Chapter Text
In shocking news today, a video has surfaced of Gotham’s local vigilante Batman seemingly killing a man in order to save the mass murderer known as Joker. The confrontation between the three men took place in an abandoned building and culminated in an explosion, which sources in the police department say may correspond to the unsolved bombing of a condemned apartment building two months ago. Experts in videography have found no evidence of tampering with the footage, and copies seem to have been sent to all local news outlets.
The video as provided to WDNS starts during the confrontation. The unidentified man holds Joker at gunpoint and states that he will pull the trigger or Batman must. Batman is seen throwing a bladed weapon, colloquially known as a batarang, which ricochets off a pipe and strikes the man in the neck. Significant quantities of blood are visible. There is no evidence of any attempts to provide first aid, and Joker is able to taunt for several moments with no response from Batman. The video ends with sounds of an explosion and rubble falling into frame.
Records confirm that during Joker’s latest arrest, he was brought by Batman to Gotham General Hospital at 1:17 a.m. March 24th, approximately 10 minutes after a building explosion in Park Row. One body was recovered from this bombing, though no other evidence linking the two events has been officially made public at this time.
The Justice League of America has not yet responded to requests for comments.
We will now show the video, though the audience is advised that it contains blood and graphic violence and may be unsuitable for some viewers.
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The email, subject Breaking News, contained only a single line: a hyperlink to a WDNS Gotham City News report.
The recipient was not his business account, listed in the Wayne Enterprises directory and monitored by an assistant, but Bruce Wayne’s personal address. Unbeknownst to any recipients, several people were also blind copied on the message: Dick Grayson, Tim Drake, Clark Kent, and Alfred Pennyworth.
The sender was actually in the contact lists of some recipients, though none had received messages from that address in several years: Jason Todd Wayne.
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Crouched on a rooftop in that forsaken city, the Heir to the Demon felt a rare moment of indecision. Though she may not doubt her adopted son's combat skills, she certainly worried for his ability to face either his father or his murderer. Talia al Ghul had been in a nearby city to prune the local League base and ascertain the members' loyalty, and the proximity had been a perfect opportunity to check the progress of Jason's plan. She had arrived in Gotham tonight only to discover he was already confronting Batman.
"Get eyes on them. Do not interrupt unless absolutely necessary," she nodded to one of her Shadows, who began silently approaching the abandoned building across the street. She knew Jason would not appreciate any interference, and part of her ached at betraying his trust, but she could not stand leaving him to face that clown when she was able to help.
Before her agent could even reach the building, an explosion blew out the remaining windows, and parts of the building began to crumble. Seconds later, Batman tumbled out carrying a singed Joker and disappeared down the street. Normally so composed in battle, Talia's mind actually blanked for a heartbeat. Where was her son?
The next instant she had replaced worried mother with expert tactician, and she and her team were sweeping the building, Talia heading straight for the source of the explosion. The Shadow she had initially dispatched was already tending swiftly but calmly to a collapsed Jason. The amount of blood soaking into the floor around them was perhaps something she was used to seeing, but still alarming to be coming from her son.
Her lieutenant materialized at her side. "My Lady, the building is empty but for us. We have eyes on Batman; he has the Joker injured but alive. Do you wish to engage?"
"Follow but do not make contact. Find me a body matching Jason. Retrieve any Red Hood equipment and sweep for other evidence." In Gotham, in an already-condemned building, they would have plenty of time to doctor the scene before authorities bothered to arrive.
The man's eyes flicked briefly from her face to Jason's crumpled form, but he otherwise maintained his professionalism. Talia decided to take pity on a loyal attendant and offer more explanation.
"An attack on my son is to be considered an attack on the League; the time has come to topple the Bat’s empire. But the confrontation can wait - Jason takes priority and deserves to see this end personally." Orders given, she dismissed her remaining Shadows and knelt by her son.
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It felt like an eternity trapped with visions of Bruce and the Joker. In some it was Bruce throwing the batarang, in others his father walked up to slit his throat by hand. Sometimes, he saw Batman as the one to kill him back in that warehouse in Ethiopia. Over it all he heard Talia’s words: You remain unavenged.
