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Chapter Text

Jason's day was going as expected for his life. That is to say, it was hurtling out of hand and most likely going to end with an explosion. He swore violently before throwing his body through the window, twisting midair to chuck a grenade at the goons that were pursuing him. He barely had time to wave at their startled faces before the grenade ignited and his body was picked up like a ragdoll in the force of the explosion.

He pushed himself up from the ground with a groan, brushing off the plaster dust and debris from his leather jacket. His helmet had protected his head from the impact of his fall but his ears still rang. As he tried to stand his knee buckled beneath him. Jason muffled his frustrated scream. After a few deep ragged breaths, he became vaguely aware of the voices of more henchmen arriving as they shouted around him. With his teeth gritted he rose again, ignoring the white-hot pain that lanced through his leg. Just another average no good day in the life of an up-and-coming crime lord, he thought bitterly.

It took five bullets to take out the remaining goons.

Jason sighed, he had got what he came for. The head of the child trafficking ring no longer had his head attached to his body. A fact that made all of Jason's pain worth it. Jason stumbled forward to the closest wall of the warehouse. It had cracked with the force of his explosion but except for the gaping hole where the third-floor window used to be it remained well enough intact.

Jason pulled out a can of bright red spray paint and got to work. The cursive scrawl was a flash of warning, the truth bled red.

‘Batman, where were you to protect the children?’

Jason finished it off with a red bat symbol, letting the paint drip down the edges. When Jason was satisfied with his work he took a moment to admire it before he turned his back and hurried away. After all, with an explosion that loud it wouldn't be long before the bats graced this warehouse with their presence. They would still arrive too late. Too late to catch him. Too late for the children who over the past year had been systematically picked up off the streets and sold away. But who noticed a missing street rat anyway?

No one. Not until they learned to bite.

By the time Jason reached his apartment, right in the heart of Crime Alley, his limp had worsened and he could feel the sweat that built up at the back of his neck with the strain. He disengaged his various traps and locks, wincing at the extra pain his paranoia forced him through. Finally, with his safehouse secured with him inside, Jason allowed himself to collapse on his sofa with a groan, removing his helmet and gently placing it on the side. Today had been a bit more full-on than he had expected, but it was done. Another scumbag’s name could be crossed off the list. Red Hood would spend the next few weeks tidying up the lingering traces of the man’s trafficking ring, squashing it entirely.

No children would be harmed in Gotham. Not when it was under his new management.

This was the sixth criminal organisation that he paid a visit to in the East End. They were all branches under the Black Mask’s rule, Jason was working his way up to toppling Sionis’ empire entirely. It seemed they had finally caught on to the danger that Red Hood’s arrival had brought and upped the security. Jason grumbled as he forced himself to sit up, using one of his knives to cut away the thick material that covered his knee.

Fuck.

His knee was an irate red and painfully swollen. Even with his increased healing factor after the Lazarus pit, he would have to lay off on Red Hood business for the next few days. He eased himself up and awkwardly navigated his way to the first aid kit he had stored in his sitting room and the ice pack from his fridge before sitting down.

The ice pack gave a faint semblance of relief.

Jason groaned. He would have to rethink his plans to focus more heavily on collecting intel rather than fighting. Perhaps he could use this time to check up on the Alley girls and make sure none of them had any problems. Protecting the women of the Alley had been one of his first priorities when he arrived back in Gotham. Quite a few of them recognised him from his youth when they'd been nothing but kind to him. Now he protected them in return.

Under his rule, they would be safe.

It was with that thought that Jason passed out on his sofa.

----------

Jason's limp the next day was obvious. He found a knee brace in one of his medical supplies and decided to grin and bear it.

Crystal noticed immediately.

“Rough night last night, Jay?” She asked, letting out a billow of smoke as she exhaled. Jason blinked through it.

Crystal was one of the girls who had known Jason from when he was just a skinny street kid with an attitude problem. When he first met her she was young and desperate, not even 5 years older than Jason yet already having sold herself to the street. Now Crystal no longer had to prostitute herself, instead dancing at the Crime Alley’s Strip club. To some, it may not seem like much of an improvement but Jason knew the safety of Madame Diamond’s club and the new strict no-touch rule, which Red Hood now enforced, was everything to the Alley girls.

Jason remembered how terrible it used to be for girls like Crystal who even in the bitter cold months stood out in minimal clothing in the hope that they would gain a few bucks and live to see the morning. Despite all that, she had been kind. Kind enough to carefully approach the young boy with a warm cup of watered-down chocolate and coax him out of the shadows. To put in time and effort to befriend him. To teach him how to use concealer to hide the bruises. To hide him from the clients who liked to proposition children, regardless of the fact that she herself was still a child. She used to use her body to shelter his small frame from the cold on the nights Willis refused to let him come back home.

Now Crystal stood a few inches shorter than him. Her curves were artfully enhanced by a short sparkly red number that matched the glitter on her eyelids. Her beauty was only enhanced by the grimy alley that surrounded her. Since he returned Jason often visited her on her smoke breaks outside the club. When he talked to her the green glow that tinted his vision often faded.

Crystal passed a cigarette along to Jason, who ignored the voice in his head that sounded like Alfred and accepted it with a soft smile.

“No rougher night than most Crys,” Jason replied at last. “You had any trouble?”

“Not since the Red Hood made his rule known.” Crystal grinned at him. It was the sort of grin that made Jason think she knew more secrets than Batman himself. She had never outright called him out for his new appearance, his brooding and frequent wounds, but there was a silent understanding between them that Jason was dangerous now. Not towards her or the other girls. But one thing living in Crime Alley taught its inhabitants was how to read danger in the slope of a shoulder and see the hidden monster beneath every smile.

“Good. Good.” He nodded. “You’ll tell me if there is anything?”

“Of course, little wolf.” She said with a laugh. It was a nickname that had stuck from a time when Jason was a feral and easy-to-spook child, who snapped even at the hands that fed him. Now Jason had grown into that nickname as if he was fulfilling Crime Alley’s prophecy. He felt more like a predator than he ever did. Beneath his red hood hid the wolf he had always been. Jason liked to think it was poetic.

The exit door slammed open and Danielle waltzed out of the club.

“Fucking stockings.” She muttered, pulling at the lacy back material as if trying to allow her skin to breathe. “Crystal do you have any cream for chaffing I can borrow tonight?”

“Of course, Darling.” Crystal breathed, blowing a kiss Danielle's way.

“I love dancing but by god, I could do with a more comfortable costume.” Danielle gripped. “Oh hey, Jason.”

“Hey Dan.” Jason grinned. Danielle was Crystal's fellow dancer and roommate, although Jason suspected there was something more going on there. At first glance they were the opposite of each other, Dan was smaller than Crystal, with bouncy brown curls and gorgeous blue eyes, her skin startlingly pale in comparison to Crystal's rich brown, but they had the same sense of humour and vicious loyalty to their friends.

When Dan had first met Jason she had been suspicious of him, which was understandable given his threatening stature and the fact that he was a stranger to her, but she had warmed up to him considerably after he taught her some self-defence moves. Now she barely hesitated before pulling Jason into a hug.

She gave him a wicked smile before stealing his cigarette and taking a drag. “I thought you were planning to quit.”

“Well, that was last week and I have come to the understanding that the Alley air does horrible things to my lungs anyway so I might as well enjoy one every now and then,” Jason argued, trying to steal his cigarette before he gave up as Dan danced away to press herself under Crystal’s arms.

“I’m doing you a favour, Jay.” She said with a wink. “So what you doing here?”

“Just checking in, making sure no funny business is going on.”

“Our guardian angel.”

Jason huffed a laugh. He was no angel. Never had been. Heaven hadn't wanted him, so here he was back on earth, in Crime Alley.

He may be no angel but he was raised by Gotham’s resident demon and if he had learnt one thing from Bruce it was vengeance. The Bat did it wrong. He left the murderers alive to kill again. He let Crime Alley fester in Jason’s absence, the forgotten and feral part of Gotham. Now Red Hood would bring justice even if it took a reign of bullets and blood.

“At your service as always, Ladies,” Jason replied instead with a mock bow that made the two women laugh.

“Well, if you really want to put yourself to use I've heard Renee’s Dad has been giving her trouble again. Maybe you could take your muscles and talk sense into him.” Danielle announced with her vicious grin.

Jason’s face darkened. Renee was one of the transgender women who worked at the club and who liked to pinch Jason’s cheeks and slip him free drinks. She was constantly cheerful and smiling despite the shit the world threw at her. Her dad had been a problem long before she transitioned and they were forced to move to Crime Alley to find somewhere to live after his alcohol addiction landed the family in serious debt. Renee had told Jason that every now and then her dad resurfaced to demand money for alcohol and lament how his son was such a disgrace, putting on dresses and flaunting her body for money. Their meetings usually ended with Renee being bruised physically and mentally. This was the first time he had come since Jason had returned and soon to be the last.

“Oh yeah,” Jason said cooly, “Where would I find him?”

“I’ve heard he often visits Terry’s bar in the Bowery.”

“Consider It done.”

“Hey, be careful. He is one of Black Mask’s boys.” Crystal said seriously.

“Don’t worry, Crys, he won’t know what is gonna hit him.”

“Little Wolf, I’m serious, don’t go all hero on us.”

“Oh, Crys, I’m no hero,” Jason said darkly over his shoulder. He could already feel the green creeping forward to capture his vision.

Jason knew he should probably not be actively seeking a fight with his knee in the shape it was but this was for Renee.

------------

Jason’s breath rattled mechanically through his mask. The crowd in Terry’s bar cleared as he stormed through, fury vibrating through his form. Jason, ever the appreciator of dramatics, shot two bullets into the wall above the table filled with three of Black Mask’s followers. With their masks discarded on the table, there was no hiding the fear in the men’s eyes as their faces drained of blood.

“Which one of you is Freddie Kitt?” He growled. Two of the men pointed at the remaining one who just sat frozen in his seat. With a dismissive nod of his head, the other two men were quick to seize their opportunity to scarper.

“Good choice.” Jason hummed.

Jason grabbed the collar of the remaining man’s shirt before slamming his head into the tabletop hard enough to break the man’s nose. The green in his vision surged in approval.

“Listen here. Freddie boy, and listen good! Stay away from your daughter. If I hear you’ve come back for money and laid a hand on her again I will hunt you down and make being beaten by a crowbar and exploded look like heaven on earth. Got it.” Jason snarled. Renee’s dad frantically nodded his head in agreement.

“I need to hear you, Freddie.”

“Yes. Yes, I got it.” He replied quickly with a pained whine.

“Good. I’m glad we’re on the same page.” Jason singsonged. The sound was hauntingly creepy with the mechanical voice modulator. Jason released him back on the table. Hard.

The man screamed as his nose crumbled.

Satisfied with a job well done Jason turned around. Only to come face to face with a blonde teen wearing a shockingly ugly aubergine scarf staring at him with her mouth wide open and milkshake forgotten.

“Sorry for the scene.” Jason said with a dip of his head, “Oh and you’re spilling your milkshake,” he added before walking out, the bell jingling merrily with his departure.

“Wait.” Jason sighed as he heard an exuberant voice behind him and felt a small hand grasp his arm.

He halted with a sigh, blinking away the last tendrils of green, before twisting back round. It seemed the blonde girl had followed him. Great.

“Can I help you?” He asked tiredly. His knee really hurt.

“That was really cool,” The purple girl said with puppy-like excitement and not at all perturbed by Jason’s hostility. “Like really violent… but cool. Is his daughter a friend of yours or a lover or…”

“Friend.” Jason cut off bluntly before looking at the teen awkwardly.

“I’m Steph!” The girl said with an outstretched hand. Jason sighed, quickly switching off his voice modulator to sound less threatening before gently shaking it.

“Hood.” He said in return. “What are you doing at Terry’s? You should stay away. The crowd that hangs there isn’t safe.”

Steph laughed. “I know. But they shockingly serve the best milkshakes.”

“So you come here,” Jason waved an arm at the ramshackle bar filled with likely criminals and drunks, “for the milkshakes?” He said incredulously.

“Yup,” Steph said solemnly, “But don’t worry I grew up around here. I can handle myself.”

Jason felt like burying his helmet in his hands at this kid's stupidity. “Forgive me for not taking your word for it. You just followed me outside, after I slammed a man’s head into a table, repeatedly. There is no way you have self-preservation!”

