ducked and scowled.
“Replacement.” Jason greeted Tim as he passed, ruffling the boy’s hair who just sighed like Jason had just made a mistake on patrol and gave a short: “Jace.”
“Come back soon!” Steph called, whilst Dick leaped over Tim, Damian and Titus who were laying on a blanketed floor and plonked himself in the corner of the sofa next to Steph, in Jason’s claimed corner of the sofa.
“Don’t miss me too much!” Jason called as he slipped out of the room, the voices and laughter dying out into an echo as he moved down the hallway. His side burnt, his breath hitched in his throat as his armour brushed it the wrong way-
Ugh. Ow.
He crept down into the cave, silently hoping that Bruce was either in his study or anywhere else in the Manor, or even anywhere else in Gotham- but the world had other plans. As Jason approached, shuffling down the steps, the clinking of keys on the Bat Computer filled the silence.
Jason sighed through his nose. Of course.
“Jason?” Bruce called as Jason stepped into the sharp lighting of the Cave, plastering on a fake smile.
“Heey, Bruce.” Jason said, overly cheerful, tone tight. He wondered if Bruce could smell blood like a vampire because the way that he was eyed- Lord, if looks could kill, right? Or maybe Jason’s just lost too much blood and maybe it was glistening in the lights? Like some fucked up disco ball- Jason almost snorted.
Bruce stared at him cautiously. It’s not everyday that you find a Jason Todd entering the cave who wasn’t being dragged by anyone or that was actually conscious.
Jason sighed, peeling off his chestplate armour and letting it clatter against the floor, his undershirt was also black so it would’ve been hard to spot the blood soaking his side. After peeling the wet, sticky and bloody fabric up from his hip he gestured at it with his spare hand.
Looking at his wound now, it was not a scratch, but rather a small chunk of his skin had been completely removed, skin red and raw and sore and bleeding sluggishly down his side. Ow, no wonder it had hurt. Luckily, it was mostly surface damage.
“Hypothetically, could this wound be treated with baby wipes and duct tape?” Jason tried. “Strictly hypothetical, by the way!”
Bruce stared at him for a long, long time before he got up and materialised in front of Jason with a terrifying speed- and then he was dragging Jason by the wrist to sit down in the med bay on the hospital bed.
“How?” Bruce asked, getting alcohol wipes from the cabinet and pressing it to his side.
“Some new thugs in Crime Al- ooow,” Jason hissed, wincing and breathing through his teeth. Every muscle tensed up. That stung like a bitch.
“And you let them take a chunk out of your side?” The man sighed, wiping off blood from the wound. It looked ugly, despite its shallowness. Luckily for Jason, no stitches were required! What a small mercy!
“What- did I let them?” Jason blinked, then frowned. “You think I stood there and went: Hey guys! Let’s see who can turn me into sushi the fastest!” The younger man scoffed. Savouring the numbing cream that Bruce generously lathered over his skin to help prevent infections, cooling his hot skin.
Bruce didn’t speak, just breathed, menacingly.
Jason took it as a sign to keep going, so he did. “I fought them, but one guy just got lucky! And no, don’t worry, Old Man, I didn’t blow anyone's brains out this ti- Guh-!” Jason choked on a breath as Bruce pulled the bandages unbearably tighter than they needed to be for a second-
Before he loosened them after Jason partially winced. “Okay, I get it. Shouldn’t have said that with so much enthusiasm.”
After a slow, painful silence of bandages being wrapped around Jason’s torso, and medical tape being applied to hold them in place, Bruce cut the bandage roll and then tossed it aside. “Stay in the Manor.” It wasn’t an offer, hell, it wasn’t even a plea- it was a command. Jason resisted the urge to snap back about being able to do what he wants-
“Fine, if it helps you sleep at night, Old Man.” He reluctantly sighed with more drama than Dick before he jumped to his feet and assessed his undershirt that was contaminated with blood. “I’ll go change, you coming to movie night?” He smirked, expecting the answer to be a firm no or maybe just a grunt-
“Yes.” Oh. Well maybe he shouldn’t go- “And so are you.” Right, because Bruce can now mind read.
“Only ‘cause Tim thinks that I’m a skin walker.” Jason pointed finger-guns at Bruce before stretching his arms over his head, satisfied when nothing hurt too bad.
A red t-shirt was then shoved in his face. Bruce didn’t say anything, but he held it out with an expecting gaze. Jason took it, before tossing the ruined black undershirt aside onto the bed behind him, (a mess to clean up later), and then decided to pull the red t-shirt over his head.
He wondered if Bruce chose a red t-shirt to hide if blood started to seep through the bandages slightly. Smart move.
Once suitably dressed, Bruce just grunted in approval (woah, maybe Bruce was the skin walker today?) before the man turned and strolled down towards the Cave exit back into the Manor, Jason trailing behind him.
Upon approaching, voices started to get louder again.
“We aren’t watching The Imitation Game, Tim, you Nerd!” Dick, and a very loud one at that. Dick continued. “You got to suggest any movie, and you chose that one? Nerd!”
