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Chapter Text

It was just another night of patrol. Quieter than many before and Jason was glad for that. While it is nice to have something to let his rage out on sometimes, a head to bash in that truly deserves it and comes with none of the residual guilt of pit madness, he is tired. Gotham rarely gives him time to rest and so he will take this quiet night with gratitude. The night was cool, good weather for spring without the rain that makes patrol so much less pleasant no matter how warm it is. It seems that even the residents of Crime Alley are peaceful this evening. A rare gift for both the residents and the Red Hood. He lets out a contented sigh as he bounds over the rooftops. This is the type of night that makes him happy to be a vigilante; he likes to think this peaceful night is at least partly due to his efforts.

He’s just about to finish up his patrol. It’s only 3am, early for him to be turning in, but like he said it was quiet. Only a few more alleys to check before he can jump back on his bike and collapse in the bed of his nearest safe house. He managed to go the whole night without running into any bats and it looks like that luck will hold through the rest of his patrol. As he rounds the corner to one of the alleys Crime Alley is so aptly named for he spots a flash of yellow diving behind a dumpster. Sighing he walks over, hoping it's nothing, maybe an animal or a kid looking for scraps at worst, but with a sinking feeling his night is about to get much longer.

As soon as he approaches the side of the dumpster where he saw the figure disappear he is attacked. In a flash small legs are quickly wrapping around his throat and squeezing as fists come down hard against his helmet. Jason is taken aback by the attack but not enough to let his assailant gain the upper hand. He’s too well trained for such a messy attack to take him off guard. He quickly pries the legs from around his throat and flips the person onto the ground, torso down and arm twisted behind their body. Once Jason had the attacker incapacitated he finally took a good look at the person…and immediately jumped back in shock letting go of the attacker. A rookie mistake but the shock of what he’s looking at overrides the years of training telling him not to let his attacker go.

The attacker was just a kid; something Jason had guessed from the size of the person’s legs and fists and from the considerably non-adult strength used to try to knock him unconscious. But this wasn’t just any kid. No, this kid was wearing a distinct traffic light colored uniform the likes of which he hadn’t seen in years outside of that damned memorial Bruce keeps in the cave. A distinctly more vintage model than the uniform Damian sports as Robin. But it wasn’t just the uniform that made Jason drop the kid’s arms and let him go. No. This kid looks exactly like Jason. Exactly like Jason looked as Robin. It’s like looking into a mirror from the past and seeing a face he never expected to see again. Jason feels like he’s seen a ghost.

There stands Jason Todd. Robin. No more than fourteen. Jason sees green tinging the edges of his vision and takes a deep breath. This is not the time.

The kid, of course, can’t tell which emotions flicker across Jason’s face with the helmet still obscuring it. That is one of the main reasons Jason had opted for a full helmet instead of the masks and cowls the other bats were so fond of. The kid is staring up at Jason from the defensive position he’s taken crouched on the floor. And even that simple gesture has Jason sucking in breath; the old training Bruce had drilled into him before finally letting him patrol is as familiar as his own face, as foreign as the face staring back at him. He is clearly wary of Jason and looks a little scared. The fear in the kid’s eyes is what finally snaps Jason out of it.

“Who the hell are you and where did you come from?” Jason asks in a semi-growl, though the voice modulator in his helmet makes it more robotic than animalistic.
At this the kid smirks and Jason cringes behind his mask. He recognizes that smirk, remembers it, had seen it so many times on Bruce’s cowl footage all those years ago. He also knows the smug emotions that come with that smirk, the mouthiness that he would launch at rogues just to mess with them and get Batman to chuckle while on a case.

“I’m Robin, duh”, the kid gestures to his outfit pointing to the yellow R adorning his chest. “And uhhh…I don’t really know how I got here. One minute I was on patrol and now I’m here. Where is here, anyway?” The kid seems to have only just realized he has no idea where he is. He looks around trying to get his bearings but the alley is fairly generic and doesn’t offer many clues to a more specific location. That sobers him up again and he’s back to warily studying Jason.

Jason doesn’t want to accept the reality of what, who, is in front of him but the more he watches the kid, Robin, the more it is becoming impossibly obvious who he’s speaking to. Fuck. He does not want to deal with this. He can’t deal with this.

Ignoring the kid’s question Jason says, “Look kid how about we forget this ever happened and go our separate ways? I won’t even hold it against you for attacking me.” Jason hopes the kid will let him leave without further ado. He’s hopefully smart enough to seek Bruce out and then Jason can wash his hands of this completely. If he’s really lucky the kid won’t even mention seeing him to Bruce. But of course hoping this would end simply and neatly is too much to ask.

“Hey no! Stop!” the kid shouts, “How do I know you’re not some rogue up to no good? This is Crime Alley isn’t it? What are you doing out so late in that dumb get up? You’re not going anywhere until I get some answers!”

“Ok first of all kid, you’re calling my outfit a ‘dumb get up’ when you’re dressed as a traffic light with no pants?” Jason says while giving Robin an incredulous look. Robin humphs at the insult to his uniform but doesn’t offer a retort. “And second, what makes you think I’ll tell you anything? If I’m a rogue I’m not exactly going to play nice and if I’m not a rogue then it's none of your business why I’m out here. Get lost before things get messy.” He hopes that's the end of it but Jason knows Robin isn’t going to drop this. He reaches for the grapple he keeps hidden in his jacket, getting ready to make his escape.

He takes it out and sees Robin flinch; poor kid probably expected a gun. He aims at the nearest roof and he’s off, hopefully never to see the kid and all the memories he brought with him again.

As soon as he gets close to the roof he hears a yelp from the kid below. Jason looks down hoping that the kid isn’t getting attacked already but what he sees has him stopping mid swing. The kid is floating, flailing around on his back as some seemingly invisible string holds him up by the waist. Jason scans the area, looking for any sign of a meta or any other kind of threat that could be causing this, but he sees nothing. He and the kid are decidedly alone in the alley.

Jason doesn’t really know what to do. He has no idea how Robin is floating, clearly against his will, or what is causing it. Jason looks at the kid, though he’s not sure if Robin even knows that with the helmet in the way. Robin looks helpless dangling there by his waist, like a trapeze artist stuck in a rig. And helpless though he is Robin is seething. Jason can see the set of the kid’s jaw, can see the cold determination in his eyes as he tries to free himself, and finally when the kid looks back at Jason he sees the accusation leveled at him. Those looks always got Jason into trouble. This version clearly hasn’t learned that hard lesson yet.

Oh hell no! Robin is not blaming Jason for this. He does not need the twerp running off to the Bat to tattle on him for this! So he slowly lowers himself to the ground again. And to his surprise Robin lowers with him. The kid notices this too and looks all the angrier with the confirmation that Jason is somehow the reason for his being unceremoniously yanked into the air.

The kid hits the ground first and immediately scrambles to stand up, once again taking a defensive stance as he watches Jason make his way to the ground. Jason puts his hands up in a placating manner.

“Listen kid, I have no idea what that was about. I’m not a meta and I didn’t want to drag you with me. Obviously I was trying to leave.”

“And why should I believe anything you say? You’re the Red Hood aren’t you? You’re a rogue!”

“Whoa whoa whoa. Slow down there. I’m not the Red Hood you know. Not the Joker,” Jason practically spits the name and for a brief moment his vision is flooded a bright angry green, “or one of his lackeys. But you’re right you don’t know me so why don’t you go? Go find Batman. He’ll know how to handle this.”

At the mention of Batman, Robin perks up. “Fine. I’ll go but just know when I find Batman we’ll be back to hunt you down.”

Jason can’t help but to smirk behind his mask at that. Yeah kid, if only you knew he thinks. Robin gives him another once over before he cautiously backs away from Jason, never turning around or taking his eyes off him. Jason just stands there and watches the slow retreat. But as soon as Robin is about ten feet away from him Jason feels a tug around his waist and Robin jerks as if he hit a wall. The sudden stop made Robin lose his footing as he tried to scramble back and away from Jason again, clearly starting to panic a little at his inability to get away.

No matter how much he struggled he couldn’t get any further from Jason.

“What the fuck,” Jason mutters.

“How are you doing this?” Robin asks, panic lacing his high childlike voice, “Let me go!”

“I’m not doing this!” Jason shouts back. He rubs his hand down his helmet-covered face. This was getting weirder and weirder. He takes a step towards Robin. Robin takes a step back, tries to take another, falls as he is jerked back one step toward Jason.

Jason closes his eyes. He needs a minute to breathe, to take stock of the situation. Clearly he and the kid are stuck together somehow. The ten feet between them seems to be the limit of how far apart they can be. He’s not doing this and clearly the kid isn’t either so this connection is coming from something or someone else. And as was seen when Jason tried to grapple away there doesn’t seem to be an exception for moving in any direction. He sighs. His night just couldn’t be easy could it? He sighs again. He knows what he has to do. He’s not happy about it but he’s running out of options.

The entire time Jason has been thinking things through Robin has been silently panicking. He has no idea who this man is. He has no idea where he is or how he got here. He wants Batman. He wants Bruce. He wants his dad. His breathing starts to pick up.

Jason sees the kid starting to hyperventilate. He quickly says, “Kid, I’m going to take you to Batman. Okay? I need you to stop freaking out and come over here to my bike. I promise not to hurt you. I’ll take you right to the Bat okay? Then you never have to see me again.” Jason says all of this as calmly and comfortingly as his voice modulator will allow. But even so Robin looks wary. Jason can’t blame him.

“You know Batman?” Robin asks cautiously.

“Yeah kid, I know Batman,” Robin can’t help but notice that Red Hood sounds sad saying this. “Now come on. You don’t want to stay in this alley forever do you?” Robin seems to contemplate this and seeing no other option gives a shrug of defeat, following the Hood down the alley.

Jason and Robin make the short walk back to where Jason had stored his bike. He doesn’t have an extra helmet for the kid but that's the least of his worries right now. He points to the bike and Robin climbs on behind Jason. The kid is so small that he can barely wrap his arms around Jason. It makes Jason feel a little sick. He never realized how small he used to be.

Before he starts driving Jason puts his hand to his comm, calling Oracle. “O, who’s in the cave right now?”

Jason hears the comm crackle to life as Oracle responds, “Rare to hear from you Hood. What’s going on?”

“Nothing.” Jason replies gruffly. “Who’s in the cave?”

Jason hears Barbara sigh. She won’t get anything out of him when he’s like this. “Just Nightwing. Batman and Robin are on patrol and Red Robin is still out of commission with his broken foot. He’s at the manor though. Spoiler is with her mom.”

Jason only grunts in response. Great. Hopefully he’ll only have to deal with Dick before getting rid of the kid.

Robin of course couldn’t hear anything Oracle had said but Red Hood’s mention of the cave has his ears prickling. Who is this man he thinks. But there’s not much he can do about it now, not when they are seemingly stuck together. He’ll just have to trust him if he wants to get back to Bruce.

The ride is silent. Robin is nervous and Jason is brooding so both keep their mouths shut. That is until Jason leaves the city and makes the turn headed toward the manor. Robin stiffens in front of him.

“How do you know about this place,” Robin asks, almost too lowly to be heard over the noise of the bike and air whipping around them.

Jason snorts. “Like I said kid, I know Batman.”

The kid doesn’t respond. Jason sighs behind his helmet. This is going to be a very long night.

Chapter Text

Jason pulls his bike into the cave, parking it next to Nightwing’s Wingcycle. Dick is watching him as he gets off the bike, surprised to see him in the cave without having to be summoned or bleeding profusely from some wound. Dick has a huge smile on his face seeing his brother. Things have been going well with Jason lately. Of course he and Bruce still fought but the arguments had been getting less severe. It had been about a month since their last big blow out. Recently Jason has been more willing to come to the cave for medical and had even asked Dick to help on a case a few weeks ago. Things are far from perfect and they’re even further from how they used to be when things were truly good but there’s been progress and that's all Dick can ask for. Dick is so focused on Jason that he doesn’t see the kid behind him until he’s already off the bike.

Dick feels his heart stop. Feels his breathing pick up. His smile stutters. He refuses to believe his eyes. It’s been so long since he’s seen him. This hasn’t happened since Jason came back. So why now? Why is this happening again? That uniform. That small body. That face. It can’t be. He hasn’t seen him in years. This can’t be happening again. Dick slows his breathing, schools his face. He can’t let on to Jason that something is going on. The kid is looking at Dick but he just ignores him, won’t even look at him.

“Hood, what brings you here?” Dick asks happily, walking over towards his brother. The kid is running towards him with a big smile on his face but Dick subtlely side steps him as he makes his way to Jason.

“What the fuck Dickface” he hears from behind him. He cringes internally but keeps the smile on his face as he waits for Jason to respond. He can feel Jason studying him from behind the Red Hood helmet but he tries to not let it faze him.

“I’d think that would be obvious Dick” Jason says wryly. Dick feels a small hand grab his own. His whole body stiffens. He doesn’t look at the point of contact. Can’t bring himself to. Internally he panics. The hallucinations had never been physical. He’d never been able to feel Jason before no matter how much he had begged to. No matter how desperately he had tried to grasp at the ghost of his little brother.

“No, not obvious,” Dick said measuredly, barely holding himself together, “What are you talking about? Oracle mentioned you were coming over but didn’t say why. Did something happen on patrol? Are you hurt?” He begins to reach for Jason but stops short when he realizes he was moving the hand attached to the hallucination of his kid brother. He stops in an aborted movement, still refusing to look at his hand.

From where the kid is grasping his hand he hears another “What the fuck Dickface?” It sounds so mournfully sad coming from the kid’s mouth that Dick feels his heart tighten once more.

He’s startled when the Jason in front of him says the same thing. “What the fuck Dickface? Can you not see him?” Jason asks incredulously. And then, talking to himself, Jason continues, “Fuck this is bad. Am I the only one who can see him?”

Dick barely hears the second half of what Jason says, too shocked by his first statement. Jason can see him. Jason sees Robin. Robin isn’t a hallucination. Dick whips around to look at the child still gripping his hand.

Robin looks distraught. He clearly wasn’t expecting Dick to ignore him and doesn’t understand why Dick hasn’t said anything to him. Dick crumbles. His knees hit the metal floor of the cave hard and he sobs as he tugs the kid into a tight embrace. Jason squirms in his grasp, even more confused by the crying than he was at being ignored. He knows Dick doesn’t like him very much. He hasn’t quite forgiven Jason for taking Robin. Hasn’t forgiven Bruce for giving it to Jason. Being ignored hurt but it wasn’t entirely out of the ordinary. This though. This is not something he knows how to handle. But Dick won’t let go. When Robin tries to talk Dick just sobs harder, drowning out the smaller boy’s words.

Jason is still just standing there. He looks as if he’s been struck. Robin is staring at him, clearly at a loss and looking for help. Jason doesn’t know what to do. He’s never seen Dick cry like this. Not when they thought Bruce was dead. Not when Damian got hurt for the first time on patrol. Never. Why is he crying like this while hugging the kid?

“What the fuck Dick? Why are you crying like someone died?” Jason practically snarls. “Let the kid go, you’re crushing him.”

The anger in Jason’s voice seems to get Dick’s attention. He looks up at Jason as his sobs quiet though he doesn’t stop crying, tears still silently streaming down his face. Dick looks between Jason and Robin like he still can’t quite believe his eyes. He doesn’t relax his grip on the kid.

“You can see him?” Dick asks Jason like he’s waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Jason looks at him like he’s grown a second head, though with the helmet still on so Dick doesn’t get the full effect of the look. “What the hell are you talking about Dick? Of course I can see him! Why else would I be here? Why the hell did you act like you couldn’t see him?”

“I thought he was another hallucination,” Dick practically whispers as he gently runs his hands up and down Robin’s back.

“Hallucination? Another? What the hell are you talking about? Finish your fucking thoughts!” Jason shoots back.

Dick looks like he’s going to have a breakdown again. His eyes are red and shiny and his breathing is uneven. He’s shaking slightly. He takes a big gulp of air in. He stares at Jason making sure that his brother is looking back at him before he starts. “I saw you. After I found out about… I saw you everyday for years. Just like this. I never told anyone. I knew you weren’t really there. You couldn’t be. You were…” And Dick starts sobbing again, burying his head in Robin's neck.

Robin looks panicked again. He barely understands what’s going on. All these half conversations and unfinished confessions. He has no idea what they’re talking about. Something happened to Hood? Dick is this upset about it? And it has something to do with Robin? He doesn’t understand why something to do with Red Hood would make Dick cry over him like this. Red Hood and Robin have nothing to do with each other. He looks up at Hood again and feels even worse from what he sees. Jason has literally stumbled over at Dick’s admission. One hand grips the handles of the bike and the other is fisted in his shirt over his heart. His helmet is pointed at Dick like he can’t rip his eyes away from the man.

“What the hell Dick?” And wow it really feels like that is all Jason can say tonight. “You’re telling me you hallucinated for years and never thought to mention it? What? You didn’t think that was something I should know? Something I’d want to know?” Jason is yelling now, vision bleeding green around the edges like it does any time he thinks about being dead for too long.