“From how I see it, you just annihilated that guy for hurting and extorting his daughter. How bad can you be?”

“Bad.” Jason nearly shouted.

“But with a heart of gold.” She said with a cheeky grin. “I’ve heard rumours about you. One of my friends is like obsessed with you, he says your whole jam is about protecting kids and women. So I think I’m pretty safe.”

“Jesus kid. Go home.” Jason practically begged.

“Nah. I’m currently crashing at my ex-boyfriend’s, who is now my best friend, nearly-but-not-really adopted dad’s place and trust me they are no fun currently so I think I’d prefer to stay.”

Beneath his mask Jason stared dumbly at her, blinking as he tried to process all that. Finally, he sighed. It wasn’t like he had anything better to do. “Fine, In that case, I’m gonna buy you another milkshake and try to teach you some life lessons.”

“Cool!” Steph said punching the air.

Next thing Jason knew he was balancing two milkshakes in his hand as he winced his way up a fire escape with Steph quick on his heels.

“Woah. My hands are like orange with rust right now,” Steph exclaimed.

“I thought you said you’re from around here. Stop acting like it’s the first time you’ve seen rust.” Jason shot back, finally pulling himself up onto the roof of the building. His knee complained as he crouched on it.

“I’m just impressed. Why are we climbing this again? You’re not planning on killing me are you?!”

“Roofs are safe as they allow a visual from all sides. We’re less likely to be ambushed up here.” Jason replied dryly. “Also I am severely worried about your ability to survive if you’re willingly following me with even the slightest suspicion that I’m gonna kill you.” He added.

Steph snorted. She accepted his gloved hand and allowed him to pull her up onto the roof. Once they were sat on the edge, legs swinging in the air, Jason removed his helmet, safe with the knowledge that he still had his domino mask on. Jason could feel Steph’s gaze on him but he ignored it, picking up his milkshake and taking a sip.

“Fuck.” He whistled appreciatively. “You’re right! This is a banging milkshake!”

“Told ya!” Steph singsonged, slurping her’s loudly.

“Can’t believe I ever doubted you, kid,” Jason said with a grin.

“Hey! You can’t call me kid! You’re like only 20-something.”

“18 actually.” Jason said with a devious smile, relishing in Steph’s shocked expression.

“And you’re the up-and-coming Crimelord! You can’t even legally drink!”

“Hey!” Jason laughed, brushing his hair out of his eyes. “We’re in the East End, I don’t think the legal drinking age applies.”

“Truer words have never been said.” Steph grinned.

“NO! Wait, no you are a child! No alcohol!” Jason said desperately, having realised his mistake. “No! Steph, stop laughing! You are too young to drink!”

Steph continued to shake with laughter. Her hand clasped on Jason’s shoulder to keep her balance on the roof. Jason soon joined in at the absurdity of it all. There are much worse things for Bowery and Crime Alley kids to fall into besides alcohol.

“Omg,” Steph said when she managed a breathe. “I can’t believe my friend is so scared of you! You’re an absolute dork.”

“A dork with guns,” Jason added solemnly, before cracking a smile.

“So, why is a dork trying…” -with Jason’s raised eyebrows Steph sighed- “Fine, why is a dork with guns trying to become the new Gotham crimelord?”

“Well, if we’re going there…” Jason sighed, using both his hands to push back his hair and look at the sky. “I grew up in Crime Alley. I know what it’s like to be a kid there, and I’ve seen what it’s like to be a woman. I’ve lost friends. We all have. But the crime, the drugs, the arms dealing, and trafficking…” Jason trailed off. “It’s gone on long enough. Batman has forsaken this city. His refusal to kill has not prevented deaths but allowed more innocents to die whilst monsters like the Joker still wreak havoc. Batman can not protect us all. He is right in thinking that getting rid of crime in the places like Crime Alley is an impossible task. There is no way to separate it entirely. But if I can control it…If I come down hard on child traffickers, sexual predators and abusers, ban the sale of drugs to kids. If I can get rid of monsters like the Black Mask and Joker. I can make it safer.”

Steph gazed at him in silence. Jason looked away, feeling his self-conscious blush creep up his face.

“You’re a pretty good guy, Hood,” Steph said at last.

Jason scoffed.

“But what if this task makes you into the monsters you hunt?”

Jason froze. His mind flashed to all the times he had been overcome by the Lazarus pit, green, green, all he could see was green. Jason closed his eyes and took a deep breath, willing it away. He thought of Crystal’s watered-down hot chocolate. He thought of Danielle painting his nails black under the neon lights of the club in one of her breaks as she told him the gossip. He thought of Renee pushing a fruity cocktail his way with a fond smile. He thought of Steph braving Terry’s bar, and the scumbags within, for a milkshake. Finally, he thought of a broken bird, pulling himself across the warehouse floor as a real monster cackled and the crowbar fell once more. He thought of the magic of Robin slipping away until he was just a street kid from Crime Alley who no one would miss.

“I won’t,” Jason said firmly. “I won’t cause I have people like you to remind me who I started this fight for.”

He gave Steph a strained smile.

“And when Batman comes for you?” She said softly, almost sounding concerned.

“Batman can’t even protect his Robins,” Jason said vehemently, bitterness dripping from his voice. “I’ll put a bullet in his head before he fails another kid from Crime Alley.” The Lazarus purred at the idea. A small hidden part of Jason felt sick at the idea of hurting Bruce, hurting his Dad. Jason buried that part of him even deeper.

Steph stiffened beside him. “He helps people.” She whispered.

Jason scoffs. “Not well enough. Where was he when the second Robin expired?”

Steph was silent.

“Yet his little soldier’s murderer still breathes.” Jason laughed sourly. “Guess that Robin wasn’t worth vengeance.”

“Stop it.” Steph said fiercely. “Stop it! You know nothing! That Robin is worth ten times more than you will ever be. He looked out for us. Even those from Crime Alley. He was the heart of Gotham. Batman broke after his death. He lost the last remnants of his soft edges. He lost his heart. Only now is he finally regaining that with his new Robin. So don’t you dare say that that Robin wasn’t worth vengeance. He was worth everything. He was Crime Alley’s Robin. He was our Robin.” Steph was standing by the end of her rant.

Jason just sat there stunned as Steph stormed off, stomping down the fire escape.

He stayed there as night fell and the taste of strawberry milkshake turned sour in his mouth.

Steph had called him the heart of Gotham. The heart of Batman.

Surely not?

He was missed.

Maybe not enough as Jason to get a gravestone in the Wayne family Graveyard or even the name Wayne on his tombstone. Maybe not enough by Batman to not replace him with a new soldier.

But he was missed by Gotham citizens. He was missed as Robin.

Only then did Jason realise that he was sobbing, desperately, on a random rooftop in Bowery.

Talia was right, he no longer had a place in his family anymore.

But he still had a place in Gotham.

He would not let her down.

With that thought, Jason could feel the grip of the Lazarus weaken on his mind. His resentment for his replacement evaporated and with it all his violent plans toward the kid. His anger towards Bruce crumpled like tissue leaving behind only sadness for the loss of his Dad.

Jason cried.

He cried for the first time since he had been lowered into the Lazarus pit. Even after everything they put him through in the League, he hadn’t shed a tear. Now the outburst of a young stranger had crippled him.

Jason cried until he had nothing left.

When he finally left he was so out of it he didn’t even notice the purple-clad figure that watched him go silently from in the shadows.

Chapter Text

Jason’s plan didn’t have to change that much.

It still included the stages of:

1. Destroying Black Mask and all his filth with him
2. Killing the Joker
3. Burning the Joker’s body so he can’t come back
4. Scattering the Joker’s ashes in all seven seas.
5. Setting up the most moral criminal organisation he could manage.

The only real change was the fact that he had now removed his childish revenge on Bruce and the poor Drake kid who took up his colours. Unsurprisingly, after getting rid of those two mental obstacles his plans were happening much more efficiently and speedily than before.

Jason systematically worked on undermining each of Sionis’ businesses. He busted up his arms deals, he tracked down and ended all human traffickers he came upon, and he dodged Black Mask’s retaliations with glee. Jason was actually having fun being a menace that Black Mask couldn’t pin down. He had even started slowly gaining his own Henchmen who approached him as they believed in his ability to protect their families. The acquiring of Henchmen was something he had been confused about how to even approach, so he was glad that it had happened organically rather than him having to put an ad in the newspaper or something. Now the Black Mask sat on an uneasy foundation, hidden away in his club as the clock ticked ominously and Jason slowly chipped away his power.

One downside of his advanced progress was the Bats' newfound interest in him. Despite his lack of burning animosity, Jason still left his red graffiti slandering Batman. It wasn’t like he could stop now. It was his calling card. Now more often than not Hood had to shake off the tail of either Robin, the purple vigilante, which he had now learned was called Spoiler, or the Bat himself. Nightwing had even made an appearance once, which made Jason’s heart ache with longing for his brother but had ended with Jason cutting his cables and cackling as he watched Dick fall into a garbage bin. Jason led them all at one point on a wild goose chase over the rooftops before disappearing into the shadows. The League had taught him how to carry out moves to become elusive and impossible to track but Jason had a pretty solid basis for working Gotham City's shadows from when he grew up on the streets.

Another unexpected change was the fact he was now certain Crystal knew of his nighttime occupation after she turned up at his apartment after a particularly long night of fighting with a box of macaroni cheese and painkillers. Jason had done the only thing he could with this suspicion. He blurted out everything, his entire story, before trying to hire her as his secondary of operations. Crystal rolled her teary eyes but said she would help him out when she could. After that particularly embarrassing conversation, Danielle kept giving him careful hugs whenever she saw him, avoiding his new bruises and breaks every time. So Crystal had likely told her too.

Jason had even caught sight of Steph a few times in his civilian clothes but he never approached her. In his mind though he fought for the belief she used to hold in him.

Jason was actually feeling pretty great about himself.

Of course, this meant that life had to put a wrench in his plans.

It came in the form of a bird. A Robin to be specific.

Crystal had just hung up after giving him a lead she overheard from some of the men at the club. Jason couldn’t really hear much of it because of the loud music in the background of her call but he was pretty confident he got the gist. He changed his direction, checking his guns had enough ammo for an ambush. The Bats had stayed out of his way tonight, obviously occupied, so it had been a very slow patrol. He had spent half of it chatting to his new Henchman about his daughter's education plan over their new comms. He actually quite liked the guy. Matt was certainly good muscle but he also had brains and enough morals to seek Jason out instead of continuing working for a small-time drug ring. He hated the fact that some of his past colleagues used to sell to people his daughter’s age and Jason’s focus on protecting the kids was the primary reason he switched over.

Jason patched himself into Matt to tell him that he was going to be busy. With a second thought, he also commed his other henchman Lorenzo to tell him the same so he wouldn’t be accused of favouritism. Lorenzo seemed like a cool enough guy to not worry anyway. Honestly, Jason wasn’t entirely on top of the whole what to do with the Henchmen gig but luckily both men seemed happy to wait for him to learn. It helped that Crystal had started looking into the logistics of actually starting a crime empire for him. Maybe Jason got a bit carried away with the actual reality of it and oversimplified it in his plan, so sue him! Believe it or not, this was his first time becoming a Crimelord. Sometimes he couldn’t help but think that being a solo league assassin and child vigilante was a lot easier.

Still, Jason liked to think he was doing an alright job as the infamous Red Hood.

Jason landed on the roof of the apartment block by the docks that Crystal had sent him to, still not entirely sure what to expect inside. It was a nondescript building, with nothing at first externally sinister but Jason noted the condemnation notices nailed on the doors of the other surrounding buildings.

Jason dropped silently onto the fire escape, unholstering his guns in preparation. It didn’t take much to ease open the window and slip in. Jason only knocked out the first guard he came upon as he wasn’t certain of the severity of these criminals’ activities yet. Until he did know he would only non-lethally dispatch these men.

Jason took out three more men without them even seeing him by the time he reached the main room. The other two guards gave him no trouble, their bodies hitting the floor within seconds. Jason slipped in as silent as a wraith. He stuck close to the shadows, ducking behind the stacked boxes. The men were distracted in the middle of the room and gathered together in a thick crowd. While they were oblivious Jason quietly eased open the top of one of the boxes to check the contents, he looked down on what seemed to be golden relics and glittering gems. Well, Jason didn’t really care for that. The next box was more revealing with what looked like power-inhibiting collars. Interesting.