Talia had always seemed to see Joker’s continued existence as a failure of Bruce's parenting, enough that Jason could almost convince himself she was truly offended on his behalf. Those thoughts didn't last; he only had to look at the rest of her machinations to remember that her plans had too many layers to know the true purpose. This might be about protecting Damian, or getting back with her ‘Beloved’, or both or neither, but he couldn’t forget that he was just a pawn.
Regaining consciousness was painful, but still better than reliving the confrontation in his dreams. There was a line of fire on his neck, a calloused hand in his. The moment he began to twitch, the hand gently squeezed his.
"Don’t try to speak, my son. Your voice is undamaged, but you should not further strain the injury." Talia never had to raise her voice to ensure obedience among her followers, but she spoke even more softly than usual. Jason could almost imagine it was with affection. He squeezed back at her hand, and she continued, "I was in the area on business and caught the end of your confrontation with Bruce. Do you remember what happened?"
He mouthed the words but didn't attempt to make any noise. "He chose Joker."
"I see," Talia said tersely. She brought her other hand up so that his was cradled in both of hers. "This is a safe house in Pennsylvania. Rest more, we can plan the next step when you wake. I will not make any further moves without you."
A cynical part of his mind whispered that he was never truly safe with the League of Assassins, but he let himself drift off anyway.
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It was sudden, the next time he awoke. Talia was still by his bed, relaxed and looking at something on her phone. This time he was able to take note of the room, rustic and cozy in a way the usually spartan League safe houses were not. Outside the window, past the surprisingly lacy curtains, he could only see trees.
Though she surely knew the moment he was awake, Talia waited for him to look in her direction before putting down her phone. “Are you with me now, Jay?”
“Yes.” Speaking felt like his throat was splitting open all over again, but he was relieved enough at still having a voice that he could ignore the pain.
“I am glad to see you more alert. I arrived in Gotham at the end of your encounter with your father. We reached you just after the explosion.” For a moment, she looked uncharacteristically indecisive, and there was a pause before her next statement. “...The Joker still lives. Batman brought him to a hospital, where he was treated for the injuries you gave him, then returned to that asylum of theirs.” Another pause, then, “I'm sorry.”
Jason fixed his gaze on the ceiling, slightly grateful that the pain hid any other emotion in his voice. “My injuries?”
“The only real concern is your throat. The jugular was cut and the blood loss severe. We were able to stem the flow and provide considerable transfusion.” She waited, but Jason made no comment. “If it concerns you, I can assure you that commensurate donations have been provided to the blood banks we robbed.” There was still no response from her son, though he was usually opinionated on making sure their activities did not negatively impact innocent civilians.
Talia had not been this worried about her eldest child since the last side effects of his resurrection had faded. Then, it had seemed easy enough to give him focus and direction with training and revenge, along with the gentle love he had so rarely received. Now, with whatever hope had remained for his father’s love fully shattered, she was unsure if her affection would be enough.
She decided to continue her explanation, at least; he would want to know the details before moving forward. “I left another body to be found in the rubble. Per your opinions on killing civilians, I used a League traitor already due for execution. As such, he has an impeccable, if dull, false identity to be discovered by the authorities.”
“Won’t fool Bruce,” he finally muttered, gazing blankly ahead. “He knew it was me in the mask. He’ll know the body's a decoy.”
Talia grit her teeth before carefully returning to her calming tone. She had reviewed the footage of the confrontation, but to hear Jason confirm that his father had attempted to kill him even while knowing it was his lost son returned to him, had her aching for a blade in her hand. Or preferably, in Bruce’s gut.
“Jason, my Jay, what happens next is up to you.” She leaned forward, reaching out to brush a hand gently through his hair. “I saw the recordings from your helmet; I saw what Bruce did to you. Then for him to save that monster and leave you for dead… I - we - can utterly destroy him if it is what you wish.”
At this, Jason finally met Talia’s eyes. He could never fully convince himself whether she valued him for himself or as a tool against her ex, but the quiet rage in her voice was almost enough. Almost.
“For Damian?” he asked. It was more likely, he thought, that she simply did not want someone like Bruce near her son, if this was how he treated his soldiers.
“For both of you. Damian does not need a father such as that, not when he has you. If he were here, I doubt we could hold him back from killing the man who dared attack his brother… either of the men who attacked you.”