“Why would I mention it?” Dick growled back. “You were so angry when you came back and didn’t exactly want to talk to me. And then we all had to just move on and not talk about it because everytime we bring up anything from that time you get furious and leave for months on end! Why would I think you’d want to know?” Jason doesn’t have an answer to that. He rights himself again where he’s standing and just grumbles behind his hood.

Robin begins to squirm again and Dick grips him even tighter. “Dick, let me go. You're crushing me. Since when did you get so strong?” He laughs in a strained manner, “And what the hell are you two talking about? Why are you talking about hallucinations?” He tries to keep his tone light, not wanting to set Dick off any more than he already has, but inside he is freaking out. He’s never seen his big brother like this. He doesn’t know what to say or do. And apparently Hood hasn’t either if his reaction is anything to go by.

“Oh Littlewing,” Dick says quietly, like he’s scared that Robin is going to disappear. Jason’s head whips back towards them at the nickname. “I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you. I’m so sorry I couldn’t protect you. I’ll never forgive myself for what happened.” The more he says the harder it is to understand him; the wracking sobs make the words hard to make out. But Robin can’t help but notice how Red Hood stiffens at this speech. How his whole body has gone rigid and he looks ready to flee.

“Don’t call him that,” Hood says darkly but Dick doesn’t seem to take any notice. Dick’s eyes are on Red Hood but it's like they are looking through him not at him.

Robin’s mind is running a mile a minute. Dick’s sorry? For what? Why? He might not always be the nicest to him but he hasn’t done anything to warrant this level of apology. And certainly nothing to make him cry like this. Hood seems to know what's going on but he has been decidedly vague about the subject since Dick started to cry. Robin needs answers. Now. “Dick what is going on? Where is Batman?” Robin tries again after not really getting a response to his first set of questions. Dick finally tears his eyes away from Red Hood and looks Robin in the eye.

Robin hadn’t noticed before because Dick’s head has been buried in his neck this whole time but Dick looks older. Not by much but definitely older than his brother is supposed to be. How is that possible? There are lines on his face that weren’t there the last time he saw him only a few weeks ago. And he looks sad, sad in a way Robin had never seen him before. This is not his Dick Grayson. This Dick is a stranger and that does nothing to assuage Robin’s nerves.

“I’m so sorry Littlewing. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry. I’m so sorry.” He says it over and over and over again like if he stops saying it everything will crumble around him. He says it like a sinner prays for forgiveness. Like a man in mourning. He says it like one bargains with death in the throes of grief. It’s like he can’t even hear what Robin is asking him. So Robin gives up on getting any answers from him. Instead he lovingly tries to rub Dick’s back with the little movement afforded to his arms while still trapped in Dick’s vice-like grip. Dick shivers as if the gentle touch may take him apart.

Dick looks up at Jason, “How is he here?”

“I…” Jason starts, but he is interrupted by the sound of a motor entering the cave. Bruce is back.

Chapter Text

As the Batmobile pulls into the cave Robin feels his heart lighten. Dick has been acting so weird but Batman would know what to do! He’d give him answers about what is going on! With the knowledge that this ordeal is almost over Robin finally relaxes in Dick’s hold. Dick doesn’t let go but his grip also relaxes now that Robin is no longer trying to get away.

Jason feels a sense of dread settle in his gut. This is not going to be good. If Dick’s reaction was anything to go by Bruce’s reaction will probably be worse. He doesn’t want to be here. He doesn’t want to see this.

Damian is out of the Batmobile before Bruce and as he bounds over towards his brothers he doesn’t initially see Robin still engulfed in Dick’s arms, obscured from view by the bigger man’s bulk. No, Damian just sees Todd standing over a hunched over Grayson and he immediately is on the offensive ready to defend Dick. “Todd what have you done to Grayson now? Why is he on the floor and what are you even doing here?” Damian sneers the questions at Jason in his usual haughty manner.

Robin’s ears are ringing. Todd? And who is that boy? Why is he wearing a uniform with that telltale R above his heart? He looks at Red Hood but the man is not looking his way. He is also very much not answering the strange boy’s questions. Instead his helmet is unerringly trained on where Batman emerges from the Batmobile. And there he is. Batman. Robin could shout with joy just from seeing the man.

As Damian gets closer to Dick he finally sees why his brother is hunched over on the floor. He immediately stops in his tracks. Damian may have never seen Todd when he was that young but he’d know that uniform anywhere. He’s seen it enough times from its place enshrined in the cave. From behind him he hears Father say, “Robin what have I told you about speaking to Hood like that? And how many times must I remind you all that we don’t use civilian names in the cave?” Bruce still hasn’t noticed the interloper in the cave nor has he taken note of his sons’ strange behavior. He’s tired, exhausted really. Sometimes things escape even Batman when he has his guard down.

Bruce is rubbing his hand over his face having just removed the cowl. His hair is mussed and his eyes are tired, slightly red around the rims from lack of sleep. He’s making his way over to his sons but he has yet to really look at the scene in front of him. When he opens his eyes again they immediately land on Jason and a small smile threatens to break through on his face but ultimately he tamps it down. Instead he goes for calm and cordial. Happy would probably start a fight. “Hood, nice to see you. What brings you here?” Not for the first time Bruce wishes he could see his son’s eyes. He really hates that helmet.

Bruce sees Jason stiffen. What is it now? What could Bruce have possibly done to set his son off already? He sighs but keeps walking, not paying much mind to his ignored question. He and Jason had been doing okay recently. He doesn’t want to fight with his son. He never wants to fight with Jason. When he gets to where Damian has stopped he looks at where his youngest has his eyes unblinkingly trained. He feels all of the air leave his body like someone has punched him in the gut. He stops in his tracks and just stares. He cannot believe his eyes. He gasps and all eyes turn to him.

Bruce’s mind immediately starts cycling through every possible explanation for what he is seeing. This could be a clone. It could be clayface. It could be the work of an unknown meta. A mass group hallucination. Magic. Fear toxin. An alternate earth messing with reality. Why is he here? How? He needs to run tests. Where is Alfred? He needs Alfred. Maybe he should call the Justice League. Would Clark be able to help? Could Clark confirm for Bruce if this was real? Maybe Constantine would know? Zatanna? Martian Manhunter? Anyone? Is Jason okay? Is that still his son? Has he also been replaced? How can there be two of him? Why is this one so young? How young? What does he know? What have they told him? Can Bruce save him? Is he too late again? Will he always be too late?

Bruce’s breathing is labored as he looks at the small boy wrapped in Dick’s arms. And suddenly Robin is bounding over to him, having used Dick’s distraction from Bruce’s reaction to finally wiggle free of the larger man’s grasp. On instinct, a muscle memory that will never quite go away, Bruce catches his son as he leaps into his arms. “Dad! I’m so glad you’re finally here! Today has been so strange and Dick is acting funny and I don’t know who any of these other people are or how I got here and everything has been so confusing. But you’ll know what to do. You always know what to do.” Robin says all of this in a single rush of breath. He wraps his arms around Bruce’s neck and buries his head against his father.

Bruce is looking down at the child in his arms, horrified. Then stricken. Then panicked. Then confused. Then mournful. And finally with bittersweet sadness. Each emotion flickers across his face for only a moment. But even if his sons had missed these microseconds of expression they could not possibly miss the way Bruce crumbles to the ground and cries. His crying is not like Dick’s loud wracking sobs. He does not hyperventilate or gasp. He does not wail or heave. No he silently shudders as tears roll heavily down his face. It doesn’t matter how this is possible right now. It doesn’t matter if this is a clone or a hallucination or magic. His son is hugging him so he hugs back. He stays on the ground just holding his son for a minute. But when Robin begins to squirm, unsettled by his father crying, Bruce comes back to himself. Though he clutches the child he is not looking at Robin. No, Bruce’s eyes are boring into Jason.

“What is going on?” Bruce growls and it is not Bruce asking but Batman. Just like that the tears have dried and he is back to the stoic analytical Bat, no longer the crying father. He stands, still carrying Robin in his arms. He never takes his eyes off Jason.

“We…” Dick begins to answer but Bruce immediately cuts him off.

“Not you,” Batman says sharply. Robin whimpers in his arms. He hates when Dick and Bruce fight. Bruce softens the cruel bite in his tone but is no less severe when he says “I was talking to Jason.”

At this Robin peels himself away from where he was hiding in Bruce’s neck. “Bruce…I…” Robin begins to stutter out but is also cut off, this time by the man in the hood.

“He’s not talking to you kid. He’s talking to me.”

“You?” Robin blinks at the Red Hood with wide eyes. He has slowly been piecing everything together. All the half finished thoughts and incomplete conversations that only make sense if he accepts the impossible start to come together. But no. There’s no way, right? How would that even be possible? The man in front of him is huge! Clearly much older than Jason. And he’s never seen this man’s uniform before. Never heard of the Red Hood outside of the Joker’s old alias. This man couldn’t be…

The man sighs. He reaches up to his head and fiddles with something on the back of his helmet. With a click it releases and the man takes it off. Round blue eyes stare back at a face that is achingly familiar but painfully different. Even through the domino mask under the helmet Robin feels that he knows exactly who this man is. He can’t let himself believe it yet. Not with how unalike their appearances are. Instead of blue eyes looking back at him the eyes are tinged green. There is an unfamiliar white streak of hair at the very front of his head. The cheeks are more hollow than round and his complexion was pallid where Robin’s was ruddy. And of course there's everything Robin already knew. The man was huge, older than him, his voice was deeper even through the helmet. It can’t be.

The man reaches up and ruffles his hair before finally removing the domino as well. He looks at Robin. “Hey kid,” he gives Robin a wry smile, “nice to meet you. I’m Jason Todd.” At this Dick makes an indignant noise.

“You hadn’t told him who you are?” Dick nearly yells at Jason.

“No Dick I hadn’t told him!” Jason shoots back in a mocking tone. “I didn’t even want to be here! I wouldn’t be if the kid wasn’t stuck to me! Also am I the only one concerned about the damn timeline? I thought we weren’t supposed to tell people things about their future!”

“But how could you not tell him? Look how scared he is! He must be so confused and upset and you just let him suffer like that?” Dick sounds indignant and like he’s getting dangerously close to grabbing Robin and crying again. Damian walks over to Dick and gently puts his hand on his arm. Dick immediately calms down but still looks ready to blow at the smallest provocation.

“Boys!” Bruce’s voice booms through the cave, “Tell me what is going on this instant Jason!” Bruce’s grip on Robin’s small body had tightened with his outburst. Robin begins to struggle in Bruce’s arms clearly wanting to be put down. But when he sees the downright wounded expression on Bruce’s face he stops.

“Can you put me down Dad?” Robin whispers and Bruce lets out a small strangled sound at the use of the word dad. Bruce clearly doesn’t want to put his son down but he just closes his eyes for a moment and nods slowly lowering Robin to the ground. Robin gives Bruce one more squeeze before walking over to Jason.

He looks up at this man who is apparently his future and Jason looks back. Jason looks sad, defeated, tired. Robin can’t help but notice that every time he calls Bruce ‘dad’ Jason flinches. He can’t help but notice how easily this man gets angry at the smallest things. He can’t help but notice how he stands as far away from his family as possible. He can’t help but notice that Jason is stiff and uncomfortable in the cave. He can’t help but notice how his shoulders are slumped and defeated looking even while he is clearly maintaining an emotional wall between himself and his family. Robin doesn’t like what he notices.

As Robin opens his mouth to talk to Jason everyone in the cave stops as they hear the telltale sound of the door to the manor open. Tim and Alfred’s voices drift down to the startled group as they make their way down the stairs. Tim’s crutches click with every step. He and Alfred finally come into view and Alfred asks to no one in particular “Is everything alright sirs? It’s been quite a while since patrol ended.”

As they finally come fully into view they both stop in their tracks spying Robin standing in front of Jason. Alfred gasps looking to Bruce for confirmation. But Bruce neither confirms it or denies it. Tim freezes before he whips his head to look at the memorial case and then back to Robin and back to the memorial case before resting on Jason’s face.

Jason sighs. He’s been doing that a lot tonight. He’s tired. He wants this to be over. Looking at his younger self has been draining. So many painful memories are constantly being dredged to the surface. He looks at Bruce. “Are you really going to make me do this? You can see what’s going on. I don’t know anything else” And he just sounds so defeated. The fight goes out of Bruce.

“Boys,” Bruce begins, “go up to the manor. We clearly need to talk. Alone.” Dick looks between both Jasons and then locks eyes with Bruce. His shoulders drop and he turns. He takes Damian’s hand and walks over to Tim putting his hand on his shoulder.

As Dick leads his brothers back to the stairs he calls over his shoulder, “We’ll be waiting in the den.” And together they slowly make their way out of the cave, leaving without another word.

Alfred walks over to Robin who is still standing in front of Jason. He kneels down and puts his hands on either side of Robin’s face. “Is it really you my boy?” Alfred asks quietly. Robin nods and Alfred envelops him in a hug.

“Hey Alfie,” the small boy says. “I’m so happy you’re here.” Robin smiles into the hug letting his body relax into it. Alfred looks up at Bruce with a severe expression and Bruce lowers his head, cowed. He should have called Alfred as soon as he knew.

Alfred stands up letting go of Robin’s small frame. “Masters Jason, Master Bruce I will be waiting for you all with the boys upstairs.” Alfred says in his usual calm tone. Then he turns to Bruce entirely “I expect you all upstairs in a timely manner, Master Bruce. All of you.” And with that he turns to go, leaving the three men in the cave to have a conversation none of them are really ready for.

Chapter Text

Bruce turns back to his sons and goes to speak but is cut off by Jason again. “I don’t want to be here Bruce. I can’t be here. I have no idea where the kid came from, how he’s here, or why he’s stuck to me. So call up some of your little friends to work this out so I can leave.”

Bruce chooses to ignore the comments about Jason not staying, chooses also to ignore the pang in his chest hearing the clear pain in Jason’s voice. “I’ll call the League soon but first I….I just want to talk to you both,” Bruce looks up at Jason, pleading, “please.” Bruce doesn’t wait for a response, he just holds out his hand for Robin to take and walks towards the med bay in the cave. He needs to run some tests before he gets the League involved. Bruce hears Jason grumble behind him but he has no choice but to follow since Robin is getting further away.

Bruce looks down at his son holding his hand and says, “Son,” Bruce tries to ignore the sharp intake of breath from behind them but Robin sees the hurt flash across his face, “we need to run some tests first. Is that okay?” Robin nods and squeezes Bruce’s hand.

Bruce motions for Robin to sit on one of the cots in the med bay and then turns to Jason. “I’d appreciate it if you would do these tests too.”

“Yeah I don’t think so old man.” Jason scoffs.

Bruce sighs. “Fine. I can’t force you.” Bruce was clearly not happy with Jason’s response but he truly can’t force his son so he just drops it. “Can you at least tell me from the beginning what is going on here? What did you mean he’s stuck to you and where exactly did you find him?” Bruce prepares a syringe to take some of Robin’s blood and also sets up a full body scan to check for any anomalies. He had forgotten how small Jason used to be. Moving all the equipment and tying Jason’s arm is making him remember things he’d rather not.

“Well like I said,” said with as much annoyance as Jason can muster, “the kid appeared out of nowhere. I was finishing patrol in Crime Alley and saw someone dive behind a dumpster and then there he was. I tried my best to leave as soon as I saw who he was but when I did he got yanked straight into the air. As far as I can tell we can’t get more than about 10 feet apart.”

Bruce nods. The computer has finished its analysis and confirmed that this is in fact Jason. Bruce hasn’t been this shocked to get results back since he first ran the Red Hood’s DNA following his explosive entrance onto the Gotham crime scene. Bruce closes his eyes for just a moment and breathes deeply. Will the pain of losing Jason ever lessen? Will these reminders ever stop coming back to haunt him? He turns back to his son still sitting quietly on the hospital cot. “Jason, did anything happen to you that caused you to appear here? Do you know if you’re from an alternate universe or if this is time travel? Something to do with a rogue or a speedster?”

Jason meekly shakes his head. “I was just doing patrol with Bruce. We were talking one minute jumping between rooftops and the next thing I know I look back at him and he’s gone, I’m in an alleyway, and then he” Jason nods his head toward the older version of himself, “shows up. This universe seems the same as mine as far as I can tell. But clearly I’m from earlier in the timeline than you all. Do you think Dad is looking for me? He’s probably so worried”

Bruce looks hurt again and Robin can’t help but notice the way Jason once again seems to flinch as if he’d be struck. “I’m sure he is, son. Don’t worry too much. We’ll try to get you home.” He says this gently, in a way he hasn’t spoken to his Jason in years.

Robin nods but he clearly looks upset again.

“How old are you, Jason?”

“I just turned fourteen. Why? Is my age important?”

Bruce ignores his younger son’s question and turns to the older with an expression almost like hope on his face. “Don’t look at me like that old man. I know what you’re thinking and I don’t want to be involved.”

“How can you say that, Jason? We can avoid so much suffering. All of your pain! We could save him! Do you not want to be saved?” Bruce’s frustration bubbles to the surface by the end and he’s practically yelling.

