Fic: Blood and Family (2/3?). Bat characters. PG-13.

[museofspeed]

Title: Blood and Family (2/3?)
Author: shananagin
Claim: Supporting characters
Characters/Pairing: Cass, Steph, Jason, Barbara/Ted, Bruce/Selina, Tim, Bernard, Helena, Dick.
Rating: PG-13.
Word Count: 2350
Prompt: 15. Rapid healing/regeneration.
Summary: Steph and Cass go slaying. Bruce vows revenge. Bernard makes a lousy spy.
Author's Notes: I really, really like this universe. I think it'll be one more part. Anyway, this is the second part of Blood and Family, the previous part is here, beta'd by julius12, yadda yadda enjoy!



Crane wasn't at all difficult to take down. Steph and Cass both were skilled enough that either could have taken him alone, but together, he didn't stand a chance.

"That was kinda really easy," Steph said, as Crane turned into dust around her stake.

"Hey!"

Steph and Cass turned. Jason Todd had landed behind them.

"That was supposed to be my kill," he said.

"What do you care?" Steph asked. "He's dead now. Uh, re-dead, I mean."

"But I'd wanted to do it! I'd wanted to work off some…aggression."

"C'mon, Cass! Let's take him!" Steph shouted.

"Sounds fun," Jason said, easily dodging Steph's attack. "Maybe I should take one of you instead!" He caught Cass' hand, holding the stake safely above his head. "Bruce promised he'd give you to me," he said. "And Timmy gets your friend."

Cass smashed a vial of holy water in his face.

Jason screamed, stumbling back directly into Steph's stake.

He glared. "You'll pay for this," he gasped as he crumpled to dust.

"Pay?" Cass said.

Steph shrugged. "He can't do anything to us now. Wonder what he meant about Bruce giving us to him and Tim."

"Ask Barbara," Cass said.

"Good idea." She touched her communicator. "Hey, Oracle? We got two for the price of one! Jason Todd showed up!"

"I saw," Barbara said in her ear. "Security camera in the store across the street."

"You are creepy," Steph said. "So did you catch that thing he was saying?"

"I did," Barbara said. "I know what he's talking about, and I'm taking measures to counteract it."

"What is he talking about, though?"

"Don't worry about it," Barbara snapped. "Oracle out."

"Someone's touchy," Steph said. "I thought we discussed the whole not telling her slayers anything thing."

Cass shrugged. "Trust her," she said.



Barbara had barely slept over the past week. If Wayne was after her girls, she could not afford to waste time. She wouldn't let them go through that. Every minute not spent analyzing vampire attacks was spent with Ted, trying to break Wayne's control over her.

"I think I might have come up with an enzyme that'll process the controlling agent," Ted said.

"Yeah?" Barbara walked over to him. "That's great!"

"I still need to do more tests, but I think this one might be it!"

"Hope you're right. I'm sick of having to always be inside."

Ted grinned. "Would you be grateful enough to kiss me?"

"Just maybe," Barbara said, smirking.

"How about to sleep with me?"

Barbara laughed. "Think you've got to at least buy me a drink, first."

"Red or white wine? Or do you think champagne would be appropriate?"

"Let's work on fixing me first."

"Anything you want, pookiepie."

"I will hurt you, Kord."

"In a kinky way?"

Barbara laughed.

Ted smiled. "You should laugh more. You're so beautiful when you laugh."

Barbara blushed. "I – "

"Hey, Oracle, come in?"

Barbara was at her computers in an instant. "Keep working," she said to Ted. "I'm here, Helena. What do you need?"

"I've got…news. Not sure if it's good or bad yet," Helena said.

"What happened?" Barbara asked.

"I've got this student. Bernard Dowd. He disappeared about a week ago. Stopped coming to class, left home, no one was entirely sure what happened."

"Yeah?"

"Well, he just showed up in my office," Helena said.

"That sounds good. Catch?"

"He was muttering about vampires."

"What did he say?"

"Not much, just that he didn't want them to get him, then he passed out."

"Did your cross hurt him?" Holy symbols didn't work for most slayers. You had to have faith in the symbol, and seeing what vampires could do could kill faith in any god very quickly. Helena had stayed devout, though.