He leaned further into her touch, tears finally escaping, as she continued her gentle petting.
“Habibi, I know you wanted it to be Bruce, but please, let me kill the Joker. Let me give you peace and put an end to this.” Talia softly begged her son. The only reason the madman still lived was his place in Jason’s plans, but now that was passed and she just wanted her son to feel safe.
Jason closed his eyes and nodded against the hand in his hair. She breathed a soft sigh of relief, and they sat in silence.
“You said ‘destroy Bruce’?” Jason croaked after a moment.
Talia sat upright and returned to her matter-of-fact voice. “Your plan was to render Batman obsolete, was it not? Kill the rogues rather than continue their infernal catch-and-release dance? It won't matter if Bruce believes you are dead, we need only convince the city that Batman has killed. Not only that, but killed a civilian in defense of Joker. Gotham will turn on him. Batman will be not just obsolete, but wholly unwelcome in the city.”
Jason released a shaky sob. Maybe this was still some bizarre lover's quarrel between Talia and Bruce, but at least someone would defend him against his father. For the first time since even before his death, he felt truly protected.
“For you, my son, I will destroy everything that man has.”
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Bruce sat at his computer and glared at the news coverage. Everyone was clamoring over the breaking story but so ready to ignore that Joker had been returned to Arkham without wreaking havoc. All stations were reporting as though Batman had murdered a man, but it was hardly his fault the building exploded.
Watching the video, though, the injury did look severe. If he didn't have his own cowl footage to compare, he would have thought the news report was doctored. All he remembered from that night was how enraged he'd been that Jason would kill, that he would ask Bruce to kill, and he had almost been seeing red. Was it possible his son was dead?
No. Batman didn't kill, and he couldn't think of Red Hood as his son. His Jason would never have become this monster.
Bruce paused the cowl and news footage side by side. The public video was centered on Batman, with Hood and Joker at the edge of the frame and slightly out of focus. It was only the garish colors of Joker's hair and suit that drew the attention away from the menacing figure of Batman. His own view showed the villains more clearly, but by that point Hood was stripped of his helmet and mask, so there was nothing to identify him as the infamous crime lord. It could be possible to release evidence from earlier in the fight, proving Red Hood’s involvement as opposed to a civilian or even lesser-known criminal, but it would be unlikely to sway public opinion. Sentiment against Joker meant that this was much less likely to fade away than other times Batman was accused of murder.
Comparing the camera angles, the news footage might have come from Red Hood's helmet where it had been discarded, almost seeming to watch him during Hood's monologue. If the footage and helmet had been found together by the police, the media would be discussing the Red Hood's involvement. If it was released by Hood himself, that would indicate the man was faking his death and had a larger plan at work. Bruce would speak to Gordon tonight about the identity of the body, likely another innocent victim killed for Hood's game.
His phone rang, showing Dick's contact. Good, Bruce would need help in this investigation, though he would need to keep Hood's identity a secret. No need to distract Dick with a mere ghost of his brother. He accepted the call.
“Nigh–”
"What did you do? How could you kill someone? Why did it come from Jason’s email?? "
"That was the confrontation with Red Hood, not some innocent victim. You know I couldn't let him keep killing," he responded in the bat voice. Dick shouldn't be questioning him like this. "And he's not dead, just messing with us. Likely the reference to Jason is just another ploy."
"Not dead? I saw the blood, B, you put a batarang in a man's neck!" Dick was clearly overreacting. "When you resuscitated that monster the first time, you were adamant that we couldn't take anyone's life. How could you risk someone else's for that clown?"
"Nightwing- " he growled.
"Shut up. I can't do this with you over the phone. Just try not to kill anyone else until I get there." With that, Dick disconnected.
Bruce sighed. Dick was always letting his emotions get in the way. Clearly, Batman would have to handle this on his own.
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After a few moments of weakness, Jason dried his tears and sat up. He may trust Talia in this, but he had trusted Bruce once too.
Talia tapped a few buttons on her phone, then met his gaze. "This is one of my personal safe houses; we will be quite comfortable and secure here until we can return to the League proper. I left a few Shadows in Gotham to make the final arrangements."