Jason nearly shot up at a sudden burst of raucous laughter. He turned his head back to gaze at the crowd of men. There were roughly nine as far as he could make out. Jason shifted closer to the group to try to get a better look.

It was then that Jason heard a pained whine.

His whole body froze.

For the first time, Jason caught sight of a figure slumped on the floor in the middle. It was too small to be there. There was a sickening crunch as one of their boots came down. A muffled scream.

Jason’s control of the Lazarus pit had improved dramatically since that night on the rooftop with Steph, but he allowed a little bit of the acrid green rage to leak into him.

First gunshot.

Second gunshot.

The bodies begin to fall.

Third gunshot.

The men react, realising that they are in danger.

Fourth.

One of them has drawn his own gun.

Fifth.

Blood wells up in the hole in the man’s forehead and the gun drops.

Sixth.

Jason has moved close enough to shoot the next man in the neck as he yanks his head back by his hair.

Seventh.

The final one falls.

In the deafening silence that follows Jason comes back to himself. As the green retreats, Jason looks at the bodies that now surround him. He feels no remorse. Not when the only noise is the wet whimpers coming from the child on the floor.

Fuck.

A child wearing his colours.

Yellow. Green. Red. So much red.

Jason felt nauseous. He falls to his knees in front of the kid.

Shit, he was so tiny. Had Jason ever been this tiny? Surely not?

Jason reached out to comfort the kid but Tim just curled deeper into himself, backing away as far as he could from him.

“Shit,” Jason said out loud, the mechanical whir of his helmet causing Tim to flinch.

“Hey, It’s Ok, Kid. Robin, you’re Ok.” Jason tried to soothe, slowly approaching the kid. Tim just looked at him with eyes glazed with tears and a face so pale Jason was worried about his blood loss. A gag was shoved in his mouth, damp with the blood that poured from his nose. Jason used his gloves to gently brush away the trail of blood, and his eyes momentarily flashed with green. Jason blinked away his rage against the men who did this, it would not help the kid now. Instead, Jason silently untied the gag and pulled it out of his mouth.

Tim took in a choked breath, straining to put distance between him and Jason.

“No. Please.” More tears fell down the well-established tear tracks on the kid’s cheeks. “Please, Don’t make me take more.”

Jason’s breath caught in his throat. For a split second, it was another Robin, beaten beyond recognition, begging in front of his eyes. Jason physically recoiled.

“Please.” Tim whimpered. “Jus’ get it over with. ‘nd it now.”

Jason’s blood ran cold. This kid was prepared to die. Where did Bruce find him?! Fuck. Jason was not responsible enough to know what to do in this situation. The kid’s slurring meant either he was drugged or had a concussion. That was so not good.

Okay, what would Crystal do?

Step number 1: Look less threatening.

If only he had a cup of Hot Chocolate now.

Instead, Jason unclipped his helmet and placed it to the side. The kid’s eyes watched his movements, maybe following a reaction too late. Jason would have to check for that concussion.

“Jason?” Tim said blearily.

“Uh. No”

Shit.

“Jason,” He repeated more firmly.

“Nuh-uh,” Jason said dumbly.

“Jason.” Awe now slipped into the kid’s voice. Great.

“So ‘m dead?” Why in ever loving god did the kid sound so ok with that?! “I knew you’d come.”

“Ok, Replacement. I’m gonna have to look at your head now.” Jason said instead of replying to whatever that was. Jason pulled out the mini torch that was on his keychain and shone it in the kids’ eyes. The kid flinched but no longer tried to escape Jason’s gentle hold on his head.

Yup. That was a concussion.

“Jason, ‘m sorry, Jason.”

“Hey, Hush now. You don’t have to be sorry.” Jason got to work at cutting the bindings on Tim’s hands.

“I let you down.”

Jason’s heart broke. He can’t believe there was a time he wanted to hurt this kid to get back at Bruce.

“Nonsense,” Jason whispered fiercely. “You’re doing great, Kiddo.”

Jason moved his inspection of Tim’s wounds to his side. Broken rib. Very bruised. The kid whined again. That’ll be tender for a few weeks.

“Where is the Bat, Kid?” He asked with a sigh. The kid was now leaning against Jason’s side as Jason carded his fingers through his hair.

Tim hummed. “I don’t know.” Tim whined. “They took my trackers. M’ comm too.”

For them to find all his trackers they had to have planned this. And if they had missed one then Batman would have been here well before Jason arrived.

Jason would have to find out who did this. And when he did he’d have to make them pay. But first Jason had to arrange for someone to pick up the kid. Jason patted around the kid’s belt until he found the Panic button Bruce had fitted into the suit's belt. It was in the same place Jason remembered it would be.

“I didn’t even get time to push the button,” Tim murmured into Jason’s shoulder as his eyes slipped shut.

“You know what, Kid?” Jason said with a sigh, untangling the knots in the kid's hair. “Neither did I.”

Jason stayed with the kid tucked against him as he counted down the seconds. When it was coming on a minute he gently prised himself away. Bruce would be arriving in approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds.

Jason wouldn’t be there.

“Don’t go.” Tim slurred.

Jason stooped to pick up his helmet. “I was never here.” He said finally. He doubted the kid would keep his secret, but hopefully, the concussion would discredit his claims. He did not want to have to spend more time than necessary dodging Batman.

Jason patted Tim’s head in goodbye before storming off.

From the top of one of the buildings, Jason watched Batman arrive in a flurry of black wings and worry. He came to a screeching halt when he caught sight of Jason’s blood-red graffiti on the side of the building. It had been a split-second decision on Jason’s part but one he didn’t regret.

‘Keep a closer eye on your Robins’ It read. Jason had even been nice enough to add an arrow pointing to the entrance.

Batman sprinted into the building. Jason hoped this time he would learn his lesson. Thankfully, without having lost another child soldier.

A few minutes later the Batmobile pulled up and Batman hurried out, carefully depositing Tim on the back seats. Jason pulled back into the shadows as Batman turned his gaze to scan the rooftops. Then Batman’s head turned to Tim as if listening and a second later he slipped into the driving seat.

That day Jason mentally added ‘Keep an eye on the Robin’ to his plan.

------------

Jason was expecting a bigger fallout for the events of that night.

He waited for Batman to appear breathing down his neck.

He never came.

In fact, he seemed to leave Jason up to his own devices more than he had before.

Either the Baby Bird had kept his mouth shut about Red Hood’s identity or Batman simply didn't care.

Jason steadfastly ignored the second option.

That was until one fateful Girl’s night hosted at his apartment when the uncertainty caught up to him. After Renee’s fruity homemade cocktails and Crystal's vodka shots, Jason found himself sitting on the floor with Danielle between his legs as he plaited her hair. That night Renee found out about him being Red Hood through a teary story of how Batman no longer and will never again love him which without the explanation about how Batman was his Dad and he was the Robin turned Red Hood would have been confusing. So really it was best to tell them everything. He wouldn't want there to be any misconceptions about his relationship with Batman. Renee didn't seem too surprised by the Red Hood revelation. She was however shocked by the Batman is my Dad one.

The three women offered him advice which mainly contained ‘Well if he doesn't care then fuck him, we love you.’ and Renee’s own ‘If I see him I'll wack him with my handbag. It's the least I can do after your help with my shitty dad.’

Jason woke up with Crystal's foot in his face, and all of them squished on the mattress he had been using as a bed. Danielle was snoring on his chest and Renee muttered about the light from by his side. It must be well into the afternoon. Jason squeezed his eyes shut and groaned at the spike of pain in his head. He must have drunk a lot last night. Like a lot. The Lazarus had given him a high alcohol tolerance but it seemed that even that hadn't been enough to save him from Renee’s bartending skills.

“Fuck,” He moaned.

“Shut up and get us breakfast,” Crystal said, burying her head deeper into her pillow.

“Why me?” He gripped.

“Because you're the big bad Crimelord,” Renee replied, “And we're wearing pyjamas.”

“I'm also wearing pyjamas!”

“You're pyjamas are much more street-appropriate than ours.” Jason had to agree that they had a point.

“Can't we do like rock, paper, scissors or something to decide?” He whined.

Jason lost that rock, paper, scissors. So grumbling the whole time he eased Danielle off him without waking her and grabbing his sunglasses and keys went on the quest for breakfast.

He was right about it being mid-afternoon. The sun was mockingly high in the sky and surprisingly bright for Gotham. Life hated him he decided. Jason got a few odd looks for being in his pyjamas but nobody bothered him. The perks of being 6ft and built like a brick house he assumed.

Jason decided that after the shit he made his friends listen to last night, he might as well treat them to something nice and ventured out of the East End to a quaint little bakery he used to visit with Alfred. He had hardly touched the League's funds that Talia sent him away with, and with the bottomless amount he doubted some pastries would hurt his account.

Jason bought way more than they could eat and balancing the paper bag of goodies and four steaming coffees he began the trek home.

His hangover throbbed at his temples.

Maybe this was why he didn't see the figure in front of him until it was too late. His body collided into a considerably smaller form.

Jason looked down to see Steph glaring up at him with coffee all down her lilac top.

“Sorry,” Jason said, wincing at how raspy his voice came out. Steph was unlikely to recognise him without his gear on. At least he hoped so. It wasn't like they had spoken for long. Three people aware of his identity was enough for now, four if he counted a highly concussed Timothy Drake.

“Shit, I'm sorry.”

“Yeah, I heard you the first time buddy.” Steph gritted as she wiped herself down.

“I live nearby. I can lend you a spare t-shirt if you'd like?” Jason hurriedly tried to appease her.

“Are you trying to Notting Hill me?”

Jason spluttered. “No. Nope. Not at all.”

“I know better than to trust someone with as thick an Alley accent as you,” Steph said with a raised eyebrow.

Derision. That's what you would call that expression.

Fuck. Jason so wanted Steph to like him. If not in his Red Hood persona then at least in his civilian one. She reminded him so much of who he used to be.

“Look, kid, I promise no dodgy business.” Jason wasn't certain if trying to explain that he had three pole dancers in his room who would fight tooth and nail for this girl if he even tried to hurt her, would help his case. “Just a shirt.”

Steph just stared at him before saying “Are you wearing Hello Kitty pyjamas?”

“Well, Yes. They're soft.” Jason had nothing to defend. These were great pyjamas. A gift from Crystal during their first Girl’s night. And No, he was not blushing.

Steph laughed. “Fine. Lead the way but I'll have you know that I can have your Hello Kitty-clad ass on the floor at the first sign of trouble!”

Jason grinned. Though the responsible part of his mind screamed at Steph’s stupidity to follow a stranger back to their home. Jesus. This kid needs help. Once is understandable though strange, twice is a problem.

“So what's your name?” Steph said slyly as she skipped beside him.

“Jason,” He replied. Steph seemed to miss a skip in her step at that but Jason was too hungover to begin considering why her reaction was so extreme.

“Steph.”

Jason nodded.

“So why are you so hungover? You're like 18. What about the legal drinking age and whatever?”

Jason paused. Surely she didn't… she showed no recognition before, not even when introducing herself. Well if she did Jason decided to dismiss it. He's not confirming her suspicions anytime soon. It did ease a tiny bit of concern for Steph's lack of self-preservation if she had realised who he was.

“I'm hungover 'cause it was Girls’ Night,” Jason said instead.

Steph looked at him quizzically. “Girls’ night?”

“You know, Girls’ night. Paint your nails, plait your hair, get terribly drunk and sob into a friend's shoulder. Girls night.” He said simply.

“And you were at Girls' night because..?”

“I have the biggest apartment and they have the best gossip.” Jason held open the apartment block door and Steph ducked beneath his arm to get inside. Jason waved to his old neighbour Minny who he was pretty sure sold knock-of-technology and weed. She was a delightful woman. Minny glared at him as usual but Jason could see the faintest upturn of her mouth.

“I like the new dreadlocks, Minny!”

“Dye that stupid white patch of your hair, Child.” She said as usual. “You're greyer than me and a quarter my age.” She grumbled.

Jason laughed. The white streak was a side effect from his resurrection. One he was careful to cover up with black shoe polish when he was out as Hood, otherwise he would be far too recognisable. But it took far too much effort to dye permantly, his roots a bright startling white after only a few days.

