a/n: don't know what's happening with wattpad and not letting me center the dividers without fucking up the text.

also, i hope the buildup was worth it. because it's all going downhill from here.

song for this chapter: Haunted- Taylor Swift

"Nice to see you take a break for once."

"Don't start, please. Not tonight, Dick." I groaned, taking off my boots and thigh holsters. "Can we argue tomorrow? I'm tired."

"You said you were gonna take a break when we got back from Markovia and what do I see? My lovely fiancée suiting up the moment we got back home." Dick pointed out, leaning against the bedroom door as I removed my mask. "Wanna tell me where you went off to?"

"Gotham. Steph called me in a frenzy because the Knight was after Tim."

"Let Bruce handle it."

"He was chasing Joker again."

"Leaving you to deal with the teenagers." He scoffed and I narrowed my eyes.

"The Knight tried to kill Tim again. That's why Steph called me." I admitted. "Poor boy was so shaken up this time that I had to stay with him. Then Bruce had me go offline to get intel and didn't give me enough time to call and tell you... I'm sorry."

"Typical Bruce." Dick rolled his eyes and grabbed the first aid kit from under the bed. "Serious injuries? Or did Alfred take care of them?"

"Didn't have enough time. I have a cut on my leg that I think needs stitches. I just wrapped it up and drowned it in alcohol." I said as he gently removed my tights and grimaced at the bloody bandages.

"How this happened?"

"Fighting the Knight, he cut my leg with a fucking katana!" He... he didn't put up much of a fight afterwards."

"What do you mean?"

"He was acting like he regretted it. He started pulling his punches afterwards and-"

Recognized: Red Robin, B-20
Recognized: Spoiler, B-28

"HE'S IN BLÜDHAVEN!" Tim yelled and we heard a crash downstairs. "I'm okay!"

"I'll give you five minutes and meet us in the basement. I'll warm up the bikes." I sighed, pulling up my tights before grabbing my mask, guns and holsters. "Rubber bullets or real?"

"Both." Dick grumbled, pressing a light kiss to my forehead. "We'll argue later."

"If we don't pass out once we're back home or one of us gets a concussion... again."

"Good point."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"You're slowing down, boss."

"What day is it?" I asked, glancing at the trail of tulips that leads to the Gotham bridge. "Spoiler, what day-"

"27th." She answered and Dick widened his eyes.

"Domino..." Dick warned as I did a sharp turn to the bridge. "Wait, no!"

"He'll be at the cemetery." I said and called the Cave. "Domino to Cave, we might have a situation."

"Talk to me, Domino." Bruce called out and switched to video.

"I might have a Knight situation over at Gotham bridge. Trail of tulips that I think leads to the cemetery. Get me visual?"

"I've got nothing on cameras. Alfred and Oracle will be taking over. Orphan and I are following a Joker lead uptown."

"You two be safe and call if you need backup. I've got Nightwing and the danger twins with me."

"Domino, I've got visual on the Knight. He's heading to the cemetery by the long route." Barbara called out and I hung up on Bruce.

"Talk to me, Oracle." I smirked, speeding up my bike with Dick, Tim and Steph right behind. "Just made it past Pioneer Bridge."

"Head to Bleake Island. Maybe you can cut him off before he reaches the cemetery."

"Here's a dumb question. Why the hell would he go to the cemetery!?" Steph asked, speeding next to me.

"It's his thing. He always stops by the cemetery when he comes to Gotham." Dick explained and turned to me. "Red Robin and I will head left and try to cut him off by the studio."

"Lure him to the cemetery. He's been trying to get me there for a month." I decided and he nodded, reaching out to give my hand a squeeze before speeding away. "Oracle, keep an eye on my boys and keep me updated on Dad and Orphan. Spoiler and I are going radio silence but still online."

"Copy that, Domino. Good luck."

"This isn't gonna end well, is it?" Steph asked and my smile widened.

"Nope."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"It's too quiet."

"He's here." I whispered, crouching down to pick up a yellow tulip close to the Wayne mausoleum. "Hey, asshole! You got me where you want me!"

"You bring company." The Knight called, jumping down from the mausoleum and I shielded Tim and Steph while Dick tried to shield me. "Boy Wonder... always protecting his girl. The irony of things."