Jason opened his mouth to reply when the door to the room opened and one of Talia’s operatives entered. To approach without waiting for permission, he must be high ranking or have been summoned directly.
"My Lady, sir," the masked assassin nodded to them each in turn, then continued his report. "The Gotham authorities have not linked Red Hood, Batman, nor Joker to the explosion, though it is low priority and has been barely investigated." Even with half his face covered, it was clear he thought little of the Gotham police’s skill, and even less of their priorities.
"All Red Hood equipment was removed from the scene, and we removed your blood as much as possible in the time available. The volume of the planted blood should hide any evidence left of you.
"Bruce'll still know it wasn't me," Jason grunted. The assassin snapped his gaze to Jason. Though he hid it well, the man likely thought he'd be executed if the plan failed. Jason was always surprised when League members considered him an authority. This wasn't even his plan; his had already failed.
"Correct. With all apologies, sir, we did not have the time to procure a perfect body double. We can move forward with only the matching height and build; unless he wishes to reveal your identity, it is unlikely the Bat can prove the dead man is not the one he attacked."
"What matters most is public opinion," Talia added. "Batman really did use lethal force, the body is just to get people looking closer."
"How will you convince people he killed me? The batarang won't be enough, he leaves those littering the city, anyone could've used it."
Talia smiled at that, though it looked more pained than happy. Satisfaction at a plan coming together, but not at the circumstances. "We do nothing without your permission, of course, but I have reviewed the footage from your hood. I believe, with some judicious clipping, it would be quite alarming to the citizens of Gotham."
"You want to show them the fight? Show him choosing Joker over me?" Jason...didn't actually know how he felt about that. Did he want everyone to know that his father hated him even more than the clown? Dick would see and know that Jason was never a worthy successor, the newest bird would know he was the better Robin… Alfred, Alfred would-
Talia gripped his hand and interrupted his spiraling thoughts. Right, he was having a breakdown in front of one of her lieutenants, that couldn't look good.
"As I said, we do not have to do anything if you do not wish it. You do not have to be identified as Red Hood, let alone as Jason Todd. The video mostly shows you from behind, you are quite anonymous.
"And Jason, what Bruce did was wrong. The city will not side with him saving the Joker like this. He has lost his vaunted moral superiority if he is willing to kill only in defense of such scum."
Talia’s voice was soft and firm in that way she had when she was utterly sure of her words. It managed to soothe some of his panic, reminding him that these were his complaints against Batman too, and surely some of the city would see it as well. Bruce was willing to sacrifice everyone else’s lives for the sake of his crusade.
"Yeah, I… yeah. I'll want to see anything you release, but you're right. It's a good plan. People will see that he's… people will see." Maybe if he could borrow some of Talia’s confidence, it would be true.
The assassin bowed. "My Lady, sir, we will prepare the footage. It will be ready for your review tomorrow." If that guy was going to call him sir, Jason should probably learn his name.
Once they were alone, Talia softened minutely. Jason wasn't sure how he felt about that, seeing the Heir to the Demon seem genuinely concerned for him, but the conversation had already exhausted him too much to examine it.
"Jason. I… did not expect Bruce would be capable of this."
"Yeah, Tals, guess it's good news for you and Ra's. B's one step closer to coming back into the assassin fold."
"Oh my love, I would never accept Bruce after this. If I had ever thought he was a danger to you, I would not have allowed you to face him alone."
"Sure, T, but it was my dumb plan. And you showed up." He patted her hand and wondered if they'd been giving him pain meds. He wouldn't usually be so open about this stuff.
"I was almost too late." Talia spoke as though she were confessing, even if it was hardly a secret. She had apparently spent the past days plotting revenge and waiting for him to heal, but sometimes it was the relief afterwards that let the heavy emotions land. "I didn’t know that night was the culmination of your plan. If not for chance, one of my sons would have bled out, alone, thinking himself unloved."
Jason blinked slowly. Maybe he was more out of it than he thought, to imagine Talia being so sappy.
"Yeah, but you showed up," he murmured, drifting off.
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The third time Jason awoke, Talia was asleep and he was alone - and awake - with his thoughts for the first time since the batarang.
He was calmer now, partly from the additional rest and partly due to their last conversation. Despite the failure of his own plan, it was comforting to have a next step.
