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Jason wakes up slowly, there’s a beeping sound in the background. Where is he? He tries to remember. Black Mask. He was going after Black Mask, but there was a trap.
The beebing started going faster, as Jason remembered what had happened. The cattle prod, Black Mask leaving, a black shadow entering the room.
“Take it easy.” says a voice and Jason opens his eyes.
That’s Dick, hovering above him.
Jason stiffents. No. Nononononono. They aren’t supposed to know he’s back yet. He hasn’t finished his plan.
“It’s okay, you’re okay, just breathe.”
He needs to get off here, they’ll just lock him up. He wasn’t supposed to come back. He was supposed to stay dead. The Robin who failed, who was impulsive and stupid. Why is he here? Why didn’t they just toss him in Arkham? Is it to interrogate him? Ask him how he came back before tossing him in a cell.
He tries to sit up, but his wrists won’t move. He looks down, they’ve used the restraints.
He can see that Dick is still talking but he can’t hear anything through the high pitched whine in his head. His breaths are coming too fast, but he can’t control himself.
He can’t move. He’s trapped.
His mind flashes to the coffin and he starts to struggle more. His vision is starting to go dark from the lack of oxygen. There are hands on his shoulders, Dick is hovering right above his face but he can’t hear anything.
It’s too much. He’s trapped. His plan is ruined. They’re going to toss him in a cell next to the Joker, or finish the job themselves.
Finally, mercifully, his body shuts down from lack of oxygen, the heart monitor practically screaming in the background.
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Dick is emailing the gymnastic studio to tell them he won’t be at work tomorrow when the heart monitor starts beeping faster.
He looks up, Jason’s awake. A moment later, his breaths start to pick up and Dick sets his computer aside and stands by the medical cot.
“Take it easy. It’s okay, you’re okay. Just breathe.” Dick says. He wants to wrap his brother in a hug, but resists. Jason is already freaking out, he’ll probably react negatively to physical contact.
But Jason’s panic increases, regardless.
“Jason, please! You’re safe, no one is going to hurt you.” Dick repeats hovering above his brother.
But it’s clear Jason isn’t listening to him. He’s struggling against his restraints, the heart monitor is beeping so quickly it’s practically screaming.
Finally, Dick decides to risk it and places his hands on Jason’s shoulders, trying to ground him.
But it’s not working. Dick glances to the medbay door. Everyone else had been up in the manor, but they've surely been alerted and are on their way down. But no one is here yet. He turns back to Jason. Maybe he should give him another sedative?
“Jason, Jason, Jason, Jason. Please.” Dick feels tears fill his eyes.
But his brother doesn't seem to hear him, and then he slumps, unconscious.
Dick collapses in the chair and puts his head in his hands.
The heart monitor has steadied out.
He hears footsteps running to the medbay and Bruce steps in a moment later.
He stops as soon as he steps in, taking in the situation.
“What happened?”
“He freaked out, started hyperventilating, then passed out.” Dick says clinically, not lifting his head.
Bruce takes a seat next to him.
“He’ll be okay.” Bruce says with the same quiet surety that he uses when he talks about how they will capture the latest criminal.
“We don’t even know how he’s not… And why didn’t he come home?”
“Talia isn’t answering any of my calls.”
“So she knows something?”
“Hng.”
Dick sighed, sitting up straight. “We need to get answers from her. If she’s connected to this,” Dick waved his hand toward Jason, “we need to know what we’re dealing with.” He paused. “His eyes were glowing green, Bruce.They were the same color as the Pit.”
He felt Bruce stiffen. “I’ll try calling her again. I’ll let Tim and Aflred know what happened.” He got up and went over to the Batcomputer.
Dick looked over towards Jason. They’d figure this out. He just got his little brother back, he wasn’t about to lose him again.