"No," Helena said. "But holy water burned him."

"Human servant, then? They could have sent him as a spy."

"So what should I do? Throw him out? He's a good kid."

"Of course not," Barbara said. "Bring him here. Keep him blindfolded, though. I'll talk to him."

"Isn't that dangerous?" Helena asked. "I could just keep him here."

"No," Barbara said. "We can learn things from him. Plus," she leaned closer to the microphone. "I think we might be close to finding a cure."

"That's great, Babs!" Helena said. "Do you think we'll be able to get Dinah back?"

"Maybe," Barbara said. "We'd have to get through Queen's defenses first. And he's one of the tougher vampires out there."

"I hope so," Helena said. "Miss having her around."

"We all do," Barbara said.

"It's different for you. You've got Ted and your girls. She was my partner."

"I know," Barbara said. "We'll get her back. Bring the kid to me?"

"Yeah, I'll see you soon," Helena said. "Helena out."



"They'll pay for what they did to Jason," Bruce said.

"It's not exactly surprising," Dick said. "He's a vampire. They're slayers."

"No one hurts my children," Bruce growled.

"We'll avenge him," Tim said. "Right, Bruce?"

Bruce nodded. "We will. We'll kill them all."

"I thought you said you'd enslave them for us!" Tim said.

Bruce smiled fondly at him. "Of course, Tim. You're right. Much more fitting punishment to condemn them to eternal servitude."

Tim smiled at Bruce. "Great. I've always wanted a human servant."

"They're not all they're cracked up to be," Dick said. "Believe me."

"We'll get your servant back too," Bruce promised. "The slayers will lead us right to her, if we ask."

"Thanks," Dick said quietly. "Just what I need."

Bruce touched his shoulder. "It's not good to fall for humans. If you want, you can turn her."

"Like I turned you?"

Bruce turned, letting his face light up in a rare smile. "Selina," he said.

"Hello, darling," Selina said, walking up to Bruce. "I hear you're planning to make a move against the slayers. I hope you weren't planning to do it without inviting me along?"

"I'd love to have you along," he said.

Tim rolled his eyes. "Would you guys like it if Dick and I left? You seem to have a lot to catch up on."

"Yes, that would be best," Bruce said, eyeing Selina greedily. "We'll meet tomorrow at sunset, as usual."

"Come on, Dick," Tim said. "Let's leave them."

Dick sighed again and let Tim lead him away.



"Wh – why am I being interrogated?" Bernard asked. "I didn't do anything wrong! Where's Ms. Bertinelli? Who are you?"

"Easy, Bernard," Barbara said. "I'm here to help you. I'm on your side."

"How come I feel like I'm in trouble, then?" Bernard said.

"Because I think you might be," Barbara said. "Helena said you were saying something about vampires."

"Y – yeah," Bernard said. "There was – I thought he – then he bit me, and I…oh god," he buried his face in his hands. "He made me do such awful things!"

"What did he look like?" Barbara asked calmly.

"D – dark hair. Blue eyes. Shorter than me. I was s – surprised that he was so strong."

"Did you get his name?"

"He said he was Tim Drake," Bernard said. "He…he tricked me. I thought he – I thought he liked me."

"They can be very convincing," Barbara said. "I need to know how you escaped."

"I don't know," Bernard said, his voice muffled by his hands. "I just…I don't know. I ran."

"Bernard, were you sent here as a spy?" Barbara asked.

"I – I – " Bernard was on the verge of tears. "No! I mean, why would I help them?"

"I don't think you would if you had the choice, of course, but I don't believe you're free from Drake's control."

"I am, I swear, I can't – please. Believe me."

"Bernard," Barbara said, touching his shoulder. "I used to be a human servant too, you know. I've never told anyone how I escaped. Do you know how I did it?"

Bernard shook his head. "I've got no idea. I didn't even know you – "

"Grayson let me go," Barbara said. "He ordered me to escape."

"He what?" Bernard said.

"He ordered me to escape," Barbara said again.

"But…why?"

