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"Jason." The voice felt floaty or was that just Jason? He squinted, letting his vision clear. What the fuck was Talia Al Ghul doing in his face?
"T-Talia?" Lordy his voice hurt, why was it all scratchy, it felt like he'd been screaming but he couldn't remember doing so. Actually he couldn't remember anything, before-... What the fuck? He wasn't dead?
"Jason, there you are." Talia sounded relieved. "Here, let me help you."
It was only then that Jason noticed the green, green everywhere, surrounding him. The Lazarus Pit.
"Y-You put me in the Pit ?" Jason gasped, anger and Green seeping into his accusation. Talia gave a grim nod as she hoisted him from the pool and onto the rocky side.
"I'm sorry, you were showing no signs of recovery and my Father grew restless, this was the last resort. I promise." Talia seemed honest but Jason couldn't help but be cautious. He was in League Territory and he was certain he was forgetting something important.
Where was Bruce? What was he doing here? Recovery? What?
"Come, we must leave, move, we cannot be caught here." Talia urged once she'd helped him to his feet, the bubbling itch under his skin, the anger he could feel brewing for no reason sung, waiting to be let loose. Jason suppressed a shudder and followed obediently through winding passages made of stone and secret walls that opened with the right touch.
"Bruce-" Jason exhaled once they'd finally reached their destination, a small room with a modest looking bed, a single set of drawers and an oil lamp. The room looked as though it had been untouched for years, aside from, of course, the burning lamp.
A perfect hiding place apparently.
"Oh Jason, my boy, Bruce replaced you."
"Wh-What?" Jason asked, veins filled with ice before Green flooded them. "You're lying!" He hissed, teeth clenched as he struggled to remember something… There was something he was forgetting, something after Ethiopia.
"This is the boy Bruce replaced you with, a richer, smarter model, but don't worry Jason, my son, I'll help you weed out the fake." Talia grinned, handing Jason a file. His hands shook as he took it, repressing the Green that pleaded to hunt down this replacement and teach him what happens to the Little Birds of Gotham.
He opened the folder and-
"Oh."
That was what he'd forgotten.
He'd forgotten Tim.
"His name is Timothy Drake, Bruce didn't even wait six months before he replaced you." Talia attempted to rile him up but Jason failed to rise to the bait. "I will do anything I can to assist you in crushing him."
"Oh I'm going to crush him alright!" Jason quipped, missing Talia's smug grin. Crush him with love and cuddles and affection, his mind supplied. Talia didn't need to know Jason was already planning the reunion with his youngest brother and how much he needed to properly thank him for giving him the chance to talk to Dick.
Maybe he could take him out for Ice Cream, kids still liked Ice Cream right?
"I can schedule you any training you require, I imagine you might feel a little out of practice, you weren't yourself for a while."
Jason nodded, he wasn't listening. He was going to ignore the fact he'd apparently been alive again for nearly a year, according to the file, until he could find a quiet corner and break down. Or just bottle it up as was the Bat way. Sounds healthy.
"Excellent, perhaps a refresher in weapon training? Or maybe you'd prefer something more subtle, we do have poison experts amongst the League."
"I don't need that, I just need to get to Gotham actually." Jason interrupted. "Also what are you talking about? I don't need to know about poison?"
"To kill the new Robin?"
Uhhhh? What?
"Kill him? Talia are you dumb? We don't kill, it's Bruce's number one rule. Surely you know that." Jason supplied, tone implying her statement was absolutely stupid, which it was but Jason wasn't trying to sound that condescending. Oops.
"But- you don't feel an overwhelming anger to destroy him? He took over as Bruce's son, he forgot you, he probably even took over your room? Your possessions?"
Jason scoffed.
"Uh? No? He's a literal child?" Jason was so confused, why did Talia seem so intent on getting him to attack poor Tim? The Green flushed back into his vision as his anger slowly grew towards the woman. How dare she insinuate he'd want to hurt his little brother. Besides if he took over Jason's room, it meant when he got back to Gotham they could bond over the classical literature collection he'd left behind that Tim had hopefully read.
The Green consumed him for a second at the thought of harm coming to Tim though, and when Jason came to, he found he had Talia pinned to the wall, forearm held against her throat.
"I-shit, what the fuck? What was that?" Jason snapped, backing away. Talia gave a lengthy inhale, one hand rubbing her throat for a moment.
"The Lazarus Pit isn't without consequences."
