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There, in all its horrible glory, were seven red letters flashing from the watchtower screen: I Know What You Did Last Summer.
“Isn’t that a movie title?” Hal cocked his head to the side, “Like from a shitty horror movie?”
Barry squinted his eyes, “Yeah, yeah! We watched that movie a few months ago.”
“Yes…? I was drunk,” Hal shrugged, “Was it the one with the teens?”
“Mhhm! The ones who ran over the dude and then got hunted by the hook man! I think.”
“Ok, ok, it’s coming back to me. Honestly I only remember, like, half that night,” Hal snorted, remembering the little bit he could before he forced himself to sober. This was serious. Kind of funny in a weird way, but also incredibly serious because, well, someone snuck a scary message into the watchtower.
They hacked the watchtower.
This is serious as fuck. Damn.
“Who’s doing this? Who would put a shitty horror movie title on the Watchtower screen?”
The screen flashed, brighter than usual, and then the words changed: I Know What You Did Last Night.
Ok, the first one was spooky. This one is just damn threatening like - what the hell does that even mean?
“Ok everyone, who accidentally killed a man last night? A person with a hook is coming to murder you.”
“Hal, please, stop talking,” Bruce sighed. He looked at the screen wearily, but he knew - he knew who did it.
His beautiful, amazing, terrible son. His wonderful, special, horrible Jason.
They watched that shitty horror movie just last night, but Bruce genuinely thought the evening had gone well. He thought they all had a great time, him and all his sons. They had a popcorn war as they tried to decide what to watch. Eventually Tim won out by bringing out blackmail he had on everyone - and then chose a silly horror movie they could all watch and laugh at. They all started in their own seats, but as the film continued they all got closer and closer: chatting, laughing, throwing popcorn, hitting each other, but then they all started getting a little sluggish. A little sleepy. They started to calm down a little bit, lean into each other as tension drained and they began to relax. Technically, they were snuggled on the couch - or “not-snuggled” as neither Jason or Damion would call it what it is - but they did! Snuggle! Bruce nearly cried he was so happy. His boys, under the same roof, playing and cuddling and being happy. Together. They were together with no blood or yelling or arguments and it was like a dream come true.
They were happy.
So why would Jason do this?
Bruce let out a long breath, counting to ten. He wishes Jason would just talk to him and not break into the watchtower to wreak chaos on him and his teammates.
It feels like his son is always doing this now.
Bruce slumped as much as he would allow himself as Batman, “I say we shouldn’t be concerned.”
“Not concerned?” Clark blinked, “Why not?” Clark paused, staring at the screen before turning to face his friend, “Do you know something we don’t?”
Batman held his breath for a moment, debating - does he admit his son has the skill and pettiness to break into the Watchtower and leave incriminating messages on the computer? Does he play dumb - or pull a classic Batman?
Ha, as if that’s even a question. Classic Batman it is.
“Mn.”
“That tells us nothing, Batman, and you know it.”
Bruce knows that, and that’s the point. He doesn’t want to have to make any definitive statements because he doesn’t have any. He doesn’t know why Jason is doing this. He doesn’t know what Jason is getting out of this. He doesn’t know, and he doesn’t want to admit he doesn’t know.
The screen flashed brightly once again: I Know What You Did To Me.
He knows what Batman did… to him? What did Bruce do? Specifically, what did Bruce do to Jason last night? He has to think: He - he made him burnt popcorn after getting Jason to agree to spend the night and watch the movie. Before that it was a normal dinner, and Bruce wasn’t even sitting next to him. Then it was the movie, and Bruce did sit beside him then. Everyone got sleepy, started dozing off, and that’s when they all cuddled. Then Bruce put them all to bed when the movie ended.
Wait, was this about cuddling? He’s mad that they… snuggled? Bruce knows Jason isn’t particularly touchy feely anymore, and would never admit to laying his head on Bruce’s shoulder, legs thrown over his lap with hands fisting the bottom of Bruce’s shirt - but he never thought Jason would retaliate over it!
Jason used to love cuddling Bruce when he was young and innocent and touch starved.
Or maybe it was how he told Alfred to get a picture of him and his baby, when he thought Jason was asleep. Jason would certainly be upset over being called a baby.
“Batman!” Wonder Woman turned to her friend, brow drawn, “If you know something of this situation, you must share it. We are a team and we will battle this demon together.”
Bruce’s shoulders slumped, “If I’m correct, there’s no demon to battle.”
“Ah, an enemy to outwit then?”
“No, nothing like that. In fact, there’s no enemy at all.”
Hal frowned, “Then what the hell is this?”
Bruce made a small noise in the back of his throat, something displeased. He had to tell them before they go nuclear. They have to know there’s no threat, “Do you remember my second eldest?”
Clark blinked, “Jason Todd? The crime lord?”
“Yes.”
Barry looked between Batman, then the message blaring across the screen, confusion written on his face. He feels he should be concerned about crime lord has done this but also… not?
Clark’s frown deepened, “So… your son, the crime lord, hacked into the Watchtower and put that on the screen because…?”
“… He wants attention.”
Hal snorted, “You really need to stop neglecting your kids, Spooky.”
“I’m not. We were watching the scary movie last night. It must have inspired him for a prank.”
Barry barked a disbelieving, near hysterical laugh, “A prank? Hacking into the Watch Tower is a prank?”
Bruce felt a migraine begin to form. He grunted as Hal joined with Barry’s hysterical laughter.
Clark covered his mouth politely when he chuckled, “Well, he certainly is your son.”
Bruce smiled something small, “Yes, yes he is,” then the Watchtower alarms started blaring and that smile vanished as quickly as it formed.
He cleared his throat, “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to deal with my son.”
The other Leaguers nodded, covering their ears to shield against the piercing alarm, “Please do! Quickly!”
Bruce quickly fled, transporting back to the safety of the Batcave. He’s sure Jason is in the Watchtower, watching the chaos unfold. His son isn’t the type to not want to see his scheming unfold - he would want a front row seat.
Bruce, however, does not. His teammates don’t need to know that though.
He collapsed into the soft chair at the Batcomputer and relaxed, removing his cowl.
He’s sure Jason will get bored eventually. When Jay does, he’ll will return to the Cave and that’s when Bruce will talk to him. Maybe afterwards they’ll even snuggle again; and if the consequences of his affection will be ominous messages left in the Watchtower? Bruce is happy to allow his team to pay the price.