Chapter Text
Jason, strapping himself in the red, green and yellow suit, looked up at Bruce who was currently leaning in front of the Bat-Computer with his hands pressed against the slick black desk.
Quickly grabbing the last few gadgets to fill his multitude of pockets, the young vigilante called out across the cave. "Hey B! Are you done yet?" Sure, he sounded a bit whiny but Bruce takes so long when looking over files. Thankfully it seemed Gotham's villains didn't like the harsh weather as much as the other, though he had no doubt someone would stir up trouble soon.
The old man just grunts in affirmative, clicking off whatever case he was looking at before turning back to Jason.
"Remember, you are to stay with me unless I tell you otherwise. That means no running after criminals without telling me and absolutely no sneaking off." The words are stern but hold a layer of parental worry that has him rolling his eyes behind his domino. "Yeah yeah"
B gives him a look behind the cowl but otherwise moves on, walking towards the Batmobile where it suddenly roars to life and adds yet another hum to the room full of electronics.
Hoping in the passenger, the two speed off into the dark streets of Gotham.
—
The city raced by outside the Batmobile's windows, the landscape getting increasingly shady and compact as they got further into the gloomiest parts of Gotham.
It still surprised Jason how fast the vehicle went, moments earlier they had just breached one of the cave's hidden exits and entrances.
Before he knew it B smoothly parked the stealthy car, turning on the automatic defences and chameleon mode before stepping out of the vehicle. Following after his mentor, Jason watched as a ripple of invisibility spanned across it before a wave encompassed it and the whole car was undetectable from the rest of the deserted alleyway.
"We'll start on the rooftops, keep an eye out for anything." Came the gruff, almost painfully so, voice of his mentor. Like he had to be told to do that.
He nods either way, pulling out his grapple and shooting it towards a tall building nearby. The rush of adrenaline from flying is almost instant, his blood pumping faster as the air hits against him in cold gusts.
A wild grin breaks across his face as he lands, his hair already messy despite just starting patrol. The sound of B's grapple sounds out near him, and soon the big bat is beside him with a pointed look on his cowl adorned face. Right, no going ahead.
This is going to be a sad patrol, Jason just knows it.
—
Strolling behind Batman on a tall roof top ledge, Jason felt the slight shift in atmosphere that he had quickly connected to Nico's watching presence. Despite that knowledge he purposely didn't look around for his stalker. B was likely already suspicious of his recent behaviour and he didn't need to elect any further investigation from his dad.
God, even after these few months it still felt weird to think of anyone but his biological, and very unfitting of the title, father being his dad. It felt right in the same way though.
"Stop! Please, I need that! Sir!!"
The distressed calls of a civilian sounded out a few alleyways down, and with a start the duo darted towards it with little to no hesitation.
Swinging through the air, Jason dropped down beside the victim who was beginning to fall into a panicked haze. Unconsciously, he clocked that Batman is going after the thief, who had turned the corner in their rush to escape.
"I need you to sit down, okay?" Jason asked lightly, quickly falling into his 'how to comfort a panicked victim' training.
The man, though that was a stretch, he was 19 at most from the looks of it, shook as he followed Jason's guidance.
"M-my inhaler" the victim gasped, breathing becoming more erratic as they fell farther into panic. "They took-they took my bag, with my i-inhaler"
It quickly made sense and Jason clicked his comm on. "B, I need you back with that bag, quickly. it has the victims inhaler." He mumbled into the mic as clearly as he could without the man hearing.
"You'll get it soon, for now can you slow down? I want you to tap my hand while you count five things you can see." He directed, sitting down beside him and holding out his green gloved hand. The man quickly took the appendage, squeezing it tightly it a repetitive rhythm.
After a moment the man tapped his pointed finger on where it rested on robin's wrist, letting out a wheezing sound as he tried to take in a breath, but clearly his airway was beginning to get affected with whatever he had that needed medication.
It repeated for the next few times, switching to hearing, feeling, and even taste as it went on. His breathing was still gasping, very much needing his inhaler, but the earlier panic had left, now only the panic from not being able to breathe properly.
Thankfully that's when Batman dropped down from grappling across the street and swiftly handing the bag to Jason. The boy wonder quickly sifted through the contents before pulling out the inhaler and gently pressing it to the man's mouth while supporting the back of his neck.
The man coughed as the medicine misted down his airway in a gasping breath, dragging in air desperately now that it filled his lungs like it should.
Afterwards the man slumped from where he sat on the roads curb, sighing in relief before straightening back up and packing the inhaler into his bag. "Thank you so much! I don't know what would have happened to me without you people."
Batman merely grunted, quickly assessing the man before nodding and turning to Robin. Simultaneously, the two pulled out their grapples and swung off into Gotham's shadows.