"You've got some nerve, Knight." Tim sneered and I clasped a hand over his mouth.

"Believe it or not, replacement, you're not the one I want. You're just an unnecessary step I have to take."

"You're not taking her." Dick protested, holding out his escrima sticks. "Over my cold and dead body. And I don't die easy."

"I know... Dickbird." The Knight laughed and Dick sucked in a breath, lowering his weapons slightly. "I have no intention of hurting her. I'll leave all my weapons behind if it'll make you happy."

"I call bullshit." Steph spat and I covered her mouth as well.

"Why?" I asked the Knight and he tilted his head while tapping his helmet.

"I come to show you the truth... and only you."

"What do you-"

"The boy you buried isn't yours."

"God, not this again!" Dick groaned and took a step forward. "I'm giving you ten seconds to walk away with the ability to breathe."

"I'll go." I decided and Dick turned with wide eyes. "If you leave all your weapons and tactical gear here."

"Same rules apply to you... but you'll need the crowbar." The Knight mused and I nodded, removing my belt and passed it to Dick. "Guns, tracker and comlink too, Maeve."

"Yeah, yeah. You gonna give me a pat down too or do I get to conserve some of my dignity?"

"I'll let Dickbird do the honors. Let the honest son do mine as well if it'll bring you peace of mind."

"Mom, I don't think-"

"Hush, Red." I hissed and outstretched my arms and legs. "Don't call the Bat and let me handle it. He'll make it worse."

"I'll be recording everything on your contacts and have the signal ready just in case. Be careful!" Barbara texted through the contacts but I removed them.

"For once, I agree." The Knight laughed as Dick started to pat me down, discreetly placing a knife on my left boot.

"Not a weapon in sight except for the crowbar." Dick announced.

"Which I'll be taking."

"Absolutely the fuck-" I interrupted Steph by throwing the crowbar to the Knight.

"Take me to the grave." I said and stepped forward. "The three of you stay behind and keep watch... There's no room for discussion here."

"But-"

"Let's go, Maeve."

"Lead the way."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"Your smile is smaller."

"I got another surgery a few years ago when Robin died."

"Trying to run from your past?" The Knight asked.

"Burying, not running. I don't run away anymore. It never did me any good." I shrugged and stopped right in front of Jason's grave only to see the casket in front of me. "You're a sick and sadistic-"

"Open it." He ordered and handed me the crowbar.

"To see my kid's decaying body? No thanks... I've already been through enough trauma to last me a lifetime and a half."

"Trust me."

Sucking in a breath, I pried open the casket with the crowbar and widened my eyes at the sight in front of me.

Jason's body was still intact... after three years.

"H-how is that-"

"Your boy is alive, Maeve." The Knight sighed as I fell to my knees.

"He's alive?" I whimpered and he placed a hand on my shoulder. "How is it possible? They... I... I held him as he died. He was so scared... we were both so scared."

"I know."

"How is that possible?" I asked and turned to face him. "And where is he? Why hasn't he come home yet?"

"Batman."

"I want him home." I cried and he crouched down to hug me.

"He'll be home soon, Maeve. I'll... I'll bring your boy home." The Knight promised.

It's so weird being comforted by someone who's supposed to be your enemy.

But why is his touch so familiar?

It can't be...

"You're him, aren't you?" I asked again and reached out to try and remove his helmet.

The Knight let out a shaky sigh and pressed a button on the back of his helmet, causing it to hiss open and he removed it along with the domino mask.

"Hi, Mom..." Jason cried as I reached out to touch the 'J' carved on his cheek. "I missed you."

"H-how is this-"

"Ra's and his Lazarus pit brought me back a month after Arkham. All I wanted was to come back home, but Talia kept me there... said I needed my memories back before I found you."

"I failed you, my little bird... I should've never dragged you into this life."

"Then you wouldn't have given me the best years of my life, Mom. I'm-"

"Time's up, asshole!" We heard Dick yell. Jason immediately turned to put on his helmet but I stopped him.

"Where are my danger twins?" I called out.

