Project Dahlia

The mission had gone south so quickly that even Jason—someone who had seen his fair share of chaos—couldn't believe how fast things had fallen apart. It wasn't that the kids weren't prepared, it was that they had gone up against Hydra without the backup they'd been promised.

Damian had taken down two Hydra agents with a precision that made even Jason impressed, but the moment he'd been distracted, a shot rang out, grazing his arm.

Cassie had taken a knife to the ribs but didn't flinch. Instead, she had casually flipped the man over her shoulder and continued dispatching enemies with deadly efficiency.

Peter, Michelle, and Penny worked in sync like a well-oiled machine, weaving through the chaos with an ease that only years of practice could produce. But even they couldn't stop the unpredictable nature of the mission.

Ned was the lifeline. He kept the communications going, making sure the team stayed in touch and had the intel they needed.

But even with their combined skill, they were kids, and the toll was evident.

By the time they made it back to their makeshift base, a rundown building near Gotham, their bodies were bruised, bloodied, and exhausted. The group's usual banter was missing, replaced by tired silence.

Jason had been waiting for them when they came in, sitting in the kitchen, eyes focused on his tablet but clearly waiting for their return. Roy, sitting next to him on the couch, had a concerned look on his face. They'd done this before—taken in the kids, mentored them, patched them up after difficult missions—but seeing the kids this beaten down never got easier.

Damian entered first, his arm in a makeshift sling, looking like he wanted to bite someone's head off. Cassie followed, her usually fiery gaze muted, her breath shallow as she fought against the pain of her injuries.

Peter, MJ, and Penny arrived together, their expressions tired but still filled with a strange determination that only teenagers could have after a brutal mission.

Ned was last, scanning the room with wide eyes, his expression nervous as he glanced between the team and the two older men.

Jason stood first, his eyes flickering over Damian's injury. He didn't ask any questions, just walked over and placed a hand on his shoulder, gently guiding him to the couch.

"I'm fine," Damian muttered, trying to pull away. But the words were hollow, and Jason didn't let go.

"You're not fine," Jason said, his voice gentle but firm. "Now sit down. Let's get that arm looked at before you rip it off yourself."

Damian shot him a look, one that said he wasn't in the mood for fatherly advice, but he didn't argue. He slumped down on the couch, Cassie sitting beside him.

"Is it bad?" Roy asked, standing up and reaching for the med kit on the counter.

"I've had worse," Damian replied, though his voice lacked the usual bite it carried. Jason could tell that the mission had shaken him more than he was letting on.

"You've had worse," Roy said, cracking a small smile. "But this one still looks pretty gnarly, buddy."

Roy carefully removed the makeshift bandage from Damian's arm and began cleaning the wound. Damian winced but stayed silent, his usual sharpness dimmed by exhaustion.

Jason turned his attention to Cassie, who was attempting to hide the pain from the knife wound. "You're next," he said, more softly than usual.

Cassie met his eyes, her expression stoic. "I'm fine, Jason. It's just a scratch."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, and I'm Superman," he quipped, although his voice held no real humor. He walked over to her and gently pulled her hand away from her side.

"You're not fine," he said firmly, unbuttoning her jacket to get a better look at the injury.

"Jason—" Cassie started, but her protest was cut short as the pain of the injury flared. She winced.

"Yeah, that's what I thought," he muttered under his breath. "Roy, grab the gauze."

Roy handed him the supplies with a knowing look. Jason had seen too many people—himself included—push through pain to avoid showing weakness. But the kids had learned from the best, and even if they were strong, they were still too young to be pushing themselves to this limit.

As Jason worked on Cassie, Roy stood nearby, glancing over at the other members of Project Dahlia.

Peter was sitting on the floor, his head tilted back against the wall. His usually cheerful expression was gone, replaced by exhaustion. Penny, ever the chaotic one, had already made her way to the fridge, trying to scrounge together some semblance of a meal. Michelle was sprawled across the coffee table.

Ned was busy typing away on his laptop, monitoring everything, as usual, but Jason could see the concern in his eyes as he glanced at his friends.

"They need to rest," Roy said quietly. "But I don't think they'll do it until we force them."