“I'll have you know this is the height of fashion, Minny!” He said with a cheeky wink.

Minny just tutted under her breath as they walked past. Jason knew she secretly loved him.

Jason had disengaged his booby traps and advanced security system in anticipation of guests last night so with a twist of his key he was inside. It seemed his friends had managed to drag themselves out of bed and were now in varying states of awakeness around his kitchen. Crystal's hands were clasped tightly around a coffee mug, it seemed she had found a pair of Jason’s red sunglasses and red hoodie to borrow. The other two were still in their pyjamas. Renee dozing on the kitchen table, her hair still in the intricate plaits Jason had done last night, the edges frizzy and static. Danielle now looked the most awake, perched on one of the Kitchen sides, her legs swinging back and forth.

As soon as Jason stepped inside she jumped down and snatched the bag of pastries from his hands.

“Finally, took you long enough Jay!” She said, shoving one of the croissants in her mouth. She moaned “Omg these are delicious!”

“Who is this?” Crystal asked, more focused on Steph hovering behind his shoulder than the breakfast delicacies.

“This is Steph. I owe her a spare shirt. Spilt our coffee on hers.” He explained bashfully.

Renee lifted her head to look at the newcomer. Her eyes sparkled with curiosity.

“Do you know her?” Dan asked.

“Not really,” Jason said with a shrug of his shoulders.

“And she just followed you, a strange man, home?!!” Crystal exclaimed. “Child, where are your street smarts!”

Steph shrugged. “He's wearing Hello Kitty.” She said as if it explained everything.

Danielle laughed.

“He certainly is,” Crystal agreed with a wry grin.

Jason grumbled about making better friends, shuffling forward until he could snatch two pastries from Danielle. He wordlessly passed one over to Steph.

“Well someone kicked me out of my own house in the morning to get breakfast.”

“And you did brilliantly, Little Wolf.”

“You're insufferable. All of you. No idea why you're my friends.”

“Like calls to like.” Crystal singsonged, pressing a kiss to Dan’s cheek as she grabbed a chocolate croissant for herself.

“Steph, Love, take a seat whilst Jason finds a shirt for you,” Renee said gently as she beckoned the young girl over. “Promise we don't bite.”

Steph laughed and pulled up a stool.

“You guys seem really cool. How do you know Jason.”

“Long story short, I knew the menace since he was just a little squirt living on the streets. Then when he came back a few months ago he kept hanging out around our club, chatting with us girls when we got off the poles.”

“Crys, you're making me sound like a pervert!” Jason groaned.

“Honey, I've never seen you leer at the dancers any of the times you visited. I know we haven't had the conversation yet but I'm pretty sure you don't swing that way.”

Crystal was quite right. Although Jason hadn't had much time to consider his sexuality between dying, the League and Red Hood. He had never really felt anything romantic towards any of the dancers.

Jason just sighed and rolled his eyes good-naturedly.

“Then stop trying to make me sound like I’m constantly hanging out in the club.”

“You practically are,” Renee added sagely. “Between your checkups on us, the time you spend gossiping, your weekly self-defence classes and the number of times you act like an honorary bouncer, you might as well be one of us.”

“It's all very innocent,” Dan assured Steph. “Jason is probably one of the best of us.”

Jason blushed.

“I'm gonna find that shirt,” He said hoarsely, leaving his friends to entertain Steph.

His friends just laughed and tried to call him back. Jason rifled through the cardboard drawers he had made himself to save money until he had a soft graphic t-shirt. Satisfied that it wasn't one he would miss too badly he made his way back to the kitchen.

Jason handed it over to Steph who, having already stripped into her sports bra, quickly pulled it on.

“Thanks.” She said with a brilliant smile.

Jason just inclined his head in response.

“Oh, Jay!” Crystal exclaimed. “I have a favour to ask you.”

“Anything,” Jason replied, gratefully accepting a cup of coffee from Danielle.

“Can Cece's kid brother crash on your couch? Just for the next week or so. Cece is staying with us but their building has had issues with the plumbing flooding and they've been told to move out until it's fixed. We don't have space to take the kid and Cece in but we told her we'd ask you.”

“Oh of course. It's Mason right?”

“Yeah, and keep an eye on him. Cece is worried he's falling into the wrong crowd. He's been skipping school.”

“Got it.”

How hard can looking after a teenager be?

Steph excused herself around an hour later, accepting hugs from all the girls and throwing herself at Jason for a hug too when he hung awkwardly back. She promised to come visit them again soon and thanked Jason for the shirt and pastries. Jason just waved her off.

He was happy to see Steph again, despite her not recalling their first meeting. Jason was glad this one ended on a much more friendly note.

Chapter Text

Teenagers were hell.

Jason seemed to be dealing with them an awful lot despite that.

Cece's brother Mason was moody constantly, it was like living with a miniature Batman with the amount of glares Jason had to suffer through daily. The fifteen-year-old seemed hellbent on ignoring Jason's advice and flying headfirst into confrontation at every turn. Is this how Bruce felt? Jason may be gaining a newfound respect for his Dad’s ability to put up with children, especially since he seemingly willingly sought out more.

Jason had to make adjustments to his life to care for the little shit. He bought twice the amount of groceries and actually cooked healthy meals like Alfred used to teach him. He invested some of the League's funds into buying a dubiously sourced PS4 and TV from Minny. Mason seemed to think it too immature for him. Jason was starting to think this kid was deeply deeply troubled.

Worst of all he couldn’t even walk in through his front door as Red Hood. Instead, he waited for Mason to fall asleep on the couch, lowered an extra blanket onto the kid, and sneaked out his bedroom window. He felt like he was the goddamn teenager in his own house.

Jason even ended up asking Matt in a moment of weakness how he dealt with his teenage daughter only for the man to burst into laughter and hang up on him with a cheerful ‘Good luck!’. Jason was sure Henchmen were meant to respect you. Maybe he needs to find some new ones cause his ones certainly gave him enough grief. Jason blames Crystal. Her fearless and unrelenting teasing had seemed to have caught on.

It had only been two days of sharing his apartment with the little menace and Jason found himself outright retreating to the roof of a nearby building that night as Red Hood with a packet of cigarettes.

Jason thought he had kicked the habit of smoking while alone when he died, the six months underground serving as a hard reset, so now he was used to only doing it when around company.

But nope. Mason had to come into his life. A moody fifteen-year-old who says he hates Jane Austen. Who the hell hates Jane Austen?! Jason is never going to try to help that kid with his homework ever again. Cece would have to understand that there was no salvaging that child’s education until he finds himself a new attitude and a better sense of taste.

Jason lit the cigarette, savouring the silence of the night.

“Do you know those kill?”

Jason closed his eyes and sighed.

“Does anything these days?” Jason said, taking another drag from the cigarette.

“Well, for you I think we should honestly run some tests for immortality.” Robin sat down on the rooftops beside him. “Hello, Jason.”

“Tim,” Jason inclined his head in greeting. “Also not immortal. Definitely died. Have the autopsy scars to prove it. Woke up in the coffin and everything.”

“Shit, man, that sucks,” Tim said awkwardly. “So um, how are you here?”

Jason ignored that question. It’s not one he likes to linger on. Even Talia couldn’t tell him how. “Thanks for not telling the Bats that I’m back.” He murmured.

Tim hummed. “Technically, I did. It freaked him out and everything when he came in to find me saying your name. However, it turns out I hallucinate a lot when concussed, sleep deprived or drugged so I don’t think it's the first time I’ve said some weird shit. So yes Bruce does not know.”

Jason was seriously worried about this child. What does he mean he hallucinates enough that Bruce just runs with it?!

“Why didn’t you tell him when you were no longer concussed?” Jason crossed his arms, watching as Tim’s face scrunched in thought. The kid could do with a haircut. He pushed his dark hair out of his eyes.

“I wasn’t entirely sure you weren’t a symptom of my concussion. I needed to do my own investigating first.”

“Are you going to tell him now?”

“Do you want him to know?”

“That doesn’t matter. He’s your mentor. You’re not going to keep something like this from him if I ask you not to.” Jason scoffed. He would have to take Bruce’s reaction into account when he reworked his plan.

“I would.”

Jason looked at him in shock.

“Jason, you are the reason I am even doing this. You were my Robin. I only bullied Bruce into letting me take up your colours to stop him from falling over the edge. I love Batman but I trust that you have a good reason for not coming home yet. I won’t force you to either. However, if you were to say the word I would hand over the suit back to you.”

“Oh,” Jason said softly. “Well, thanks.”

“You’re welcome,”

“When you say you bullied Bruce what does that mean?” Jason asked at last. He felt like he was missing something.

“Ah, well after your death Batman stopped pulling his punches, he was close to killing himself every night, blindly throwing himself into danger. He needed a Robin. I approached Dick in Bludhaven but he was like in an unresponsive state of grief and refusing to talk to Bruce at the time. So I blackmailed him.”

Jason laughed delighted. “You blackmailed Dick?”

“No, I.. uh…I blackmailed Batman.”

Holy Fuck.

Teenagers honestly frighten Jason.

“You blackmailed Batman?” Jason said dumbly.

“Um, yeah.”

“Jesus Christ, kid, you are now officially my favourite Robin!”

Tim smiled self-consciously, tucking his hair behind his ears. Jason slung his arm over the kid’s shoulder, tucking him against his side. The kid melted against him. Jason chuckled, removing one of his gloves to card his fingers through the kid’s hair. Tim let out an appreciative sigh and snuggled closer.

So maybe not all teenagers are hell. This one seems deceptively sweet. Jason made a note about the fact he would have to rearrange his perspective of Batman with the kid’s story when he had the emotional stability to do so. For now, he had more pressing matters to consider.

“Hey, Tim, should you even be out on patrol now? You were beaten up pretty good only a few days ago.”

“I’m fine,” Tim grumbled.

“Does the Bats know you’re out?”

Tim gave no answer.

“Ok, you're like 14 and should probably not be out here anyway and definitely not without backup.” Jason tugged gently on Tim’s hair in gentle admonition.

“Firstly, I’m 16-”

“Semantics. Same concerns still apply.”

Tim glared at him with the intimidation factor of a kitten.

“Bruce is off-world. I can look after myself.”

“Ok, firstly no, you’re a child and should not be looking after yourself. How did you sneak past Alfred!”

“I don’t live at the manor. It’s not hard to leave an empty house.” Tim shrugged.

“Wait, has Brucie not adopted you yet?!”

“No, every time he seems to try to bring it up I distract him. I was meant to take your place as Robin because Batman needs a Robin but not as his son.”

Wow. This kid needs to be hit in the head with a folder full of reasons he mattered to convince him of his self-worth.

“Jesus Christ, Tim, you’re not my replacement. You don’t replace your children. Bruce loves you like his son, which doesn’t take away from the way he used to see me as his son.”

Jason liked to think he gained some awareness after that night on the roof. Bruce used to love him. He never would again, not with the blood that stained Jason’s hands and mind. He would forever only be the perfect soldier, the perfect child frozen in time. There was no reason to break that illusion. Bruce had gotten over his death. Jason was fine without knowing Bruce’s reaction to his reappearance as Red Hood.

“Just give in and let him adopt you before he loses his mind.”

“You wouldn't mind?” Tim asked hesitantly.

“Shit, Kid, I couldn't care less. Plus, it'll be nice to have a little brother.”

Tim's smile is too bright for Gotham’s shadows to conceal. Jason held him closer and hoped beyond all hope that this Robin would make it out of the job with his smile still intact.

“By the way, Spoiler also wants to meet you.” Tim hummed, breaking the comfortable silence that had settled between them. Tim seemed unperturbed by Jason’s raised eyebrow. “I haven't told her who you are.”

“So she wants to meet a Crime lord?”

“Yeah, she's been pretty insistent. I think she gave Bruce an aneurysm when she said that you seemed to be a chill guy.”

“Was this before or after I saved your ass?”

“Before actually.”

“Huh”

“Bruce is more ambivalent about her curiosity now. I don't think he knows entirely what to make of you himself. It's driving him ever so slightly mad.”

“Is he using colour-coded tabs in my file yet?”

“Oh we're well past that point, he has brought out the whiteboard and sticky notes. You're pretty elusive you know?”