"How should I know?" Barbara snapped. "It wasn't exactly the first thing on my mind!"

"Er, sorry," Bernard said.

"It's fine," Barbara said. "But that isn't the point."

"Oh? What is the point?"

"There isn't another way to get free. Believe me, I tried to find one. Which means either Drake freed you, or he sent you to spy. Now, I understand you're under orders, so if you can't tell me something, just tell me you can't tell me. Did Drake set you free?"

Bernard shook his head.

"Did you find a way to get free on your own?"

Bernard shook his head again.

"Were you sent as a spy?"

"I can't tell you that I was sent as a spy," Bernard said.

"Good," Barbara said. "Now, what exactly were your orders?"

"I'm not allowed to tell you that I'm supposed to find out how many of you there are and how strong, plus where your headquarters are and if you've got any major plans. But I can't tell you that."

"Good to know. Now, is there a time you're supposed to return?"

Bernard shook his head. "He told me to come back when I've learned all I can."

Barbara smirked. "Loophole. You'll never learn all you can." She stood up. "Just the same, I think you'll understand if we don't share any particularly key information with you."

Bernard nodded. "Y – yeah. But I'm supposed to look for information too."

"You totally owe me a blowjob!" Ted said, crashing through the doors. "I found – uh, when were you planning on telling me there was someone besides you in here?"

Bernard put his head down on his arms. "What have I gotten myself into?" he muttered.

Barbara coughed. "Ted. This is Bernard. Bernard, Ted. What have you found?"

Ted smirked. "I've tested the cure," he said. "It'll restore you to the moment before you changed. I'm a genius."

"A cure?" Bernard asked.

"For human servants," Barbara said, smiling thinly. "I'm sure it can work for you too."

"Oh, you're a human servant? Yes, it should definitely work for you too. Er, did you escape too?"

"He's a spy," Barbara said. "But did you say it will restore me to how I was the moment before I changed?"

"Yeah, just like if Wayne died. That's how it works, right? You start aging and stop healing from everything, but you're free."

"Ted," Barbara said, "When Wayne caught me, he broke my spine. The only reason I can walk is because this stupid curse rejuvenates me every night."

"Oh," Ted said. "Barbara, why didn't you say something earlier?"

"It didn't seem important!" Barbara said. "I mean, the human servant thing cured me, so it didn't seem to matter!"

"Well, we can keep working on it. But I don't think we could find anything that would let you keep the healing and eternal youth."

"But it would work for me, right?" Bernard asked. "I can be free?"

"Yes, yes, it should," Ted said. "Come on, we'll try it on you."

"No," Barbara said. "I don't care what it does to me. I go first."

"We can counteract the – "

"No," Barbara said. "When Wayne dies, I'll revert anyway, right? Might as well get it over with. Besides, I won't be helpless. I'll have to change my fighting style, but it's certainly possible to fight without the use of legs."

"Babs, this is a terrible idea," Ted said. "I am not going to let you go out with a broken spine. It'll take weeks for it to even stop hurting!"

"Dammit, I want to be free!" Barbara said. "I don't care about the side effects!"

"No," Ted said.

"Ted, I swear – "

"But there might be another way!" Ted said quickly. "Look, give me one more day. I might be able to adjust the solution so that it'll shield you from the compulsion."

"That sounds perfect!" Barbara said.

Ted shook his head. "It's not permanent. It's like pain medication. It'll go after the symptoms, not the disease. And if we do manage to kill Wayne, it'll affect you exactly how the cure would. You'd be reverted to the state you'd been in before you were turned."

"Great," Bernard said. "Me? Freed? It would make this whole 'telling you everything I know' and not being a spy thing a lot easier!"

Ted and Barbara looked at each other.

"Well?" Barbara said.

"Um, I guess," Ted said. "But – "

"Please," Bernard said. "I didn't – I was tricked. I didn't expect this."

"I just…Babs, could I talk to you for a minute?"

"Fine," Barbara said. "I'll be right back," she told Bernard.

"Barbara, I don't trust this kid," Ted said. "Who is he? How do we know he's doing what he says he is?"