Jason gives as good as he gets. Not to be outdone he bites back, eyes flashing green and the pit bringing all his anger to the fore. “Do you hate what I’ve become so much, Bruce? But what am I saying? Of course you do! You’d do anything to get your ‘good soldier’ back! Isn’t that why that damned memorial is still up? Just think, you can get rid of all your guilt and the Red Hood in one fell swoop! This must be like a dream for you! No son that came back wrong. No trail of bodies in his wake. No choice between your son and the Joker. Just a good little soldier following his father down the path of no return. Hell maybe I’d have gotten a few more years out of Robin. Maybe you wouldn’t hate me. I could have just grown to resent you like Dick did. Run away so you could replace me just like you did him. And then when you inevitably fucked up again I could have come crawling home to clean up your mess. Just like Dick. Well sorry old man I’ve never been Dick and I never will be. No matter how much you try to change history.”

“How could you say that? I loved you! I love you! I would have done anything to stop what happened in Ethiopia. I would still do anything. You think this is about my ego, my guilt? This is about you Jason! You suffered so much. For years. And I wasn’t there for you. I didn’t even know where you were. I thought you were still…” Bruce trails off, losing steam. He can’t say it. He can never seem to bring himself to say it. He looks so defeated. A broken man pleading with his son.

Robin hops off the cot trying to get between the two men. He stands in front of himself and looks into his own eyes. His eyes that are no longer the same color. “I’m going to die.” It’s not a question. Jason is smart enough to have put it all together at this point. Still Jason nods at the kid.

“Soon I take it? And it has something to do with the Joker?” Again Jason nods. “How are you here then? If you died, how are you alive?”

“Lazarus pit,” Jason spits. “I was dead for six months and then just woke up in my grave one day. Dug my way out and wandered around Gotham like a zombie for a while before the League of Assassins found me. Talia and Ra’s threw me in the pit when they realized zombie me wasn’t cutting it for their plans. And here I am.” Jason sarcastically gestures to himself.

“Wh…” Jason begins but is cut off by Bruce.

“You had to dig your way out of your grave?” Bruce sounds nearly breathless, like something is stuck in his throat preventing him from getting the words out. “I didn’t know that.”

“You never bothered to ask, asshole. Instead of asking your dead son how he came back to life you decided your time would be better spent trying to beat me up or throwing me in Arkham next to my murderer.”

“Jason…”

“No! I don’t want to hear it. I’ve been back for years and you have never once asked. I am not having this conversation just because little mister ghost of Christmas past is here now.” Jason is growing more and more angry and he is going to end up hurting someone if he doesn’t get out of here soon. His hand is moving closer to the gun holstered to his thigh. But then he feels a gentle hand on his wrist and he looks down at himself, the small fragile innocent version of himself that has never died and never experienced the pain of Bruce’s rejection, and he deflates. He’s so tired.

“Please explain all this to me. At this point you’ve given me enough to guess a lot so you might as well just tell me. If you were worried about the timeline or some shit it’s already too late for that, and I want answers. The full story.”

“J…” Bruce begins to answer but is immediately cut off by Jason.

“Shut up old man. You don’t even know what happened. Because, again, you never bothered to ask.” Jason sighs and looks at his younger self. “You really want to hear this stupid story? We don’t exactly make good choices throughout.” He says this last bit with a mirthless chuckle. Robin nods. “Okay, kid. Okay.

“I was looking for my mom.”

“But…” Jason begins to interrupt. His older self just holds up a hand.

“No interruptions kid. Understood?” Robin nods.

“I was looking for my mom. I had found out that Catherine Todd wasn’t my birth mom and I was looking for whoever was. After all, at this point I felt like I was down three parents and I was desperate to find another one. Willis was dead. Good riddance to the bastard. Catherine was dead. Bruce here had just accused me of killing someone. A murder that I did not commit and he should have known I would never have committed. Not then at least. Not while I still worshiped him. But he didn’t because he never really trusted the street kid he took in, the rogue Robin. I never could follow orders well enough. Was never going to live up to Dick, the boy wonder. So he accused me and it broke something inside me. I didn’t trust him anymore. He didn’t trust me. Threatened to bench me forever; to take away Robin. He wasn’t my father any more. Our relationship at that point was worse than Bruce’s ever got with Dick. And you remember how they used to fight.” A wry smile flits across his face as Jason looks at him with huge eyes.

“So I went looking for my mom. I found her. Being the kid of the world’s greatest detective had some perks I guess. Turns out she was a woman named Sheila. When I found her she didn’t really want anything to do with me. Surprising I know. Who would have guessed a woman who left her son with a great guy like Willis wouldn’t want to suddenly be a mom? Like I said, kid, we were dumb. We made stupid decisions.

“Sheila was in a lot of trouble. Debt or some shit. People were after her and she was clearly scared. So in my infinite wisdom I decided to tell her that I was Robin. The boy wonder! I could help her!” Jason sounds practically manic at this point.

But he quickly went back to being quietly angry. Murderous. “Well I helped her all right. She asked me to come to Ethiopia. She would meet me and we’d settle all this nonsense with the people that were after her. So I went. No questions asked. I didn’t tell Bruce. Dick was off-world. Couldn’t have said anything to him even if I wanted to. Not that I think he’d have picked up the phone. Dickhead likes to forget how much he disliked me back then.” Jason sounds so broken. “I didn’t even say goodbye to Alfred. I didn’t know it would be a goodbye. One of the things I regretted the most even through all the anger.

“When I got to the warehouse in Ethiopia I knew as soon as I was inside that something was wrong. And then there he was.” Fire spits with each word and Jason’s eyes flash green. “Smiling that stupid, infuriating grin. Joker. He was waiting for me. Mommy dearest sold me out. Well as you can imagine things just went swimmingly from there. I was alone with no backup and he ambushed me; I was taken down in no time. And stupid little me thought I was going to be used as bait! Or maybe he’d just beat me the way he had done to Dick those few times he was caught. But no. No Joker had special plans for me.

“Once he had me strung up the beating started. He used a crowbar. Very classic. Vintage even. No fancy weapons or Joker-gas for me. It felt like he broke every bone in my body and I’m sure Brucie here can confirm from my autopsy that Joker did in fact break most of my bones. Sheila just watched. She stood on a balcony in this damned warehouse and she smoked as Joker beat her son to death. She watched every minute of it. I never passed out. Couldn’t even escape from the pain for a few minutes. No, I was lucky enough to feel every blow. And then I finally thought he was done. When he threw the crowbar to the floor and started to maniacally laugh while walking to the door I had the stupid stupid thought that he would just leave me there to bleed out for Batman to find. I was such a moron.

“No, of course Joker wasn’t done. There were bombs. Everywhere. Joker had rigged the entire place to blow. And then he just left. The way someone would stroll out of their house to go to work in the morning. Casual as can be. Sheila of course started to freak out. He had locked us inside and hadn’t left her a way out. The countdown was less than a minute by the time I managed to get up from where I had fallen from the beatings. I honestly don’t know how I could even move with how much pain I was in. And even after everything I had hope that Bruce was going to burst through the door. That my dad would save me. But Batman never showed. I knew I was going to die when the timer hit ten seconds. And because I was a stupid naive kid I still tried to shield Sheila from the blast. Still tried to protect the woman who helped Joker kill me. Just because she was my mom.” He laughs at this. Laughs like it really is funny. “It makes me sick just to think of it,” he spits.

“And to add insult to injury this asshole,” motioning to Bruce, “buried me next to her! Imagine my surprise when I found that one out! He didn’t even put us in the Wayne Family plot. Didn’t even put Wayne on my headstone. Just Todd, like I was never a Wayne at all. Not that his personal shrine to his dead Robin was any better.” Jason motions towards the case with his enshrined uniform. “There I’m still not a Wayne. Not even a son. Just a ‘good soldier’. Maybe if he thought of me as a son, had put me in the Wayne plot like an actual family member, he would have noticed when I dug myself out. Maybe he would have found me before the League of Assassins got ahold of me.

“After that so much of it is a blur. I had to go back after the pit and reconstruct a lot from that time. I woke up in my grave. I had no idea how much time had passed, how long I had been dead. From what Talia tells me I was found wandering around Gotham like a zombie a few months after I dug myself out. How Batman never found me is something I still ask myself. How my father never noticed my desecrated grave is something that makes me even angrier. At the time, I couldn’t speak and could barely function. Talia took me back to their headquarters and trained me for a few months before she and Ra’s realized I was no good to them in my current zombie-like state. So they unceremoniously threw me in the Lazarus pit. It worked.”

Jason’s eyes flash again. Rage simmering ever closer to the surface. His fists clench at his side. “Oh let me tell you it worked. I came out of the pit whole once more. And angry. So so angry. At first I wanted to run back to Bruce. But then I remembered what he did. The reason I ran off in the first place. Talia would tell me about what was going on in Gotham. And what do you know? Turns out the Bat had a new Robin. It hadn’t even been a year since I died and my own father had replaced me! But maybe I could have looked past that. Maybe I could bring myself to forgive him for Tim. But what I couldn’t stomach, the reason I stayed away for another four years, was that the Joker was still alive!”

And finally Jason looks at Bruce. “Ignoring what he's done in the past - blindly, stupidly disregarding the entire graveyards he's filled, the thousands who have suffered, the friends he's crippled...! You know, I thought... I thought I'd be the last person you'd ever let him hurt. If it had been you that he beat to a bloody pulp, if he had taken you from this world, I would've done nothing but search the planet for that pathetic pile of evil, death-worshiping garbage... and send him off to hell!”
Jason deflates turning back to Robin. “But I wasn’t worth it. His stupid code was worth more to him than his son’s life. So I stayed gone, trained, and killed. I made a plan. I almost killed Tim in Titans Tower. He ever tell you about that, old man?” Jason asks, looking at Bruce. “I dressed up in the old Robin uniform and everything. Child sized. I must have looked insane. I was a little insane. Drunk on murderous anger at the replacement.

“When I finally returned to Gotham I took over the drug trade from the big families. Killed their higher ups and stuffed their heads in a bag. And finally when I had Batman’s attention I confronted him. I kidnapped the Joker. Begged Bruce to put him in the ground. To love me more than his code. Gave him an ultimatum: me or the Joker. And what did Batman do? Did he hug his long dead son? Did he hear me out? Did he kill the scum that killed me? No. He threw a batarang at my neck. Almost severed an artery. Almost killed me again. He didn’t even notice." He looks at Bruce hard and angry. “I bet he can’t even tell me now which side of my neck the scar is on. And when I blew the building we were in sky high did he look for me in the rubble? No! He searched for the Joker instead.

“I disappeared again for a while but when I came back and kept killing Batman threw me in Arkham next to the Joker.” He turns to Robin. “Let me tell you kid, the flashbacks from the laughter aren’t fun. I was stuck in there with him for months.” He shudders involuntarily.

Jason turns to Bruce again. “You know old man, laying it all out like this, it’s a miracle I talk to you at all.”

Bruce opens his mouth but no sound comes out. He’s silently crying. Has been for much of the story.

Robin takes Jason’s hand firmly in his and squeezes. He steels himself and turns to Bruce. “You replaced me? You beat me?” His voice breaks on the second question. “You threw me in Arkham with my murderer? Am I even still your son?” He sounds so young, so hurt, like he’s on the verge of tears despite the fact that he looks furious. “How could you do that to me Dad?”

And that breaks Bruce. He crumbles. “I’m sorry Jason. I’m so sorry.”

“Don’t apologize to me! My dad would never hurt me like that! Apologize to him.” Jason motions to his older self with his free hand. He won’t let go of older Jason’s hand. Not now when he needs him.

But before Bruce can open his mouth again Jason grabs his younger self’s hand in a death grip and drags him toward the stairway to the mansion. He doesn’t look back. Robin, however, turns as he’s being dragged away and sees his father on his knees, silently crying, not looking at either of them.

Chapter Text

Jason drags his younger self up and through the manor. When Robin sees that he’s headed for the door he tugs his arm out of the other man’s grasp. “Stop! Where are you going?”

“I’m not staying here, kid. You must get why after hearing all that crap downstairs.”

“But Alfred and Dick are waiting for us. We can’t leave. Please don’t make me leave.” Robin sounds so broken and it breaks Jason’s heart to see himself like this.

“Kid I can’t. The mansion…the memories…it makes me sick.” He’s pleading at this point but he can also feel his resolve crumbling. He remembers what it felt like to be this fourteen year old version of himself. This kid has been through a lot today. He’s just been told he’ll be dead in less than a year. That Bruce doesn’t save him. That he’s not even his son anymore. Jason sighs. “How about we go see Alfred first. He’ll be upset if I take you away without saying goodbye.”

Robin nods desperately. He’ll take whatever he can get to stay in the manor. He does not want to leave. He wants to go to his room and crawl into a ball and cry. Robin leads the way to the den, Jason trailing sullenly behind him.

Before they even reach the den Jason can hear Tim and Damian going at it. Something about whether to tell Robin about everything. Tim arguing that they have to and Damian shooting the entire thing down. Jason notices that Robin has stopped before opening the door to enter the room. He looks nervous. “Come on mini-me let me introduce you to the replacement and the demon spawn” Jason says this loud enough to alert the men inside the den that they are coming in. Tim and Damian finally stop arguing.

Before Jason can grab for the doorknob Dick has wrenched it open. His eyes are red rimmed but Jason is relieved to see that he has finally stopped crying. Dick looks between the two Jasons for a moment before Jason pushes him out of the way to get inside. Dick finally steps back and gives a weak watery smile to Robin as he walks in. Once Robin is inside he wishes he had thought this through more. The two strangers are staring at him intently. One looks like he’s just seen the second coming of Christ himself while somehow managing to look embarrassed at the same time. The other, younger boy, looks like he is trying to decide the best place to stab Robin.
No one is wearing their uniforms except the two Jasons which is strangely comforting to the younger boy. At least this way he doesn’t have to look at the yellow R that had adorned the youngest boy’s chest in the cave. And he prefers Dick in civvies. Nightwing is intimidating; the blue uniform is a constant reminder of how he isn’t Robin anymore and how he isn’t happy Jason is. But this isn’t Nightwing. This is Dick. And Dick is nice to him sometimes.

Jason unceremoniously breaks the silence in the room. “Well kid this is the replacement,” pointing none too kindly at Tim who looks cowed by Jason’s words, “and this is the demon spawn or as he loves to refer to himself the ‘blood son’,” he gestures to Damian.

“Master Jason, be kind to your brothers. They have names.” Alfred gives Jason a reproachful look which Jason humphs at. “These are Masters Tim Drake and Damian al Ghul,” Alfred explains, “though they’re both Waynes now.” Alfred looks at the boys fondly. Jason can’t help but recognize the name al Ghul. Bruce has a son with an al Ghul? With a League member? And the kid looks to be at least twelve. He might already exist on Jason’s version of Earth. Yet another shocking piece of information tonight. “Come my boy, let's sit down. You must be very tired. It’s been a long night.” Alfred leads him towards the sofa and Dick follows. The two men sandwich him between them while Tim perches on a nearby overstuffed chair. Jason and Damian remain standing.

Dick looks at Jason. “How much did Bruce tell him,” he asks in a near whisper like he’s scared to hear the answer.

“Everything. Kid knows he’s gonna die and that Joker is gonna do it.” Tim looks away at this. Dick clenches his fist. “He knows about Red Hood and everything Bruce has done since I’ve been back. Hasn’t been a great night for the kid to put it mildly.”

“Where is Master Bruce?”

“Crying in the cave because he refuses to take accountability for everything he’s done to me. Not exactly surprising.”

Tim looks perturbed at this. “He’s probably really struggling with all of this. I hope this doesn’t cause him to go back to how he was before you came back.”

“Oh come off it Replacement. Good little son is worried Batman is going to go off the deep end again because of his poor dead Robin?” Jason mocks. “Boo-hoo. How sad. Must have been so hard for him that I died.”

“That’s not what I meant Jason and you know it.” Tim says back angrily but quietly.

“Oh please,” Damian pipes up, “You’re always kissing up to Father. Desperate for him to give you a scrap of affection. Right Drake?”

“How typical.” Jason laughs cruelly. “Had to blackmail his way into being the boy wonder and couldn’t even hang onto the mantle once another son came along. How’d it feel getting replaced, Tim?” Jason’s eyes flash green. “I mean at least Bruce didn’t fire me. I died. You just weren’t good enough.”

The hurt on Tim’s face is unmissable and Jason smiles in victory. The pit purrs within him just like it always does when he hurts the replacement.

Robin begins to fidget on the couch from his place between Alfred and Dick, incredibly uncomfortable with this argument. Dick puts his arm firmly around Jason’s shoulder and pulls him into his side. Jason looks up at him like he’s gone crazy again. Dick is never this affectionate with him. “Knock it off you three. This is not the time!”

“Why are you being so nice to me Dick?” Robin’s small voice can barely be heard in the ensuing silence. “You hate me.”

