The Truth Is Apokolips, and the Red Hood Returns
Damian arrived at the Batcave minutes later, Toothless gliding silently into the subterranean hangar. The moment he dismounted, Batman was already at the workstation, the crushed drone projected as a hologram above him.
Bruce didn't look up.
He didn't need to.
He was in full detective mode.
Bruce:
"This drone wasn't made by humans.
The alloy composition, the energy core…
It's Apokoliptian."
Damian felt his jaw tighten.
Damian:
"Darkseid."
Bruce nodded once.
Bruce:
"This wasn't a scouting drone.
It was a target analysis unit.
It wasn't tracking Earth.
It was tracking you."
Damian said nothing—but Bruce could see the fire behind his eyes.
Bruce:
"He's threatened by you.
That's the only reason Darkseid uses something like this."
Damian's hands curled into fists.
He remembered his fire pillar.
The five minutes of freezing Doomsday's evolution.
The gods' attention.
Darkseid wasn't just threatened—
Darkseid was furious.
The System Chimes at the Worst Possible Time
A blue translucent interface appeared in front of Damian's eyes.
SYSTEM MISSION UPDATE:
"NEW EVENT DETECTED — JASON TODD HAS RETURNED."
MISSION OBJECTIVE:
Do NOT interfere with Batman and Red Hood's conflict.
Let them resolve their unfinished past.
SECONDARY OBJECTIVE (OPTIONAL REWARD):
After Jason Todd reveals his identity to Batman,
Meet him privately within 72 hours.
Gift him the system-modified weapons:
Ebony & Ivory — Devil May Cry Variant
REWARD:
??? (Hidden)
Damian exhaled sharply.
Damian (quietly):
"Of course he's back now."
Bruce glanced over.
Bruce:
"What is it?"
Damian waved it off.
Damian:
"Nothing. Just… tired."
But he wasn't.
His instincts told him the world was shifting again.
Darkseid.
Doomsday.
Ancient gods watching.
And now Jason Todd.
Meanwhile… in Gotham
A motorcycle engine purred through Crime Alley.
A red helmet reflected the neon lights.
Two pistols holstered at his sides.
A red bat symbol painted across his chest.
Jason Todd had returned.
He stopped before the memorial plaque of his own death.
The wind blew.
He didn't look back.
Red Hood:
"…Time to clean up the mess you made, Bruce."
Back in the Batcave — Tension Grows
Bruce suddenly froze.
On the Batcomputer, an alert appeared.
A symbol.
A helmet.
RED HOOD DETECTED — CRIME ALLEY.
Bruce's voice changed—
from detective to father.
Bruce:
"Jason."
Damian watched him silently.
Batman took the cowl.
Moved to the Batmobile.
Stopped.
Looked back at Damian.
Bruce:
"Stay here."
Damian nodded.
But the System's mission glowed in the corner of his eye:
"Do not interfere."
Even if he wanted to, he couldn't.
Some things a father and son had to settle alone.
The Batmobile roared to life and vanished down the tunnel.
Three Days Later — The Meeting
Jason Todd waited on a rooftop overlooking Gotham Harbor.
A familiar growl of wings made him glance upward.
Toothless uncloaked.
Damian stepped off his back.
Jason smirked behind his helmet.
Red Hood:
"So the little demon visits me.
Didn't think you'd bother."
Damian crossed his arms.
Damian:
"If I didn't, someone else would.
And they'd be less polite."
Jason laughed.
Jason:
"I missed this city."
Damian studied him.
Then opened his personal dimension.
Jason's hands went to his guns on instinct—
But froze.
Two pristine weapons floated out, glowing faintly blue.
Sleek.
Deadly.
Impossibly well-forged.
Ebony & Ivory — System Modified.
Damian held the case out.
Damian:
"These are for you.
Don't ask where I got them."
Jason lifted one—
The gun hummed, glowing at the grip.
Bonding to him.
A perfect fit.
System Notice:
"USER JASON TODD HAS BEEN RECOGNIZED.
WEAPON BOND SUCCESSFUL."
Jason blinked.
Jason:
"They… feel alive."
Damian explained calmly:
Damian:
"They don't use bullets.
They fire adjustable energy blasts—
from stun to lethal.
They reload using your stamina.
Keep them clean.
Only you can use them now."
Jason holstered them with a slow, almost reverent motion.
Jason (quiet):
"…Kid.
This is the best gift I've ever gotten."
Damian shrugged.
Damian:
"You're my family.
Even if you're… annoying."
Jason laughed, shaking his head.
Jason:
"You're a good kid.
Don't tell anyone I said that."
He stepped back toward the ledge.
Jason:
"Oh—
And tell Bruce I'm not done with him yet."
He dropped off the roof.
Grapple line firing.
Gone.
Damian looked at the city.
Darkseid watching.
New gods whispering.
Villains hunting him.
Jason back from the dead.
The storm was coming.
But Damian?