"Does it matter?" Barbara asked. "Even if he's still doing what he was told to do, he'll stop once we cure him. Do it."

Ted didn't look convinced. "I don't know about this, but I'll trust your judgment."

"Thanks." Barbara touched his arm. "I really appreciate everything you're doing for me."

"Yeah, well," he smiled. "Anything for you." He cleared his throat. "Look, Barbara, I know we joke about it – "

"Don't," she whispered. "Maybe when this is over, but not now. I have to focus on my work." She tried to walk away.

Ted grabbed her hand. "But who knows if we'll even survive this! Even if we win, you'll lose your legs. We might not be able – "

Barbara's eyes flashed. "And if that happened, what would the point be, right? You know, I honestly thought you had feelings for me for a minute there."

"What? No! I'd still – I'd just – "

"Give Bernard the cure," Barbara said coldly. "Then we can work on my temporary solution."

"I was thinking of you," Ted said. "I just wanted to make you happy."

"It's far too late for that," Barbara said. She walked over to Bernard. "Come on," she said. "At least one of us can still be saved."


Next!

Comments

[saavikam77.livejournal.com]

Gaaahhh! O_O I know I'm not supposed to root for the bad guys, but... poor Jason! >_<

Ahem! :p

I love how Babs got Bernard to spill the beans. :p Reminds me of Xander as a Renfield.

Hope Ted can come up with something better for Babs, of course. The angst is heartbreaking!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Jay was evil! Evil, I say! It was him or Cass and Steph! Anyway, he was already dead. This way he's just not undead anymore. He's, um, happy now?

And now I will not say anything because there's more to come and I'm notoriously bad at not spilling the beans!

But I'm glad you liked it! Angst and dead Jason aside!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

: ( I felt bad about killing Jay, but in this verse, the heroes kill the villains. This isn't the Jason Todd we know and love from the comics, just as Tim, Bruce, Dick are all not how they are in the comics. But I'm glad you liked it besides that!

XD I really, really loved that idea when I thought of it. Oh, I'm so not going to say anymore. *clamps hand over mouth and giggles madly*

Thanks! I hope you'll like the next part too!

[cissie-king.livejournal.com]

This is going nice. Jason should die in horrible ways in every fanfic. Like in a porn JLA fanfic, Superman and Wonder Woman can be having sex and Jason just runs into the room screaming "Oh my God, I got a bomb in my chest" and then explode. Or in that Batman MPREG / Abortion fanfic, Jason should be the fetus. Maybe he is... I don't think I would read it anyway.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Yay! Someone who isn't sad about me killing evil Vampire Jason!

Also, I have to say that would be hilarious. It should even happen in unrelated fandoms. Like, Harry and Malfoy are having sex and suddenly, Jason dies. Hell, it works with everything!

[nycscribbler.livejournal.com]

Every fandom needs a sacrificial lamb. Maybe they can even accidentally cause each other’s death in crossovers.

[axolotl-lan.livejournal.com]

Yay, vampire Jason is dead.

Dick let Babs go *someone has a crush*

Selina and Bruce <3

Go Slayers dust those vamps!~

and Hopefully you eventually get the smexings you need Ted hopefully it isn't with that sex demon Booster

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

XD This one isn't Ted/Booster. Booster is...um...heck, I don't know. On his honeymoon with Gladys? Shut up, I love Gladys.

Glad you liked! Thank you!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Bwahahahahahahaha I'll never tell. Well, I will, but not until the time comes in the story. So technically it won't be me telling. I'm all about the show-don't-tell thing.

Oooh, concrit! No one does that on LJ!

Yeah, I know I'm very dialogue heavy. I just love banter! And I also sort of know what you mean about the narrative being a little choppy. I had some issues writing it, some things I wasn't sure if they worked. Any examples of a particular place?

As for the who else I'm going to kill...weeeellll*slaps hand over mouth and hums innocently.*

[anthraciteowl.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I still want them all to sit down together and work it out. Which is exactly the wrong reaction, considering that each group considers the other their rightful prey.

Yep, Bernard completely fails all right. Unless he has an ulterior motive for wanting that 'cure'.