Dick looks stricken. He can’t meet Robin’s eyes for a moment. “Ha!” Jason barks, “Almost forgot about that didn’t you Dickie? Go on Dick, why don’t you tell your little brothers about how you used to treat me.”

“I don’t hate you little wing,” Dick says gently to Robin, ignoring Jason’s barb. “I never hated you. I was just angry back then. I am so sorry for how much I took that anger out on you. It wasn’t your fault. It was Bruce’s. He shouldn’t have made you Robin for so many reasons. There should have never been another Robin. And when…” Dick gets choked up again. “When I got the call that you died I never forgave myself for letting him do it.” Dick’s voice cracks with emotion and anger. “I didn’t get to say goodbye to you. I wasn’t even there for your damn funeral! Bruce didn’t tell me you were dead for weeks. And you died thinking I hated you.” He’s almost crying again by the end.

“I never hated you little wing.” This time he is looking at his Jason. Jason who again looks uncomfortable with this level of truth and emotion. “Your death broke me in a way I have never recovered from. How I treated you is the reason I am a better big brother to Tim and Damian than I ever was to you. Because I was never going to make the same mistake again.”

“You didn’t go to the funeral?” Robin asks.

“Master Dick was still off-world at the time of your funeral Master Jason. Master Bruce did not tell him about what happened until after you were buried.” Alfred says gently. Dick is looking down at his clenched fists in his lap.

“And Master Jason, you must stop blaming Master Tim for replacing you as Robin. Master Bruce was…not well at the time and Master Tim helped this family immensely in your absence. And if that is not enough to convince you of his good intentions then I will remind you that you were also a replacement as I do believe, if age has not yet made me senile, that Master Dick was the original Robin. A fact that your younger self seems to know very well even if you have apparently forgotten with age.” Jason doesn’t respond to this, but his grumbling let’s Alfred know he hit a sore spot.

“What do you mean Bruce wasn’t well? Everyone keeps saying he wasn’t well but what does that even mean?” Robin asks Alfred. His eyes are huge. The emotional toll the day has taken has gotten to him.

Tim interrupts before Alfred gets a chance to answer. “After Jason died Bruce took some time off as Batman. Not much, just enough to take care of the funeral, but enough that people noticed an absence. At the time I had been following the both of you for a while and when Batman disappeared at the same time Bruce Wayne’s son died it pretty much solidified my theory that Bruce was Batman and that you were Robin.” Tim takes a deep breath and Alfred frowns deeply, knowing what is coming. “And then Batman came back.

“He was different. So different. It was immediately obvious that something had happened. Robin no longer appeared by his side and…and the violence…the violence was notable. Rogues were getting beaten nearly to death every time they stuck their heads above water and even petty criminals were being sent to the hospital regularly. The people of Gotham were truly afraid of Batman for maybe the first time ever.

“Like I said, I had been watching both of you for a while,” Tim looks at Jason briefly before quickly looking at Robin instead when he was met with clear hostility in Jason’s green eyes. “I liked to take pictures of both of you while you were out on patrol and I spent every free minute trying to figure out who Batman was. So I noticed the change, the violence, immediately. I noticed that you were gone and I remembered receiving notice of Jason Todd-Wayne’s funeral in the society paper. I knew why Bruce was acting differently all of a sudden and I knew I had to help. I needed to help.” Tim is pleading, still looking at Robin but it is clear that he is speaking to Jason.

“I started with Dick. Once I knew who Batman and Robin were it wasn’t hard to figure out Nightwing’s identity as Bruce’s older son. It also wasn’t hard to deduce that he was the original Robin. I begged Nightwing to come back to Gotham, to go back to Batman, to become Robin again. Other than coming back to Gotham and working as a vigilante here himself for a while, he made it pretty clear that he couldn’t do anything about Batman.

“Nightwing was my plan A and my plan Z. I didn’t know what else to do about Batman. He couldn’t continue like this. He was hurting himself more on patrol and the police were starting to be even more distrustful of him because of how many petty criminals he was sending to the hospital.” Tim calms himself down, breathing deeply. “So I did the only thing I could think to do. I confronted and blackmailed Batman. I told him I knew who he was, that I knew who Dick was, and that I knew what happened to Robin. I threatened to expose everyone if he didn’t make me Robin. Batman needs a Robin.”

Robin’s eyes are saucers by the end. “You blackmailed Batman?” He says with awe.
Tim gives a mirthless chuckle. “Yeah it worked out real well.” He says sarcastically. “I couldn’t stop Bruce from trying to kill the Joker. We have Superman to thank for that. I couldn’t stop Dick from all but beating the Joker to death. Bruce did that. I was useless. Batman got a bit less angry, a bit less violent sure but he never got better. He still isn’t. Not really.”

The entire room jumps at the sound of Jason punching a hole through the wall. He whips his head around to Dick. “You beat the Joker to death?” Jason snarls. “Bruce tried to kill the Joker?” His eyes are wild, blazing pit green. Damian backs away from him and moves to a protective stance in front of Dick. “And none of you assholes thought to tell me that? Batman tried to kill my murderer and NOT ONE PERSON in this room bothered to tell me?”

“Calm down Todd,” Damian warns, taking a concealed knife from somewhere on his person and wielding it at Jason. “You are better than the pit, better than Grandfather. Don’t do this. I don’t want to hurt you.”

“HA!” Jason barks. He unholsters one of his guns and points it at Damian. “What are you gonna do, demon spawn? What’s that stupid little knife gonna do against a gun? Can’t outrun a bullet!”

“Master Jason!” Alfred scolds severely, putting his arm around Robin who is practically jumping out of his skin with the instinct to get away. Dick has moved to grab Damian. He tries to put his little brother behind him but Damian is fighting him, wanting to protect Dick as much as Dick wants to protect him.

Jason gives Alfred a sidelong glance but does not put the gun down. Instead he adjusts his aim and points the barrel at Dick. “Explain,” he demands curtly. Everyone can hear the barely contained rage simmering under the surface.

Dick relaxes his features and lets the tension bleed from his body. “Put the gun down, little wing. I’ll tell you everything.” Dick finally succeeds in making Damian sit next to him. He doesn’t put the knife away but he holds it casually and lets some of his tension go. Dick waits patiently for Jason to put the gun back in its holster and after a stare down for a minute Jason huffs and complies.

Dick takes a deep breath. “I never understood why you thought Bruce and I were okay after you died. When you came back it was like you thought we just immediately moved on and forgot you. After everything Tim just said it should be clear to you that neither one of us was okay.” Another deep sigh.

“I had never seen Bruce so filled with grief and anger. Nothing that had happened before or since has come anywhere close to how he mourned you, Jason. He was willing to compromise every moral he ever had to try to bring you back, to avenge you. The first time he saw the Joker after…after…he didn’t hold back. He beat him nearly to death. He would have killed him without a second thought. He was not going to stop, Jason. If it wasn’t for Superman stopping him the Joker would have been dead long before you ever tried to force Bruce’s hand.

“But in the end Superman did stop him, and after that he realized what he was about to do. He didn’t want to kill in your name. He thought you deserved better than to have his first murder taint your memory. Ironic really, given how you immediately demanded he do exactly that as soon as you came back.

“Of course you still hadn’t come back when I was told he almost killed the Joker, and I was so angry that he stopped. You were dead and he could have, should have, put your murderer in the ground and he just didn’t! But I wasn’t going to hunt the Joker like some kind of animal. In the months and years after your death I came to the uncomfortable realization that I am, in the end, Bruce’s son. Batman’s son.

“That didn’t stop me when the Joker came to me, though. He had tried to hurt Tim. And I just couldn’t! I couldn’t let him take another one of my brothers from me! I couldn’t let him kill another Robin! So when I got my hands on him my mind was filled with thoughts of you, protecting you, saving you. I already told you about the hallucinations…I needed to save you. I needed to save Tim. So when I felt that monster’s bones breaking under my hands I didn’t stop. I just kept punching and punching and punching.” Dick shivers as he remembers. “I didn’t even realize Bruce had shown up. The whole world had narrowed to killing that monster. The Joker was seconds away from death. I had done it. If Bruce hadn’t arrived in time to drag me away like Superman had done for him Joker would be dead. The only reason the Joker is alive is because Bruce saved him.

Jason opens his mouth. The anger was clear on his face. “Wait a second before you blow up, little wing. I’m not done.” Dick gives Jason a little smile, encouraging and gentle but also deeply sad.

“He saved the Joker because he couldn’t stomach that his failures, failure to save you, failure to kill the Joker himself, failure to protect his children, were going to be the reason I became a murderer. So he saved the Joker to save me. And I am happy he did. I would have never forgiven myself. But I regret not telling you sooner. You deserved to know. You deserved to know that we loved you and cared about what happened to you, that we did not just toss your memory aside.
“We never forgot you, little wing. Never.” Dick’s tone implores Jason to listen, to understand, to believe him. And Jason just looks so lost, so angry. He wasn’t expecting this information and on top of everything else that has happened tonight Dick can see just how close to the end of his rope Jason is.

“So why didn’t either of you tell me?” Jason screams, grief and hurt coloring his voice.

“You didn’t want to listen!” Dick yells back. “You were just this angry vengeful thing when you came back. I didn’t know how to talk to you! And you know Bruce is emotionally constipated at the best of times. He was never going to tell you; would rather you hate him than admit to failing you.”

Jason is quiet for a moment. Everyone gathered watches as his emotions play out on his face like a movie. He lands on grief. He looks so clearly heartbroken and Dick desperately wants to comfort his brother, but before he can Robin wiggles out from between Dick and Alfred. He stands before his older self and reaches up to touch his face. “Let’s go to sleep. It’s been a long day and I’m tired.” He looks up at Jason pleadingly. “Please.” Jason can only nod, letting his younger self take his hand and lead him out of the room. No one else makes a sound, letting the two go in the silence of the moment.

Chapter Text

Robin drags Jason behind him up and into the manor. All he knows is that they both really needed to get out of that room, away from that conversation. Jason is stumbling along behind him clearly lost in thought and not paying attention to where they’re going. It isn’t until Robin stops his almost frantic pace that Jason comes back to himself and takes in his surroundings. They are standing in front of his room. Or it used to be his room. Nestled in the family wing a few doors down from Dick’s room, this is the bedroom Bruce gave him that first night that he took him in. Jason hasn’t been inside since he left for Ethiopia.

Robin goes to open the door but is stopped by a hand grabbing his wrist. “I don’t know what it looks like in there kid. Haven’t been inside since everything happened. Bruce probably cleaned it out after he knew I wasn’t coming back. And if he didn’t do it then he probably did it after he found out I was the Hood.”

“I don’t care!” the kid responds petulantly, anger and fatigue clear in his tone. “I am exhausted and upset and I just want to sleep in my room! I want to go home! This has been one of the worst days of my life and I need it to be over!” He’s on the verge of tears, the exhaustion of the day has fully caught up to him and he cannot take a single second more of any of this. Robin gathers himself and looks at Jason. “I don't care if you want to leave. We are staying.”

Jason just sighs. He’s too drained and tired to fight with the kid, with himself. A good night’s sleep sounds like just about the best thing in the world right now and even if the room has been scrubbed bare of his existence at least the mattress will be better than the one in his safe house. He lets go of Robin’s arm and lets the kid open the door.

Robin opens the door and Jason’s breath is stolen from him. The room looks frozen in time. His unfinished homework still sits on his desk. The dog-eared copy of Pride and Prejudice that he was in the middle of sits exactly where he left it on his nightstand; his Wonder Woman poster hangs faded and peeling on the wall. The same sheets adorn the freshly made bed, the same books fill the bookshelf, his backpack sits neatly closed next to his desk. Everything looks exactly as he left it the day he ran to Ethiopia. It’s all freshly cleaned and dusted which lets him know that Alfred must be taking care of his things. It all sits there like it’s waiting for him to come back from patrol, sit down at the desk, and finish his homework.

Robin looks at the room and sighs in relief. Finally something familiar. This is his room, almost just as he remembers it. There are some new books and knick-knacks on the bookshelf and he has no idea how to do the homework on the desk but this is still his room. His sheets. His poster. His things. His bed! Oh how happy he is to see his bed! He is ready to collapse. He bounds over to the dresser and riffles through it until he finds some pajamas. He really wants to get out of his uniform. As he strips off his uniform and puts his pajamas on he notices that Jason is looking at the room like he’s seen a ghost.

“What’s wrong? All our stuff is here,” the younger boy questions.

“Do you not find it odd that this room looks exactly like your room at the manor? Exactly like you remember it?” Jason asks lowly.

“No…Why would that be weird?”

“Kid, it has been over five years since I’ve been inside this room. They all thought I was dead for four of those years. Everything is exactly the same as I left it. My unread book is on the nightstand, my unfinished homework is on the desk, the pajamas in the dresser fit you! They haven’t touched anything. Bruce could barely stand to look at me when I came back but he kept my room like some sort of shrine to his dead kid?” Jason’s speech is getting faster. He is practically manic by the end.

“Hey, hey, Jason calm down. Please.” Robin begs. “I know this is a lot for you to take in but I am so tired and I need to sleep and you have to stay here. Please I am begging you to just wait until morning. We can talk in the morning.” The kid is so tired he’s practically crying. Jason’s anger is back but this is just a kid. He’s not gonna torture him.

Jason rubs his hand down his face. “Okay kid. Okay. You get into bed. Sleep. I’ll be here so just sleep.”

The kid’s shoulders sag in relief and he practically throws himself into bed. He’s asleep before his head even hits the pillow.

Jason can’t stay in this room. He’s going to lose it if he stays in this shrine to his dead fifteen year old self. But the kid is already asleep and there’s no way he’s going to wake him up. Jason isn’t cruel no matter what Bruce likes to think, especially not to kids. He heads straight for the window, opens it, and swings up onto the roof. Right on the edge here he’s still close enough to the kid to prevent him from being tugged on in his sleep.

Finally Jason is alone. Finally he can think. He needs to think. Why is this kid here and where did he come from? He has no more answers now than he did when he found the kid. It feels like a million years have passed since then; strange to think it's only been a handful of hours. All he’s accomplished by coming here is traumatizing the kid and enraging himself. He hates thinking about what happened over the last five years and that is all he has done since he found the kid. And what the hell has been up with Bruce and Dick? He’s never seen Bruce cry like that let alone apologize to him the way he did. Groveling isn’t exactly Batman’s style. And Dick…goddamn Dick and his apparent hallucinations. What the hell is that about?

Why did no one tell him any of this? You’d think they’d have thought this shit was important enough to share with the person it’s about! Hell, Tim knows more about it than he does! And doesn’t that just infuriate him. Fucking replacement has more knowledge about what this fucked up family was doing after his death than he does. Does he even believe them all? Does he believe Tim? And if he does believe them that means Talia lied to him through her teeth. If Bruce was that bad off, if Tim blackmailed him, then Tim wasn’t really a replacement, was he? He probably shouldn’t be shocked by Talia’s manipulation but it still hurts. He trusted Talia when he had no one to trust. She is the reason that he was able to put his plans in motion. She brought him back to life, and no matter how much he resents her for that in some ways he is glad he’s not dead. Then again even Damian says she’s not to be trusted, and Jason doesn’t trust her for the most part but…
Jason sighs aloud.

He realistically needs to talk to Bruce about this, but he is not going to be the one to start that conversation. No way in hell is he extending an olive branch to that man after the shit show that was tonight. He has no idea where Bruce is. Probably still brooding in the cave. And from the lack of Clark in the air he probably hasn’t thought to call the League yet. Typical. Bruce once again leaves Jason to clean up his messes.

Jason looks up at the sky where he can already see the cool light of dawn beginning to break and says, “Clark, it’s Jason. We have a bit of a situation here at the manor. It’s a Justice League issue so get here as soon as you can.” Before he can finish his final word Clark is there floating in front of him, cape billowing in the wind.
“Jason, what’s wrong? Are you hurt? Is Bruce hurt? What’s going on?” Clark shoots his questions off rapid-fire and Jason can see Clark’s eyes looking at him, though him, scanning his body for injuries. When Clark finishes scanning Jason, seeing that he is injury free, he turns his eyes to the manor. He scans the entire building; all this happening in the split second after he asked his last question, before Jason can even answer. Super speed comes in handy for more than just flying fast. And in this split second scan he sees someone out of place and he knows what this is about. He turns back to Jason, not that Jason even saw Clark move his eyes away from him.

“Well…” Jason starts and Clark can see how uncomfortable he is, can hear the fatigue in his voice, can hear the hammering of his heart. Clark spares Jason the explanation.

“Why is there another you in your bedroom, Jason?” Clark asks gently. He floats down to sit next to Jason, not close enough to touch but comfortingly near so that Jason can feel the warmth emanating from him.