Jason stayed silent and gave a brief nod for the woman to continue. He was listening. Honest. But what if Tim didn't like Ice Cream? What if he was lactose intolerant and Jason accidentally killed him with Ice Cream? Oh shit he can't do that, that's not what a good brother does.
"Jason?"
Oh shit right , he was meant to be listening.
"Uhhhhhh."
"You must keep control of the pit, it can enhance your anger beyond your actions."
"Yep, okay." Jason nodded. He had zoned out for most of the woman's words, all he knew was Green bad, angry times? But the thought of Tim and Dick washed away any Green so he wasn’t worried, he just needed to get back to his brothers and everything would be okay.
“Do you still wish to leave with what you have learnt? I will not stop you, only warn you against such actions, your control will be nowhere near the level to be around anyone.” Talia explained and Jason nodded.
“Yeah I need to go, right now!” He was thrumming inside, excitement in his veins, he’d get to see Tim again!
“Very well. I will pack you a bag of essentials. You must wait until nightfall though. I will aid you the best I can out of the area but after that you’re on your own.” And well, that was nothing new to Jason, he’d spent years on his own on the streets, how hard could it be.
The journey across the Globe to Gotham was actually rather easy, Talia had handed him a wad of cash that honestly was more than he needed (maybe her actions had been heartfelt after all and not a ploy, but Jason still didn’t want to guess either way.) And a few flights later he was back in the City and sneaking through the shadows. He’d updated his wardrobe, buying a leather jacket in a store window in a fit of weakness (then again it was cold and the jacket was nice?) He’d swiped a wallet from someone's pocket too, the ID looking very much not like him but it was good enough for now. Still luck must have been on his side because after only an hour or so roaming, getting used to the place once more, soaking in the changes (though those being few and far between,) he bumped into the Robin in an alley, not physically at least.
As soon as Tim caught sight of Jason he froze in his tracks for a solid ten seconds. Neither of them moved until Jason broke out into a smile and gave Tim a wave. Tim meeped, honest to God, meeped and hobbled over.
“Jason!” He breathed, awe painted onto his tone as he took in the sight of Jason who looked a little older and had an odd white stripe in his hair now. Tim wrote this down as some sort of side effect of coming back from the Other Side. He’d never seen a ghost return before so surely this was an effect? Same with ageing, surely?
“Hey Kiddo. Did you miss me?” Jason asked, hands in the pocket of the leather jacket he certainly wasn’t sporting last time. Did he bring that back from the Other Side too? Tim wanted to ask what it was like without being too insensitive.
“Uh.. Did you.. Not like the Other Side? I’ve never seen a Ghost come back from it before so I always kinda thought it was amazing or something.” Tim asked, feet scuffling against each other nervously as he hoped Jason wouldn’t get offended.
Jason scoffed and Tim looked up quickly, scared his older brother would disappear again at his insensitive questions.
“Nah, I don’t even remember it, not going to lie, but it was probably shit, all my favourite people are here after all.” Jason gave another toothy grin as Tim flushed at the praise.
“Uh, Wing still misses you, I know he got to say goodbye but he still- sometimes he’ll turn to tell you something and you won’t be there and he’ll get sad. B does it a lot too, he’s not as bad as he used to be, Wing told him all about saying goodbye to you and I think it helped B a lot, even if he was really sad he didn’t get to see you too- and uh-” Tim fumbled, omitting names due to the still semi-public nature of their conversation.
“Breathe Kiddo, you don’t have to explain everything straight away, I don’t plan on going anywhere this time.” Jason reached up to instinctively ruffle Tim’s hair before freezing. The kid thought he was still a ghost. If he pretended to be a ghost still, surely that meant he could put off his reunion with Bruce which, as much as he loved Bruce, didn’t feel mentally ready for. So, his hand dropped, the urge to cuddle his littlest brother still remained but he resisted.
“Oh. Good. I missed you.. Uh.. not that we- I’m sorry-”
“Hey, Robin, it’s okay, I missed you too.” Jason returned with a softer smile that had Tim nod.
“So, now I’m back and you’re apparently out in Gotham alone.” This came with a raised eyebrow from Jason, as if to ask why exactly the young Robin was alone, “Do you like ice cream?”
“Wh-What?” Tim spluttered, not the question he expected from Jason. In fact it was the furthest question possible from what he could have expected.
“Ice Cream. Do you like it? You’re not dairy intolerant right? That’d be awful. Like how can I take you out for Ice Cream if you can’t eat it?” Jason went off on a tangent, missing Tim’s incredulous look and pink ears.