Jason nodded, his gaze lingering on the kids as they took care of each other in their own way. They were a family now, and it wasn't just about saving the world—it was about keeping each other safe, making sure no one was left behind.

Damian had been silent for the past few minutes, but when Roy returned to sit beside him, he looked up.

"Jason..." he began, his voice quieter than usual. "Why do you care so much?"

Jason looked at him, his brow furrowing. "What do you mean?"

"You treat us like... like we're your kids," Damian said, his voice soft but edged with uncertainty. "Why?"

Roy glanced at Jason, waiting for the answer.

Jason sighed and sat down next to Damian, resting a hand on his shoulder.

"Because you're my kid," Jason said, his voice firm yet soft. "All of you are. You've been through hell and back, but you don't have to do it alone. You've got us now."

Damian didn't say anything, but he leaned into Jason's touch, just for a second. It was brief, almost unnoticeable, but it meant everything.

Cassie, watching from the corner of her eye, gave a slight smile. For all their tough exteriors, the kids weren't immune to the idea of family.

As the night wore on, the group settled in. It wasn't the first time Jason and Roy had taken care of the kids, and it wouldn't be the last. In fact, Jason was starting to wonder if there would ever be a day when he didn't have to remind the kids that they weren't alone. But for now, that was enough.

A few days later

The mission was supposed to be simple. Infiltrate Hydra's facility, extract intel, and get out. But when the Avengers were ambushed on-site, things took a sharp turn for the worse. The Avengers might have had their superpowers, but even they weren't immune to the sheer chaos Hydra had thrown their way.

Project Dahlia had been tasked with supporting the team on the ground, but what started as a simple extraction quickly became a full-on rescue mission. They were quick, efficient, and deadly, moving with the kind of precision that only years of training and an unshakeable bond could create.

But despite their skills, the mission took a toll.

Robin, with his razor-sharp focus, had been the first to take down a Hydra agent, but he wasn't the last. He was everywhere, like a shadow, cutting down enemies before they even knew he was there. But a stray bullet caught him in the side, knocking him to the ground. He fought through it, barely flinching, but his movements were slower now.

Rogue was a force of nature, slicing through Hydra agents like they were nothing. She didn't flinch when a knife embedded itself in her thigh. It was nothing she hadn't dealt with before, but it was enough to make her blood run cold.

Spider-Man and Spider-Woman worked in perfect sync, their webs and acrobatics keeping Hydra at bay. But when Penny took a blow to the head, everything slowed down. Peter's focus broke, and it was a split second of distraction that caused him to take a brutal punch to the jaw.

Cipher and Shadow were keeping them all updated, feeding them intel, making sure their comms stayed clear. But even their sharp minds couldn't prepare them for the sheer volume of Hydra forces. They kept everyone connected, but they also had to deal with constant interruptions in their communication feed.

In the end, they managed to save the Avengers, but it came at a cost. When the dust settled and the last Hydra agent had been dealt with, Project Dahlia was left standing—but barely.

Damian's side was bloodied. Cassie's leg was wrapped in makeshift bandages that barely held together. Peter's face was bruised, his cheekbone swelling rapidly. Penny's head wound was bleeding lightly, but her determined stare told Jason she was more annoyed than worried.

Ned was fine physically, but his hands were shaking from the intensity of the mission. The comms were silent now, and for the first time in hours, there was peace—peace and a deep, tired silence.

Jason, Roy, and Lian had been waiting at a safe house nearby. When the kids arrived, battered and bruised, Roy immediately cursed under his breath.

"I told Fury they were too young for this kind of thing," Roy muttered, his voice laced with frustration and concern. "They're kids, Jay. They shouldn't be doing this."

Jason didn't say anything. He couldn't. Roy was right. The kids were too young. They were too human for the things they'd been asked to do. But this was their life now. They didn't have a choice. None of them did.

Lian was standing nearby, her wide eyes taking in the scene, her expression somber. "They'll be okay, right?" she asked quietly, though she already knew the answer.

Jason rubbed his hand over his face. "They'll be fine," he said. But his voice lacked its usual confidence. He knew they wouldn't be fine—not until they took a breath, not until they had some time to rest.

Roy walked over to Peter, who had his mask off now, revealing his bruised face. "You okay, kid?"

