Bruce brought Jason back to the Rolling Heads Gang's base. Since it was already very late, nearly all the children had returned to sleep. When they saw Jason covered in blood and carried back by a strange freak, Bruce faced a united assault unlike anything he had ever experienced in his life.
These children were like savage, vicious stray cats, baring their fangs and claws at anyone they considered an enemy. Even if they knew they might be outmatched, they would never show weakness.
Fortunately, Jason had only been slashed once. Though the amount of blood looked terrifying, none of his internal organs had been injured. In a weak voice, he said, "Nobody move!"
The words had actually been very quiet, because Jason did not dare exert himself. But the instant he finished speaking, the entire scene fell silent. The children's discipline deeply surprised Bruce.
Although everyone was still glaring at him with hatred, not a single one of them attacked him.
Bruce often put himself in Jason's shoes and wondered whether his eleven-year-old self could have accomplished this. He felt that leading the Rolling Heads Gang to prosperity would not have been difficult; the difficult part was winning their loyalty. Batman had never been good at that.
But for Jason, it was effortless. Jason took a breath, then said, "I'm fine. It's just an external injury. Big Sis, get the First Aid Kit from the cabinet. Cookie Sisters, go get needles and thread. Ellie, bring a basin of clean water. I remember there should still be some iodine... someone go look for it. Everyone else, leave. Go back to sleep. We still have work tomorrow."
In less than a second, the children scattered. Though many of them kept looking back at Jason every few steps, staring at him with