Talon retaliates without thinking.

Before Jason had even straightened his arm, Talon fought back. Lightning fast, he grabbed Jason's thumb and bent it backwards, his right hand lunging to dig into Jason's left eye. Jason yowled, and flung Talon to the side.

Talon crashes into the display case within the batcave, the weapons inside crashing into the ground. The thundering echoes trigger the alarm.

Compared with Talon, Jason looks worse. His fingers have been broken, his eye socket bloodied as his eye had been nearly dug out. Fortunately, the Lazarus pit's healing qualities have yet to vanish. He whimpers, and forces his fingers back to their original position. His eyes glow green, gradually healing until only the blood on his face remained to prove the reality of what has just transpired.

Jason was confused; he'd easily pushed Dick away. The illusionary Dick could be killed, but difficult to shake off. He- no, it - was always able to recover immediately, unlike the way it's sprawled out across the debris. At the same time, he could feel the heaviness of his body, the wavering but steady strength. His heartbeat quickens, blood gushing into his head as his breathing shallows.

The reality of these sensations does not absolve him of his suspicions. Since his resurrection, he'd been plagued by hallucinations - he cannot let down his guard.

These thoughts slowed his reflexes. By the time he'd sensed it, it was too late. Robin's sword just misses his head as he dodged, but the blade catches him by the ear and shoulder, which healed almost immediately.

Red Robin fires a taser, the rods attaching themselves to Jason's chest. The electricity jolts him. A wounded bear, Jason yanks it off and plows towards Red Robin.

Robin uses the distraction to cut towards Jason's waist. Jason dodges, spinning around to sweep Robin's feet from beneath him. He grabs the child by the back of his neck and lifts him, rendering him helplessly shaking his legs.

"You can't fool me, monster. No matter what you change into!" Jason smirks, grabbing Robin by the neck.

As he struggled under the deadly grip, Robin notices the blaze of insanity burning in Jason's eyes - he'd same the same kind of despair in his grandfather's eyes countless times. That, and in addition to this Talon's abnormal rate of healing, Robin came to the disturbing realization.

"Lazarus pit...." he chokes out, trying to free himself from Jason's grasp. He has the disadvantage in height, his back wounded. The same trick won't work on Jason twice.

"Yes yes yes!! I remember! The Lazarus pit! You all love to torment me! Why won't you just let me die?!"

"Let him go!" Red Robin slams his staff down on the back of Jason's neck. But the force from one arm was too little to stop Jason, who does not even bother to look back.

Before he could think of another way to stop Jason, a black shadow dashes past him. Talon grabs Jason by the neck, bringing him down towards the ground with his own weight. The three tumbled into a heap, struggling. Robin lands on all fours, coughing as he holds Jason down. Talon locks Jason's neck and arms, flinching as he listens to Jason's cries.

Talon wants to stop Jason, but is unable to know how - he's been trained to take lives, not to spare them.

"Little ... Little Wing, look at me.... I am..." Talon struggles to tell him he's Richard Grayson, but those are words he himself wouldn't even believe. He'd been a Talon for far too long.

Tell him you are Dick. You are Dick. Hurry, don't disappoint him again.

"I am... Dick.. the real Dicka..."

"Don't ever think you'd fool me with the same trick! I don't fall for it." Jason cackles, but his movements slowed. He raises his head, studying Talon's face - Dick's hair is longer than usual, almost enough to cover half of his face. The dark skin of his Romani heritage has transformed to a sickly white. The laughter between his brows have vanished, leaving behind only blankness.

Perhaps this is what Dick would really look like as a Talon? Jason questions. Or he is already dead. No, it's me who's dead. Wait. Dick is in the hands of the Bat? But this is better than the Court. The Bat is a virtuous person at least. Okay. It's okay if I were dead. It's okay if I just let myself sink into this.

Jason's intent gaze elated Talon. Little Wing finally believes us.

Jason's next words turn his heart to ice. "I give up. Do what you wish." Jason stops all struggles as he reaches for Talon's face, unable to control himself. His palm brushes against Dick's skin and lashes, the sensation too real to be mere illusion.