"Batman needs backup. I sent them to commit war crimes." He said, stopping in front of us and widened his eyes. "Sweet mother of-"

"Hey, Dickbird. Thought I'd come back to the land of the living to see my mom." Jason tried to joke but was taken aback by Dick tackling him into a hug.

"You fucking asshole. We thought you were dead for years!"

"I was... for a bit. Took a dip in Ra's pool for a bit."

"I'm so sorry I didn't get there in time to save you, Jaybird... If only I-"

"I'm not mad at you, Dick. I'm mad at Bruce."

"Jay, Bruce is-"

"He abandoned us, Maeve. You didn't see it that night. He fucking hesitated." He interrupted and I sighed, wiping his tears. "How could you have forgiven him?"

"Who said I did? I buried what happened that night when we put that casket six feet under. I worked for months to try and get my life back. Hell, I had surgery after I said I wouldn't go through it again... I didn't move past that night and I never will. I just buried it with the rest of my trauma." I defended.

"Jason, she killed the Joker. Our relationship with Bruce is strained because of everything that happened. He... he wasn't mad that Maeve went crazy and killed all those people in the asylum. He's mad that she killed Joker with the same crowbar he used to beat the both of you." Dick continued.

"You killed him?" Jason asked in shock and we both nodded.

"We sold the body to Pyg for his hellish experiments and that was the end of that. Until recently."

"But why?"

"Why what, Jay?" I sighed.

"Why are you two still fighting alongside him?"

"Because-"

"Don't say it's all you know because that's a fucking lie, Maeve." He spat as I lightly stroked his cheek again.

"Because those kids need someone to fight for them... We need to be the heroes for them... the ones the three of us didn't have." I said and Jason broke down crying again.

"That's not fair." He sobbed, hiding his face on Dick's shoulder. "It's not fucking fair!"

"I know it isn't, Jaybird." Dick sighed, removing his mask to wipe his tears.

"He replaced me... Bruce replaced me."

"He replaced all of us, my little bird." I pointed out. "Even I got replaced recently."

"How's Alfie?"

"Quiet. He only calls out Bruce when he's messing up. He's quieter than usual."

"But he's alright?"

"Yeah... he just misses what the Manor was like when it was the three of us."

"Come home, Jay." Dick begged. "You can stay with us in Bludhaven and we'll have Alfred visit. Mae will deal with Bruce and-"

"I can't go home." Jason admitted, reaching out to grab his helmet. "Talia has me on a leash. Until I find a way to leave the LOA without getting killed again or bringing any of you harm, I'm stuck over there."

"But all this-"

"Is the only freedom I'm allowed to have and the leash has just been pulled. I have ten hours left before they send people to kill me." He sighed as we all stood up. "Don't tell Bruce, please. I don't want to see him."

"When have we ever told him everything that goes on in our lives?" I chuckled and hugged him tight. "Will I see you again?"

"You will, Mom." Jason smiled softly and kissed my cheek. "I'll be home soon."

"We're holding you to it, little bird." Dick said and hugged him. "Your gear's inside the mausoleum."

"Thanks, Dickbird." He chuckled and kissed my cheek one more time before running away.

"What now?"

"We get my stuff, go home and tell nobody what just happened." I wiped my stray tears and turned to the now closed casket in front of me. "After we rebury this doll, of course... and if you still wanna argue, we can do that as well."

"I don't wanna argue." Dick sighed, pulling me into his arms and I started crying again. "I've got you, baby... let it out."

"Hey, we didn't... why is Domino crying and why is Jason's casket above ground?" I heard Tim ask, but I couldn't bring myself to face him.

"Never mind that. Help me rebury Jason before Batman comes and skins us alive." Dick ordered and handed me to Stephanie. "Take her home and don't leave her alone until I get back. This shouldn't take me-"

"Someone find me a shovel and tell Oracle to delete any footage she might have recorded through your contacts, Dick." I said with no emotion whatsoever.

"I took them off. Thought it was best in case you killed him."

"Hold up. You let the Knight get away!?" Steph exclaimed and I nodded. "Why!?"

"The rule." Dick and I answered quickly.

"You broke it with Joker."

"That was different than this. We don't kill." I shrugged, helping Tim lower the casket. "We must obey that rule, Stephanie."

"But-"

"Do as I say, not as I do."

"Yes, ma'am."