entranceway | one; audio {with bitter words, that's how the boy talks.}

[Jason woke up inside the mansion, gave it all a cursory look-through, and promptly noped the hell on out of there. Ain’t nobody got time for this Wonderland theme park bullshit - especially not the Red Hood.

Of the available options, the forest seemed like the best way out, so that’s where Jason is now, trampling through the brush, snapping twigs underfoot as he mutters his complaints into the comm device:]

This would be going a lot easier if there had been any vehicles worth taking …

[The sounds of movement stop, and Jason sighs loudly. He is Officially Lost, and he wasn’t in the best mood to begin with, so he’s understandably a little tense in addressing whoever might be listening.]

All right, this is officially stupid, and I don’t have time for stupid. Got much bigger fish to fry, so I’ll get right to the point. Whose head do I have to stuff in a duffel bag to get a map of the way out of here? Tick tock, losers, answer fast – Daddy doesn’t like being kept waiting.

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[Well, it's a damn good thing Jason's completely unarmed here, otherwise something would be making its way toward Superboy's head. Jason settles for glaring at him instead, but he doesn't seem surprised to see him hovering above the ground.]

Well, if I'd known there were superheroes about, I would've been stealthier about it for sure.

[No, he wouldn't. Jason gives him a good looking over, points at his shirt with an eyebrow raised.]

They handing those out to everyone these days?

[Jason's dressed pretty plainly, pants and boots and grey armored shirt - no insignia, no weapons, no mask. There's the start of fresh bruising on his scowling face, swelling fingers and traces of blood in his ungloved right hand, plaster dust in his hair. He is not in the best shape, truth be told.]

Yeah, you really seem like you can manage stealth. Daddy.

[He's just saying, that was weird and not the mark of someone who can do subtlety.]

Sure, but most people don't wear it as well. [He gives the man another once-over. Threats are not illegal, and it's not like there's any way to arrest him anyway.] Look, if you keep going this way you'll die. And that's not even getting into the fact that you look like a building fell on you. You should go to the clinic.

When I want to, yeah.

[And he rolls his eyes. He's just gonna keep hearing about the "daddy" thing, isn't he.]

Well, that's probably 'cause a building did fall on me. [Partly. Because he blew it up. He shrugs one shoulder.] I'm fine. Survived a lot worse.

[... no, Jason, you didn't.]

( --from the forestry off towards the castle comes +1 tiny superboy, waving the glowing screen of his device above his head as he makes his way through the final bush to stand near them. )

Hey, Kon! Did you come here to--oh. ( eyes fall onto jason, who is clearly more out of shape than he sounded like he was. jon's squints his eyes, looks through him rather than at him as his lips twist into a frown. )

You're not fine. That looks like it hurts.

[Oh hey Jon. Kon crosses his arms, straightening and scowling. His little brother's here now, and while Jason probably isn't a threat to two Kryptonians, he's ready to protect Jon if he has to.]

He's definitely not fine. And he'll be even less fine if he keeps walking. People die when they go too far in the woods, dude.

Wouldn't be the first time, [he mutters, inhaling a slow breath and failing to keep from wincing when his cracked ribs protest. Despite his bluster, and even if he weren't injured, Jason certainly wouldn't harm a child, so all he does is sullenly glance back and forth between Jon and Kon.]

So - what, are you two the enforcers around here? Gonna drag me back to the funhouse whether I wanna go or not?

Not enforcers. Superheroes.

( jon's arms cross over his own chest, scowling for a moment to mimic kon as closely as he can before those arms fall back away once more and he's reaching into his hoodie's pocket, checking through it for a moment before pulling out a mildly crushed granola bar and making his way over to jason without an ounce of caution. )

C'mon, it's just a castle. You can pick out a room and go to the cafes and get some tea or coffee. . I'll give you my granola bar? ( ignoring the fact he came here to kick jason's butt. )

[Oh my god, Jon, Kon is glad he doesn't actually want to intimidate this guy cause wow that cuteness sure undercuts any attempts.]

And get an ice pack or something.

[It has been a long damn time since Jason's allowed himself to remember what it felt like to be Robin. Maybe he wasn't a superhero then - maybe not even much of a hero at all, but he wanted to be. He wanted to do good, fight crime, protect the innocent, and somewhere, buried deep inside his bruised heart, Jason still wants this. Somewhere underneath the years of pain and loss and endless consuming anger, the boy who had hopes of making his corner of the world a better place still lives.

Standing here, looking at Jon and Kon, Jason's reminded of that boy he used to be before he was murdered and brought back only to have his heart broken. And remembering who he once was hurts, sure, but it's different than the pain that has driven his every step over the past five years. It doesn't make him feel angry, for once.

He's tired.

A fraction of the tension Jason's been holding in his shoulders for what feels like a lifetime dissipates as he glances from Jon to the granola bar in his hand to Kon and back again to Jon. His words are notably less gruff than they have been.]

Keep it. You look like you've still got some growing to do.

[Jason gently throws up his uninjured hand; fine, I give up, you win.]

Lead the way to the ice packs.

Edited 2017-12-05 04:58 (UTC)

( jon’s lips purse as he waits for jason to respond, hand still holding out the granola bar with a determined gleam to his eye. he’s stubborn to a fault, and has absolutely no intention of just-- what, leaving jason here? definitely not leaving him here. his butt’s already been kicked, there’s no reason to kick it more, and that’d really hurt him, and jon isn’t. malicious. he cries when animals get hurt, gets scared by thunder, gets so scared during horror movies he breaks furniture. there isn’t a malicious, intimidating bone in his body.

his peace offering his rejected, but he’s still winning, so he’s--considering that good enough for now. a wide smile spreads across his lips as he repockets the granola bar, bounces back on his heels and extends his own hand up to jason, palm up. nothing in it. )

I’ll lead you there! I’d offer to carry you except you’re really big and my arms aren’t that long and I don’t think pulling you while flying would be good for your ribs either. Sounds super uncomfortable. ( his other hand moves out to kon, gives him a thumbs up. look, i did it, i’m totally a superhero now. )

It's cool, I got this. [Kon reaches forward and scoops Jason up, using his tactile telekinesis to keep him immobilized. He glances at Jon.] Text Cissie. She's got field medic experience. All aboard the Superboy express.

[Yeah enjoy that, Jason.]

[Oh, now this is just embarrassing. Jason was fine letting the kid lead him back to the mansion!!]

Hey, I can still walk! And I can patch myself up just fine, too - no need to drag everyone and their dog into this.

( jon's already pulling his device out, hopping onto his heels as he pulls up cissie's contact information and--hears jason ask for them not to involve anyone else. )

I know some first-aid stuff too, so. . maybe we'll be okay? ( if jason is that against other people coming along. )

[Kon rolls his eyes.] Text her. The dumbass who was trying to run into the woods while injured doesn't get a vote.

I wasn't running, kiddo, it was a brisk power walk at best.

[Is Jason gonna keep complaining the whole way back? Why yes, yes he is.]

one; audio {with bitter words, that's how the boy talks.}

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