Jason snorted. It was funny that he'd managed to rattle the unflappable Bat so much. He guessed his sudden change of personality managed to intrigue and worry Bruce. His graffiti messages to Batman have gotten a lot less scathing and more teasing and occasionally even helpful. Something that Crystal had given him a knowing look for but didn't call him out on.

“Well, tell your friend I'll be happy to meet her as long as she keeps Bruce out of it.”

Tim nodded eagerly. He sat silently beside Jason, slumped against him. It was after the kid's third stifled yawn that Jason spoke.

“Why don't you go get some sleep and rest of your injuries? I'll cover your patrol for tonight.” Jason said, nudging his newly acquired little brother. If this kid didn't look after himself then Jason would have to do it for him.

Jason didn't have much else to do. He had run out of leads for Black Mask's dealings, they had seemingly gone further underground. This was good. It meant Sionis was nervous. Jason always liked a challenge.

Tim sighed but reluctantly agreed. Jason snuffed out his cigarette and pulled his brother onto his feet.

“Go sleep, Timmy.” He chuckled softly as the kid once more hid his yawn.

“Bye, Jay.” He replied sleepily. “See you around.” Just as he was about to jump, Jason grabbed his elbow.

“Wait,” Jason pulled from his pocket the miniature notebook Matt had gifted him with a tiny hand-drawn Red Hood helmet on the front, tearing out one of the pages to write. “Here is my phone number and my address. Come anytime. Preferably without the Robin uniform cause I do have a reputation to maintain.”

Tim blinked in disbelief. Jason just shoved the paper into his hands.

“Of course don't just give it out to anyone,” Jason said a bit self-consciously under Tim's gaze. He cleared his throat awkwardly.

“You would like to hang out with me?” Tim whispered.

“You're my brother, Timbo,” Jason replied with a soft smile. “I’d love to have you over anytime.”

“Oh,” Tim said, dazed.

“Yeah. Now run along, Kid. I’ve got Gotham covered.” Jason gently pushed Tim into action.

“Oh, Yeah. Thanks, Jay. Bye.”

Tim removed his grappling hook and swung away. Jason waved at his retreating form.

“Bye Tim,” He whispered softly.

-----------------------

Jason stayed true to his word. He patrolled throughout Gotham, stopping an ATM robbery in the Upper East Side and three muggings in the Narrows. He even helped a cat down from a tree. He passed Spoiler at one point heading towards flashing police lights with a cheery wave, before running in the opposite direction to check the Docks for any deals going down. It was surprisingly fun to return to the patrol patterns he used to cover as Robin.

Jason was gleefully wondering about Batman’s reaction to his night’s out-of-character actions as he made his way back to Crime Alley in the early hours of the morning. He was going to confuse Bruce so much.

The few Crime Alley street lamps that actually worked turned off at 1 in the morning, so Jason was navigating the dark through the HUD of his helmet as he hummed a song under his breath. Jason lept to another rooftop when he heard a commotion in one of the streets below. Jason sighed but turned his head to check it out. He watched as some teenagers scrambled out of the alley their faces covered in dark masks, shouting as they went. He was about to follow them when he saw one of them was left behind, backed against a wall by three imposingly dressed men. Despite the ski mask, it was obviously a kid they had cornered. Jason wasn’t going to let them beat up a kid.

“Give it to us and you won't be hurt.” One of the men growled. The kid was desperately looking around for an exit, his small body trembling as he pressed his body against the wall to try and escape.

“I don’t have it. My friend has the stuff. I’m not the dealer.” The kid tried to explain, his voice shaking.

One of the guys pulled out a knife.

“Don’t lie to us. We know you have the stuff, sweetheart. All you fucking street kids are the same.”

“I don’t. I swear I don’t.”

Jason crept down the fire escape, not allowing a sound to be heard.

Then one of the men pulled off the kid’s mask. Jason had never wished his HUD didn’t give him perfect night vision more than at this moment. It was fucking Mason. Of course, it was Mason. Cece was going to kill him. Cece was going to kill Jason too.

“Please I swear. I don’t even know what you're after.” Mason whimpered, straining away. One of the men lifted his hand to strike.

Well now was the time for Jason to make his move. There was a reason the Red Hood struck so much fear into those he came for. Jason slammed the man with the knife into the wall. The next one he grabbed the arm that had been about to hit Mason and twisted until it broke with a scream. The final man looked around frantically in the dark, unable to tell where the threat would come from. Jason punched him right in the face.

“I thought I made myself clear.” Jason’s modulated voice was icy cold. One of the men whimpered. “That no one was to hurt kids. Or they’d have to face me.”

“We’re sorry, man. We’re not from around here.” One of them tried to excuse his actions. “We didn’t realise kids were off-limit around here.”

Green. How dare they. The Lazarus hissed in anger.

“Then you should have stayed away.”

Jason fired three bullets. When the silence settled all he could hear was Mason’s heavy breathing. Shit. The kid was about to have a panic attack.

“Please.” He heaved in another shaky breath. “Please.”

“Shit, Hey it’s Ok, Kid.” Jason tried to soothe. “It’s Ok. I’ve got you.”

The kid just sunk down against the wall, his breathing picking up until Jason’s chest hurt in sympathy.

Fuck. Why him?

Ok. Jason eased off his helmet. This was a choice Jason hoped he wouldn’t regret. As soon as he lost the use of his HUD, his vision plummeted into darkness. Jason blinked until he could make out the shape of Mason’s figure against the wall. He moved forward, easing Mason’s clenched hands open.

“OK, Mason.” The air shifted as the kid stirred with Jason’s voice. “I’m gonna need you to breathe with me, Buddy.”

Jason pressed one of the kid’s hands against his chest and breathed in deeply. Jason listened as with time Mason’s breaths became more regular.

“Hey, Well done. You’re good. You’re doing good.”

“Jason?” Came Mason’s shaky voice. Jason sighed internally about another person knowing his identity.

“Yeah, Kiddo. That’s right. Just breathe.” He said softly.

“Shit,” The kid laughed incredulously. “You’re the fucking Red Hood.”

“Language.”

“I just thought you were like a male prostitute or something and that's why you snuck out late at night.” Mason laughed so hard that he started coughing.

Jason groaned. Teenagers were terrible.

“Ok, well we all know I’m hot enough for that but no.” Jason sighed. “I keep my clothes on for the job.”

“So you don’t work at the club?”

“Did Cece tell you I did?”

“I mean she told me you were there often. I just sort of assumed.” Jason rolled his eyes.

“Ok, let’s get you home, Squirt. And let’s not tell your sister that any of this happened or she’ll kill me.”

Mason laughed again. This was probably the most Jason had heard the kid expressing anything positive in the time he’d had him.

“You’re right. She would.”

“Be careful kid. I still may kill you yet.” Jason grumbled.

“I’m in for a lecture when we get back, aren’t I.” Mason sighed.

“The lecture of your lifetime,” Jason said solemnly, lifting the kid to his feet. The kid stumbled as they walked, at one point knocking over a dustbin with a horrendous clatter.

“What are you? A baby fawn?” Jason scoffed.

“Dude, You’re kidding right, it’s like pitch black, and my friends took the flashlights.”

Jason didn’t bother questioning the calibre of Mason’s friends. He had more than enough time to do that later. Instead, Jason stopped the kid with a sigh. Jason often forgot that he could sense his surroundings beyond a normal human’s ability, a skill that he had gained from the Lazarus Pit and that the League had taught him to enhance. He could travel practically blind if he had to.

“Ok, Kid, If you break this, you pay for it.”

“What-”

Jason slipped his helmet onto the kid’s head.

“Holy Shit!” Came the mechanical voice. “This is fucking awesome. I can see everything. Where did you get this from?”

“I made it,” Jason admitted. “Now let’s get going.”

“Woah. You’re much cooler than you act.”

“Ok, that’s great,” Jason grumbled, pushing the kid forward.

“No really. You act like a dork. You keep trying to make me eat my vegetables.”

“Ok, Little Criminal. That’s enough.”

Mason did not seem to take Jason seriously even after finding out he was a Crimelord. He bombarded him with questions and borderline insults for the entire way home. Jason sighed and gave in. Cece owed him for putting up with this. Her brother was mildly more sufferable before he became a walking interrogator. The mechanical voice of the helmet made listening to all the questions and teenage sarcasm that much harder.

Jason sighed in relief when he finally climbed into his bedroom window, helping Mason follow him in. Mason collapsed on his mattress with a groan that rattled through the helmet. Jason flipped on his lights.

“Alright, Kiddo. Take the helmet off.”

“How much would this sort of thing sell for on eBay?”

“You would be dead before you ever find out,” Jason growled, grabbing the helmet out of Mason’s outstretched hands.

“I thought you don’t hurt kids?” Mason said smugly.

“Exceptions can happen,” Jason grumbled.

“Don’t worry. I’m not going to sell you out.” Mason laughed. “Red Hood is much too cool to throw under the bus.”

Mason sat on Jason’s bed with his legs crossed as he waited for Jason to discard his gear.

“Ok, I’m gonna make us Hot Chocolate. Try not to steal the helmet when I’m gone.”

Mason giggled. Mason, the kid who told him with a straight face that Mario Kart was for kids, just fucking giggled. Holy Fuck. Jason just picked up a shapeshifter or something.

“This,” Jason just waved at Mason sitting innocently on the mattress, “This is too weird.”

By the time Jason returned Mason hadn't done a 180 and returned to being the annoying arsehole Jason had been sharing a space with for the past two days. Instead, he accepted the mug with a quiet thanks. Since when has this kid known manners?! Jason just sat beside him, blowing on his Hot Chocolate.

“Is it time for that lecture?” Mason asked somewhat nervously.

Jason sighed. He felt unbearably tired in that moment.

“No, I think it's best we save that till the morning.”

Mason looked relieved, taking a sip of his hot chocolate to hide his smile.

“No, I'm gonna tell you a story.”

Mason laughed. “Oh, shit. Are you serious? Here comes the parable!”

“How do you know about parables?”

“I read.”

“Oh, just not Jane Austen?”

Mason groaned. “Not this again.”

“Look! I know you don't want my help with your English assignment but hating on Jane Austen is just…” Jason was fully prepared to enter a rant for Jane Austen’s honour when Mason interrupted him.

“Look I don’t not want your help with my assignments. It’s just…” Mason tapped his hot chocolate mug a few times, and Jason patiently waited for his explanation. “I just find the words don’t always make sense and they take so much time to understand and…” Mason sighed quietly. “Cece thinks I have dyslexia or something.”

“Oh.”

“Yeah.” Mason stared down at his hot chocolate like it contained all the answers.

“I can still help if you want. I know I’m weirdly dedicated to Jane Austen’s works but I promise to go as slow as you need. I think I remember enough about the themes and background from when I studied it to talk you through it.”

“Is this your way of saying ‘Stay in school, kid. I promise it will get better.’?”

“Maybe?” Jason smiled at Mason, who only rolled his eyes in response. “Look I can’t promise it’ll get better, but I’ll be here to help you and I can promise you that your education will get you much further than your criminal friends will.”

“Aren’t you in a way one of my criminal friends? Like you are meant to be a crime lord aren’t you?”

“Well, yes but no. I am a crimelord but only so I can help reduce dangerous crime and protect stupid kids like you.”

“Uh-huh. Didn’t you say you had a story to tell me?” Mason grabbed Jason’s pillows and got himself comfortable.

“Yes, you little shit. I have a story.”

“One better than Jane Austen?”

“Ok, your Jane Austen slander is going to have to stop while you live under my roof!” Jason said seriously enough that Mason broke into giggles again. Wow, maybe Jason had really cracked this kid.

“Well, once upon a time…”

“You’re really starting with that?! I thought you were an English geek?”

“Ok, we’re gonna need some silence for this story to work.” Mason snorted. “Once upon a time, there was a stupid street rat…”

As Jason spoke he remembered it like the day it happened.

Jason was so hungry. His head felt foggy with it. He hadn’t seen Crystal for a few days which meant what little food he’d been eating he had salvaged from behind restaurants and was mostly on the turn.

The cold was biting. It crept through his clothes with icy fingers and his whole body felt bruised with it. Jason had shoved a newspaper in his shoes to attempt to patch up the holes but his toes were still numb with the cold.

It had been a year since Catherine and Willis had died. Not that Jason had been present much in their house when they lived. The streets held dangers in the shadows but Jason had never been more afraid than the time Willis hit him with the frying pan right under the brilliant white kitchen lights.