Babs is awesome. Completely awesome.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I'm trying not to spoil my next part, but I'll still say that sitting down together and working it out? Not going to happen.

And Barbara is definitely awesome.

[unrequited-rain.livejournal.com]

*huggles* you are so awesome


also: I'm trying to lure you with pictures of hot girls :D

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Yay, hot girls!

Lure me to what?

[darthbatgirl.livejournal.com]

Huh, wasn't expecting Jason to die in the second part. I'm not upset mind you, just wasn't expecting it.

And Dick ordered Barbara to escape? Awww, he's in love with her, why do I not see any type of Buffy and Angel thing going on between them. Babs really can't stand the thought of him.

And poor Ted, he really stepped into it didn't he?

And there has to be more to Bernard than what's going on. He's not betraying Tim, nope don't believe it.

Can't wait for the next part. :)

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

I wasn't expecting it either. But he did take on two very good slayers. Who were armed to the teeth. Plus, he's Jason Todd. If I was gonna kill someone off early, it'd be him. And now Bruce gets to be vengeful!

I am having so much fun with the Dick/Barbara thing.

I know. He really was just thinking of her, but he completely failed to get that across to her.

Glad you liked it!

[rocaw.livejournal.com]

I love that Dick let Barbara go!!!

And awww, Bruce and Selina! Yay!

I'm not sure about Bernard, though... *is suspicious*

Great chapter! =D

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

XD That's one of my favorite twists in this thing. Oh, the difficulty I had not revealing that before the time came! Glad it worked.

Bruce and Selina are too much fun to not be together.

No comment on the Bernard thing.

Thank you!

[ex-felonazc.livejournal.com]

TEEEEDDDD! *huggles* You just don't have a way with words, do you? It's okay, Babs is only huffy because she's secretly in love with you... right? *puppy eyes*

Also, as everyone else says, Whoo Dick for letting Babs go! I can totally see him doing that. You selfless jerk, Dickie. *hugs*

More, more, MOAR!

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Poor Ted. He tries so hard...*sigh* The question is, will I let them be happy or not? I HAVE SO MUCH POWER! *cackles madly*

: ) I had fun with that. Dick has issues.

There will be! Patience, patience!

[madripoor-rose.livejournal.com]

Fantastic vampire AU.

"You totally owe me a blowjob!" Ted said, crashing through the doors. "I found – uh, when were you planning on telling me there was someone besides you in here?"

snort. Oh Ted! Why does that make me think of that one Buffy episode where Xander shouts 'Nothing can defeat the penis!'?

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

I don't think I've seen that one. I'm still on season three and will be until I've stopped craving Avatar. I need to finish it to get to season four so I get Spike back WHY IS THERE NOWHERE NEAR ENOUGH SPIKE?

Anyway! Glad you like it! Ted is fun to write.

Thanks!

[seriousfic.livejournal.com]

"Grayson let me go," Barbara said. "He ordered me to escape."

"He what?" Bernard said.

"He ordered me to escape," Barbara said again.

Aww. See, this is why Dick needs to vamp Kory. She would've defied his order through her overwhelming love of (conspicuous ellipsis)... Dick.

"Sounds fun," Jason said, easily dodging Steph's attack. "Maybe I should take one of you instead!" He caught Cass' hand, holding the stake safely above his head. "Bruce promised he'd give you to me," he said. "And Timmy gets your friend."

Cass smashed a vial of holy water in his face.

Hee. Nobody fucks with Cass's girl. When they get married, Tim had better not walk Steph down the aisle, because Cass will cold-cock him for holding hands with her. And being in a church would probably cause him to explode.

[museofspeed.livejournal.com]

Aww. See, this is why Dick needs to vamp Kory. She would've defied his order through her overwhelming love of (conspicuous ellipsis)... Dick.

But then we don't get Babs being all hardass and revengy!

Hee. Nobody fucks with Cass's girl. When they get married, Tim had better not walk Steph down the aisle, because Cass will cold-cock him for holding hands with her. And being in a church would probably cause him to explode.

Only if Helena's there from how it works here. In any case, he probably won't be invited since he's, y'know, evil.