Or if it were, it is the most realistic one yet.

The lock on his throat shifts into an incomplete hug. It's been so long since Talon had hugged anyway that loosening his grip is a novel sensation. He didn't dare hug Jason too tightly, his arms instead hanging around Jason's bruised shoulders.

Don't give up on me. I won't leave. You can't make me.

"Don't give up on me. I won't leave. You can't make me," said Talon Number 140 and Richard Grayson in unison. The voice inside himself merged with his own until the two became a single sound. He hugs Jason's head, repeating. "Don't give up on me..."

The scene plays out on a screen. The prosecutor studies the display, including the equipment and the alarms within the batcave. Before leaving, he'd attached a camera onto Dick. As soon as he sent the signal, the camera has changed into a mechanical bug, moving as he needed.

Batman is not the only one with toys.

"This is your plan?" An elderly voice sounded behind him.

The prosecutor turns, and bows respectfully. He then strides to the newcomer, pushing his wheelchair into the light of the screen.

Under the fluorescent lighting, the Judge's haggard face looks younger, reminiscent of his early years. His graceful youth has vanished into his muddled eyes and scar-like wrinkles.

The prosecutor smiles mirthlessly. He does not answer the Judge, instead gesturing him to keep watching.

On the screen, the Robins have left out of courtesy despite their confusion - they seem to trust the Talons will give a proper explanation later.

Finally alone, Dick struggles to communicate with Jason. "Jason, I don't know what to say..."

"Take your time. I'm dead anyway. We have a lot of time." Jason's face is blank, as he still believes himself to be in an illusion.

At this, the Judge shakes his head. "I heard that he's severely wounded - yet he was able to recover to this extent this soon." He turns to the prosecutor, waiting for an explanation.

"This particular Talon has been treated with the real Lazarus pit. His healing abilities are much more than those of other Talons. Our eighteenth test subject is much more resilient than his predecessors." The prosecutor appraises Jason with satisfaction, as if weighing the value of a jewel. "I've experimented countless times - on the living and the dead. They'd either die from the ensuing insanity or the body would fall apart immediately. Only he was different - except perhaps a little confusion."

"If this is considered only a little, then I suppose the Joker is only moderately psychotic? Am I to believe that medical science is able to save this kind of lunatic?"

The prosecutor shrugs. "Don't be too harsh. Today's science has yet to uncover the secret behind the Lazarus pit."

"But, the fact that still surprises me is that Ra's al ghul had agreed to let you experiment. And that you've done it more than once."

"This was a unanimous decision passed by the jury. We paid quite a bit of money for it, and a promise to alliance with the League of Assassins. At that time, you were still in the hospital - I didn't want to disturb your rest."

"Really?" The Judge glances at Jason, unimpressed. "The Lazarus Pit can really rejuvenate the old?"

"Of course. It can resurrect the dead and rejuvenate the old. Just look at Ra's al ghul. However, the side effects are not to be taken lightly. Look at poor Jason Todd. He's been plagued by illusions since awakening. Yet's he's still fighting. This child is particularly resilient."

The Judge remains silent.

"I need to experiment more - I need more data to fully understand the quality of the Lazarus Pit. Only then will you have the opportunity to return to the way you were."

"No. I do not need my youth. Nor do I need to live forever. To grow old and die is a natural cycle of life." The Judge rubs his stiff palms together, trying to warm them. "I'd rather the Pit resurrect you. I know that the dead cannot use their five senses - but I wanted you to live... like the living."

"Do you now understand why I was so against my students being made into the dead?" The prosecutor's smile is marred by resentment, but the weak lighting disguises it. He kneels on one knee, respectfully adjusting the Judge's blanket. "They are my only students. Their meaning to me is the same as mine to you."

"...."

"I need them."

"You have the entire Court. And not far in the future, all this will be yours, my child." The Judge caresses the prosecutor's soft hair, the cold strands sifting through his gnarled fingers. "Is the Court less important than your students?"

"I never wanted the Court."

"Are they more important than me?"

The prosecutor bows his head, leaning into the touch. Annoyance flickers across his downcast eyes. "Of course not. You are the reason I continue to exist."