“Uh, no, no I like Ice Cream, um, but what do you mean, take me out for-? You-”
“Well obviously I can’t have any, since I'm a ghost, but I wanted to go get some with you since we met!” Jason explained watching Tim’s cheeks dust the same colour as his ears. It was adorable. How dare Jason’s little brother be so cute and make him struggle so much to not just tug him into a replication of one of Dick’s famous Octopus Cuddles™.
“I’d love to.” Tim finally squeaked. “Wing took me before, said it was something he wanted to do with you before… uh… and he never got the chance.” Tim looked a little sad, hating to mention Jason’s death even if Jason didn’t seem as bothered as some Ghosts had in the past when their deaths had been mentioned.
“Oh yeah, I remember, he promised to take me next time he was in Gotham but then he was in Space and I was.. Well I died so… Maybe next time Wing can come with us.” Jason offered with a shrug, elated when Tim nodded eagerly.
“Yes please, He will be so happy you’re back!”
“Well, for now, how about me and you get that Ice Cream and then later we can catch up with Wing and B?” Jason offered, wanting to hog the Baby Bird for himself for now, since as soon as they were around the others it’d be pretty obvious he wasn’t a ghost.
“Deal! Can I get Vanilla though?” Tim asked, swinging into step alongside Jason who led the way. Getting Ice Cream with Tim while the kid was still decked in his Robin gear probably wouldn’t be the strangest sight in Gotham considering how often Jason had stopped by food carts when he had been Robin. Nah, Gotham’s citizens wouldn’t give them a second glance.
“Vanilla? Isn’t that a little boring?” Jason asked, he couldn’t think of a single kid who’d pick Vanilla when faced with several wacky flavours. Tim only nodded though.
“It’s my favourite. It’s not boring!” He retaliated and Jason gave a small laugh as to how much the kid looked like the bird he was named after, chest puffed up and cheeks pouting as if he’d been utterly offended by the statement.
“Nah okay, fine, you can have Vanilla. See, my favourite is Mint Chocolate Chip because I have taste.” Jason teased.
“Ew Mint? No, Jason, Mint Ice Cream is the worst, why would you want something that reminds you of Toothpaste when you’re trying to enjoy dessert?”
“Wow, you take that back!” Jason squabbled earning a giggle from Tim as the two rounded the corner, reaching the Ice Cream store Dick had promised to take Jason years previous.
“Nu uh! I only speak facts!” Tim chortled, dashing ahead slightly to open the door, letting Jason walk through it, not caring if he looked weird letting in thin air. If only he knew.
Jason politely thanked him anyway, it beat having to explain why he couldn't phase through the walls like normal ghosts.
“Let’s sit near the window.” Tim offered, the two taking a booth by the store front. The store itself was practically deserted, which rightly so on a late evening in Gotham, situated closely to Crime Alley. There hadn’t been any breakouts for a few weeks according to Jason’s intel which was a long time really in the scale of things so it was likely the Citizens were expecting one and holing up at home rather than sitting in Ice Cream stores at… Jason checked the clock on the wall, 11pm. Oh, yeah maybe sugar this late was bad for the kid, but they were there now so….
“It’s quiet.” Tim looked relieved. After all, as far as the kid thought, he was talking to himself and if it was quiet he wouldn’t look as weird. Jason didn’t correct him, only hummed in agreement.
“Yeah, it’s nice. So, how's school been?” Jason asked quietly and Tim offered a shrug.
“It’s okay. None of the other kids like me, because I’m younger than them and stuff.. Uh, cuz I got bumped up a few grades… I don’t know if you knew that.”
“They’re jealous pricks then. Just because you’re a little genius, they feel challenged or some shit. The academy is full of posh dicks anyway, take no notice Timmy. ‘Sides, if anyone gives you shit, just sicc me on ‘em. They won’t do it again.” Jason offered, puffing up his chest when he earned a giggle from the younger boy.
“I can’t just sicc you on people like a dog.”
“Why not? Are you sayin’ I’m not cute enough to be a dog?”
“Noooo, I mean I can’t just order you about because you’re dead, that’s not fair. You deserve peace and stuff. Ghosts deserve better y’know?”
“That’s…weirdly touching. But I don’t mind. I’ll beat up anyone that messes with my little brother.” Jason grinned. Tim flushed again.
"We're brothers?"