Peter shrugged, though he winced as the movement hurt his shoulder. "I've had worse," he said, his voice light, but the pain in his eyes was obvious.

Roy shook his head, then turned to Jason. "We're making them take a week off. They're done. This mission almost killed them. They need time to heal."

Jason wasn't sure if it was the exhaustion or the guilt that made him hesitate, but the reality of Roy's words hit him hard. They need rest.

"Fine," Jason agreed, his voice quiet. He wasn't about to argue. The kids needed to heal, and they needed to feel safe. This wasn't about the mission anymore. It was about taking care of them.

The next few days were filled with quiet, slow mornings. Jason, Roy, and Lian made sure the kids rested. They put a stop to any mission talk, no matter how much Project Dahlia wanted to get back to work. For once, there were no comms running, no missions to prepare for, and no enemy forces to fight.

The house was filled with the sound of slow footsteps, quiet conversations, and the occasional groan of frustration. The kids, all of them, tried to push through it, tried to ignore the pain and exhaustion, but Jason and Roy weren't having it.

Damian, who rarely showed vulnerability, was surprisingly the most vocal about it. "I don't need to rest," he said the first morning, his voice sharp and defensive. But the way he winced when he moved told a different story.

"Yeah, you do," Jason said softly, putting a hand on his shoulder to guide him back to the couch. "You're staying here. No missions. Got it?"

Damian glared at him, but he didn't fight back. He just sat down and let out a long sigh.

Cassie, ever the independent one, had tried to sneak out the next morning. She was stopped by Lian, who put a firm hand on her shoulder. "You need rest, Cass," Lian said, her voice gentle but unwavering.

"I'm fine, Li," Cassie replied, but the tightness around her eyes said otherwise.

"Fine enough to fight Hydra?" Lian asked, crossing her arms.

Cassie sighed, dropping her shoulders in defeat. "I don't like sitting still," she muttered. "But I'll rest. For now."

Peter and Penny were the next ones to push back, trying to convince Roy they were good to go after just a couple of days. Roy raised an eyebrow. "Nope. You're not leaving this couch until you've had enough sleep and food. And don't think I'm not watching you, Spider."

Ned, ever the voice of reason, had given in almost immediately. "I'm not going anywhere," he said with a small smile, though even he had to admit the constant tension from the mission had left him mentally drained.

The house was a quiet retreat for the kids who were used to chaos. No missions. No training. Just rest. And Jason and Roy, the two men who had, for all intents and purposes, become their pseudo parents, made sure to look after them—taking the time to ensure they were okay, even if the kids never asked for it.

Lian, who had witnessed her pseudo brothers and sisters grow in strength and resilience, was the one to remind them that it wasn't just about the physical healing. "Rest means more than just sleep," she told them one evening, as they sat around the table, their dinner nearly forgotten.

"It's about healing here." She pointed to her chest, and though she didn't need to explain, they all understood.

Roy smiled softly. "Yeah, kid. I think we all need some time to heal."

The sun had set, casting long shadows over the apartment as the quiet hum of the evening settled in. The kids were lounging in various corners of the living room, sprawled out on couches and floor pillows. The air was thick with the smell of freshly made popcorn and the promise of something rare—something they all needed: a night of rest, relaxation, and just being.

Tonight, there were no missions. No Hydra agents to fight. No training to endure. Just a family, together in one place.

Jason and Roy had quickly become masters at maintaining a semblance of normalcy in the chaos that surrounded them, and a big part of that was their weekly tradition: movie nights.

It was a simple tradition, born out of necessity. After a particularly brutal mission, Jason had insisted that the team take a break, and Roy had rolled his eyes but agreed. They all gathered in the living room, the soft glow of the TV illuminating their faces, popcorn bowls in their laps, and blankets strewn over their shoulders.

It was one of those rare nights where the world felt far away.

Tonight was different, though. They were having a double feature. First, it was some cheesy 80s action flick Jason had insisted on watching—something about a muscle-bound hero fighting to save the day with one-liners and explosions. It wasn't much, but it was entertaining in the most ridiculous way possible.

"How is this even real?" Penny laughed, tossing a piece of popcorn into her mouth, her feet dangling over the armrest of the couch. "They're acting like real people don't make mistakes. Look at that stunt—he's literally jumping through a car window without a scratch!"

