Steady On Forward

Chapter 8

"Of course, Red Robin."

He paused for a second. "Could I have a hug?"

She smiled, and bent to embrace him tightly.

"Call for me if you are still unable to sleep tonight, and we will solve this together."

"Okay. Thank you." He let go, and knocked on the door.

"Red Robin. I heard you had a bit of a hang up," Dinah greeted him. "Martian Manhunter messaged me."

"Yeah. Sorry I'm late. Batman and I kind of...got into a little argument."

"Well, come in. Thank you for bringing him here, Wonder Woman."

"Of course." Diana nodded to both of them, and walked back down the hall.

"So. Red Robin," Dinah said, closing the door behind them, and taking her seat. "Let's talk about what brings you to my office."

◇◇◇

By the end of the week, Jason finally managed to corner Damian in the Batcave. Thankfully it was otherwise empty, save for Bruce at the Batcomputer, far enough away that he likely wouldn't be able to hear them. And even if he did, it wasn't like he didn't already know.

"We should have that talk," Jason said.

Damian looked annoyed at being cornered, glaring down at his boots as he laced them. "Whatever. Talk, then."

Fuck, Jason hadn't thought this far ahead. Winging it was a supremely bad decision. "So..." he finally said, shifting uncomfortably. He crossed his arms. "I fucked your mom."

Damian's face twisted in distaste, but before he could say anything, Bruce whirled around in his chair.

"You what?!" he demanded.

Oops. Apparently Bruce could hear them.

Jason blinked at him, slowly taking in his shocked tone. Ah. He had severely miscalculated.

"Did you... Did you not know that?" he asked carefully.

"Why would I know that?"

Jason's brain felt like it was buffering like a video with a weak internet connection. "That was...sort of her whole plan? To make you mad?" It came out like a question. He was still stuck on the fact that Talia had never told him.

Bruce's jaw clenched. "How old were you?" He questioned sternly.

"Uhhh.....eighteen?" Jason's brain still felt like it was buffering, and he couldn't figure out why Bruce cared about his age, of all things. He'd fucked Bruce's ex, the literal mother of his child, that seemed like plenty for him to be angry about.

"Eighteen?" Bruce looked murderous.

"Um." Jason said. "Sorry?" he tried. He didn't know what Bruce wanted from him.

"Don't apologize," he said, closing his eyes for a moment. "This isn't on you." The last part came out in a growl, and he got up, pulling out his cellphone as he stalked toward the elevator, already scrolling through his contacts.

"Talia," Jason heard him hiss as the doors closed behind him. "How dare you—"

Jason turned back to Damian slowly, wondering what the fuck had just happened. He couldn't tell if Bruce was...upset with him? Or...?

Damian was looking faintly green. Eighteen. That was only two years older than him, and Todd had been out of his mind for a good chunk of that time before he'd been dunked in the Lazarus Pit. The Pit, which had then addled his brain in other ways.