Jason was used to the streets. He was used to the monotonous life of dodging drug dealers and hiding from any person who looked older than 15, he was used to the daily struggle to find shelter and the only kindness he received being from the prostitutes who had taken him under their wings. He was surviving. Jason collected scrap metal to sell, some of it removed himself. He learnt how to pickpocket from drunkards and how to sell stolen cigarettes on the street corners. Jason was 10 years old and he came from no home and was going nowhere. But on the streets of Crime Alley, at that moment, he still lived.

Night had fallen and Gotham’s weather was predictable as always, the rain soaking Jason’s clothes through. Jason was just about to call it a night when he noticed the car parked beneath the street lamp. It was a sleek black, far too rich for this area and it glimmered enticingly under the light. Whoever left it there was practically asking for trouble.

Jason could get a lot of money for those wheels. Mind made up, Jason went to go get his tire iron. He was halfway through the last tire when Jason felt the air shift behind him. Jason had been living on the streets long enough to trust his instincts. Without batting an eyelid Jason swung the tire iron at knee height. Instead of making the usual sound of bone cracking it hit a solid material with a muffled thump. Jason swore before trying to book it.

A hand clamped around his collar and pulled him back. Jason squirmed and struggled, trying to escape the grip like Crystal had taught him.

“Stop.” Came a growly voice. Jason seized up. That voice was one of nightmares for the unreputable inhabitants of Crime Alley. Jason had heard enough reenactments from Crystal and Dotty, who had actually seen the man, to recognise the mistake he had made. Fuck.

Jason did not in fact stop. In fact, he tried to fight harder.

“Let me go you fucking creep.” Jason swung his fists against the armoured suit to no avail.

“No seriously, stop I'm not going to hurt you.” The voice was still a growl but it softened enough to make Jason pause.

Jason for the first time looked up to see the man’s face, covered by a dark cowl his expression was still clouded. The Batman loomed over him, a dark silhouette that split the sky.

“HOLY FUCK you stole the Batman’s tires!” Mason interrupted Jason’s story.

“Yes, I did.” Jason grinned.

“What did he do?!”

“He laughed and took me out for ice cream,” Jason said with a soft smile.

It had been unexpected for Jason back then but after he got to know Bruce he realised that there was no other option for the man.

“Bullshit!”

“Nope.”

Jason remembered the parlour, with the flickering neon lights and checkered patterned seats. He had tried to find it again recently but it had been shut down during his death. Bruce had sat him down with a large sundae in front of them both and offered him a better life.

“He showed me that I was more than where I came from. That I could be worth something.”

Jason didn’t mention Robin. It was true that Bruce showed him his value as Robin but he also showed him how to believe in himself as just him, Jason Todd Wayne. Well, Jason Todd now according to his gravestone.

“And now I’m gonna tell you this Mason. You are more than where you came from. Don’t fall into the trap of becoming another Crime Alley kid who never makes it out and dies young in a drug war. Your sister is giving her all to raise enough money to get herself through college so she can build a better life for you two. Don’t let it be a waste. You can do harmless jobs for me to raise money if you want, but mainly focus on your school work and make something good for yourself. You have the best of the Alley backing you to go do great things, don’t forget them because you are blindsided by the promises of the worst. ”

Mason looked at him thoughtfully.

“So is Red Hood going to help tutor me or what?” He said at last.

Jason saw this as a win.

“You bet your ass he is!”

Chapter Text

In a turn of events that Jason did not see coming at the start of the week, he and Mason started getting on.

Jason ended up ordering all his favourite books and those on Mason’s curriculum in dyslexia-friendly fonts. Mason just rolled his eyes when he accepted them but he could see his hidden smile when they settled down into one of their tutor sessions. Cece watched them from where she was perched on the kitchen side with a disbelieving look as she plaited her auburn hair out of her face in preparation for her GED classes. It was weird seeing Cece in such smart and unrevealing clothes as they’d only ever really hung out at the club. Now she looked much younger, far too young to be in the situation she was in, holding the burden of supporting both herself and acting as a mother to Mason.

“Hey, Jay. Have you ever thought about being a teacher?” She asked when Jason had finished explaining the core themes of the chapter to Mason and asked him to make notes on where they were obvious in the text. They had to make a presentation for next Monday.

“I used to want to be an English teacher.” Jason hummed. “Never really worked out.”

Being killed at sixteen was an obstacle Jason never saw coming.

“He’s pretty good.” Mason piped up. “At more than English too. He’s helping me out with Maths and Science also.”

“Wow, maybe I should leave him with you when our apartment is fixed, Jay. I never thought I'd see the day when he was willingly working.”

“Never misjudge the power of a heart-to-heart with me, Cece! Plus he can still come to be tutored by me when he’s no longer sleeping on my couch.”

Mason grinned. “It was a good heart-to-heart. I’m now a reputable student.”

“Uh-huh,” Cece said suspiciously. “Well I’m leaving but keep up the good work.” Jason saw her mouthing the word reputable as she left.

“Hey, so we can play Mario after I’ve done this right?” Mason asked when the door had closed.

“I will annihilate you, Kid!” Mason laughed in response, saluting him with a cheeky grin.

Jason sat down on the couch and worked his way through the Red Hood messages that Crystal had sent him. The number of people who relied on him had grown exponentially. He had Dan, and Renee, who listened to their patrons for relevant information; he had his two henchmen Matt and Lorenzo who had started actually running his Crime empire according to Jason’s moral rules and Crystal’s extensive plan; he had Mason and his friends who he had converted into doing the occasional minor and harmless jobs for him to keep them out of serious trouble. He had Carl, who was Lorenzo’s cousin. Carl was new. He wasn’t entirely sure what Carl was doing but Matt said he had him handled. Jason couldn’t wait for the Secret Santa he was planning cause it was going to be something with his eclectic assembly of employees.

Mason jumped down onto the couch next to him, proudly handing over a pile of notes. Jason tucked away his phone and started checking through the work. He hummed in approval.

“It’s good right?”

“Yup, Kid. It’s good.”

Mason settled down on the couch with a smug smile. “I have conquered Jane.”

“Ok, no one conquers Jane.”

“Shut up, Hood. I have conquered Jane.”

“Fine, you have conquered Jane,” Jason said with a defeated sigh. May Jane Austen forgive him.

“And I am going to conquer you on the rainbow road!” Mason whopped, grabbing the controls.

“Oh dream on!” Jason gently stacked the notes and put them on the side. “I am the reigning Mario Champion.”

“That’s ‘cause I was just watching how you played to discover your weaknesses.”

“Sure, Kid, sure.”

After an hour, Jason was still in the lead for Mario. Mason’s eyebrows were furrowed in concentration as he tried to chase him yet again. Jason cackled evilly as he launched blue shells in his way. Mason swore, swerving off the course.

“Fuck, man. I’ll get you in the next one for that!”

A tentative knock broke the competitive hyper-focused atmosphere that Mario Kart brought to their apartment.

“I’ll get it,” Jason said, pausing the game. He grabbed a knife when approaching the door just in case.

“Wow, paranoid aren’t you?” Mason whispered as he watched him.

“Oh shut up, you would be too,” Jason muttered.

Jason cautiously opened the door. He let out a sigh of relief and felt the tension fall from his shoulders as he saw who it was.

“Oh, Hi Steph.”

“Was this a bad time?” Steph asked carefully.

“No. Nope of course not. We were just playing Mario Kart. You’re welcome to come in.” Jason tucked the knife away out of sight and beckoned her in.

“Thanks.” Steph said cheerfully, “I was just in the neighbourhood and thought I’d visit.”

“Anytime.”

“Who is it?” Mason said, popping his head up from the couch.

“Oh, Mason, this is my friend Steph. Steph, this is Mason, he’s staying with me for a few weeks while his apartment is fixed from water damage.”

“Hi!” Steph waved.

“Hello,” Mason said awkwardly.

“So who is winning Mario Kart?”

“Jason, but not for long.” Mason grinned, Jason just pushed him down onto the couch with a laugh.

“Don’t mind Mason. He’s delusional.”

Steph laughed, taking a seat on one of Jason’s new beanbags.

“I’ll beat you both if you let me.” Steph raised her eyebrow in challenge.

“Oh, you're on!”

It turns out that Steph did not make threats about Mario Kart lightly. Beneath that purple hoodie-clad blonde exterior was a Mario Kart weapon. Jason was scrambling to win any of the games. Mason found it hilarious. Jason was pretty sure the kid was developing a crush based on Steph’s competency alone. I mean Jason didn’t even like girls but he could see where the kid got his admiration from. Steph was certainly remarkable. Mason was probably learning new vocabulary from her swearing alone.

“Take that ya lily-livered fuckers! Eat my fumes!!” Steph cackled more evilly than Jason could ever aspire to recreate.

Jason groaned as his car spun out of control.

Mason laughed as he passed him.

“Oooh Jason’s getting taught!” The fifteen-year-old brat taunted. Jason can’t believe he allowed himself to become endeared to the little shit.

“Remember who you’re speaking to, Brat! I can assign you an essay on Social Class in Pride and Prejudice.” Jason gritted out as he re-engaged.

“You're my tutor, not my teacher.” Mason pointed out with a smirk.

“Let’s not even pretend that I won't make you do it,” Jason grumbled.

“Don’t listen to him, Mason! He’s got no power here on the rainbow road!” Steph yelled.

It was at this moment that Jason realised that his life had come to spending his Saturday mornings hanging out with teenagers and losing Mario Kart. Wow. Some crimelord he was.

“Oh, you better run. I’m going to come destroy you!” Jason muttered.

It took three more rounds for Jason to finally win. Jason thought that was the appropriate time to quit to make lunch.

“Nooo. Come back. I demand a rematch!” Steph moaned.

“I need to make lunch.” Jason replied, “You staying?”

Steph grinned widely. “If you’ll have me.”

“Of course, kid. You allergic to anything?”

“The Patriarchy,” Steph said solemnly.

Jason snorted. “Well, you are lucky that my stomach doesn’t handle that well either.”

Steph giggled before she strong-handed Mason into another game. Jason watched them both fondly as he prepped for a simple spaghetti bolognese. It was one of Alfred’s recipes, Jason remembered long hours in the kitchen watching the butler as he whipped up meals. He missed Alfred. Jason sighed and pushed that to the side. He was dead. He was buried. Alfred was better off without him. Jason had just finished the sauce when there came another tentative knock on the door. He looked up in confusion.

“Don’t worry I’ve got it.” He waved Steph back down on the couch. Jason was excruciatingly aware of the knife tucked away on him. Jason once more opened the door, prepared for the worst. He brightened considerably when he saw who it was on the other side.

“Oh, Tim. Great to see you!” Jason pulled his little brother into a hug. “Do you like bolognese?”

Tim laughed and returned the embrace. “Yeah, that sounds great.”

Jason beamed. “Cool. Oh, I’ve got some friends over if that’s Ok? Well, technically one of them is the fifteen-year-old who stole my couch and I’m now semi-responsible for.”

“I heard that!” Mason shouted from inside.

“He’s also my best student,” Jason shouted back.

“Your only student.”

“That’s Mason.”

Jason threw his arm over Tim and steered him inside his apartment. “Oh, and the Mario-obsessed purple cryptid on my sofa is…”

“Wait Steph!!” Tim said in disbelief.

Steph froze when she caught sight of him.

“Tim?”

“Wait, I’m sorry, do you know each other?” Jason asked as he looked between Steph’s wide eyes and Tim’s open mouth. Both of them looked at Jason then at Mason, who looked extremely intrigued, and then back at each other as if they were silently communicating. Jason felt like rubbing his eyes.

“Um, yeah well Tim is my ex,” Steph said at last.

Jason raised his eyebrows. “The one whose Dad’s place you are staying at?” He asked slowly. Steph’s eyes widened before she nodded. Ok, great so Steph had known he was Red Hood this whole time, Jason wasn’t even surprised. A lot of pieces of the puzzle were falling together.

“And Steph is that friend who I told you about,” Tim added, eyeing Jason knowingly. Jason took a lot of self-restraint to not bury his head in his hands at the stupidity of his life.

“I see.” Jason needed a drink. He couldn’t even drink cause he was currently the responsible adult burdened with apparently two teenage vigilantes and whatever Mason was. This is fine.