"Batman to Oracle, please keep an eye that the civilian makes it home safely."
"Already on it."
—
As close to an hour was left until patrol ended, nothing of note had happened. Jason still got to beat up some criminals though, so he isn't complaining. Besides, it works best for their plan that nothing to big happens yet. That and the fact that less trouble meant less likelihood of Nico getting involved.
Just as he was beginning to suspect Dick had forgotten their plan, his older brother flung up from over the edge of the building with a few flips. Show off.
Bruce let out grunt, and while Jason had yet to fully decode bat talk, he knew well enough that B was asking what Dick is doing here. Jason just hopes this doesn't decompose into fight.
"Hey B! Me and Jason were thinking of getting hot cocoa and some bat burger, am I good to take him?" The black and blue vigilante called out cheerfully, though Jason doubted that it was 100% real. At the very least the part was clearly a joking jab at B's helicoptering over Jason.
"Yes, just stay together." Bruce answered with a sigh, likely already thinking of every way this could go terribly wrong.
"We will" they called out simultaneously, quickly grappling away.
Bruce just sighed, again.
—
As the snow filled winds started to pick up, the two vigilantes dropped down in front of Batburger. While there are multiple batburger joints across Gotham, this one is closest to Dick's more lived in safe house, the same one they stayed at recently.
The door let out a chime as they walked in, Jason strolling over to a booth to sit at while Dick ordered their meals. As he waited, staring out the window and scoped out the shadows in a one-sided game to see if he could find Nico before his brother comes back.
He lost, sadly, because less than a few minutes later and dick plopped down into the other side of the booth.
"Sooo," the man drawled, "anything interesting on patrol?"
Jason slid down over the table, arms stretched on either side of him and his right cheek against the cold surface, allowing him to look up at dick through the corner of his left eye. He knows they aren't clean, hell, he wouldn't be surprised if they have residue from the last fear toxin attack a few months ago, but he'll take a shower later.
"No." He groaned, almost disappointed about that fact. But before their conversation could continue the worker called out for nightwing, which had dick quickly getting up.
Dick, now holding a large, brown paper bag of take out, motioned for Jason to follow with his free hand as he pushed open the door with his shoulder.
As he got up, Jason winced at the sight of outside. The snow and wind had picked up enough that it might as well be a small blizzard. Dick even paused momentarily before shutting the door And stepping back inside. Pulling out a loop of keys from an almost invisible pocket, the older brother quickly pressed a button and the sound of a bike could be heard a minute later outside.
"You'll hop on the back, just hold on tight." Is all he says before strolling outside and quickly becoming one with the white.
Taking in a deep breath, Jason followed after, and swiftly discovered it looked as bad as it was. The biting cold quickly picked at his fingers and legs, while wind threw him about in a dramatic, violent dance he didn't want to be apart of.
Pushing through, he felt around until he found both dick and the bike and made fast work of getting onboard.
Together they zipped through the icy weather and made it to the safe house in what has to be record time. Ignore the fact there isn't a past record to compare it with.
They simultaneously breathed a sigh of relief once inside, shaking off snow and debris from their person and getting inside the elevator with a quick tap of an entry password and eye scan.
Leaning against the metal wall of the enclosed space, Jason stared at the ceiling and, in-addition, himself due to the mirrored surface. His eyes, still covered by a domino mask, wandering across himself.
*DING*
The doors opened to reveal the same place he had stayed at near days ago, the place still slightly messy from their antics.
Looking over at the sound of paper crumpling, presented Dick, setting the various burgers, fries, chicken, and drinks. "So," the older started. "Does Nico know to come inside or...?"
Oh.
He had forgotten about that part.
"I mean, he promised to check in after patrols and there's no way he expects me to sit outside right now to do that." He reasoned, voice bleeding a mix of the hopefulness and desperation that the kid got the memo.
It was then that a small ding sounded out from dick's phone. The man opened his phone, smiled an all to big smile, and then shoved it in Jason's face who had to take a small step back.
On the screen was something similar to a doorbell camera app, though it is custom made and batified for security reasons, and the live feed of Nico entering the building, covered in snow and shivering, a new mask similar to the last hugging against his face. He looked small from this view, his form tired and large wings likely tucked away due to their absence, a bag taking up the space instead. The kid shook off the snow on the mat, taking time to make sure he wouldn't track in any puddles, before walking up to the elevator and pausing. After a short moment he knocked on the metal doors almost hesitantly, the sound ringing out to up here.
Dick pulled the phone back and pressed a button, and by looking over his shoulder it revealed he had opened the doors for Nico.
*DING*
It had taken a short second but soon enough the ding ran out, and Nico stood just outside the doors awkwardly.
His older brother seemed to assess the kid, for if it was for threat level or injuries, Jason was unsure.