Jason has always liked Clark. Everyone likes Clark and there’s a reason for that. He’s kind and friendly and he doesn’t pry despite the fact that his abilities could easily let him know every dirty secret a person wants to keep hidden. He’s always been gentle with Jason and despite the fact that Jason almost never sees him anymore he has never been angry with Clark the way he has been with his own family, not even after the pit. “Kid just showed up out of nowhere last night. Bruce ran all the usual tests and he’s definitely me. We have no idea whether he’s from another timeline or from the past in this timeline. Of course the whole family has been freaking out over him and Bruce has been useless. Probably still crying in the cave.” Clark’s eyes widen at this and he cocks his head to the side as if he’s listening for the sound of sobs. “And to top off everything else about this god-damned ridiculous situation the kid is stuck to me. I can’t get more than ten feet away from him. No idea why.
“I feel like I’m losing it, Clark. I had to look myself in the eye and tell the kid he’s going to die in less than a year. He’s only fourteen and he still worships Bruce.” Jason says with a hard voice. “I had to tell him about everything that happened between Bruce and the Hood.” Jason can feel himself getting choked up, his voice thick, and tears pricking at his eyes. He takes a deep breath and steadies himself. He doesn’t want to cry in front of Clark. He doesn’t want to cry at all. He hates being weak in front of other people, especially Bruce’s friends. Because while he knows Clark cares for him, he is Bruce’s friend before he is anything to Jason. “No one has any idea where he came from, how he got here, or how to get him back to where he should be. Bruce was supposed to contact the League but as you can see I had to pick up his slack again. So if you could maybe scan him or call the League or I don’t even know what else I’d appreciate it. I need to get him off of me. Looking at myself at that age for much longer is going to make me sick.”

“Jason, I don’t know what to say. Of course I’ll contact the rest of the League as soon as I leave here. Maybe Zatanna, Jonn, or Constantine will know something. I can tell you that no timeline disturbances have been detected recently. Bruce would have gotten an alert if there had been since he was the one who set that system up. So it’s likely that this visitor is from another earth. We’ll have to go looking for a source, a cause, and how to get him back to where he belongs but that will take some time. I’m sorry to say that you’re probably going to have to be with him for a while longer.” Clark places a light comforting hand on Jason’s shoulder. “Is there anything I can do for you in the meantime? Anything you need? Anything else you want to say to me?”

“No…I’m exhausted. I need to sleep before I collapse. Go find Bruce. I’m sure he’s still brooding and he could probably use your company more than me.” Jason is looking down at his clenched hands, tense and unhappy. He seems hesitant. Clark nods and is about to turn to leave, but Jason stops him. “Clark, why didn’t you tell me Bruce tried to kill the Joker?”

Clark is quiet for a moment and he looks almost guilty.

“Bruce wasn’t well after you died Jason.” And Jason can’t help but notice that everyone has been saying that tonight. Bruce ‘wasn’t well’. It’s been needling at him this whole time. ‘Not well.’ What does that even mean? “He was spiraling. He pulled away from the League, didn’t attend meetings or speak to anyone. Diana and I tried to reach out to him so many times but he never gave us a chance to help him. On patrols and in the field he was getting more and more violent, but with us it was almost the opposite. He just collapsed in on himself. Withdrew even further than usual. He wouldn’t tell us anything beyond the barebone facts of what happened to you. He told us with so little emotion in his voice, Jason. No anger. No sadness. No grief. Just nothing.” Clark has a haunted faraway look in his eyes as the memories come flooding back.

“The Joker had gone underground for a long time after you died. No one knew where he was and he was keeping the lowest profile either Bruce or I had ever seen from him. But then he popped up again. And Bruce just…lost it. Tim wasn’t around yet and Dick wasn’t staying at the manor. They weren’t speaking at all actually. Dick was still so angry about missing your funeral. When the Joker popped up it was in Iran of all places. He was pulling some ludicrous quasi terrorism stunt by becoming an ambassador. The whole thing was ridiculous and should have never been allowed by anyone involved. But regardless it happened…

“When Bruce finally tracked him down and got a hold of him he didn’t hesitate. He was going to kill him, Jason. I’ve never seen him like that before or since. The anger and grief were all finally at the surface and he was channeling it all into killing your murderer. I was scared of him. I was scared for him.” Clark starts to fidget a little as he continues. “You know that I don’t have the same code as Bruce does. I don’t like killing any more than he does but I am willing to kill when it is necessary. Under normal circumstances I can’t say I would have stopped him…But circumstances weren’t normal. Killing the Joker then, while he was playing all of these political games, would have likely started WW3. And I just couldn’t allow that.

“I loved you Jason, loved you like a nephew. And I love Bruce like a brother. Unlike Bruce, I never questioned that you would have wanted that monster dead. I knew you’d have wanted Bruce to kill him. I did not stop him for your benefit, no matter what Bruce might like to tell himself. After all, your father prefers to think I am above feelings like vengeance. Helps him sleep better at night.” Clark says with a wry smile. “I stopped him because thousands if not millions would have died if he killed the Joker at that moment. And while I have always believed you would want the Joker dead, I also knew that you wouldn’t want it at the expense of millions of innocents.

“I didn’t think it was my place to tell you any of this. I had thought Bruce would eventually tell you but I guess I was wrong. If I had known I would have come to you sooner.” Clark stops then, watching and waiting for Jason to respond in some way. Despite his best efforts not to, Clark can hear Jason’s pulse racing. Jason swallows hard.

“Thank you for telling me. You all should have told me a long long time ago but regardless I know now.” He breathes deeply again, steadying himself. “I can’t talk about this any more right now. I’m going to sleep. Go find Bruce. Call the League and figure out what to do about the kid.” His voice is steely but his racing blood gives him away. Clark doesn’t know how to comfort him. He never seems to be able to truly comfort any of the bats. He sighs. And with that Jason climbs off the roof and into his still open window.

Chapter Text

Jason is rudely awoken by the mid afternoon sun shining directly into his eyes. He had collapsed next to his younger self as soon as he closed the window and had forgotten to close the curtains. He notices that the kid isn’t next to him on the bed anymore and for one blissful moment Jason lets himself hope that his younger self has simply disappeared. He stares up at the ceiling and can’t stop the memories of all the nights he spent in this bed from flooding back.

Coming to the manor was the first time he had a proper room, his own bed, and safety at night. Catherine tried to be a mother to him but her problems with drugs and inability to leave Willis meant Jason’s childhood before Bruce was fraught with dangers and trauma. And then Bruce just swooped in and changed all that overnight. When he was first taken to the manor he honestly thought Bruce was going to hurt him; maybe kidnap or sell him or who knows what other depraved things adults do to little kids. Those first months Jason was jumpy and on edge constantly, always waiting for the other shoe to drop. But Bruce never hurt him. Not once. He was so gentle with him, so patient. He never yelled and he spoiled Jason rotten; Bruce bought him books and all the food he could eat. He brought him to baseball games and amusement parks and sent him to the best school in Gotham. But even more than the physical stuff Bruce bought for him, he just spent time with Jason. He read to him at night and held him when he had nightmares. He went to parent conferences and attended his school activities. They ate dinner together most nights and he told everyone they met that Jason was his son. He said it with so much pride.

But now…now that is all gone. Dead. Just like the fifteen year old boy that went to Ethiopia and never came back. And every time he thinks about all that he lost in death Jason just wants to scream. It’s not fair! He didn’t want to die! He didn’t want to come back wrong! Didn’t want to come back at all! And now he’s alone, left with nothing but anger and rage and hatred. Bruce has all but abandoned him; he has made it abundantly clear that Jason is no longer the version of his son that he wants.

Jason turns his head to the side and sees his younger self sitting at the desk paging through a book from the shelf and sipping on a mug of what smells like hot chocolate. Alfred must have brought it to him. Jason is once again struck by how weird this entire situation is. It's like looking directly into the past. A home movie of himself from a time he can never return to. And yet here the kid is: alive and well and untainted by the trauma of death. The scene makes him sad deep in his bones, grieving everything he has lost over and over again. Jason can feel his older self looking at him and turns to face him. “Good morning, or really afternoon. I thought you’d never wake up.” He sounds surprisingly chipper given everything he learned last night but then again Jason remembers how good he was at compartmentalizing his feelings even back then.

Jason grunts at him in lieu of an answer. He sits up slowly and stretches his tired and sore muscles hearing his back pop satisfyingly. His younger self pipes up again, “Alfred said to come down whenever you wanted to eat. He was going to leave food here for you but he didn’t want it to get cold before you woke up.” Jason grunts again. He sits on the edge of his bed and rubs the sleep out of his eyes. He gets up, grabs the clothes Alfred none-too-subtly left for him on the desk, and heads to the adjoining bathroom, splashes some cold water on his face and brushes his teeth with militant efficiency. He’s tugging the fresh shirt over his head when he reemerges into the room changed and refreshed. The kid is watching him steadily and Jason hears him take a quick audible intake of breath. He looks at the kid and gives him a ‘care to explain’ look. The kid points to his own chest tracing a T-shape down his entire torso, all the while staring at Jason with bulging eyes. Jason sighs. He forgot about the autopsy scar.

Jason walks back over to the bed once again sitting on its edge. He pats the mattress next to him. “Come here kid. We need to talk.” The kid gets up, looking more and more wary, but sits down next to Jason nonetheless.

He swings his legs back and forth off the side of the bed. He’s tall enough for them to touch the floor so the little movement is more a choice than a default. And once again Jason is struck by how much he has changed. This kid is so carefree, so light. Jason feels something in him harden. This is why he got killed. This is why he was stupid enough to walk right into the Joker’s trap. Well not this kid. No. Jason will make sure to toughen this one up before it's too late.

Jason takes a deep breath before beginning. “You’re going to die next year on April 27th.” The kid’s legs stop swinging immediately, body going stiff and breathing deep.

“Yeah, I know. Kind of hard to forget all that stuff from yesterday. And even if I had forgotten that’s an autopsy scar right? You really were dead.” The kid sounds so defeated and angry. He doesn’t want to talk about this. He has been trying his hardest to not think about any of this since going to sleep last night. It’s just upsetting. Why would he want to think about it? “Why are you like this, Jason?” he asks, looking at his older self. All the sadness of the past twenty-four hours filled his voice.

“Like what, kid?”

“Angry, bitter, dangerous. Tim is clearly scared of you and Dick walks on eggshells around you. It’s like you and I are completely different people. And some of the things you’ve said you did…They’re horrifying. You’re nearly a villain.” He shudders. His voice is so small and the defeat hangs like a heavy cloud over his whole body.

“I’m not a villain,” Jason growls. He can feel the green in the back of his mind, angry at the accusation.

“You kill people! You’re a crime lord!” Jason screams at himself. “Batman taught us to be better than that! He told us never to kill!” Tears leap from Jason’s eyes.

“I do what it takes to survive!” Jason barks. “I do what Batman is too scared or selfish to do to keep this city safe! That type of thinking, parroting Bruce’s stupid code, that’s what got me killed!” He’s yelling at the kid. The frustration of trying to make him get it is infuriating. Why can’t this kid see that Bruce is different, that Gotham is different. Jason can’t be Robin ever again. He wouldn’t want to be even if he could. Jason takes a moment, calms himself down. “Kid, I was so naive. I thought Robin gave me magic. I thought that nothing could ever hurt me. I thought Bruce hung the moon. I was the happiest I have ever been when I was Robin, when I was you.” A sigh. “But you know all of that already. You still think that now. Or at least you did until last night.” Jason continues. “Of course you think I’m crazy for acting like this. Of course my behavior and choices horrify you. The version of me that was you would have been disgusted by this me, by the Red Hood.” Jason takes a deep breath, eyes hardening. “But that is exactly my point. I’m not you anymore. You’re going to die, both literally and figuratively. I can never be you again…but I can prevent you from becoming me.”

Young Jason’s eyes are huge. He understands what Jason is getting at but it still scares him. “If this is what I become, maybe I was better off dead.”

“Yeah kid, maybe you were.”

“When Bruce brought it up last night you didn’t seem all that interested in saving me from your fate. You almost seemed to want me to become you. What’s changed? It hasn’t even been twenty-four hours.”

“I was angry last night, kid…I told you about the pit. I’m sure you’ve noticed but when I’m angry my eyes get…greener.” Jason nods. “Well I was furious last night and the pit was strong. I was saying anything I could think of to hurt Bruce. But I’ve had some time to calm down now, and you don’t deserve to suffer just so I can make a point to the damn Bat.” Jason rubs his hand over his eyes. He just woke up and he’s tired again already.

In a small serious voice Jason responds, “Tell me how to save Robin’s magic. I want to be a version of you that can be happy. You just seem so unhappy Jason.” He squeezes Jason’s hand almost enough to hurt. Desperate. “I don’t want to fight with Bruce and Dick like you do. I don’t want to almost kill my brother that I haven’t even met yet…I don’t want to be lonely. You’re lonely aren’t you? It must be hard to feel so alone, so misunderstood all the time. I haven’t felt like that since Willis was still alive.”

Jason swallows hard. He doesn’t want to get emotional but talking to this small, young, vulnerable him is tough in a way he will never be ready for. “Yeah kid. I’m lonely. I miss my family. I miss my dad. I want to feel loved and cared for and prioritized. I don’t think Bruce even has it in him anymore. So yeah let's make sure you never die, that you never have to become the angry, lonely, murderous me,” Jason says with a wry smile.

“First of all,” Jason holds up a finger like he’s teaching a grade schooler a lesson, “and this should go without saying, don’t go to Ethiopia. Don’t go looking for Sheila. What I told you yesterday should be more than enough to let you know that she doesn’t love us. Never did. Nothing good can come from searching her out.” Jason waits until his younger self nods. He needs to make sure the kid gets this.

“Second,” Jason holds up a second finger, “you have to tell your Bruce everything that you have learned here.”

“Wait wait wait,” Robin interrupts, “Why would I tell Bruce about any of this? If we stop it from happening he would never need to know any of it. Why would I torture him with what is never going to happen?”

“Because it might not work!” Jason lashes out in frustration. “Sure maybe you don’t go looking for Sheila. Maybe Joker doesn’t kill you in Ethiopia. Maybe Bruce never accuses you of murder. Maybe you will never run away. Maybe maybe maybe. But what if something else happens? What if you fight with Bruce later on than in my timeline? What if Joker gets to you in some other way? What if Sheila finds you or you find her someday? What if what if what if. There are too many eventualities. Too many possible ways that your life can go wrong. Bruce needs to know.”

Jason nods, thinks for a moment. “You still believe in Bruce don’t you? Even after everything you said, you still believe in Bruce, in Batman, and that he’ll protect me.”
Jason snorts. “Your Bruce, sure. Mine is a different story.

“Kid, look at me. You need to tell Bruce and you need to be more careful. Batman’s rogue gallery usually goes a little easier on Robin because you’re a kid but I’m living proof that youth is not enough protection. You need to be smart. Ask Bruce to send you for training with some of the people he knows. The League of Assassins is fucked in the head but they’re some of the best fighters on earth. Lady Shiva is a good option. Hell if he won’t send you to borderline villains ask him to send you to Diana. To the Titans. Anyone. You need training from someone other than Bruce or Dick. Hell, ask Dick about Slade. He’ll hate you for bringing it up but it's more important that you stay safe than to protect Dick’s feelings or secrets.

“I just don’t want you to die kid…we never really recover.” Jason sounds so defeated and his younger self hesitantly reaches for him. Jason hasn’t allowed himself to be hugged in years. Barely anyone touches him anymore except to patch up wounds. But Jason lets himself melt into this hug even if it's just for a second.
His younger self pulls away first. Jason would be embarrassed at how desperately he needed human contact if it wasn’t literally himself supplying it. He figures he doesn’t need to hide as much of himself from the younger him; the kid knows most of his secrets anyway. Jason looks up at his older self with a kind smile, “Okay. I won’t die. I promise. We’ll make a plan and I’ll tell Bruce and he’ll protect me. I’ll make sure at least one version of us gets a happy future.” Jason nods back. He squeezes the kid’s shoulders. He’ll protect the kid if it kills him. Even thinking about another Jason Todd having to go through dying again makes him sick.
With a small smile Jason stands up. “Let’s go find everyone else. I’m sure Alfred is practically restraining Dick to keep him from coming in here.” With that they finally exit Jason’s childhood room and make their way to the kitchen where Jason knows he’ll find Alfred. And sure enough there he is. Shuffling about the kitchen preparing for lunch just like always. No matter how insane Jason’s life gets he can always count on Alfred; the only constant presence in his life who would forgive him any sin.
Without even looking up Alfred greets them, “Good morning Master Jason, Master Jason,” nodding his head to each boy.

“Morning Alfred,” Jason says with a light smile in his voice. His younger self is a bit more enthused, bounding up to his grandfather figure and plopping himself at the kitchen island, “Morning Alfred!”

“Where is everyone Alfred?”

“Master Tim is consulting with the Justice League about whether any of them know of a way to send our visitor home. Master Damian is in the cave I believe. Your father is also downstairs. And Master Dick should be back momentarily. He has gone to fetch someone who would like to see Master Jason very much.”

