video;

[crossestheline]

I remember not too long after I came here, someone rambled on and on about "lifers". Since then, not only have the two lifers graduated, but this guy right here has as well.

[Grins. He's finally been delivered his one way ticket out of here.]

Sorry, kiddos. There's no sticking around to play nice for me. There's a lot of work that I want to do in the place I'm going to, that I don't want to leave at the hands of some cosmic being who not only loses control of its ship, but dumps us off in a hellhole.

Graduating here is like drawing straws. Sometimes you luck out like me, find people who actually give a damn about you when you arrive, and get paired up with someone who sees you as a person, not a means to an end. Other people, get yanked around and screwed with constantly. This place needs a serious overhaul. I'd stick around to try and do just that, but I'd also risk losing a literal once in a life time opportunity.

[He can't risk suddenly disappearing or getting reverted back to an Inmate, which would prevent him from leaving with Bruce.]

I'll be around for a few more hours to say my goodbyes. After that, I'm out of here.

[Private to Jean]

Tell your friend I said hey.

[Private to Bruce]

I'm heading to your room.

Comments

[ichoosefight]

[ Wow. She really doesn't know what to say. After all, it's Jason Todd. Him graduating is just... kind of mind-blowing, honestly. But she can't tell him that, it would be rude. ]

Of all the times to not be near a Hallmark.

[crossestheline]

[Crazy what having a father like figure who believes actually cares about him can do. Without Bruce being around, he'd probably be here for a whole lot longer.

That and...well...killing Cass was a nice little wake up call.]

Did you want to have a Kodak Moment instead?

[ichoosefight]

What, you mean like, hug or something?

I dunno, might be weird.

[crossestheline]

I dunno, that might have been sarcasm in response to your sarcasm.

[ichoosefight]

Are you saying you don't want a hug? I'm totally huggable.

[crossestheline]

I'm saying it's up to you, Blondie. Hugs or no hugs, I get to leave this damn place.

[It's been a long time since he's been in a mood this good. Not only does he get to leave here, he gets to leave here knowing he has a real father. One who never gave up on him no matter how ugly things got.]

[ichoosefight]

[ Wow that really is a good mood. She kinda wishes she knew him better.

Kinda not, also. ]

I think I'll stick with a card.

[crossestheline]

Works for me. How much longer do you think you'll be here?

[ichoosefight]

[ She huffs. Having just come out of Silent Hill, it's not really an overly pleasant question to have to answer honestly. ]

However long it takes. Doyle's doing well, but there's no way to know how much is enough for the Admiral.

[Private] -> [Spam]

[theonlyresponse]

The door's open.

[Bruce sounds exhausted. After everything that's happened in Silent Hill he's been keeping to himself, cleaning the cave, checking his weapons, falling into a routine that'll help him stop thinking about what he saw.

When Jason arrives he is standing next to the case with the Batman suit, looking at with a mixture of revulsion and nostalgia. He does not move to acknowledge his son, simply waits for Jason to come and stand next to him.]

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[burnmythoughts]

[Jean just stares, for a second. And then she's beaming, radiating pride and affection and more pride.]

I knew you could do it. And I will.

Stay safe, okay? I mean - as much as you can.

[bodilesswarrior]

Congratulations, Jay. [A small, selfish part of her is sad to see him go, but her smile is wide and warm.]

[crossestheline]

[Silent hill was one of the most difficult situations he's ever encountered. Which is saying something given how he died the first time around in his world. Still, he'd be able to fight his way through the mental, emotional, and physical hell to get to this point.]

Hey.

[Frowns. Even with the suit, he can tell something's wrong. Then again, who came out of that port "okay"?

Moves over to his side.]

Heh, not too bad, huh? I got to give death the bird twice and you got to give it to death once.

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[crossestheline]

Don't worry, I won't be going at it alone. Not in the long run, anyway.

And thanks, for everything. Fuck that port and this place.

[crossestheline]

Just imagine the look on ol' Dickie bird and Tiny Tim's face when I see then next. Both of them were like "Fuck you, but hey, good luck."

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[burnmythoughts]

Yeah, I know. You have your Dad.

It was - I mean, not my pleasure, exactly, but I'm glad I could help. I'm glad we got through that and you can make Gotham a better place.

[theonlyresponse]

[He returns the greeting, wearily.]

Hey.

[His posture shifts, becomes less tense, palms facing Jason. This boy, he could never lie to, even when he was a child. Jason knew him. Jason understood his anger too well.

He is tempted, to put the veneer back up, to say it was survivable, but even he has been beaten down, exhausted, and talking to Barbara did not make it any better. There was no longer any point pretending everything was fine. He'd done for so many years after his son died, and he was trying to break out of it, at least to his nearest and dearest.]

I don't know what I would have done, if you hadn't come back from there.

[There is a deep, lasting grief beneath the moderated, controlled tone he employs.]

[bodilesswarrior]

[Her smile deepens, and she shakes her head.]

Try to make up with them, okay? They're family.

[mistconduct]

You're shitting me.

[crossestheline]

[Jason can see everything that is going on with Bruce without his father having to say anything to him. This is what Jason is afraid of happening. The Barge will force him into a situation that almost breaks him. Then what?

There's not enough time to puzzle over the ifs and whats. He needs to cut right to it. ]

I'm okay. I'm leaving this place and things are only going to get better.

[Reaches over to rest his hand on Bruce's shoulder. ]

Are you going to be okay here?

[theonlyresponse]

I should leave as well. [He looks at Jason, his expression heavy.] We can do more good in Gotham. [But I cannot abandon Lisbeth, and that, he lets go unsaid, clenching his fist tightly.]

[crossestheline]

If you say so. I won't be sticking around in our world, I am going to Bruce's.

[Jason won't say it outloud, but he's relieved that he won't go crazy and kill the other Robins. That's not who he is. He's not a wild dog who kills anyone who gets in his way. If he has to follow the rules more closely and save his own brand of justice for the likes of the Joker, then so be it. ]

[crossestheline]

I shit you not. I'm out of here in a couple of hours.

[mistconduct]

Oh, for fuck's sake.

Fine. Go, graduate.

[crossestheline]

[Jason levels his gaze, thinking about the unspoken. What if Bruce sticks it out for awhile longer and then snaps like Tosh? Lis sure as hell won't be graduating and Bruce will be an inmate. ]

How much does she trust you?

[That's the big thing for Jason. He knows what it is like first hand to feel abandoned by someone you deeply trust. Someone you kind of trust leaving because they are burned out in another situation all together. ]