“I feel like I’m missing something,” Mason said as he looked between the three of them.

“Oh, you and me both, Buddy,” Jason murmured.

“Yup, you are not alone there,” Tim added as he eyed Steph’s guilty expression.

“To be fair, I never thought I’d see you here either.” Steph shrugged.

“Well, if you know each other I guess you’ll have things to talk about. I’m gonna make sure the sauce does not burn and that we have enough pasta.” Jason backed away to the kitchen and away from the obvious bombshell in his living room. Tim opened his mouth as if to argue Jason just held his hand out to silence him before making his hasty retreat.

“So how do you know Jason again?” He heard Mason ask as he left.

“Oh, um, he’s my brother?” Tim replied with uncertainty. Jason smiled despite everything.

So Steph was Spoiler. That’s nice to know. Unexpected. She obviously hadn’t told Tim that she had been meeting with Jason so it was unlikely that she had snitched on Jason to Bruce. That was promising.

“Hey, do you need help with the food?” Jason jumped at Steph’s appearance behind him.

“Um, I’m nearly done,” Jason said awkwardly.

“Are you going to be weird?”

“I’m not being weird.”

“You are sooo being weird, dork,” Steph said with a hesitant but knowing smile.

“Hey! It’s dork with guns to you.” Jason grumbled, more out of habit than anything. “When did you know?”

“Well, you know that time you bumped into me with coffee?”

“Yeah?”

“I sort of purposely bumped into you,” Steph said awkwardly.

“You tricked me into taking you home and lending you a t-shirt?!”

“Well, sort of? I wanted to be friends and you were avoiding me when you were Red Hood!”

Jason let out a choked-out laugh of disbelief.

“And I wasn’t sure you were Jason Todd or whether that was just one of Tim’s hallucinations until you introduced yourself,” Steph added with a shrug. “Like I thought it was just more of his insane ramblings at first.”

“Okay, I really need to talk to him about his hallucinations don’t I?” Jason groaned.

“Yeah, he’s a bit worrying. You get used to him.” Steph hummed.

“And you dated him?”

“Oh, only for a few weeks.”

Jason nodded. That made sense. His little brother seemed to be a bit of a disaster and Steph was chaos enough on her own.

“Okay, let’s eat now and we’ll continue this discussion tonight. I’ll meet you on patrol?”

“Are you going after the Black Mask’s weapon deal on the docks?”

“Well, I am now!”

“Ah, you didn’t hear about that one?”

Jason was struck dumb for a moment.

“How much free food do I need to give to you for you to pass me Black Mask information?” He asked finally.

“Are you trying to bribe me?!”

“Would you be surprised if I said yes?” Jason replied uncertainly.

“How good are your cookies?” Steph asked instead.

“Some of the best if I dare say so myself. I’ll even add purple food dye.”

Steph hummed thoughtfully. “Ok, we have a deal!” Jason shook her outstretched hand with a grin.

“Welcome on board.”

----------------------------

Jason left Mason watching some drama in Spanish on the TV that night. Mason absent-mindedly waved goodbye to him and ignored Jason telling him to not go to sleep too late. Jason knew when to pick his battles and that was not one of them. He was also steadfastly ignoring the fact that he had found sticker stars on his guns when he was checking his gear. They were the same ones he jokingly gave Mason when he did a good job in their tutor sessions. So no Jason’s throat was not feeling tight and those were not tears in his eyes.

Jason settled on a roof beside the docks for Robin and Spoiler to show. He lit a cigarette while he waited. Jason was not proud of the habit. He couldn’t even blame Mason anymore for driving him to crave nicotine cause the kid was no longer completely insufferable. He may even be verging on liking his companionship.

Jason snuffed the cigarette out as he heard two sets of feet land on the roof.

“We gonna get this party started?” He asked, pulling on his helmet.

Steph was nearly unrecognisable as Spoiler, her entire face covered by a black mask and the purple hood. She bounded up to him and slung her arm over his shoulder, standing on her tippy toes to reach.

“Is the purple suit a strategic choice or a fashion statement?” He questioned, running his fingers through the material of the cloak.

“I’m not limited to one,” Steph said with a laugh.

“Touché.”

“Batman is still off-world right?” He asked Tim as he pulled his brother into a hug. This kid really needed more hugs with the way he melted into it.

“Yeah.”

“You’re gonna take this one easy?” Jason ruffled Tim’s hair.

“I’m basically healed!”

“Try me next time when you don’t feel the need to add ‘basically’ to that phrase. Let Steph and I take the lead.”

“Sooo not fair.” Tim moaned whilst Steph giggled. “You’re worse than Alfred!”

“Ok Steph what do you know?”

“It's an arms deal with some gang from Metropolis. We should expect heavy-duty weapons. Black Mask is cautious with you around so he kept it close to the ground. Still, he has a lot of men at the scene. At least 25.”

Jason hummed thoughtfully.

“We need to approach from the ground, they’re hypervigilant on the rooftops,” Tim added. “So we could drop down earlier and if we are careful we can enter through the side of the building that is open on the waterside, it is their most likely blindspot as they would count the water as an added defence.”

“We should stage a distraction to draw them towards a more obvious entrance point. They would hardly be expecting us all to be working together. Robin, can you pull off a distraction on the other side without getting injured or caught?” Jason asked.

“Is this you sidelining me?”

“Yes, and you will listen if you know what's good for you kid,” Jason said firmly.

Tim held his gaze for a few seconds before conceding with a nod.

“Ok this leaves Spoiler and I to enter at the waterside and sneak our way in.”

“Dispatch as many men as possible and then take on the actual deal.” Steph nodded.

“I’m going to use rubber bullets to not get you in any more trouble with Batsy for working alongside a murderer but if things get too hairy I’m not afraid to resort to more lethal violence.”

Steph snorted. “You know we don’t care if you use actual bullets? It’s not like you shot anyone who doesn’t deserve it.”

Jason smiled fondly at her. “I know. But Batman has enough reasons to hate me. Let’s not add me corrupting you two to the list.”

Tim looked like he was about to open his mouth to disagree before closing it with a disapproving frown.

“Ok, we get in, clear the area, disrupt the deal and confiscate the items.” Jason summarised.

“When you put it like that it sounds almost easy,” Steph chuckled.

“Well I like to keep my plans simple so there is space for embellishments and tangents if needs must.” Jason passed a bag full of smoke bombs over to Tim to aid him in his distraction. “Most importantly stay safe. That’s an order.” He handed over his handmade comms, connecting them together as a makeshift team. At least until Batman came back he would stick by these two’s sides and act as their backup.

“I didn’t know you were our leader.” Steph teased, knocking her shoulder into his.

Jason tilted his head upwards and tried to sound as snobby as he could through a mechanised voice modifier when he said, “Well I am the oldest.” He grinned as Tim sighed in resignation, grumbling about how he was always designated as the youngest sibling. Steph just cackled, jumping down from the roof with a shout

“Well, then you must try to keep up with us younglings!”

Jason rolled his eyes and followed with a smile. He ignored Steph’s whispered jabs on the comm about his old decrepit knees and senior citizen rights. It didn’t take long for him and Steph to carefully shuffle their way along the precarious ledge between the building and the dark water below. Two shadows tightrope walking a space that could barely fit Jason’s chunky boots along. They clung, pressed close to the side of the building as they waited for Robin to initiate their distraction.

It wasn’t long before they heard Tim let a whoop out through his comm, launching into action with childlike glee and the gentle explosions of smoke bombs. At that signal, Jason moved to the closest window and punched through. The clatter of broken glass was the only noise in the room. They were right about a lack of guards on this side, after all, who was stupid enough to balance along such a ledge over Gotham’s dangerously icy waters when there were easier entrances to be found? Jason helped Steph ease herself inside with a gentle reminder to be careful of the broken glass that he was sure had her rolling her eyes at him beneath her emotionless mask. After that it was a synchronised dance of silently dispatching any of Black Mask’s men they came across with either Steph’s Bo-Staff or Jason’s now semi-non-lethal rubber bullets.

It didn’t take long for them to enter the centre of the den of criminals, Jason didn’t bother distinguishing between Black Mask’s men and the Metropolis traders as he shot and punched his way through them. Steph worked efficiently beside him, her gentle grunts as she hit someone allowed him to always be aware of her position. He was so focused on having her back as she moved that he didn’t even notice one of Black Mask’s men sneak up beside him until he felt the cool metal of a gun against his neck, pushed beneath his mask. Jason hissed in a shocked breath and stiffened. Steph seemed to notice his stillness and turned around, the distraction was enough for her to be hit in her stomach, and she doubled over, before being trapped in combat with her attacker, unable to reach him.

“Oh, the Big Bad Red Riding Hood, I see you’ve gone soft, running with the birds and the bats. How very uncriminal of you,” Black Mask’s grunt whispered gleefully behind him, the gun being jammed even harder into his neck. “The Boss made us promise to not kill you. He wants the new pretty young thing for himself. Though I don’t think he’d mind too much if I blew your brains here, not if I tell him there was no way to take you quietly. He’d still praise me for dealing with his little pest problem.”

“Do it then. See how he likes to be disobeyed.” Jason growled.

“Well, you certainly wont be there to see it.”

He closed his eyes as the man pressed the gun closer, hearing the trigger being toyed with. Then the cold metal was ripped away. Jason spun around in surprise. Only to see Robin knocking out the man with his Bo-Staffs, having already broken the arm that held the gun. Jason knocked the offending weapon away from the man’s crumbled form.

“I thought I told you to stay out of trouble!” He shouted at Tim, shooting another man who was coming for the rebellious little bird.

“You’re welcome.” Tim gritted out as he knocked out another vicious-looking woman wielding twin knives. One of the Metropolis thugs, Jason surmised as no dark mask hid her shocked expression as she fell.

Steph had managed to come out victorious from the fight that kept her from coming to Jason’s aid and now seeing him safe she continued to move like a blur of lethal purple as she brought down the remaining two men.

Jason let out a sigh of relief as they stood, predominantly unharmed, in the middle of a sea of unconscious criminals numbering at least in their twenties.

“Thank you, Robin.” He said sincerely, grasping his brother’s shoulder. “Thank you for saving me. Although I am slightly upset that you entered an outright brawl whilst still healing.” He sighed.

“You were in danger, of course, I entered the fight!” Tim grumbled but he relaxed into Jason’s side, pressed against him as if to be sure that he was still breathing. Jason ran his hands over Tim’s body, checking for injuries before just allowing himself to hold him close.

Steph made her way over to them, hissing as she lifted her arm to inspect a nasty-looking cut. “Let’s move on to the confiscating part of the plan so I can go collapse in bed and lick my wounds.” She said. Jason gently grabbed her arm to inspect the wound, it was not too deep and would only require a few stitches.

“Come back to mine and I’ll fix you up?” He offered. “It’s close by so you won't bleed out by the time you get home.”

“Um… Mason?” Steph reminded him.

“He knows I’m Red Hood. I’ve told him to stay out of my room at night so he shouldn’t even know you’ve visited. I’ve got a first aid kit in there.” Jason drew a roll of bandages from his trouser pockets and wrapped the arm to decrease Steph’s blood loss.

“Are you’re pockets like Dora the Explorer’s bag or something?” Tim asked, shoving his hands in one and pulling out the lollipops Jason kept in case he had to calm down scared kids. “Like whatever you want or need you can find?”

“No, I just like to be prepared!” Jason said with a sniff, gently grabbing Tim’s hand to halt his explorations before he found either Jason’s mini-explosives, bugs or his roll of ducktape for emergencies.

“Alright. Let’s finish up here boys and then get me some medical care that didn’t come out of Jason’s magic pockets.” Steph encouraged them to move.

“Not magic just well equipped,” Jason grumbled. He followed the two somehow still exuberant teenagers over to the crates in the middle of the room. The first few crates they levered open were just guns, Jason counted them up and recorded the numbers so they could make sure none went missing between the time the police came to seize them and when they were logged and locked away.

“Hey Hood, We can’t let Commissioner Gordon deal with these.” Steph alerted him with an anxious whistle. Jason moved away from the guns to see the contents of the last two crates that both Tim and Steph were leaning over.

“Whatcha got?”

Jason looked down at the familiar power inhibitor collars and green gems that he had found at the site of Robin’s kidnapping. Anger flared in him. This meant that Black Mask was in some way connected to hurting his little brother. Jason will eviscerate him.