Jason hums in acknowledgement and sits down to wait. He knows at this point trying to leave with the kid would be futile and he’s too emotionally drained from the previous night to be bothered by being in the manor right now. His younger self busies himself with helping Alfred prepare dinner. Jason did always like to cook with Alfred. He could never believe how much food they always had at the manor; didn’t know that a dinner could be anything but a frozen meal eaten in front of a tv. Plus Dick never bothered to cook with Alfred and Bruce was banned from the kitchen indefinitely so meal prep was always a time that he and Alfred had alone together. He misses it. Misses everything.

Before long Jason hears Dick in the hallway leading to the kitchen and then he’s bursting in, boisterous and happy as ever. You’d never guess what had happened last night from looking at him; would never know how much he cried the night before. It never occurred to Jason how good Dick had gotten at hiding his emotions in the years he was gone. Dick was always the angrier of the two boys, the angriest Robin hands down until Damian came along, and even then it’s a close contest. But now Dick puts on a mask that only those closest to him would have any chance of seeing through. Jason knows he’s somehow responsible for this change. Seems like everything in this family goes back to him dying.

Dick grabs little Jason and swings him around in a bear hug and Jason is almost too busy rolling his eyes at his brother’s antics to notice who else has accompanied him into the manor.

Barbara.

Though at times Jason talks to Babs more than anyone else in the Bat world he doesn’t see her often. Her role as Oracle doesn’t require her to come out on patrols and he doesn’t exactly seek out her company. Though he doesn’t seek out anyone’s company anymore. He can’t remember the last time he had a real conversation with her about something other than a mission. He can’t even remember if she’s still dating Dick. Not that it's easy to keep track of who Dick is dating on a good day. He lets a small smile alight on his face. Barbara is good, just like Clark, and has always treated him well. She doted on him the way he always wished Dick had when he was younger. And while he respects and appreciates Oracle she will always be Batgirl to him.

Jason is lost in his thoughts and misses the moment his younger self sees her, but he is quickly brought back to the present as Jason wiggles free of Dick’s grip to practically tackle Barbara. She laughs sweet and bright as she returns the hug and Jason sees the tears in her eyes even from a distance. When Jason pulls back from the hug his older self can see the moment his brain catches up to his eyes. Babs sees it too and she offers the kid a small sad smile. Babs wasn’t in the wheelchair when Jason was fourteen.

The kid is in for yet another hard conversation; Jason hadn’t even thought to mention this one. Before last night he would probably have assumed it was a temporary injury, afterall he’s seen Bruce in a wheelchair before when he hurt his legs or back, but with everything he learned last night he is already assuming the worst.
Babs is still offering that small private smile and Jason is struck not for the first time how strong she is, how level headed. The rest of the bats should learn something from her about proper emotional responses and working through trauma. Then again Barbara’s dad is Jim Gordon not Bruce Wayne so maybe she just always had an upper hand in the proper-regulation-of-emotions department. “Hi Jason,” she says gently, running her fingers through the hair on the side of the boy’s head. “I heard you had a rough night.” Jason slowly nods back, still unsure of how to deal with an injured Barbara. “I’m so happy to see you.” And now she is getting choked up, voice thickening with tears. Jason once again leans in for a hug trying his best to comfort her.

“Barbara…what happened?” the kid asks slow and unsure.

That smile is still on her face as she pulls away from Jason again, more watery than it was before but a smile nonetheless. She takes Jason’s hand and gently squeezes it in comfort. “The Joker happened sweetie. When you’re fifteen, before you run away, the Joker comes hunting for my dad. He shot me in the spine to try to hurt the commissioner. Ironic really. I always thought I’d get hurt because I was Batgirl but I ended up on the Joker’s hit list because I was Jim Gordon’s daughter instead.”
Tears begin to leak out of the kid’s eyes like he’s not even aware of it and Dick and Jason look away from the scene to give Babs some privacy with him. She hugs him yet again and shushes him comfortingly. They all stay in the kitchen as Alfred continues to putter around preparing dinner, expertly not seeing anything. Once all the tears have been shed Barbara’s smile is right back where it belongs and she talks to Jason like the old friends they are until it’s finally time for everyone to sit down and eat.

Jason and Dick can’t help but smile at each other.

Chapter Text

Safe to assume Jason does not want to sit down to a family dinner. He’s in a better mood than he was this morning, certainly a better mood than he had been in last night, but that doesn’t mean he’s ready to recreate a Norman fucking Rockwell painting with the Waynes. But he has resigned himself to his fate. While the kid is here he’ll play nice, or at least won’t run. He doesn’t like it but it’s a sacrifice he’s willing to make for the kid, for himself.

He hasn’t seen anyone but Alfred, Dick, and Babs all day. While waiting for dinner to cook everyone kept the conversation light for the kid’s benefit. Barbara told him about working as a librarian, a topic Jason loved. Jason always liked libraries; they were one of the few safe places he could always rely on as a kid and without the public library and kind librarians he would have never picked up any of the books Bruce would later happily buy for him. But under all the small talk and reminiscing Jason kept catching Dick giving him looks he couldn’t quite decipher. He knows this tender peace is going to shatter as soon as the rest of the family shows up. Everything is still too raw for it to be anything but mildly explosive.

The Jasons and Dick help Alfred set the table with the various dishes, meats and breads and veggies enough to feed a dozen, before everyone else arrives. With the table set they all sit down to wait. Jason tried to go for a seat at the very end of the table, good for a quick get away and far from Bruce, but the kid is already bounding over to his seat. It’s not like the family has assigned seats around the table but just like with other families everyone has their seat. Jason’s was always the third seat on the right, smack in the middle of the long table. He chose it all those years ago because Dick’s seat was the second on the right and so he couldn’t have that one, but also because it was the best spot to reach all the food no matter how many people were sitting around the table. When Dick would eat at the manor, rarely in the younger Jason’s timeline, he’d sit next to Jason and Bruce would sit next to Dick. Bruce never did like to sit at the head of the table, only doing it at formal dinners with outside guests in attendance. Jason suspects it’s because the head is where Thomas Wayne used to sit. But sitting next to Dick or Jason instead of at the head of the table also let Bruce talk to them more, be more casual with his boys, more of a dad. Jason used to love that he sat there.

As the kid plops into his unassigned assigned third seat on the right Jason shoots Dick a sly glance before sitting in Dick’s seat. He’s in an okay mood right now, what can he say? Even Jason can joke around every now and then with his brother. Dick smirks right back at Jason before sitting where Bruce normally would. Two can play at this game, little wing, his eyes say. Jason shrugs. Not like it affects him. Though he does note that Dick choosing to sit there does three things: 1) it forces Bruce to sit at the head of the table since Jason knows he would never bring himself to sit anywhere else once he sees them all in their ‘correct’ places 2) puts Dick as a physical buffer between Jason and Bruce which doesn’t surprise Jason at all even if Dick thinks he’s being subtle and 3) leaves the chair next to the younger Jason open. This third fact surprises Jason the most. He didn’t think Dick would choose him over his younger counterpart. Then again maybe he’s reading into it too much. Maybe the fourth seat belongs to Tim or Damian. It’s not like Jason would know. He hasn’t stepped foot in the manor in years and hasn’t eaten a meal with the family since before he died.

Barbara sits at the far end of the table on the left; the best spot for her chair so she can be comfortable and closest to the door in case of emergency. Alfred sits next to her at the lower head of the table partly so he can get up without disturbing anyone but also because it is the spot he has earned through all these years of loyal service. From their spread out seating and the number of place settings Alfred has laid out Jason can see that more than just the family will be joining them for dinner. Great.

The next to appear is Tim. He looks vaguely jumpy but that's nothing new for the kid. He takes one look at Jason before ducking his head and walking on autopilot to the first seat on the left, across from Dick. Dick doesn’t look surprised at the choice and neither does Barbara. Jason must have been wrong about the fourth seat belonging to Tim. Maybe it's Damian’s. Jason wouldn’t be surprised if Damian had even claimed his old seat just to be closer to Dick. The demon spawn wasn’t exactly subtle about who his favorite big brother was. Following behind Tim is Clark. Jason is happy to see that he’s still here and happier still to see him as Clark instead of Superman. The glasses never fail to make Jason laugh a little inside. He sits beside Barbara giving her a gentle smile and soft touch on the back.

Damian is next to make his way into the room followed closely by his dog, Titus. Damian points to the corner and says “ارقد” to the dog, who promptly flops down in the corner, before making his way to the seat beside Tim and across from Jason. Jason can’t say he’s surprised by this seat choice. He would never think the youngest family member would want to sit next to a fourteen year old Jason Todd, but again everyone else’s lack of surprise or admonition lets Jason know that this is his usual seat and not a choice made in the moment. But Jason doesn’t have time to dwell on this because Wonder Woman of all people walks through the door.

Jason adores Diana. Always has. Wonder Woman was always his favorite superhero and meeting her after being adopted by Bruce only solidified his hero worship. Jason glances to his right to look at the kid’s reaction and it's as comical as he knew it would be. The kid is clearly excited beyond belief that Diana is here but he’s trying his best to hold it together. The smile Clark is trying to hide tells Jason that the kid’s heart is probably giving away how excited he is even if he is trying his best to remain calm on the outside. While Jason had met Diana a few times by the age of fourteen the meetings were usually at the Watchtower or on missions as Robin and Wonder Woman. He rarely gets to see her in civilian clothes and has only had dinner with her once before when Clark invited them all over for dinner with his parents. The kid is ‘subtly’ trying to look between Diana and the chair next to him, clearly wanting her to sit there like it's his greatest wish. But she just smiles at both Jasons in greeting before sitting between Damian and Clark. The kid is at least happy she’s across from him.

Jason half expects to see a few more League members strut through the door or maybe Bruce’s cousin Kate. Hell he wouldn’t even be surprised at this point if Selina made an appearance. Seeing Bruce squirm when she’s around is at least funny. There’s still three seats on Jason’s side of the table that are open plus the head seat where he expects Bruce to sit. But no one else makes a surprise appearance at dinner. Last to enter with a serious deadpan expression on his face is none other than Bruce Wayne himself. For a moment Jason thinks Bruce will surprise him and sit next to the kid, but he doesn’t. He gives one hard look at the younger Jason before he makes his way quietly to the head of the table.

Bruce sits and clears his throat, about to say something but Jason doesn’t let him. He grabs for the food in the middle of the table serving himself and his younger self before passing the dish to Dick. Bruce deflates a little and just offers a semi mumbled dig in to his guests. Everyone serves themselves and begins to eat. Compliments to Alfred’s cooking are heard all round and everyone starts to make small talk. Diana shoots little Jason a killer smile whenever she looks at him and Jason just about melts under the attention. Dick tries to engage Jason in the same type of small talk they had enjoyed with Babs in the kitchen but he can see that his brother is no longer in the mood and he can’t bring himself to talk over Jason to engage with the younger version. So both Jason’s sit in relative silence as everyone chats around them. Dick talks to Tim across the table instead, trying his best to add some levity to the right side of the table that between the Jasons and Bruce is a veritable wall of silence.

Dick is waiting for the other shoe to drop. He knows this can’t end well. A brooding Jason never does.

Clark has been shooting Bruce meaningful looks throughout the dinner clearly trying to convey something about what they must have spoken about last night. But Bruce is avoiding his eyes like a child knowing they are about to be scolded. If Jason wasn’t getting more annoyed by the second he’d find it hilarious. Finally Jason can’t stand it anymore. His voice cuts through the chatter at the table as if he had made a sudden outburst but there is no outburst to speak of, only his calm hard voice. “Bruce, why is no one sitting on this side of the table?”

Jason is many things but he isn’t dumb. One by one each dinner guest filed into the room and not one even attempted to sit next to the guest of honor. No one so much as glanced at the three perfectly good open chairs on the table’s right side. Instead they all chose to cram in on the left like it was never even a thought. Jason knows they’ve all had these big dinners before; Dick has tried to invite him to quite a few since he’s been back. So why are they all treating the little golden boy returned from the dead, who they have been fawning over and falling over themselves to spend time with and talk to, like a pariah all of a sudden. Jason thinks he knows why but he’s going to make Bruce look him in the eye and say it.

Bruce puts his utensils down and gently wipes his mouth; the good breeding of being a billionaire's son never fails to act as a convenient mask when he can’t hide behind the cowl. “You and Dick are the only ones who ever sat on the right, Jason.” It’s said slow and calm, as if he were reporting the weather to his society friends. Jason rolls his eyes at the non-answer. “I didn’t ask you to state a fact Bruce. I asked you why no one else is on this side. Why is no one sitting next to the kid you all were dying to be near last night?”

Bruce looks up then briefly making eye contact with Jason before his gaze darts away fast as the Flash to find Clark’s eyes. Clark gives him a reassuring smile. Bruce takes a deep breath as if gathering strength. “No one sits on the right side of the table except Dick because I ask everyone to not sit there. I didn’t want to see your space at the table. So to avoid looking towards the right I have everyone sit on the left.” This is all said with great effort, as if every word has to be ripped out of him before he can utter it aloud.

Jason can feel the rage growing in him already. His fist clenches around his knife. “So what? Thinking about me disgusted you so much that you didn’t even want to look at where I used to sit? Wow Bruce I knew you couldn’t stand to think about me but this is a bit extreme even for you.”

The kid is looking at Jason like he’s lost his mind. Obviously that's not what Dad meant. Does Jason not see that? Why is he so hostile? But then he remembers…the pit. Everyone can see as Jason’s eyes glow that unnatural horrific green. Damian averts his own green eyes, almost guilty. Jason feels so much pity looking at his older self, and looking around the table it's clear that the others feel the same. Diana and Clark in particular look grief stricken. The pit has taken so much from Jason.

Bruce clenches his teeth clearly holding back. “I didn’t want anyone to sit in your chair. I didn’t even want to look at your empty space at the table. Every time I saw where you used to sit it killed me inside because you weren’t there anymore. I missed you Jason.”

“You have a funny way of showing it, old man. Scrubbed the manor of my very existence except that damn room you keep like a shrine, oh and your actual damned shrine in the cave, and now you’re telling me you can’t even stomach looking at a chair.”

Bruce unclenches his jaw and tries to will himself to relax. “It's true I hated thinking about you. I removed any pictures or portraits or belongings you had left behind. I couldn’t stand to see them. They were too painful to look at. Everything that reminded me of you also reminded me that you were gone. They reminded me of how you went and that it was my fault. The amount…the amount of times I’ve already had to relive your death is too high to count. I didn’t need to add any more if I could help it. So yes Jason I ask everyone to sit on the left because I don’t want to look at where you used to sit and wait for me every night.”

“What do you even mean ‘the amount of times you have to relive my death’? Self torment doesn’t exactly count for sympathy points Bruce. And we all know how much you love to swathe yourself in guilt to avoid having to take accountability for your actions.”

“Jason!” Diana sharply admonishes, but Bruce just holds up a hand staying her from saying anything else.

“It’s fine Diana. He doesn’t know. I never tell him anything. Never truly talk to any of the boys. That's why I’m in this mess.” Bruce says this with a cruel smile directed towards himself but Clark and Diana just offer him faces of encouragement. They know how hard this is for their friend.

Bruce turns back to Jason. “It’s not just self torment Jason. Though I can’t claim there isn’t a fair amount of that as well.” Bruce chuckles a bit. “You always knew me so well.” He sighs and becomes serious again. He opens his mouth but it’s like the words stick in the back of his throat. He lapses into silence. He clearly does not want to say whatever it is he’s trying to say. He never was good with words. He knows that if he messes any part of this up Jason may never speak to him again. Jason is growing angrier by the second.

Tim comes to Bruce’s rescue. “Fear toxin. He sees you die every time he gets hit with fear toxin.”

“Bullshit!” Jason all but spits back at Tim. “It’s the worst kept secret in the family that Bruce sees his parents’ murder every time Crane hits him with his newest concoction. We’ve all heard the screams for his mother.” He’s all but yelling at Tim, who wishes he never spoke up. He wants to sink into his chair but despite that fact he keeps his back straight and his head up never letting himself look cowed under Jason’s enraged gaze. “So why are you lying?” Jason demands.

“He’s not lying, little wing.” Dick says, putting a steadying hand on Jason’s forearm. Jason deflates a little at this, sitting down fully in his chair again, but he’s no less angry. He turns to Bruce.

“Losing you was the worst thing that has ever happened in my life. Your death haunts me. Everyday. I started seeing the warehouse, the explosion, your limp, beaten, and broken body. From the first dose of fear toxin after I lost you and I have never stopped seeing it. Jason, despite everything that has happened since you’ve come back I have never stopped loving and missing you.” Bruce makes sure to look right at his son through this whole speech. He is so desperately trying to convey his feelings to Jason through his expression even where his words might fail.

“I’m more than just my death, Bruce. More than the dead version of me sitting here at this table.” He sounds so tired. Jason gets up and his younger counterpart scurries after him, not wanting to be bodily dragged away. As Jason gets to the door of the dining room he turns back to a disappointed Bruce and says, “You and I need to talk,” he makes a point of throwing a glare at Dick already anticipating that he’ll try to tag along, “Alone. We’ll be in our room. Come up when dinner is done. Bring dessert for the kid.” And with a final huff he’s gone, stalking through the manor with his younger self trailing behind like a spectre.