It was also comforting to think of Talia standing up to Bruce for him. He was coherent enough now to know he'd been… paranoid… the last few times he was awake. His mind had been shying away from any affection, reminding him that he couldn't trust anyone now that Bruce had chosen the Joker over him, but…
But. He had already come to terms with where he stood with Talia, and Bruce's actions couldn't change that. Didn't get to change it.
Talia was terrifying and dangerous and deadly. She had plans on top of plans such that spoiling one often triggered another. It was possible that her interest in Jason was part of a plot, that throwing him in the Pit and all the support since then was just an investment, and he would be a fool to ignore the possibility.
He also knew that he never would have known about Damian, let alone met him, if Talia ever thought Jason would be her enemy. She would never put her son in danger, and she would certainly never reveal one of her own weaknesses. But instead of being isolated, Jason had been allowed to observe Damian’s training and even bond with him. That kid had no concept of subtlety yet, so Jason at least knew there was one person who wasn’t manipulating him.
So he trusted Talia, and he loved liked Damian, and he trusted that Talia loved Damian. He just had to ignore the reminder that he had loved and trusted Bruce. It was different, it had to be - at least Talia didn’t hide that she was a killer.
The bigger question was what to do with the new plan. He certainly liked the idea of turning Gotham against Batman, but were there too many risks? Talia and her assistant assassin seemed convinced the video wouldn’t reveal either of his identities, but they could hardly control what evidence Bruce chose to publicize. If he could convince the city that it was Red Hood, people may stop caring about the murder, and Jason would need a new identity.
This was going to take a lot of careful work if he went through with it. He'd have to review his own footage, maybe hack the batcomputer, to figure out what kind of information could get out, intentionally or otherwise. He would need eyes on his territory and to decide if Red Hood needed to stay active.
Jason was still thinking through logistics and avoiding his emotions when Talia’s breathing picked up. After a moment of feigning sleep, probably an instinct to check her surroundings first, she sat upright and tried to look like she hadn't just been slumped over in a chair.
"You should be sleeping and healing," she said. "My apologies, I didn’t mean to fall asleep."
"'S fine. Pretty sure you need rest too, if you've been watching me the whole time."
"Still…"
"No, you can go back to ordering people around or whatever you do." As much as he appreciated her support, he also needed to know his own thoughts on Bruce and the new plan before discussing it with her. "I think I deserve a bit of sulking by myself."
"Very well. I'll get you some food." At his unimpressed look she relented. “And then I’ll leave you to eat in peace.”
Talia paused at the door to look back at him. “This is a hunting cabin. There should be no one around, but if there are listeners, the sound of gunshots would not be amiss. Once you’ve healed, you could practice your marksmanship, if it would soothe you.”
Jason smiled. Maybe Talia did get him in a way Bruce never had
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Talia al Ghul may not have been a model of good parenting, but she adored her children. Damian had been hers to protect from the moment she knew of him, but Jason had admittedly taken longer. She never would have allowed his catatonic body to come to harm, with the way it had followed her like a duckling, but he had not initially been her child. Her original plan was simply to verify that it was actually Jason, how he was alive, and if it would be possible to fix the lingering brain damage before returning him to her Beloved.
Researching Jason’s death and resurrection gave her pause. Seeing that false clown continue to terrorize Gotham and a new innocent Robin made into a target had given her doubts. It was only when she went to speak directly to Bruce and saw a memorial, a plaque, “A Good Soldier”, that she felt the spark of affection become an inferno. Jason may be a warrior, but parents should care more for their children than as tools. That was the day she took Jason home to Nanda Parbat to meet his brother.
Talia al Ghul loved her children. She may once have loved Bruce Wayne, but no longer.
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Batman glared at the computer screens in front of him. This night had been one irritation after another. In the few hours since the news started playing that ridiculous video, he had waited for Gordon next to the batsignal, but the commissioner had never shown. There had been no time for a standard patrol in the midst of the Hood investigation, which was yet another reason the man needed to be stopped: Gotham was unprotected because some mockery of his son wanted to play these ridiculous games. Then, when he had given up waiting for the commissioner and returned to the batmobile, someone had thrown eggs at it.