Damian, sitting on the opposite side of the room, gave her a deadpan stare. "That's the point. It's not supposed to make sense."

"Right, because it's a movie," Penny teased, sticking her tongue out at him.

Cassie, snuggled up against Damian on the couch, shot Penny a grin before turning her attention back to the screen. "It's like they're trying to make action a science. Too bad they didn't account for physics," she said, mimicking a dramatic leap from the movie, to which Damian chuckled softly.

Jason, from his recliner, looked over at Roy, his expression a mix of amusement and fondness. "You ever think these kids will ever get the concept of 'fun'? Every time we watch something ridiculous, they just pick it apart like it's a mission briefing."

Roy smirked, shaking his head as he sipped from his mug. "They've got no sense of fun. You and I know better. But hey, at least they watch it, right?"

Lian, curled up on the rug, was quiet for the most part. She had always been the observer, content to enjoy the warmth of the group without needing to dominate the conversation. However, every once in a while, she would throw in a sarcastic quip that had everyone chuckling. "Okay, I'm sorry, but he just kicked the bad guy in the face and the guy flew across the room. That's some superpower level stuff right there, and he's supposed to be human?"

The whole room burst into laughter, even Damian cracking a smile.

Jason's eyes softened as he looked around at the group. Despite their constant bickering and sarcasm, there was a warmth here. They weren't just a team. They were a family. And it had taken him a while to realize that. They were kids, yes, but they were capable of so much. They were fighters, but tonight, they were just enjoying the simplicity of each other's company.

"Alright, alright," Roy said, his voice laced with amusement. "We get it. Ridiculous action movies are dumb. Let's change it up." He reached for the remote, but before he could hit the button, Damian held up his hand.

"I vote for something with actual depth this time," Damian said, looking over at Cassie, who raised an eyebrow in response.

"I'm serious," he continued, his tone softer than usual. "No more explosions. No more mindless violence. Something... more."

Cassie chuckled, ruffling his hair. "Look at you, getting all soft."

"I'm not soft," Damian muttered, but he didn't pull away from her touch.

Jason and Roy exchanged a look. Jason, despite his gruff exterior, couldn't help but smile at the scene in front of him. It wasn't just the mission planning or the fights they went through together—it was moments like this, when all the chaos seemed to stop, that made it worth it.

"Okay, okay," Roy finally said, holding up his hands in mock surrender. "We'll go with your 'depth' thing, kid. But if this turns into a documentary about feelings, I swear to god—"

"Shut up, Roy," Jason muttered with a grin, then turned to the kids. "Pick your movie, then. We'll watch what you want."

Damian, for the first time in a while, smiled genuinely. "I've got just the thing."

He stood up, heading over to the stack of movies they kept in the corner of the living room. A few moments later, he returned with a sleek black case in his hands.

"I think this is a perfect choice," he said, dropping the movie in front of Jason. "It's called The Count of Monte Cristo. It's not just about revenge—it's about redemption."

Roy let out a groan but kept his expression neutral. "Man, you sure know how to pick 'em."

Lian's eyes lit up. "I've heard of this one! It's a classic." She bounced slightly on the rug. "Good choice, Damian."

Cassie raised an eyebrow. "Are you trying to say this is going to be some emotional rollercoaster? Because I'm not sure I'm ready for that tonight."

Damian shrugged. "It has action, betrayal, and a great story. You'll like it."

With a few groans and laughs, everyone settled in to watch. As the movie began, the room quieted, and even the usual banter from Project Dahlia fell away as they focused on the screen.

Later, as the credits rolled and the room filled with the sounds of stretching limbs and the rustling of blankets, Jason couldn't help but notice how much quieter everything seemed. Even the toughest of them—Damian, Cassie, Penny, Michelle, and Peter—seemed to have found a moment of peace.

"You know," Jason said, stretching and leaning back in his chair, "we really need to do this more often."

Roy grinned. "Yeah, we can't be all business, Jay. They need a chance to be kids. I think we all do."

Lian looked up at them with a smile. "Agreed. But next time? I'm picking the movie."

Jason snorted. "Oh, this ought to be good."