Chapter Text

Jason and the kid sit in their room in a shockingly comfortable silence. Both are lost in thought but the younger makes sure to sit snuggly next to his older self, letting the other know he isn’t alone. If not for Jason’s training the knock at the door would have startled him; it does startle the kid.

Bruce slowly opens the door, and though his back is straight and his head is held high, making eye contact with Jason, it's clear that he is apprehensive of the coming conversation. The kid can’t help himself, he hates seeing his dad like this, and rushes over to give him a strong hug around his middle. Bruce wraps one arm protectively around his son and gently pats his back but he never takes his eyes off Jason. And he imagines that for the briefest of flashes he sees something like envy pass over his son’s face, but it’s there and gone too soon to dwell on. Bruce gives Jason, who is still hugging him, a gentle push and hands him the plate of pie held in his other hand. Jason’s eye’s light up and he goes to sit at the desk and eat his pie happily. Jason can see how this choice of seat on his younger self’s part throws Bruce, leaving him no options except to join Jason on the bed or stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. It’s as close to panic as Jason usually sees on Bruce’s face.

Finally with a huff Bruce steals himself and goes to sit next to Jason on the bed. He’s mildly surprised that his son doesn’t move away from him. He turns, “You wanted to talk. I’m here to listen, Jaylad.” Jason makes a slight face at the name but doesn’t correct Bruce. Bruce takes it for the small victory that it is.

“The kid and I have decided to try to save him from turning into me. When we find a way to get him back he’s going to tell his Bruce everything.” Jason holds his hand up when he sees Bruce is about to say something. “This isn’t up for debate,” Jason growls, “I don’t care about that Bruce’s feelings or about you not wanting the way you’ve handled all this being aired out to another Earth’s Batman.

“I assume Clark found you last night…” he waits for Bruce’s affirmation. “Has the Justice League made any progress on getting the kid back where he belongs?”

“Barry should be able to get him back once they identify which Earth he’s from. They’re running the tests now so we should know by the morning at the latest.”

“Good,” Jason sighs, already relieved thinking about the kid finally going back to his world and no longer being stuck to Jason. At the same moment the kid exclaims, “Really!? I get to go back to my dad by tomorrow?” He sounds thrilled, and between the kid’s excitement and Jason’s relief Bruce’s heart breaks for both boys. He’s failed his son in so many ways. The kid is still prattling on about his excitement at seeing his dad again. The thought of the adult Jason being that excited to see him again feels like a total impossibility at this point. Bruce can’t take it anymore.

Bruce interrupts the kid’s chatter. “I took the memorial down.” He says it quietly as he looks at Jason.

“What?” Jason responds breathlessly; almost like he didn’t hear him but with a slight edge of incredulity.

“I took the memorial case down in the cave. I should have done it a long time ago. Should have done it the first time you asked me to. It clearly upset you, hurt you, but I just didn’t listen.” He takes a deep breath. “I was too caught up in my own grief. You gave me the impossible by coming home to me and instead of thanking you, cherishing you, I squandered the gift you gave me. I couldn’t see past the version of you that was gone to see that my son was standing right in front of me.

“I’m sorry Jason. I love you and I am sorry.”

“How can I trust you?” Jason asks Bruce, head down and not looking at his dad. “The kid will be gone by tomorrow. How can I trust that you won’t fall apart again when he’s gone? How can you ever hope to convince me that you love me, this me, the current me, and not just the boy I once was. Because I know you used to love me Bruce. I know. If I had ever doubted it, seeing how you are with the kid would have been more than enough proof.” Jason smiles wryly, still looking at his own lap instead of the man he’s speaking to. “But me…” he chuckles mirthlessly, “you can barely stand to be in the same room as me. We can’t have a conversation about anything for more than a few minutes without screaming at each other. You’ve beaten, manipulated, and threatened me regularly since I came back. You think of me as a villain; just another one of your rogues.

“What’s crazy is I can’t even fully blame you for seeing me that way. After you refused to kill the Joker I wanted to be a villain to you. You broke my heart and I was so angry. I’m still so angry all the time. I tried to provoke you in every way I could think of, and it worked because I know you. I know you so well. Even now. And it hurts. It hurts so much. I am so lonely all of the time. I miss Alfred. I miss my brothers. I miss having a family. I miss you. I miss my dad.” Jason can feel the tears falling but he can’t stop them and he doesn’t want to. He’s so tired of being strong, of wearing a mask. “You were the only dad I ever had and now I have nothing! And you all still have each other. I’m the only one alone.”

“Jason,” he can feel Bruce’s hand on his jawline, gently nudging him to look up, to look at Bruce, “I know you don’t trust me. I’ve given you no reason to.” Bruce hasn’t removed his hand from Jason’s jaw and he gently rubs his thumb in soothing circles. He’s amazed that his son is allowing him to do this. He has missed being able to touch his son; to comfort him. Jason is oh so subtly leaning into the touch and it makes Bruce want to cry for his son. He has been so alone. Touch starved and miserable. It is Bruce’s fault. He made his son like this.

“Jason, everything that’s happened since last night has made me realize that I have not been listening to you; not really. I thought that my grief over losing you was enough to show you that you are still loved. I see now that it was not. You have been feeling that I only valued you, only loved you, as you used to be. And while I will always love and miss the version of you that I lost,” Bruce looks lovingly over to the younger Jason, “I also love the current you.” He looks back at his son, putting all the conviction of his words into his look. “I wish I could have saved you the pain and suffering that has changed you so much, but I cannot change the past. You are the only version of you I want and I would not trade the gift of you for the world.

“I want to make you a promise right now: if you can find it within yourself to trust me I promise you that you will be a full and trusted member of this family no matter what you do in the future. You are more important to me than anything you could do to upset me. I can’t promise we won’t fight but I will never try to hurt you again. You are a full member of this family and you are loved. I promise to always make you feel that that is true. I love you Jason. So much. And I am tired of being apart from you. Please come back to us. Come back to me.”

Jason looks up at his dad, tears in his eyes. He nods. “Okay. Okay dad. Yes. I want to come home.” Bruce gathers his son in his arms. He hasn’t been allowed to hug his son since he died. He’s lost so much time with his son and it’s entirely his own fault.

“Things will change around here Jason. The shrine is never coming back. We’ll get you a new room here in the manor or redo this one if you’d prefer. I’m going to put your pictures back up in the manor. I’m going to include you in all of my cases and make sure Dick, Tim, and Damian do the same. I’ll make sure the Outlaws have our full support. You will be made a full member of the Justice League, just like Dick is. We are going to work together, not against each other. And if you don’t want any of that I’ll accept that too. If you would rather go back to school, take a break from being a vigilante, I’ll make that happen. I will get you your identity back. You will be alive again. You will be my son again.”

Through this whole speech Jason has been silently crying and holding his dad. It all feels so unreal, like his every dream come true. Jason looks up when he feels a hand on his arm. His younger self is also crying now. Jason pulls away from Bruce to gather the kid into their embrace. The three men bask in the moment, overwhelmed with emotion and relief. “I love you Jason. Every version of you.” Bruce says it with so much conviction and Jason believes him for the first time in years.
Jason smiles a small private smile before he clears his throat and pulls away. He wipes his eyes and looks at Bruce and the kid. “How about we get you home kid?” He turns to Bruce, “You said everything should be ready soon right? Let’s have him say goodbye to everyone and then take him to the Hall of Justice.” Bruce nods, getting up and grasping his young son’s hand. They all walk together through the manor, finding the rest of the boys and Alfred waiting for them in the den that leads to the cave.

Bruce looks at his family all gathered together and is overcome by a sense of peace. For the first time since Jason died everything feels right. “We are all going down to the cave to say goodbye to Jason. The Justice League should be finishing up their preparation with Barry to get him back home so I will be taking him to the Hall of Justice when we are done here.” They all follow Bruce and Jason down to the cave in silence.

As they approach the boom tube Bruce turns the kid around to face the family, putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, before stepping back to give the rest of the family some privacy as they talk to the kid. Alfred is the first to approach. He puts both hands lovingly on the young Jason’s shoulders before gently caressing the boy’s hair and face. “Jason it has been a miracle to have you come back to us. I thank you for all that you have done for this family and more importantly for helping your father take accountability for his actions toward your older self.” At this he looks up at the older boy and gives him a loving smile. “I love you and hope dearly that your family on your Earth can help you to prevent some of the terrible things that have happened on this Earth. I will miss you dear boy.”

“I love you too Alfred.” Jason says and gives his grandfather a big hug. With that Alfred goes to join Bruce and gives the man he considers a son a gentle pat on the back. He is proud of Bruce.

Tim comes next, somewhat clumsily on his crutches. “I know you’ve only just met me and you probably don’t like me much more than your older self does right now.” Tim gives a tight ironic smile at this. “But if it’s not asking too much I’d like to make a request of you when you get back to your Earth…Can you ask your Bruce to go and find me?” Tim’s voice is tinged with desperation, but as soon as the words are out of his mouth he looks at Jason, at the Hood, and realizes his mistake. He immediately begins to backtrack, to control the damage. “Not that I want to replace you as Robin in your universe! That’s not what I mean…I just thought…maybe…if Bruce could maybe…um…my parents…and…”

“Replacement would you calm the fuck down already? You’re scaring the kid,” Jason grumbles. “He knows that’s not what you’re asking.” Then more quietly, “I know that’s not what you’re asking.”

Tim takes a deep breath and looks back at the kid. “My parents are Jack and Janet Drake. They’re your neighbors and Bruce should recognize their names. I’m younger than you in your universe and have probably already been stalking Batman and Robin for a few years. My parents are…neglectful at the best of times. Ask your Bruce if he’d be willing to take me under his wing…or maybe you and I could be friends instead. I know that it’s not cool to hang out with younger kids at your age but…” Tim trails off with a forced chuckle. “I was lonely until I became Robin. The me on your Earth is definitely lonely. I don’t want him to be alone like I was, so if you could find me I’d really appreciate it.” The kid looks at Tim with sad eyes and nods.

“I’ll make sure Bruce finds you. I think we’d make good friends one day.” Tim looks relieved. He retreats before Jason can think better of letting the kid agree to his request.

Next is Damian. “Todd, I’m sure it was a pleasure for you to have met me. I expect you to manage to avoid your own death on your Earth. After all this it would be your own fault if you can’t.” For this speech Jason gives Damian a smack to the head and Dick shouts ‘knock-it-off’ at him. Damian turns to give Dick a glare to which Dick says, “Damian we talked about this. Tell Jason what you told me earlier.” At this Damian blushes and both Jasons find themselves intrigued about what Damian could possibly want to say to the kid.

Damian composes himself and turns back to the younger Jason. “It has been agreed that the Damian of your Earth would be benefited by being claimed by Father earlier than Mother plans. You are to tell Father of my existence so he can come for me. He will have to deal with Mother but I’m sure he will be able to figure it out. I am the blood son after all and he will want nothing more than to bring me to the manor as his rightful heir as soon as possible.” Younger Jason looks incredulous to say the least. This speech was not at all what he expected and the imperious tone taken by Damian has him ready to yell at the boy. Jason is at least four years older than this kid! Who does he think he is? But he’s stopped from making an outburst by the sound of Jason’s laughter.

“Wow Damian. That was obnoxious even for you.” Damian blushes once again, this time in indignation. Dick is literally face palming behind his back. “If you want to escape the League and your grandpa so badly just say so. You are a kid and you’re even younger in the other universe. No one is going to judge you for wanting to come live with Bruce instead of almost getting killed by Ra’s every other day.” Jason puts his hand on his younger self’s shoulder. “Kid he’s just emotionally constipated like his father. He didn’t mean any harm. Just make sure you tell your Bruce about Damian. He’ll be with Talia in your universe. Bruce will know what you’re talking about as soon as he hears the name al Ghul so you shouldn’t need to go into too much detail.” Then in a stage whisper, “Though I would if I were you. Bruce’s taste in women should get made fun of more. Gets him into enough trouble for all of us as it is.” Behind Jason, Damian sees his father turn a distinct shade of red.

The younger Jason turns back to Damian, “I’ll make sure dad knows about you as soon as I’m back. We’ll rescue you. I promise.” Damian looks away at the display of emotion, not wanting Jason to see how much that promise really means to him. Collecting himself again, Damian turns back to the two men standing in front of him. “Good. I expect you to make good on that promise. And the Damian of your universe will undoubtedly look forward to taking the Robin mantle from you soon enough.” He turns to each, “Todd. Todd,” and summarily walks away. When he joins Bruce, Tim, and Alfred off to the side, Bruce puts his hand gently on Damian’s head, ruffling his hair. He’s proud of his son.

Finally Dick is the only one left. He walks up to Jason with open arms, “Can I get a hug, little wing?” The kid all but launches himself at Dick. Dick sinks to his knees still holding Jason and whispers just for him to hear, “I’m going to miss you so much little wing. Thank you for helping this family to be a little more of a family again. Thank you for coming back to me not once but twice. I love you. Every version of you.” Jason feels himself starting to tear up but he doesn’t want to cry so he pulls back. “I love you too Dick. I love you so much. You’re the big brother I’ve always dreamed of. It was so nice to see how much you love me. My brother doesn’t…doesn’t show me very often.”

Dick stands up and holds Jason at arm's length, speaking louder now, “Well you go home and tell Dick that he is lucky to have you. Tell him that there is a version of him out there that would give anything to have treated you better and that he owes it to you, and to himself, to be the big brother you deserve.” Then, chuckling to himself, “Tell him not to be such a dickhead.” He ruffles Jason’s hair just because he can; just because this version is still shorter than him. He pushes the kid towards Bruce, hanging back for just a moment to put an arm around Jason. He says to him privately, “I love you little wing. I’ve always loved you and I always will. I’ll miss the kid but you are the only version of you I want in my life. You’ll always be my first little brother. Thank you for coming home.” Jason doesn’t respond but he ducks his head. Dick smiles to himself, reaching up to ruffle his little big brother’s hair. Just because he can.

They follow behind the kid to meet up with Bruce who is suiting up. The two Jasons put on their uniforms and once again the family is looking at Batman, Robin, and the Red Hood. Batman turns to Robin and asks if he’s ready to go. The kid nods and they make their way over to the boom tube. As they enter the tube Robin looks back at the family he has barely gotten to know but at the same time knows like the beat of his own heart and waves. With a blink they’re gone and the Hall of Justice surrounds them.

Chapter Text

“Hey Spooky!” Batman immediately groans to himself. Why’d it have to be Hal?

They all step out of the boom tube and Bruce is immediately in Batman mode. “Where’s the Flash? Is everything ready to get Robin home? What else needs to be…” Hal walks right past Batman, completely ignoring all of his questions.

Hal walks up to Robin, inspecting him the way one would a specimen in a museum. “Wow so this is what your second Robin looked like. I had only ever seen pictures in the papers from back then. Nice to meet you kid!” Hal sticks his hand out and Robin is all too happy to take it. He’s never met a Green Lantern before! “Hah!” Hal exclaims, “This kid is much more friendly than your current Robin, Spooky. I like him.” That gets an involuntary chuckle out of the Hood which draws Hal’s attention to him. “And who might you be?”

Jason rolls his eyes under the Hood, not that anyone can see him do it. “The Red Hood,” Jason says while gesturing sassily to his helmet. Hal stops in his tracks. He recognizes that name. The Red Hood is a crime lord. A very much internationally wanted crime lord. Hal’s ring begins to glow as he prepares to take this guy down. Before he can so much as raise his hand, he’s being attacked by a batarang. “Hey! What the hell Batman?” Hal yells.

“Don’t you dare raise a hand against my son,” Batman growls back.

“Your son?” Hal asks incredulously. “I thought the Robin’s were your kids. This guy is a wanted crime lord. What the hell are you talking about?”

The Red Hood responds, “Robin and I are the same person dipshit. Why the fuck do you think we’re even here?”

Hal swings his head from Robin to Hood and back again. “Huh?” Hal has never been so confused in his life. “You mean to tell me that he,” gesturing to the ball of sunshine that is Robin, “becomes that,” gesturing wildly to the murderous Red Hood.

“Yes. Now shut up Green Lantern before I remove you from the situation,” Batman growls.

“Hey now let's calm down everyone. No need for threats.” Superman floats in with Wonder Woman at his side.

Superman walks over to Bruce, subtly putting himself between Batman and Green Lantern. Diana in turn walks over to Robin and takes his hand giving it a reassuring squeeze. She looks at Bruce, “Flash is waiting for us in the yard. He said we had to do this outside to allow him enough room to enter the speedforce.” With that she turns and starts walking towards the courtyard in the middle of the Hall’s structure. She never lets go of Robin’s hand.

Flash is hard to miss in the courtyard standing next to a mess of equipment that he’s in the middle of calibrating. They need to make sure Robin gets back to the right earth after all. Though Red Robin already did most of the calculations for them last night. Batman walks up to him extending his hand, “Thank you for agreeing to do this Flash. It means a lot to me and my sons.”