"Hi! I've been told your name is Nico, we have extra food, so why not come eat with us and then we can move onto other stuff" dick was obviously, to Jason, trying to loosen up the kid in hopes to make their lives easier later.
Nico shuffled a bit before walking over to the table and taking a seat. A "Thank you"was mumbled quietly but still evident in the calm room. He placed his bag beside him on his right side, just slightly under the table and definitely purposely placed as far away as it could be from him and Dick, not that he is insulted, he would do the same with the roles swapped.
Handing the kid the burger and fries, Jason swiftly grabbed his own and began devouring the food.
Nico paused at the food, hand pausing from where it was about to pull down his mask.
Jason stopped eating, looking over at the kid. "You don't have to eat, just know I've already seen your face and Nightwing might as well know. It's not like we're gonna tattle." He said the last bit while gesturing to his Robin costume with his freehand.
With that Jason continued to gorge himself, watching out of the corner of his eye as Nico froze in thought for a solid moment, and just when the boy wonder didn't think he would do it the kid pulled the mask off, the bands pulling at his ears before slipping free.
Though as he watched he noticed Nico still seemed reluctant to eat the food. Without much thought Jason reached over and grabbed a few fries, shoving them in his mouth. "Not poisoned" he assured around the food, momentarily having a chipmunk cheek.
The kid short circuited after that but then began swiftly eating meal.
As he ate, jason speculated how he would go about Nico as a whole. Sure, he knows the basics of trying to find more about the kid, checking the kid for injuries, and attempting to save him from a manipulative situation.
He'd figure it out, later.
Soon enough the last fry entered his maw and the only evidence of a burger being here was the crumpled wrapper and residue.
Getting up, Jason dashed for the bathroom and snagged the big med kit, filled with all sorts of supplies, before heading back to where the other two currently were. Sometime during his absence they had moved to the living room, Dick sitting on the couch and Nico standing near the rooms entrance.
"Okay, now it's your turn for your-"
"Why is he here?" Nico interrupted, and to some it might have been able to be played off as a honest queen but Jason could tell the kid was stalling. During his comment, he had been gesturing lightly to dick, or more accurately Nightwing, sitting on the coaches farthest cushion from him.
Despite Jason's knowledge, he indulged slightly. "I needed a ride. He's also filled in about the situation, for the most part."
The kid merely nodded, which Jason took as a sign to continue his earlier topic.
"As I was saying, it's your turn to do the deal we made."
As an after thought he tacked on, "don't worry, you won't need to strip down fully, just ditch the coat and stuff."
Nico sighed slightly before slipping off his coat, which revealed the cramped, black wings underneath. They were held tightly to his back, twitching occasionally with the urge to stretch free. A slight smell of iron spread through the room, and he got to work finding out where it came from.
From a simple inspection, Jason clocked the bandage on his right shoulder, some more minor cuts and bruises, and a nastier cut on his left arm that seemed more fresh which was likely causing the scent.
"Now, would you like me or Night wing to properly patch you up
"Can't you just watch me do it?" Nico asked, furrowing his brows slightly.
"Nope" he replied, popping the 'p', "either me or him."
His face flashed into one of distaste before smoothing over with a subtle sigh, "fine," and plopping on the nearby couch seat. The words came out snappier than his earlier speech, but it wasn't very surprising to Jason, considering the situation.
with that he began the process of disinfecting, dressing, and bandaging the larger cuts, before checking in the already dealt with wound that seemed to be healing well, as well as looking for any other possible problems. Nico sat stiff the entire time, wings still held tightly to himself, though the longer feathers still brushed over the seat slightly.
Now that he noticed it, when he held his wings close like that they seemed to tuck in on themselves a few times, like the longer feathers were being pulled into the mound on bird. Or at least were compacting in some way, because they were much, much smaller than when relaxed.
Throughout the whole thing Dick made bad jokes, specifically bird ones ('do you know what bird works at a construction sight? A Crane! What do you call a duck that works at a hospital? A health quack-titioner!) while sprawling across three whole cushions in a weird twist.
"Done!" He cheered tiredly while while walking minority away before plopping onto the seat next to Nico, his head sinking into the upper cushions.
Nico seemed to deflate slightly now that it was done, his feathery appendages drooping enough to squash against the back of the couch.
"So, Nico, what do you like to do?" Dick spoke up after a moment of quiet, sitting up from his odd position in order to look at the kid.
He paused, silent in what was either thought or hesitation. "I recently tried drawing, it was enjoyable. I still need to try the other activities I have."
"I should go now, actually" the kid said, preparing to get up.
Now, Jason would normally say bye and let him leave (like he had any say to someone who can melt into shadows), but he can't today.
Because in that moment an alarm pierced through the relative calm, a broadcast flooding the TV screen with an Arkham breakout emergency message.