Tim interjected, scoffing. “It’s a good movie!” And to that, Jason responded from down the hall: “Name one fight scene or explosion!” A chorus of cheers went up as Jason and Bruce entered and moved across the room, Bruce taking a seat on an armchair whilst Jason sat next to Dick who was still in his corner.
“That’s not the point, a movie can be be good without-”
“My turn!” Steph interjected, raising a hand. Everyone quieted down and looked over. “Legally Blonde!”
A few nods and a look of consideration from Dick, Damian tapped his chin like he actually was analysing how the movie would go. “Isn’t that just a movie about you?” Damian asked, to which Steph just grinned. “I don’t want to watch a movie about you.” He frowned, looking disappointed.
“What about John Wick-”
“No.” Bruce immediately cut down Jason’s suggestion, of course he did.
“I wasn’t even don-!” Jason threw his hands up, Dick snorted beside him.
“No.”
“Bu-”
“No. You’ll pause every fight scene again and dissect it like a child in a school lab.” Bruce shook his head. He’d done it only twice! Jason scoffed, it wasn’t his fault that he could actually do those stunts if he wished.
“Okay, I pick…” Dick paused for dramatic effect, before holding his hands up in surrender. “Princess Bride!”
Everyone, aside Steph boo’ed immediately. Even Titus whined.
Dick turned to Jason and frowned. “You just boo’ed because it was me, didn’t you.” Dick stated, not asked, because he knew the answer. Jason looked smug as hell. “And you haven’t even seen the movie, Damian!” Dick pointed, offended.
“It is a fairy tale story.” Damian pointed out, crossing his arms, unimpressed.
“Oh yeah, but it’s a classic!” Dick threw his hands up, almost elbowing Jason in the face. “Still a fairy tale,” Whispered Jason, still smug. “Kid’s right.” Jason looked down at Damian, who was still sitting on a pillow on the floor. “Whatchu’ got?”
“Gladiator.”
Everyone immediately groaned or sighed. “Can’t say that I didn’t expect that.” Jason hummed under his breath. “He just craves his swords and violence…” Dick sighed beside him.
“What about-” Bruce started, everyone then immediately chipped in for him, “-Casablanca.”
Bruce paused, opened his mouth, closed it, and then looked either very confused or very concerned. “How?”
“You’re like, spiritually 80.” Dick sighed, putting his head in his hands.
“I’m 44?!”
“I just wanted to ask you how the movie was when you saw it in the theaters!” Dick shot back innocently, although Jason could see a small smile on his lips under his hands. “PFT-” Tim coughed loudly, Steph patted his back as he cough-giggled.
“Okay, but Legally Blonde is obviously the correct choice here.”
“No, The Imitation Game is clearly the best-”
“That is factually incorrect, Tim.”
“It’s not, Damian! It’s better than Gladiator!”
“The first John Wick-” Bruce and Dick immediately said no in sync. “Okay!” Jason took a deep breath, he was not arguing anymore about stupid films! “Fuck it, we’re all watching Finding Nemo.”
“... Finding Nemo?” Bruce blinked slowly, yet no one else protested. Tim and Damian looked at each other and shrugged. “I can do Finding Nemo.” Tim agreed. “Yeah, a movie about a single father losing his kid and thinking he’ll never get them back ever again and then he ends up finding him after he’s kidnapped by an odd being seems cool.”
“Oh, like Jason!” Dick pointed out, not reading the room. He then paused when everyone aside Jason turned and stared at him.
A lovely beat of silence where Jason didn’t know if he should laugh or cry-
“This time, Bruce can take notes.” Jason shrugged, settling down into the sofa and snatching the TV remote before searching for Finding Nemo.
Bruce made a hurt sound, whilst the tension cracked and they all broke out in giggles.
“I do not wish he should have to take notes.” Alfred strolled into the room with popcorn buckets and cookies. Everyone sat upright at the enticing smell. “That implies, Master Jason, that it will happen again.” He set them down on the small coffee table, before offering a smile and leaving the room, closing the door gently.
“Hey, I’m not planning on it.” Jason smirked, Dick elbowed him in the ribs, before sprawling over Jason’s legs to grab one of the popcorn bowls and started chewing very, very loudly.
“Can you not chew in my ear-” Tim waved his hands around in Dick’s face to shoo him like he was an annoying fruit fly. Dick laughed with a mouthful of popcorn before he sat up again, now chewing in Jason’s ear.
“Don’t hog it, either.” Jason reached over and stuck his hand in the bowl, before grabbing a large handful of the popcorn. “Y’u coulda’ ask’ed!” Dick protested through chewing, yet didn’t move the bowl.
“Turn the film on already, Jay!” Steph sighed, gesturing with a cookie in her hand at the TV which had loaded up Finding Nemo on its screen.
Jason held up the TV remote and pressed play.
The screen loaded, before displaying the opening credits and title.
“I’ll try not to relate too much.” Jason whispered, loud enough for everyone to hear it, which earned him many groans. Bruce just stared at him, not at the screen. Jason stared back, and then smiled. Bruce didn’t smile, but his jaw relaxed as he turned his head back to the screen. Jason did the same.
Hypothetical situation figured out, Jason smirked to himself, pulling a blanket up over him and Dick. Just get back home, and hypotheticals get solved.