Barry takes Bruce’s hand, giving it a firm shake and a squeeze before letting go. “Of course Batman. You’ve saved my hide more than enough times for me to owe you a favor.” And then he looks behind Bruce to where Robin is with Diana. “And even if I didn’t owe you a thousand times over I’d do it for the kid.”

Bruce nods, the ghost of a smile gracing his lips. He’s always liked and respected Barry. If only Hal wasn’t such a bad influence on him most of the time. “How is everything looking?”

“Should be ready to go in less than ten minutes…If you need to say goodbye to the kid now's the time.” Bruce gives him a tight nod and turns back towards his sons. Diana is whispering something to Robin that has him grinning ear to ear. When she stands up she sees Bruce waiting patiently. Diana gives Robin’s hand another squeeze and finally lets go. She knows Bruce is coming to say goodbye. She clasps Jason on the shoulder as she walks by and goes to assist Flash with any last minute adjustments.

Bruce comes over to Jason and removes his cowl. Everyone in the League has long been in the know about his identity and there’s no danger of taking the cowl off in the safety of the Hall. “What secrets did Diana tell you Jaylad?”

The kid gives a conspiratorial grin. “Just some things to tell my Bruce to make him squirm a bit. She said if I told him that everyone knows Superman is your best friend he would probably die from embarrassment!” The kid is laughing just thinking about it and Bruce can’t help but chuckle along because it is absolutely true. “She also said I should tell my Bruce to stop being dumb about some woman named Selina Kyle, whoever that is.” And that gets a bark of laughter out of the Red Hood while Bruce flushes a lovely shade of crimson.

“Kid, I’ll let you in on another secret. B is still being dumb about Selina,” Jason shares between bouts of laughter. Bruce clears his throat and shoots Jason a glare, but there’s no heat to it; just a look every long suffering parent gives to their child when they’re the butt of the joke.

Bruce waits for the boys to stop laughing before he continues, more seriously. “Jason can you take the hood off? I want to say this to both of you.” Jason nods and releases the clasp on the back of his helmet. Bruce looks at his young son and feels emotion well in him. He takes both his boys’ hands. “Jaylad, I never got to say goodbye to you the first time.” He looks at his Jason and gives his hand a squeeze. “I hope that I never have to say goodbye to you again. But since this parting is a much happier occasion than any before it, I just wanted to say thank you.”

“I don’t think you will ever truly know how much these days with you have meant to me. I will never be able to thank you enough for saving my relationship with my son. For reminding me of what I have instead of what I lost. You saved my family. Saved me. I love you. Unconditionally and forever. You and your brothers are the best things that have ever happened to me and I will always be so grateful that I got to be your father.

“Tell your Bruce about the mistakes I made. Make sure he never walks down my path. Save yourself. You grow up to be an amazing, wonderful, intelligent man and I want you to be able to enjoy every minute of it. I love you. I will miss you, but you have made it so I will never mourn you again. Thank you.” He gives both his sons a hug and if there are tears in his eyes no one except Jason ever has to know. Red in the face once more he quickly pulls the cowl back on before turning around again to face the other League members, who are all oh so conveniently not looking at him. Superman is even whistling. Bruce shakes his head fondly.

As Bruce walks toward Barry to oversee the finishing touches on the machine that will get his son home Jason kneels down to his younger self. “Kid, I know you’ve been through a lot the last few days but I hope it’s not all for nothing. Do you remember everything we talked about?” Jason nods. “Good.” Jason stands up and messes with Robin’s hair. “I’m going to miss you kid but it’s time to get you back to your own world. Are you ready?”

“Yeah. Never been more ready for anything in my life.” He says while giving Jason a punch to the arm.

“Haha, very funny kid. I wasn’t that bad.”

“Mhmm,” Jason replies noncommittally. Somehow injecting the sound with more sass than Jason thought possible.

Barry waves them over. Everything is finally ready to go. Jason walks over to stand next to the flash while Bruce and his older self join the others on the sidelines to watch. Barry looks at him, “You ready to go Robin?”

“Yeah let’s get out of here.” He says with a bright smile. Barry tells him to just stand there and he would take care of the rest. Jason takes one last look out over the gathered League members giving them all his best boy wonder smile. And finally when he looks at his dad and Jason he gives them both a much smaller but more genuine grin. He hopes he knows he’ll miss them, that he’ll never forget his time here with them. He sees a streak of red and then everything fades to white.

Chapter Text

In a flash of light Jason is suddenly right back where he was when this all started. Batman is standing next to him on the roof, mid sentence as if no time has passed on this Earth at all. Jason doesn’t listen to what Bruce is saying, too much has happened for Jason to remember what the patrol they are on had even been about. Instead he launches himself at Bruce enveloping him in a bear hug and burying his face into his dad’s neck as he starts to cry.

Bruce’s confusion is immediate. “Robin what’s wrong? What happened? Robin report.” He is still in Batman mode, thinking that this reaction must have something to do with the case. But he just feels Robin shake his head where it is still buried against his neck and he hears his son sob harder. “Robin…” Bruce looks around, makes sure they are absolutely alone, “Jaylad, calm down. Tell me what’s wrong. Please.”

Jason finally tears his face away from Bruce’s neck and looks at his dad, at Batman. “I’m so happy I’m back. I missed you so much,” he gets out between sobs.

“Back? What do you mean back? Jaylad what’s going on? You’re scaring me.”

Jason’s face blanches at that and Bruce is only getting more and more concerned for his son. “Please don’t say that dad. I don’t want to scare you.” He’s hyperventilating.

“Okay Jason. I won’t say it anymore, okay?. Just breathe for me son. Please just calm down and breathe.” Bruce is beginning to panic a bit now. Did Robin get hit with fear toxin? Is it a panic attack because of something he saw? Robin has been in the field for many years now and patrol tonight has been slow, safe by Batman’s standards. There’s no reason that Bruce can think of for Robin to be reacting like this. Bruce has been rubbing his son’s back in soothing circles this whole time and he finally hears a change in Jason’s breathing. His son is calming down.

Bruce holds Jason out away from his body to look at his face, or as much of his face as he can see under Robin’s domino mask. “Robin I don’t know what just happened to you but it’s not safe for you to stay out in the field right now. We’re going home and when we get there I want you to tell me what happened to you just now.” Jason nods.

“Ok dad.” Jason chews on his lip for a moment contemplating if he wants to say something more. Bruce waits; he knows his son can struggle with asking for things that he needs even after leaving Catherine and Willis behind. “Can you call Dick and Barbara? Tell them to meet us at home?” To say the request surprises Bruce is an understatement but Jason is acting so strangely tonight that he doesn’t question his son about the request. He nods and Jason visibly relaxes.

The ride back to the cave in the Batmobile is quiet. Jason holds Bruce’s hand the entire way home. When they get back Bruce tells Jason to get changed into his civvies and to meet him upstairs in the den. He’s already called Dick and Barbara and let Alfred know about Jason’s strange behavior and request.

Bruce spends extra time in the cave, double checking all of his and Robin’s cowl footage to make sure that he didn’t miss anything happening to Robin while on patrol. Nothing. One minute Robin was fine and the next he was crying in Batman’s arms. By the time Bruce emerges into the manor Jason is sitting on the couch, wrapped in a blanket, with a steaming mug of hot chocolate gripped in his hands. Alfred hovers near him clearly at a loss as to what could have caused Jason to become so upset tonight. Bruce sits next to Jason and tells Alfred silently to take the seat across from the couch. Jason turns to his dad, “Are Dick and Barbara almost here?”

As Bruce opens his mouth to answer Dick bursts through the door followed closely by a much calmer Barbara. “What’s the big idea Bruce? I thought I told you not to contact me unless there’s an emergency. There’s nothing in the news and Robin looks fine despite what you said.” He sounds angry. Jason got so used to the other Dick’s kindness, even in such a short time, that this Dick’s hostility is shocking.

Barbara puts a hand on Dick’s arm, steadying him. With much more kindness in her voice she turns and says, “What’s going on Bruce. You had us worried about Jason.” She pulls Dick to a loveseat and all but pushes him into sitting in it.

Bruce looks at his son and Barbara and they can see clear confusion in his eyes. It’s not a usual emotion to see reflected there and that gets Dick’s attention. Bruce turns back to Jason. “Why are we all here Jason? What’s going on?”

Jason looks around at his family and takes a deep breath. “I’m going to die.” Bruce reels back as if he was slapped and Dick’s mouth falls open.

Alfred, always the most level headed of the family, asks, “What do you mean Jason? Did something happen tonight? Is someone threatening you?”

Jason shakes his head. “Tonight while I was out on patrol with Batman something happened. One minute I was on a roof talking with Batman and the next I was in an unfamiliar alleyway. I still don’t know how or why I ended up there, but the alley I was in was not on this Earth. But before I even knew that I met him.”

“Him?” Barbara prompts when Jason lapses into silence.

“The Red Hood…Jason Todd.”

“Jason,” Dick interjects, “what the hell are you talking about? The Red Hood is one of the Joker’s old aliases. No one else goes by that name. And you of all people certainly don’t!” Jason thinks he sounds annoyed. He probably thinks Jason is just making some stupid joke and wasting his time.

“I told you it was a different Earth!” Jason all but whines, desperate for them to take him seriously. “I met all of us from that Earth! Their Alfred and Bruce and Dick and Barbara and Jason. Even some people we don’t have yet, Tim and Damian. They are about five years ahead of our Earth and they told me everything because I am going to die!” Jason yells the last phrase as he begins to cry again, getting overwhelmed. He takes a deep breath to steady himself. He needs to get through this without crying.

“What do you mean you’re going to die Jason? How? Didn’t you just say that you met their Jason?” Bruce has so many more questions but he starts with these; these are the most important issues.

“Next year on April 27th I’m going to die in a warehouse in Ethiopia.” He looks at Bruce. “You’re going to accuse me of killing someone while on the job as Robin and then bench me. It’s going to strain our relationship and I’m going to go looking for my mom. A woman named Sheila, not Catherine; turns out she’s not my real mom. Sheila is going to lure me to a warehouse in Ethiopia…and then…there…” He breathes deeply again. He needs to get through this in one go. “...the Joker is going to kill me. He’s going to beat me half-to-death with a crowbar and then blow up the warehouse with me and Sheila still inside.

“And then…somehow…I come back to life. I dig my way out of my grave. But I don't come home. I get caught by the League of Assassins and thrown in a Lazarus pit. The Jason from that Earth has green eyes that almost glow when he’s angry and he’s always so angry. He’s the Red Hood now. He chose the name to mess with Bruce. He hated you when he came back. You replaced him with a new Robin, Tim Drake, about six months after he died and he hated you both so much for it. He tried to kill Tim.” Jason chuckles mirthlessly. “He kills. Kills a lot. He killed the higher ups of the Gotham crime families when he came back. Stuffed their heads into a bag and sent it to Batman. He needed to get your attention. He did.

“Everything he did was to get Batman to kill the Joker.” Jason looks between Bruce and Dick. “Apparently both of you come close to killing the Joker after I die. Superman stops Batman. Batman stops Nightwing. But when Jason, the Red Hood, tried to get Batman to kill the Joker you wouldn’t do it. And that broke Jason’s heart. He kept killing. Kept being a crime lord, but he’s also a vigilante. He’s trying to rid the city of its crime, not just postpone it. And for his efforts you and Dick throw him in Arkham with the Joker” Just thinking about it makes Jason sound bitter. “He was traumatized. After that I think he just gave up. He’s been back in Gotham for more than a year and he never sees any of you. Hadn’t been to the manor in five years.

“But then I showed up. We were stuck together and he was forced to drag me back to the cave because I wanted to find Batman. If I had known any of this at the time I never would have asked that of him. I wouldn’t have wanted to put him through it and wouldn’t have wanted to put the family through seeing me.

“Dick you were a wreck when you saw me. Crying and sobbing and you wouldn’t let me go. You just kept apologizing over and over again. And then you told Hood you had been hallucinating me for years. Seeing you like that was really hard. You wouldn’t forgive yourself; just a human shaped ball of grief and guilt. The you from over there wanted me to tell you to stop being such a dickhead. He says you’re lucky to have me.

“And Dad you were worse. You and the older version of me were miserable together, downright hostile, and you cried when you saw me. Cried and apologized. At first you were so mean to Jason even though you were being so nice to me. It confused me so much. Made me so sad. I never want to see you like that. Not with me. Not with Dick. Not ever. You were mean. Miserable. Alone even with more family members than we have now. You ruined us. We ruined each other.

“Unsurprisingly Alfred and Barbara were the most calm about the whole thing. Barbara…I hate to have to tell you this but…you’re in a wheelchair in the future. Permanently. You told me that the Joker stabs you in the spine. Ironically it wasn’t while you were Batgirl. He targeted you because of your dad.” Jason takes a breath for the first time in this long spiel. Barbara gives him a tight but sincere smile, tears in her eyes.

He looks at his dad who looks like he’s about to vomit. He can’t believe everything that just came out of his son’s mouth. His son dead. His other son hallucinating and wracked with grief and guilt. Barbara in a wheelchair. His family in shambles and him at the center of it all making it worse. It’s enough to make a man sick.
Jason’s voice startles him out of his reverie again. “Dad, we have to find Tim Drake. He’s Jack and Janet Drake’s son and I don’t know how but the you on the other Earth has adopted him. He needs us. We can’t just leave him.” Jason looks pleading and Bruce’s brain is whirring at a speed to rival the Flash. He didn’t even know the Drakes had a child. The kid is never seen. Never spoken about.

“But more importantly Bruce…” Jason looks awkward, like he doesn’t know how to say the next bit. “You have a son. A biological son.” Bruce chokes in shock. After everything else his son just said he didn’t think anything could still surprise him. “His name is Damian. Damian al Ghul.” Jason waits for the recognition to flash across Bruce’s face. Dick gives Bruce a hard accusatory look; a look of disappointment. “He was about ten years old in the other Earth’s timeline so he should already exist on this Earth. I…assume you know who his mother is.” Bruce nods. Talia. He wishes he was more surprised that she’d do this but honestly…it’s Talia. Nothing is surprising from her. It’s his fault for sleeping with her to begin with. He should have known better. He has never claimed to make good choices when it comes to women.

“Wow Bruce.” Dick simply cannot let this opportunity to taunt Bruce pass. “A kid? Really? After all those talks you forced upon me about safe sex and condoms and not sleeping with women who want me for your money or only want me as a vigilante. And you go and knock up Talia? Talia al Ghul! Daughter of the demon! Here we all thought you shacking up with a cat-burglar was bad enough. You never cease to amaze.”

“Master Dick, perhaps we should save the lecture for another, more appropriate, time?” Alfred chastises. Bruce is grateful for the admonition but he can’t help but notice that Alfred does not advise Dick to stop altogether. He groans internally. He’s in for such a lecture from Alfred later.

“Dad, we have to find them, okay? They need us.” Bruce nods at his son, petting his hair gently.

“I promise we’ll start looking first thing in the morning. We already know where Tim lives and I’ll find Damian. I swear it.”

“Good. That’s good.” Jason is quickly losing steam. The journey back from the other Earth and this entire conversation has drained him. His eyes are drooping but he shocks himself back into wakefulness. “Dad, I want you to start bringing me to League meetings. I need to start getting to know everyone, learning from them, if I’m going to survive. The other Jason was very insistent about it. Said I should ask you and Dick about training…mentioned a woman named Shiva,” at the mention of her Bruce stiffens, “or Slade,” and that name draws a curse from Dick and an accusatory glare from Bruce to his oldest son, “or even just Wonder Woman.

“Jason said I need to go to someone other than the two of you. Said I would probably die without it.” Bruce can only nod once, his eyes hard and his mount in a thin line. He hates this idea but he’s not about to argue with his son about it in his current state. At the very least he can send him to Diana. He’ll have to have a serious talk with Dick about this Slade business apparently.

Seeing that his father is agreeing with him Jason relaxes a bit more again. “Oh that reminds me…Diana told me a secret before I left.”
This immediately piques Bruce’s interest. “She wanted me to tell you that everyone in the League knows that Superman is your best friend and that you should stop being so dumb about Selina Kyle.” Before Jason can even finish this speech Dick and Barbara are doubling over in laughter. Even Alfred is trying to hide a laugh discreetly behind his hand. Bruce feels his face getting hotter and he is fighting everything in himself to keep the blush from showing.

He fails miserably. And can you blame him? After everything else tonight, leave it to Diana to send his son home with a good old fashion ribbing for dad. And then just to make matters even more embarrassing Jason looks at him with the biggest sleepiest doe eyes. “Dad, who’s Selina.”

Bruce opens his mouth but Dick, howling with laughter, beats him to it, “Catwoman!” This sends Dick and Barbara into another round of cackling as Bruce scowls at them.

Jason’s mouth is hanging open. “Wait! Five years from now and you’re still being an idiot about Catwoman! I had a bet going with Alfred that you’d be married to her within the year!” Bruce looks at the man who is all but his father and gives him a long suffering look but Alfred only shrugs still laughing merrily along with the others. Bruce looks at his family rolling in laughter at his expense and knows that they’re going to be alright. Everything will be alright. He’ll make sure of it.