"Of course we are, stupid." Jason grinned and Tim sniffed, he wasn't going to cry, shut up.
“Oh, by the way.” Tim started, pausing to get a big mouthful of ice cream, face scrunching up at the brainfreeze. Jason only laughed and resisted the urge to pull his burner from his pocket Talia had given him and snap a photo of the moment. “Did your hair turn like that because you came back?” Tim asked, nodding at the new white stripe in Jason’s hair, courtesy of the pit. Jason shrugged.
“Probably?” He wasn’t ready to start unloading that shit, honestly, he was doing fine just ignoring the entire Pit experience and blocking out the green in his head that was ready to fight pretty much anyone and everyone except his brothers, and Alfie of course. He wasn’t sure where Bruce rested in the Green’s eyes, because Bruce had done his best but he had also let Timmy put himself in danger… And Tim was Jason’s brother, so that wasn’t okay… Okay. Note to self, don’t go near Bruce until the Pit’s under control.
“It’s kinda cool. Aren’t you uh.. Like taller and stuff too?”
“Guess you age and grow and shit over there?” Jason offered with a frown, because how did he explain the Pit had healed his malnourishment and that was the reason he was well on his way to rivalling both Bruce’s height and build.
“I never thought I’d get to see anyone taller than Bruce but you’re like a giant now.”
“Don’t think I’m taller than him even like this, Baby Bird.” Jason sadly spoke as Tim snaffled down more Ice Cream, pulling adorable faces at the cold texture and the brain freeze that followed. Next time Jason vowed to get some of his own, next time he’d be here not pretending to be a Ghost to avoid Bruce and confrontations, but as Tim’s very much alive again big brother and maybe they could bring Dick along. The three of them. It’d be nice.
“You won’t leave this time will you?” Tim asked sadly as he finished off his ice cream.
“Course not, I’m here to stay this time, Kiddo. I promise.”
“Good!” Tim beamed as he ate the last scoop, still pulling faces at the cold temperature behind the mask. It probably looked weird, Jason in his leather coat and bulky frame sat with Robin in an ice cream parlour so late at night but Jason couldn’t care less. This was the nicest, most fun he’d had in years.
“We need to bring Wing along next time.” Jason smiled softly, earning a massive nod from Tim who then stood up and took his empty glass over to the counter, earning a gruff thanks from the woman behind it. Tim skipped happily back over to the table, Jason stood (grateful Tim hadn’t questioned why he could sit in the booth as a ghost) and headed to the door.
“When will I see you again?” Tim asked.
“What makes you think I’m going anywhere yet?”
“Oh. You’re not leaving me?”
“Not if you don’t want me to… but shouldn’t you be getting back to B? Won’t he be worried? Why were you alone?”
“Oh uh, B’s in Space… League things…. I snuck out-”
“Robin!” Jason hissed, not angry just worried, Tim still flinched though.
“I’m sorry!” He answered instantly with a pout that Jason couldn’t get mad at.
“I’m not angry, I just… please don’t sneak out without telling anyone, what if you got hurt or needed help? We don’t want anymore Dead Robins.” Jason retorted, Tim flinched again.
“I’ll try!” Tim promised sadly, and Jason hummed.
“Please do. I don’t want you to get hurt, Kiddo. Now, since you’re out alone, lets get you back to the cave.” Jason ordered and Tim gave a mock noise of sadness and agreed.
“Okay!” And so Jason accompanied Tim all the way home, only stepping away once he was sure Tim was safely in the cave.
“I have to go for now, but I’ll come back, I swear, get some rest, Timbo.” Jason smiled and Tim gave a wave as Jason slipped back into the night. He felt happy, his entire being was smothered in content. He needed to do this again.
For now though, using the snaffled wallet’s funds and the remnants of Talia’s own, Jason managed to find a crappy apartment near Crime Alley which he holed himself up in, he had plans to turn it into a safehouse at a later date perhaps but for now it would suit him if only to be a place to sleep. And sleep he did, the first time for a couple of weeks (since waking from the pit and travelling the globe,) that he slept without a single pit induced nightmare.
Over the next two weeks, Jason coincidentally only ever caught Tim when he was alone, making a point to find out Dick and Alfred and Bruce’s schedules and work out when he could get the boy alone to hang out with. It’s not that he didn’t want to see the others, god he did so much, but he’d have to explain he was alive again and- it just… he was enjoying the lack of expectations, of being ‘dead’ with an autopsy scar and all to prove it.
