Chapter Text
Robin pounded his fist on the door until his patience ran thin. Was this some kind of joke? What the hell was this kid trying to pull? It was too cold outside for the kid's poor excuse of a sweater. The child was drenched from head to toe due to the downpour of rain.
“Where do you really live, kid.” Jason faced the child he was accompanying.
“Here.” The kid whispered as he pointed to the door ahead. “It’s best if I just go back in through the window.” He then pointed upward towards an open bedroom window on the second floor.
Now more concerned than irritated, Jason questioned, “Where the hell are your parents?”
“Taiwan, I think.” The kid pondered casually as if it was normal. Jason’s fingers twitched for the phantom of his cigarettes.
“Nanny?”
“I don’t need one.” The kid now looked annoyed at the question. It was adorable, in a way.
Jason snorted, “Sure you don’t.” He remarked casually and debated on what to do next. He caught the kid stalking B and himself earlier that night, again . B ordered him to take him home and make sure to inform his parents. Maybe Jason should have paid more attention to the kid's lack of care at the threat of being tattled on.
“I don’t! I’m old enough to look after myself. My mom says so, so you can’t do anything about it.” The kid huffed out and pouted. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a set of keys before opening the door. Jason followed the kid inside, now intrigued. Why didn’t he just pull out the keys to begin with? Regardless, Jason stepped inside and took a look around. The house was huge, but not as big as Bruce’s. Definitely way too big for a kid to be living by himself. What if someone was hiding inside the house?
At the thought, Jason decided to check each of the rooms with the kid following him, looking more annoyed than anything. He noted how the kitchen smelled like coffee. The kid looked to be about six or seven. His figure was thin, bordering malnourishment. Robin figured that the kid probably discovered the energy from the caffeine and used it to sustain his late-night affairs. Jason decided to continue with his search of the house and ponder later. After Jason reached the last room, he spun around to face the kid.
“What’s your name?”
“Timothy, but I go by Tim.” He preened at the sudden attention towards him.
“Okay, Tim, do you have any family you can stay with?”
Tim shook his head and glared, “I can care of myself.” He crossed his arms.
Jason ignored the comment and pressed a finger on his comm, “Hey B, there’s a little bit of a situation.”
Tim chose that moment to snap a quick picture of Robin in his house. Jason looked momentarily startled but continued to explain the situation regardless. Batman told him to inform the authorities, to which Jason promptly fought against. Like hell, he was going to let this poor kid get suckered into the foster system. He wouldn’t allow it. Tiny Tim wouldn’t survive an hour in the system. The line was silent for a good minute before Batman gave Robin his instructions. After signing off, Jason clapped his hands together, startling Tim.
“Alright, I know someone who can look after you until your parents get back.”
Tim perked up at that but then shied away, “Can I bring my camera?”
Jason hesitated before nodding and sending Tim to gather his clothes. Tim ran up the steps with a wide grin.
Robin eyed the kid, who went awe-struck at the sight of the home. Tim looked as if he wanted to touch everything but withheld. He explained the situation to Alfred, who quickly took to feeding the overly slim kid. Robin took his chance to leave.
He met up with Batman in the cave, and now the two were figuring out what to do with the kid.
“His name is Tim Drake, he’s our neighbor.” Robin kept himself from rolling his eyes. Only barely, because what was the point of regurgitating information they already knew? “His parents are in Taiwan and have been for the past month. They’re not due back until December.” Now that was news to him. “There’s no record of a babysitter or a nanny-”
“We’re not sending the kid into foster care.” Jason glared at his mentor.
“I wasn’t suggesting we were.” Batman shook his head at his partner.
“Then what the hell are we gonna do with him?”
Bruce sighed and removed his cowl, “I have an idea, but I think you should go check on him and Alfred for now.” Jason scowled at the clear dismissal, but did so anyway. He removed his suit and headed for the shower before getting dressed and sneaking upstairs.
Jason refrained from smiling as Tim listened keenly to Alfred telling a story about his family. Jason leaned against the doorway and crossed his arms as he paid attention. Alfred rarely talked about his time in England. Somehow this kid managed to pull a story from him, and Jason wouldn’t miss it. After Alfred finished his tale, Tim asked about a million questions, which caused the old man to chuckle. Jason smiled.
“So I heard Bruce managed to pick up another kid.” He announced himself, startling Tim and earning him a disapproving shake of the head from Alfred.
“Woah, you’re Jason!” Tim squeaked, fingers clutching the camera as if he wanted to take a picture.
Jason blinked, confused, “Yeah, I am, and you are?”
Tim straightened up in his seat and grinned proudly, “Tim Drake, we go to the same school.”
Jason couldn’t recall ever seeing Tim in the hallways or anywhere. “What grade are you in?”
“I’m a freshman.”
That couldn’t be right? Tim seemed way too young to be in high school.
“I skipped most of middle school,” Tim explained, red-faced, as if he was embarrassed to admit that.
“Now, no need for any silly embarrassment, young lad.” Alfred spoke up, “You must indeed be brilliant.”
Tim's face burned brighter as he sputtered out a thank you.
“How old are you then?”
“Eleven.”
“Far too thin…” Jason heard Alfred begin to mutter to himself as he continued to cook. Jason agreed. Tim looked like he belonged in elementary school. He was a good five feet and maybe a little less than a hundred pounds.
“I’ve never seen you at lunch.” Jason frowned once the information dawned on him. Gotham Academy wasn’t a big school; all the grades typically had lunch together.
“I like to sit at the fountain during lunch.”
“I’ll sit with you tomorrow.” Jason nodded as if it were agreed upon. It didn’t matter since Tim nodded excitedly at the idea.
“Making friends?” Bruce’s voice practically boomed in the way it projected.
“Jeezus, old man, give me a heart attack, will you?!” Jason grasped his chest, while Tim chuckled.
“Sorry, chum.” Bruce hummed, seemingly pleased to make Tim laugh. His attention went towards Tim, “I just spoke with your parents; they’ve agreed to allow you to stay here as long as they’re away.”
The kitchen was silent at Bruce’s words. Tim looked Bruce in the eye rather intently before shifting his gaze toward the kitchen island, “That’s a long time.”
“We’ll make it fun, don’t worry.” Jason winked at the kid. Jason didn’t like the words Tim uttered. How long was that? How long had Tim been on his own? He was going to make sure this kid was okay. Plus, he was going to be a better brother than dickhead, that was for sure. Jason had no doubt that Tim would eventually become his brother. It was the way Bruce softened once he saw the kid. It was the way Alfred cared for this child already. It was the way Jason already felt protective. Jason was going to make sure this kid was taken care of.