meadowlarklogs | those who died are justified;

He didn't accept Tim either, after me.

( it's a quiet confession, soft. this. took a lot of time for jason to accept, and he hates, hates justifying some of bruce's shit, especially to damian. but. )

Another Robin after I fucked off and died? An absolutely horrible idea. But he got harsher. More violate. Dick wouldn't come back. I. . only found out most of this years after the fact, but Tim? Had to shove his way in. Had to really work to soften him up a bit. Even if he wouldn't do anything with the Joker after he killed me, he still couldn't--he couldn't deal with another snot-nosed brat running around.

( slouching back against the door frame, jason takes a breath in. lets it sit for a moment. )

But not everything's about him. What was it about?

Making the world better. Ra's believed to do that, you'd have to lance off the infection that was humanity. Bruce believed in letting the sick limp along and infect everyone else... Kal believed in something different.

[ His hands tighten on his arms. Not in anger, just for purchase. To find his footing. ]

I'll never be able to convince you that it was better. You didn't see it. Hopefully you never will.

I know the world, D. Not yours. But I know how disgusting the gutters get. I know the sickness that fell over Gotham--hell, over the world. Bruce, we don't agree on a lot of shit, but.

( a deep breath in, a slow breath out. )

I was part of the contagion that infected Gotham, long before I was Robin. Hell, when I was Robin. The kids on those streets, and I know you wouldn't, but the people out there? That think overtaking the world is the better option, that forcing their rules will solve everything--

It won't. Sooner or later the people would grow to forget fear of the massive bulk of Kryptonian ruling over them. Soon they'd rise up because like hell is humanity accepting rule by fucking anyone. Our government is a piece of shit, but at least people think they can fight it. A Kryptonian, D? The power of whatever Leaguers you had backing you? You? Fuck that.

The street kids, we don't fucking know fear. A bug guy with an S goes around talking peace and I guarantee they'll be among the first to fight him. and if Kal's that deep into it, do you think he's gonna stop at taking down innocents who get in his way? Let alone street scum. How many Leaguers did he take down, D? How many, aside from Bats, fought him tooth and nail?

How many died, fighting for humanity, in opposition of Kal's beliefs? You said you had the Lanterns backing you, what about GA? Roy? Canary? ( those three would fuck shit up in the name of freedom, ollie isn't quiet about his stance on anything. he hates oppressors more than anything. ) BG, BW--what do you do with the heroes who don't agree with your stance on shit, D?

What would he do, if I stood against him. Guy could kill me in a moment. Superman only works as hero if he stays impartial. Guys like that who get opinions, they become monsters instead.

[ His grip tightens further. He thinks of Shazam. Of Billy Bateson. Of what he doesn't know happened in that meeting room, of all the things he doesn't know and all the things he wish he did.

But then he thinks of his father. He thinks of being in that tiny little room before the old man graduated to a real prison. Of looking at him as he stood in the doorway, offering him the opportunity to come home, all is forgiven. If only he agrees to fall in line. ]

You know he has these files on how to hurt everyone, right? How to break their spirits or their bodies until they drop to their knees and listen. He paralyzed Barry. He gave Vic a virus and ripped his faceplate off. He shackled me to the floor, arms and feet, in a small room with no windows for months. He broke Raven so badly she was never the same. He kidnapped Shayera and send the martian to replace her, and when the martian tried to kill Diana and put her in a coma, he was angrier at Clark for killing it to save her life!

Or how about when he cut life support systems to the Watchtower and sent it plummeting to Earth? When I was up there! His own son! He did it before anything happened, because he didn't want to give up control! Because he couldn't handle the chance that Batman might not be needed anymore!

[ His voice is building. He can't help it. He's almost shaking again. ]

You want to call that fighting for humanity?! Because I call that sick! All the people who side with him are no better than he is!

I'm not justifying Batman. I'm not excusing the shit he's done, or even saying he's right. Hell, your Bats sounds downright psychotic.

( his is still crazy, but at least not beat your children crazed. jason'll kill damian's bruce if he ever shows up. fingers around his throat, slowly choke the life out of that fucker. . )

You're calling J'onn an it. Neither of them are right, Bats or Supes. Or Ra's. They're all wrong. Tell me, what did Kal do? What did he do when Bats turned off life support? He killed J'onn. You're focusing on the shit Bats did wrong. I get it. He's a shithole.

But tell me, who died so Kal could take over?

Kal saved us is what he did. J'onn was in Diana's brain and was killing her. He acted in her defense.

[ he bristles. ]

Nobody who wasn't trying to kill him first.

Why was J'onn in her brain?

( evenly. they really need to step out of this conversation but they're both stubborn. )

No, I don't think that's right. I think he ended anyone who stood against him, or tried to. Tell me, how long would I last back in your world? How long would it take before I had a Kryptonian-sized fist shoved through my heart?

On my father's orders. Because he was pissed about Arkham. Because he was angry we intervened in wars.

[ He won't. And he glares at that. ]

You are in my world, and you're doing just fine. Kal didn't set out to kill anybody. You don't know him, don't talk like you do.

No. I know my world's Kal, a happy, loving father with the weight of the world on his shoulders.

( doesn't know. knows of. )

But I know myself, too. Not your version of me, but me. And I? I can't stand guys who stand above others like they're hot shit, demanding obedience and order. I'd get right in his face, call him a shitstain against the multiverse. Tell me I'd live through that.

Alfred did. He isn't a tyrant, Jason. He can handle dissenting opinions.

[ if only he knew. ]

I've argued with him. I've done a lot of shit he explicitly told me not to. I'm still standing.

Al didn't demand, he asked.

( jason listened because he respected him. he respects kal, too. sometimes bruce. he's not sure about anyone from damian's world. but.

whatever. a roll of his eyes, and he lets it go. he'd argue this shit deeper, but it seems pointless. damian's either brainwashed or--god, respects the guy. defending him at every corner is fucking weird, especially for damian. jason won't push it further. not after the day they've had already. )

Fine, whatever. Support whoever the hell you want to. 's your life, your choice. I'm not gonna judge. ( much. as long as it's not, you know, actually bad crap. actually he is judging damian. who cares!! ) I'm not gonna follow it either.

It's not your world. I don't expect you to understand.

[ He's trying very hard not to stay, feeling like a raw nerve stretched too tight. ]

Are we -- [ Done here ] Are we good?

We'll always be good. ( a small correction, but an important one. ) No matter what bullshit happens outside--or inside--these walls, I don't give a shit. You'll always be my brother.

And I'll always protect my own.

( protection isn't the point here, but he hopes damian gets it. that jason will stick by him regardless. if he doesn't agree by damian's decisions? he'll still love him. still fight with him, even if they're on opposite teams. )

There isn't a stunt you can pull that'll change any of that.

[ We'll see about that.

He doesn't say anything for a moment. Looking down at the ground, setting his jaw and shifting uneasily. ]

Just don't... Just don't leave alright?

I won't go anywhere you can't follow.

( a promise. jason has the tendency to run off, but damian can track him down. sometimes he just--needs to go. get space. but there'll always be a trail. )

those who died are justified;

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