Without Gordon's help, he had to hack the GCPD records to get information on the body Hood had left behind at the explosion. Oracle was unavailable, though she had given no notice of taking the night off, so he found the information himself. He hated the realization that, after years of Oracle’s support, he had allowed his own skills to decline. He would have to find ways to get her less involved in his work, before his hacking knowledge could fully atrophy.
The body had belonged to a Martin Green, with a record benign to the point of bland. He had an address in New York City, a job as waitstaff, and no criminal history besides tickets for speeding and jaywalking. Bruce ground his teeth at the thought that Hood had murdered an innocent man who must have had nothing but the poor luck to be in the area when Hood needed a body. The crime lord was certainly escalating, compared to his usually-criminal victims.
The sound of the Zeta Tube interrupted his thoughts before he had a plan to sway the public. He should have known better than to expect the Justice League would stay out of Gotham business, not when it was becoming a national headline. At least they gave him the courtesy of arriving in the cave, rather than flying up to his front door and ambushing Alfred.
"Wonder Woman, Superman. I thought we agreed you wouldn't interfere with my cases." Even if their intrusion was to be expected, there was no need to let them believe it was welcome.
"Bruce…" started Clark, managing to look both disapproving and like a kicked puppy.
"Reporters have been asking us for statements, the League is already involved." Diana went straight to the point, but Bruce could see the anger behind her diplomatic start. "Do you have an explanation for the use of lethal force?"
He knew Clark and Diana had killed before, that Wonder Woman only refrained in deference to the Justice League and the laws of humanity. Bruce could not - would not - stand for them lecturing Batman.
“I hardly think either of you is in a position to condemn lethality."
Clark flinched, looking guilty, but Diana’s glare remained in place. "Yes I've killed, and many times, in defense of the innocent," she stated firmly. "I accept that responsibility to avoid greater tragedy, and how many times have you condemned me for it?" Her hand rested threateningly on her lasso, and it was clear she ached to drag him to the Watchtower in front of the entire roster, but Clark placed a calming hand on her shoulder.
“Bruce, you championed many of the League’s rules and oversight procedures, you know we need some kind of explanation.” Superman must imagine that his boy scout reputation was enough to make him the voice of reason. Bruce supposed a more generous interpretation could be that Clark just needed a reason to believe in his friend.
As much as he hated the lack of faith, he could not let his own pride and Red Hood’s little ploy possibly lead to other League members resisting oversight. They could hardly afford for Hal to use this as another excuse to claim 'Green Lantern jurisdiction'. He sighed and made a show of loosening the tension in his shoulders. “You’re right, I’m sorry. These accusations are weighing on me, but I know I don't need to be on the defensive with friends.”
Clark slightly untensed and Diana loosened her grip on the lasso as Bruce beckoned them towards the computer. He moved the police report over to the large presentation screen and added his cowl footage, pausing on Hood’s unmasked face. “GCPD identified the supposed ‘victim’ as Martin Green, but you can see he is not the same man.” Facial recognition software activated, highlighting differences between Green and… Jason.
“Furthermore,” he wound the footage back to when Hood was still wearing his mask and helmet, skipping over their argument. “The actual perpetrator was Red Hood, a local crime lord and murderer. As the real Hood was not accounted for at the scene, I must conclude he staged the body and video to discredit me."
Clark and Diana looked grim, but sufficiently mollified that they would leave him to his own investigation.
"That is concerning. If he's targeting you specifically, do you need help with the case?" Diana offered.
"No, this is nothing new, besides the fact that it is being publicized," he answered, relieved to be on more familiar ground and that she had been distracted from her initial anger.
"Still, it may be best that you don't patrol, at least not alone. There may be more efforts to… frame or discredit you," Clark added.
As much as he hated their interference, Bruce gave a vague agreement, if only to hurry the conversation along. "A fair point. Very well."
"Hopefully you will have a clean resolution to report at the next meeting. As public as this has been already, I expect all our members will want clarification."
Diana nodded at Clark and finished his train of thought. "I doubt we can delay much longer on giving an official statement. Perhaps only until the end of the week."
Bruce nodded as his colleagues retreated to the Zeta. A deadline was nothing new, not when he was frequently racing the clock to thwart the latest Rogue, but he would make Hood regret making Batman dance to the whims of the public.
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