Auxilium

Chapter 1: The Night We Fall

Warning: Mundane thoughts, extreme angst and language. Please comment and review!

[Jason's P.O.V.]
   It was on rare occasions that all the 'Bat-Bros' got together and weren't at each other's throats. Jason had information on a case and he hadn't seen Alfred so he was just wanting to get the situation settled. So here they all were, Damian and Tim left to get dressed and of course Bruce back on the computer.
"Look this informat... I don't trust him. Skimpy easily swayed, so I am gonna go solo." Jason said after the mission debriefing. He was already walking to his motorcycle when Bruce intereupted.
"No, your taking someone." Bruce said not looking away from the computer.
"Why, cause you don't trust me?" Jason snapped. He really doesn't know why he did, his eyes burned and his muscles were sore from yesterday.
"No, because of if you get hurt who is going to prove your sorry butt you were wrong." Behind him was that voice, Dick Grayson.
"Dick-head... or nobody? Man I just love having quality time with Dickie though." Jason replied sarcastically.
"Great! See you on the rooftop on 25th and  23rd." Dick commented obliviously.
"NO! You-" but Dick skipped off "Dick." Jason muttered to himself.    "Jason, no killing." Bruce reminded him for the umpteenth time. "Wow, what bullshit. Even after all I do. Thanks Dad real great."
   Jason dressed in his infamous Red Hood outfit and took off on his motor cycle.
Jason swears he heard Bruce grunt happily that Jason is being monitored, of course.
"What the hell is a happy grunt" Jason shook his head and sped off towards the night.

"If I beat him there I wont have to deal with Dick-face." Jason thought hopefully.
  The whipping winds of Gothams cold breath reminded him of being at his apartment with his Mom. She would be OD by now but he always tried to tuck her in and keep her warm.
"Focus Todd. Mission first flashbacks later."
 
