Chapter Text
Jason startles forward towards the... what even was it, a portal, a mistake. Either way, he was currently being jolted into entering and arriving on the other side. Gotham's whispers of approval eased through him, if it were any other situation Jason would have probably just melted at the soft words, but right now he needed to get to the crying figure on the floor.
A wave of deja vu drowned all of Jason's thoughts like a tsunami. The eerily similar sound of a child mourning a parent too soon. A young boy shaking his mother's shoulders, praying that she would get back up like all the times before. Needles. Drugs. Blood. Spit-covered faces.
A pain, small like the thing making it, made its presence known on his arm. There was a hand gripping his bicep, not releasing. Jason somehow ended up with the child held tightly in his arms, with Bruce in his arms, because that is who this is, Bruce. Jason really needs to focus right now. He started with the fact that if Bruce was crying in that oh so familiar way that meant that his earlier assessment of the dead adults on the ground was right, and they were in fact, Martha and Thomas Wayne.
Wasn't the whole point of this supposed to keep everyone as happy as possible? The kid holding onto him like a lifeline (Jason might be in all seriousness) didn't seem too happy. In fact, he looks like, well, like his parents died.
Jason pet the young boy's hair (just like how Bruce used to do for him every time he remembered needles, drugs, blood and the too pale face of his mum) and tried to console him the best the broken man could, sharp edges manoeuvring around soft kindness.
While the chi-no, Bruce. While Bruce was weeping and shaking unreachable, soul swallowed whole his just a body left behind, Jason skillfully removed the pearl earrings and necklace from Martha and Thomas' wallet while balancing Bruce in his arms, like he would let go any time soon.
-----*-----
Jason doesn't think Bruce knows that he's started walking. He doesn't think he's even awake, but the tears have stopped flowing to the prior extent, which is honestly a relief. If the younger person hadn't stopped, Jason thinks, he would have turned into a raisin from dehydration. The strong grip on Jason's arm hasn't yet left, and honestly, he doesn't think it ever will.
As Jason called a cab of Martha's phone (the password was Bruce's birthday) a few people looked at Jason and Bruce with concern but that was atlest better than the women that said that he was doing an amazing job (Jason had a very stong feeling that she thought he was Bruce's dad, which was actually insane seeing as B was his dad) but he just nodded and continued the call.
-----*-----
They were now only a mile away from the manor, now. Jason stopped the cab at the entrance to the diamond district so that he could walk the rest of the way. His feet started going numb after 5 miles, but he had walked further carrying heavier.
Jason was suddenly outside the manor, and Bruce was definitely asleep. Jason could hear his soft snores, muffled by the older's shirt. Jason decided to let the poor (haha very funny) boy sleep. Jason knocked on the heavy door. Should he leave Bruce here? He doesn't think he could face Alfie after putting his body in the ground.
The choice is ripped violently from him as the aforementioned butler pulls the heavy doors open and warm air rushes over his too-cold body.
"Thom- who are you?" Alfred's warm words instantly hardened at the unknown person. It almost hurt, the coldness in his grandfather's voice, but Jason understands.
"Hello, Alfred. I'm called Peter. And I unfortunately need to bear you bad news." Jason drawls, his tone and feeling are complete opposites, indifference against fear, care and a heart bursting love.
Why did he have to say Peter. He knew it couldn't be Jason, that would come to bite him in the ass later. Pete was what he went by when he did drug running as a kid. Peter was old and new all at once and he kind of wanted to throw up.
Alfred raised an eyebrow at Jason at the words but let him continue.
"As you can clearly tell I am holding Bruce. This is because Martha and Thomas are dead."
The older man's breath hitches at the detrimental words. "May I come in, to further explain?"
Alfred moved out of the doorway eyeing the child sleeping in Jason's arms. He moved to the kitchen automatically, as he had so many times prior. He was reminded of late nights turned early mornings when he and Alfie would sit and drink hot chocolate, sometimes they would talk, but most of the time Jason was too broken from his nightmares of needles, drugs, blood and spit-covered faces.
Alfred looked at him oddly, he had every right to be. This complete stranger (it hurt to say that but it was true) just showed up at his doorstep holding his charge and claiming that his employers (Jason wasn't dumb enough to believe that Alfred's relationship with B's parents was simply that, but he had no solid proof) were dead. He then walked right in and apparently knew where the kitchen was.
Maybe Jason was that dumb, because he propped the sleeping Bruce on his hip and started making Alfie's favourite tea. Why? Why was Jason this much of an idiot? Well, too late now, the tea's been made and Jason grabs three mugs and moves to the kitchen aisle. This is when he sees the absolutely gobsmacked look on Alfred's face. Fuck. Why? Jason pleads for Gotham to answer his prayers and tell him why the fuck she thought this was a good idea. This is why no one should ever listen to Jason's stupid thoughts, cause he will end up in the worst places known to man.
"Tea?" Jason raises his eyebrows at Alfred while holding the steaming kettle up higher, like he couldn't already fucking see it. Someone please kill Jason, he is actually begging for someone to just shoot him dead already.
"What." That word would indicate a question but Jason knew it to be a command. He had heard that tone so many times as a child. It still gave him shivers.
"I'm a time traveller, either that or i can move to a parallel universe identical to mine." Jason should have stayed dead the first time. He should not have woken up in his grave and this interaction is proving it. Fuck.
"What." Jason understands Alfred's current feelings. Sort of. He never lived a normal life, not even before robin.
"Tea?" And fuck, Jason was desperately grasping at straws here, but he needed to at least try to communicate.
Alfred seemed to give up at that. He sat down in a seat and started to rub at his temples. Good to know that Jason will forever be causing Alfred headaches. Jason tryed to put Bruce down but him grip on Jason hadn't faltered so the older of the two didn't try again, instead pouring two of the three mugs with the tea. Fuck. Jason forgot the milk.
"Sit down, I'll get it for you." So Alfred did know how to read minds. Thats besides the point, Alfred told him to do something, so he did.
Sat down Jason needed to rearrange Bruce so that the kid didn't have to let go. Alfred put the milk on the table rather aggressively. Jason took it and gave Alfie the amount of milk he would have gotten befo-bad thoughts no. Alfred's stare worsened at the teacup.
"Oh, I should probably give you these." Jason emptied out the pockets that held the valubles. This is why Jason needed them. So he could give them back.
The sound of police sirens are faint. But in a place this big it probably means that they are at the door. Alfred gave a world breaking sigh. And for what felt like the thousandth time today, Jason couldn't blame him. The police have and always will be a fucking nuisance (more specifically the GCPD). Alfred took a long swig of his tea before standing up the greet the people at the door.
With Alfie out of the room Jason could try once more to extract him self from the child.
"Bruce please I am begging you, let me leave, please." Jason was soon approaching hysteria. He had a thought (it did not in fact hurt, thank you very much) and slipped out his jacket. He went even further and positioned it as a pillow for the soft bones (thats creepy Jason, stop it) of the child.
The same glow as before appeared to his side. Jason jumped like a scardy cat before settling back down. Jason wondered breafly is he should tell Alfred that he is leaving, but decided against it. The older man was already pissed enough.
Jason looked through as it precented his bed. If he didn't despise Gotham this much, he could be convinced into kissing her.
Sleep
Gorgeous sleep
Jason flopped down, not caring for his clothes. All he wanted was to rest.