It doesn’t take the goons long to work out the rule either
Mockingbird has one job, and one clear berserk button: Robin 3
And let’s be honest, none of them enjoy the part of gooning that is “try to beat up a literal child”, even if they’ve come to terms with it and the child kicks their ass every time
(Well, some of them do, but their numbers wane EXTREMELY fast after Mockingbird’s debut. Some are found still alive but usually they seek alternate employment far, far from children
Danny doesn’t allow risks to his loved ones)
But while there was always the “fuck Robin’s here get him restrained” for 1 and 2, Robin 3… you don’t want to get your hands on Robin 3
Yeah, the Bat is also much touchier about his new boy and will go Extreme Prejudice if he’s in danger, but the Bat is the nice one
The Bat knows they’re all criminals, and gets that this is part of the vigilante thing, they’re gonna try and knock out or incapacitate his trainees. Vengeance is swift, but the Bat is merciful
This comes into clear contrast once Mockingbird joins the scene
He doesn’t stop Robin from fighting or get in the way; the kid’s as hands on as both predecessors, there’s the exact same frantic scrabble to take him down and get the weapon out of his hands so you can tie him to something
(Any rogue who wants Robin dead wants to do it personally anyway, so you double don’t want to be the one that ruins that)
But you point a gun?? At Robin 3?? Your hands are empty before you know it, and that sly, mocking voice comes from just behind your ear, where you know no one could be
“Now that’s not fair is it?”
Other things disappear too. Sometimes it’s as mild as your belt, or your shoelaces are suddenly tied together, and yeah Mockingbird will ABSOLUTELY steal your pants and you’ll never know how
If you get a shot off though? Things appear places they shouldn’t, and you realize just how nice Batman is that he only kicks your ass and restrains you for the cops
Danny doesn’t want Tim to find out about all the background stuff he does, because Tim’s a competent kid and would hate to be undermined, but now the goons are all a lot more careful about what might accidentally seriously maim a child
(Part of this is in response to Batman’s wave of violent fury after Robin 2 died. Self preservation. But finding jagged edges of ice between your toes, in your ears, up your nose?
You only fuck with that once before you start wondering where else Mockingbird could get that ice. How much bigger the chunks could be
Penguin is desperately trying to hire Mockingbird to maintain the Iceberg Lounge)
Red Hood’s return is correspondingly extremely different. Jason’s furious another kid got put in the suit, but it takes about 30 seconds to realize this kid has Protection
Serious Protection, and it ain’t from Bruce
There’s a lot more jealousy, a lot more “why does he deserve this when I didn’t”, it’s still anger and bitterness as he plans, takes heads, taunts Batman
But Danny never forgets a soul
So Jason gets a visit before Jason gets anywhere near Tim (who is very upset that Danny is definitely keeping a secret from him, but Danny will make it up to him)
Danny apologizes that he didn’t save Jason. That he and Tim were watching over him, but Danny couldn’t protect him too
It’s not what Jason wanted, it’s not even close to Bruce admitting his failure. But Danny’s so obviously relieved to see him alive, explains that dying can be a much less binary scale than people think, notices the pit
Danny won’t tell Bruce if Jason doesn’t want him to, cuz Jason gets to come out in his own time, but he offers help. Kindness. Tells him how Tim got started, got caught, and got ghost training to keep going
How much Tim worried when Jason disappeared
And he asks Jason to at least tell Tim he’s okay, because Tim thought he could stop if Jason ever came back
(Tim doesn’t fucking stop, he lied to himself and also to Danny)
And Jason asks where the Joker is, because there’s been hide nor hair of him since about a week after Robin 3 debuted
And Danny goes real quiet
Because he can tell Jason where the Joker is, but Jason won’t be able to see him. Not without one of those body finders that can see through rock
Danny doesn’t. Allow. Risks. To his loved ones.
He couldn’t save Robin 2, but he can keep Robin 3 from being anywhere near the same danger
(Jason solemnly swears never to lift a finger against Tim because holy fucking shit nope nope nope his plans are now Bruce And Bruce Only)
(He does sign one of Tim’s favourite photos of him as Robin though)