  When getting there Dick was perched above looking at the warehouse. It was November nearing towards December, so it was a bit chilly.
"See anything suspicious so far 'Wing?" Red Hood asked, after landing on top of the building he slowly joined his 'bro' watching the suspected warehouse.
"Nothing new. How much do you trust in this informat?" Nightwing said still looking down at the lights of Gotham.
"As much as I trust you guys... not at all. I put a tracker on him, I am guessing he got paid for the lousy information by the head boss. If you ask me that is pretty lame." Hood commented.
"Yeah... wait how do you know? What if its a set-" Nightwing started but stopped. Machine guns were firing upon them. Hood veered left ducking and Nightwing went right.
"Don't call for back up... don't call... do-" but Jason's pleads weren't answered when Nightwing spoke to his comm.
"Wing to Batman do you copy?" It was an ambush we need back-up."
Over the comms Jason picked out the familiar 'Tt' followed by something like 'Knew Hood was wrong.'
"Why that lousy piece of-" Hood was interrupted by a new sound. A pull of a pin on a grenade. You never forget those sounds and Jason can't forget any sounds no matter how hard he tries. So when hearing the pull of the pin, over the yelling, and shots, instead of saying "Heads up" or even "Fuck" he runs over to Nightwing and pushes him further away using his body as a shield.
   It mostly worked, Nightwing was safe but Red Hood wasn't.
"Well whats new? Fuck this stings, Huh... I am actually glad we got back up... whenever they decide to fucking show up that is."
There was something below his right shoulder blade. A few more explosions echoed off in the distance, the other buildings.      For a few seconds the bullets stopped replaced with shouting of "BATMAN IS HERE!" The other shouting was a... woman... a family? No he cleared the building.
   Red Hood shook his head getting up. There were a few flames on the roof nothing too bad. But he had to head out before it gave way. He looked down at Nightwing and...
"Great he is unconscious."
Red Hood decided use the comm link for once.
"Red Robin I need you to escort Nightwing out he is unconscious." Jason spoke into the comm.
"Get him to the street. I have the Batmobile en-route." Red Robin replied. Jason slung Nightwings' arm on his shoulder and carefully maneuvered down.
  Jason was able to get him down before the roof collapsed and delivered him to the Batmobile. Nightwing started to stir but Jason sent the vehicle back to the Manor,with Red Robin driving.
"You sure you will be fine?" Red Robin asked.
"By the time you get back we should be done so just keep an ear out. Make sure that idiot isn't concussed from hitting his head on the roof." Red Hood replied turning around hearing the car leave.
  Hood was back in the fight. So far not so good. The burns on his back and wounded shoulder started to be a pain in the ass, and you think you do enough sacrificing.
    They were in the middle of the warehouse. The goons were coming from no where but they were improperly trained.  It was an easy fight except for the bullets spraying everywhere. Even worse, they can go through Kelvar. Hood finished up some goons and moved to help Robin, that's when he caught a glimpse of a sniper aiming at Batman of all people. He didn't think just did. He jumped in front of the Big black bat and caught the wound in his stomach.
   It was like getting punched in the gut and stabbed. It may sound weird but the bullet didn't feel right. No the bullet it felt like a liquid was spreading in his skin and outwards. And Batman didn't even turn around!
"Of  fucking cours-ngh- damnit to hell." Jason thought slowly getting up. He was able to even take out more goons with his injury, but before that went to deal with the sniper. He aimed he was seeing double and needed to focus. He shot and heard a yell.
"Great shot Hood." He commented himself and went to go back finishing the job. But when he turned around about all of them were down and he saw the face.
The face of an angry Bruce. Robin did his usually 'Tt' but went back to finishing zip tying. He was covered in some ash... The buildings... at least they were empty?
"What now?!" Jason felt his anger rise. He was even about to leave won't have to deal with the 'volatile Robin' anymore.
"I was just leaving." Jason commented.
"No, your gonna explain the reckless behavior you exhibited. Damnit you know how many CIVILIANS GOT HURT?"
Oh. Oh shit. A civilian got hurt on his watch... wait no he had made sure the buildings around there were emptied he checked the area... unless... stubborn gothamites... his fault my fault always. Didn't check the building or the others surrounding the warehouse.
"How many... got hurt?" Jason asked wearily. He wasn't facing Bruce anymore. Thank God for that. He probably would have been yelled at for getting hurt more. The farthest extent injuries Batman could probably see (if he cared) was a torn jacket that left open for some burns and now a dried up shrapnel cuts.
"At least 30, some are missing 15 are in the emergency. Some presumed dead." Batman grounded out. Oh yeah he messed up big time.
"What now? It was a mistake that he gets to have on his head now. But what will Batman do now?"
And when Batman answered well... Jason shouldn't have jinxed it.
"Get out of my city for now untill we clear the fiasco." Batman grunted turning away heading towards the Batmobile.
"What? Out of his city? No way never in hell will be be ordered to abandon Gotham."
"Fuck you Batman." Jason said turning around to see Batman already gone. "Damn Asshole!!" Jason thought. Was he going to leave Gotham? No. But who didn't expect that? Does he expect constant verifying of making sure no Red Hood is seen? Absolutely. But right now he is facing the burning buildings. They were probably already checked for other life. And Jason stares at the flames and can hear the faint but distant screeching of a family. He looks back and remembers hearing them.
"Damnit Todd, your fault, your mistake you idiot."
He shoots off his grappling book and makes it to his safe house. Everything is a bit blurry but he can see the outline of his rundown safehouse. The mattress he considers a bed. The molded table and chair with first aid kits scattered on top.  A tube tv across his bed and his kitchen which only has enough food for a family of mice. The only expensive furniture was the ratted old couch. It was red, good for hiding blood.
"Oh yeah living th-ngh-e high life." He thought.
He stumbled around and landed on his side on the couch. He knew he had to get up. But with the non-working A.C. and now his earlier mission, he felt cold. Cold and unable to get up.
  "Fucking screw up you deserve this. No you deserve to be six feet under."
Those thoughts again no matter how hard he repressed them... He believed them

He should've stayed dead.