But that all came to an end, the hiding and the pretending and it was all Dick’s fault….
“And so I told him that he was being an idiot, which he was? But Ms. Robertson heard me and she told me off, telling me using such words were-” Tim cut off his story when he noticed Jason had paused, stopped mid step in the hallway, frozen, eyes staring past Tim. Tim confused, turned his head and-
“Oh Hi Dick.” Tim gave a little wave, confused why Dick was also standing stock still and holy shit were those tears?
“ Jason ?”
“Uh?” Tim made a noise of confusion because Dick could see Jason? Jason was a ghost? Tim looked down at his hands, at a loss when the familiar blue of manifestation wasn’t present. He wasn’t manifesting Jason so no one should be able to see him. Tim turned back to Jason who looked panicked.
“Shit.” Was all Jason bit out before he turned on his heel and ran down the hallway, arms flailing as Dick knocked himself from his shock and took off after the other.
“Jaaaaaason, wait!”
“No Piss off Dickwad, keep your cuddle habits away from me you Gremlin!” Jason hissed as the two vanished round a corner. Tim could only stand and blink in surprise as the distant noises, crashes and bangs sounded from further in the mansion. What the diddly heck?
Jason rematerialized a couple of minutes later, sneaking round from where Dick had initially been, having looped the manor. He looked behind him tensely, sighing in relief when Dick appeared to have been thrown off the scent.
“Uh Jason, how did Dick see you?”
“So…. funny thing is, I’m not dead anymore, surprise?”
“Uhhhhh…. How long have you been…”
“Well um… the whole time maybe?”
“What?!”
“Shhhhh. I didn’t tell you because I didn’t wanna have to endure the cuddle gremlin and I don’t think I could control myself around B, the Pit doesn’t like him.”
“The Pit? The Lazarus Pit? Jason what the frick, you should have told me.” Tim whisper-hissed and-
“JASSSSOOOOOOON.”
“Fuck!” Jason spat as Dick rounded the corner, having heard Tim’s exclamation and narrowing in on the source. Jason got ready to turn and leg it again but Dick launched himself at him, tackling the boy to the ground, instantly smothering the bigger man with cuddles and tears.
“Jason you little shit don’t run away from me.” Dick sobbed. “Why are you back? Didn’t you like the Afterlife. Were people there mean to you? I’ll beat them up, lemme at em!” Dick snarled, still sobbing into Jason’s shoulder as Jason rolled his eyes but didn’t protest as Dick squeezed the life out of him. Pun intended. Tim watched with wide eyes and confusion.
“You…You’d have to die to do that Dick.” Tim whispered but was mostly ignored, drowned out by Dick’s sobs.
“B’s crazy Ex threw me in a Pit of Green and boom, Jason is back.” Jason went with, not particularly ready to start explaining how he’d dug his way out of his fucking grave and been kidnapped by a cult while he’d been out of it.
“Wait, wait, you’re-”
“Yeah, I’m alive Dickie, not a ghost.” Jason answered the question, knowing what Dick was going to ask.
Dick froze and then the sobs got even heavier, loud noises echoing off the otherwise silent hallway.
“Never do that again, Lil’ Wing, I swear to God.”
“I’ll try not to, don’t recommend, 0/10.” Jason joked and wrapped his arms around Dick, both still sprawled out on the hallway floor, Tim awkwardly watching until Jason caught his eye.
“If Dick ain’t letting me go anytime soon.” Jason started.
“I’m not.” Dick interrupted.
“Yeah, he’s not, then you better get down here too Baby Bird.” Jason pulled one arm away from Dick, motioning for Tim to join them in the abrupt cuddle pile in the middle of the hallway. Tim reluctantly slid down to the floor and nestled against Jason’s side instantly, relaxing further when Dick wrapped one of his own arms around the smallest brother.
“The floor is the worst place for this shit, Dickwad and when my back is killing me tomorrow it’s gonna be all your fucking fault.” Jason added but didn’t protest as Dick’s sobs slowed, shoulders still hitching and figure trembling, Tim smiled against his other side though, glad to be involved.
“Suck it up.” Dick sniffled against him.
“You’re such an octopus, Dickie.”
“Missed you.”
“Yeah, Yeah. I missed you too. Both of you.”
And that was how Alfred found them, an hour later, dropping the basket in his hands in shock.
Needless to say, Bruce still didn’t learn his second son was alive. At least not yet…