“I’ll kill him.” He swore out loud.

Both Tim and Steph looked up at him in surprise.

“Black Mask was somehow connected to your kidnapping.” He explained at their curious expressions. “I found similar crates at that site too.”

“Well that is worrying and all,” Tim admitted with a thoughtful nod of his head. “But don’t you think that you should be more focused on the fact Black Mask is literally dealing away Kryptonite?”

Jason’s brain came to a screeching halt.

“What?” He said dumbly.

Tim gestured at what Jason had just previously presumed were very innocuous but probably valuable green gems. “That’s Kryptonite.” He said with a pointed look.

“Huh.” Jason said at last, “I always thought it would glow more alienly or something.”

Steph let out a shocked laugh.

“What!” Jason tried to defend himself. “It's not like I ever came across it as Robin!”
“It does glow, in the presence of Kryptonians,” Tim explained. “But this is still definitely Kryptonite.”

Jason huffed. “Ok, so what do we do?”

Tim pulled out a metallic-looking bag. “This is lead-lined and will contain its powers,” He told Jason as he gently moved all the gems into it.

“And you say I’m prepared.” Jason snorted. “Why do you even have that when patrolling Gotham?”

Tim stiffened. “I have a friend who is Kryptonian.” He said softly. Jason cocked his head and hummed in response. Suspicious.

“Batman usually deals with this and when he’s not here he always said to call Superman to take it back to the fortress of solitude.” Steph said, “But-”

“He’s off-world too. So I’m going to call my friend.” Tim butted in, his word falling out in a rush. Beneath his mask, Jason raised his eyebrows at the blush that was building on Tim’s face. Interesting.

“Ok, before you do that is there any chance I could take one of the small gems to make kryptonite-tipped bullets?” Jason received two very incredulous looks, one of which he had to surmise from Steph’s shocked body language alone. The expressionless mask she wore was a tad unnerving he decided. “What!” He tried to defend himself. “I never know if Supes is going to go nuts on me or try to kill me. I like to be prepared!”

Tim just silently glared at him as Steph broke down into giggles.

“Fine. Forget I asked.” Jason sighed, throwing his arms up dramatically. He’d have to ask Talia. She’s sure to have a way of getting him some.

Tim looked at him in silence for a few seconds longer before letting out a resigned sigh. He then turned his head to the sky and said “Hey Kon, can you come find me?”

Jason tilted his head in curiosity, glancing at Steph for some explanation. She just shook her head at him in a way that Jason could tell she was insufferably amused.

The skylight in the warehouse shattered and a figure dropped through it. Jason eyed up the young hero that stood in front of them. He wore an old rock band t-shirt and a silver studded leather jacket and had a myriad of piercings through his ears. Jason knew enough about earrings to tell that the silver studs that adorned his ears were clip-on. Tim smiled brightly at the boy, pulling him into an intimate hug. Oh. Jason could see what’s going on here. His little brother was infatuated with Superman 2.0. That was something he wasn’t sure how to deal with. Actually, scratch that Jason knew exactly what to do. He stood as intimidatingly as possible and glared at this new young superman-wanna-be who definitely wanted to deflower his baby brother.

“Kon!” Tim finally released his boyfriend or at least requited crush. “Thanks for coming.”

Kon smiled adoringly at Tim. “Anytime.” He replied. Good god he has a southern drawl and he was apparently a golden retriever dressed in skin-tight jeans and superficial studs. Jason didn’t even know how he could hate this guy but it was his place as an older brother to do so. He would persevere with his glaring. Kon seemed to feel his heavy judgemental gaze even through Jason’s helmet and glanced curiously his way.

“We found these guys dealing Kryptonite,” Tim explained, handing over the lead-lined bag of gems. “They were meeting with a Metropolis gang.”

“Uh-huh,” Kon said distractedly, receiving the bag and tucking it into his jacket pocket. “Is that the Crimelord you were ranting incessantly about a few weeks ago?” He asked cautiously.

Tim glanced Jason’s way, raising his eyebrow at his folded arms and hostile posture. Jason unfolded his arms with a resigned sigh. Steph huffed a laugh and leant against Jason as if to prove to Kon that he was not a threat.

“Well, yes, funny story…” Tim hesitated.

“I’m waiting, Love,” Kon said softly.

“He’s not actually bad,” Tim said. Kon scoffed.

“I know that. I listened to your rants, you know.”

Tim continued. “Yes, well I know I told you that when I was explaining how he was helping the crime levels and going after the Black Mask. But as well as also not being that bad.. he’s also sort of…in a way….my brother? Oh, and a few weeks ago he saved me from being kidnapped.”

Kon turned from where he was eyeing up Jason suspiciously back to Tim. “Your brother?” He said slowly.

“Yes. In the same way, Nightwing is my brother. But you can’t tell Batman. He doesn’t know.” Tim hurried to say.

“And he saved you?” Kon said at last.

“Yes.”

Kon turned from Tim and strode toward Jason. Jason tensed up and prepared himself for battle. He was surprised when all Kon did was put out his hand to shake. Jason hesitantly accepted it, ignoring the strength of Kon’s grip and squeezing back.

“Thanks for being there for him,” Kon said simply. “I’m not sure what your story is but I’m sure Tim can fill me in later.” Jason tilted his head accusingly at Tim who just shrugged his shoulders. Great. Jason was about to become the subject of a gossip session between his brother and his brother’s lover. “But really, thanks for having his back, dude.”

“He had mine today so it’s no hardship really. After all, what else are brothers for?” Jason replied.

Kon grinned, seemingly satisfied with his answer. “Well, See you around.”

Kon looked like he was ready to launch himself into the sky when Jason sighed and nudged Tim his way. “Go with your boyfriend, Kid. There is no need to patrol tonight.” Tim spluttered and turned bright red.

“No, It’s fine. He’s not…how did you know?!”

“You’re not the only son of the world’s greatest detective.” Jason teased. “Now go. It’s not like Steph and I have any more interesting plans than waiting for Gordon to arrive and stitching her up. Honestly go. We’ll speak later.” Jason squeezed Tim in a gentle hug before releasing him.

Tim looked at him with a stunned expression before he nodded. He moved towards Kon who was still watching Jason curiously. Kon gathered Tim in his arms, murmured something in his boyfriend’s ear that made him blush, and then with a shy wave flew off.

Jason turned to Steph who had removed her mask and hood so she was just wearing a domino. She was smiling widely at him.

“What?” He asked, removing his own helmet and meeting her amused expression.

“Nothing.” She said with a grin and a flip of her blonde hair.

Jason just rolled his eyes and moved to secure the crates and the twenty unconscious men with zip ties for Commissioner Gordon. Steph worked beside him, enthusiastically filling him in on how Tim knew Kon from the Titans and how they tipped-toed around each other and pinned before eventually falling together and going out. They moved efficiently and fast, even gathering the men who were knocked out outside by Tim when he apparently ignored Jason’s advice to not engage and just rest his injuries. Once they were done Jason unclipped his red spray paint bottle and carefully wrote ‘Batman, find out where the gems came from.’ on the entrance of the warehouse while Steph called Oracle to ask her to get Commissioner Gordon on the scene.

They watched the police arrive and flood the warehouse from the rooftops, Commissioner Gordon leading the operation. He was a man that Jason had not lost his trust in. Steph eventually pulled him up from where they sat when the scene was cleared and they ran across the rooftops together back to his apartment to patch themselves up and continue gossiping about Tim’s love life.

#

Chapter Text

When Steph was patched up and drained of all her Tim and Kon lore, she left with a cheerful wave. Jason checked that Mason was alright, tucked on the sofa and snoring away before he allowed himself to collapse on his bed and knock out.

He awoke with a groan, his body aching from the various bruises he gained last night. He let out another frustrated groan when he noticed that the shoe-polish he used to darken the white streak in his hair had smudged all over his pillow case, not for the first time. He slowly eased himself upright and shut off his alarm. Finally, before he could fall back asleep, he dragged himself to the bathroom.

“Mason?” All he heard was the grunt from under the pile of blankets. “Mason, wake up.” Another grunt. “I know its not a school day but it’s nearly lunchtime!” When he still received no response from the teenager, Jason stumbled over to the couch and yanked off his blanket. Mason shrieked and tried to bury his face into the pillow with a train of expletives.

“It’s a fucking Sunday, you psychopath!”

“And it's noon already! I need to put on a wash, do you have any dirty clothes?”

“They’re in the basket, arsehole.” Mason groaned.

Jason nearly grumbled back at him that a week ago the kid didn’t seem to know there was such a thing as a laundry basket by the way he just let it pile up on the floor but he restrained himself. After chucking his pillowcase and the contents of the laundry basket in for a wash, he went to wash himself. He scrubbed off the blood and dirt from last night and was careful to get all the black gunk out of his hair.

By the time he left the shower and thrown on a pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt, Mason had managed to prop himself upright and had the News quietly murmuring on the TV.

“Nice work.” He said to Jason as he sat down beside him on the couch.

“What’s that?” Jason said, muffled by a mouthful of fuzzy wool, as he pulled on his softest jumper. When he managed to pop his head out of it he met Mason’s serious eyes fixed on him.

“The drop on the docks?” Mason said carefully.

“Oh, Yeah.”

“They said over thirty men and a considerable amount of firearms were picked up at the site.”

“Sounds about right?” Jason looked at Mason’s still anxious face with confusion.

“Jason!”

“What?”

“Thirty men?”

Realisation hit Jason like a crowbar to the stomach. Mason was worried for him.

“Oh, kid, don’t worry I didn’t go alone. I went with Spoiler and Robin.”

“The vigilantes? Like Batman’s helpers?”

“Well, yes. We’re friends.”

“So was being a crimelord just a phase to vigilantialism?” Mason said uncertainly.

“What! No, I’m still doing the whole crimelord thing.” Jason replied incredously. “I’m not becoming like a goody toe-shoes vigilante. Just when we are going for the same goal I might as well work with them and they want Black Mask gone as much as me.”

“But you’re friends?”

“With Spoiler and Robin, yes.”

“And Batman?”

“Not for a long time.” Jason answered truthfully with a sad smile. Mason nodded thoughtfully.

“You know if you did go become a vigilante instead of a crimelord we’d all still support you?” Jason laughed at Mason’s statement especially as the teenager said it so earnestly. “No seriously. Crystal, Dan, Renee, Matt and Lorenzo, even me, we all follow you because you are making a difference. You’d still make that difference no matter whether or not you join the Batman and we would still stand beside you if you decided to do that.”

Jason cleared his throat. “Well that’s very sweet but lets not go as far as to say I’m going to become a Batman groupie. I don’t plan to just drop my plan for this moral crime empire, I think it would still work. I am just going to have Robin and Spoiler’s back for a while as I work and they will also have mine.”

Mason nodded and accepted his explanation.

“What about Carl?” Jason said after a moment of silence.

“Huh?”

“Carl? You said Crystal, Dan, Renee, Matt, Lorenzo and you, what about Carl?”

Mason looked at him like he was being ridiculous. “Well, I don’t know Carl well enough to say?” He replied at last.

Jason agreed. “Yeah, me neither. I feel like I need to get to know that man.”

Mason shrugged. “You’ve got time. Lorenzo said his cousin was shy…”

Jason mentally added ‘buy a fruit basket or something for his henchmen, especially Carl’ to his to-do list. He was going to win Carl over if it's the last thing he does. Thinking about a to-do list…

“Hey, you willing to come to do a grocery run? We need food.”

Mason sighed dramatically but stood up.

“You’re paying!”

“Leech. Absolute leech.” Jason muttered but with no heat. “Also grab a jumper. It’s cold.”

Mason grumbled the further they walked out of Crime Alley and the East End. Jason ignored his complaints. He had fallen deeper into his old habits throughout the past few months, and had taken to going to the same supermarket store Alfred and Dick used to take him as a kid. It was a bit of a walk but personally, Jason thought it was worth it.

“Wow, being a crime lord certainly pays well.” Mason whistled appreciatively when they arrived.

“Well, enough to pay for your livelihood and salary.” Jason replied, “Now go grab us a trolley.”

Mason obeyed with a mocking salute. Throughout the trip Jason watched the kid bounce around like a puppy on cocaine as he dropped random items into the trolley and explored the vast aisles of the supermarket. Jason hadn’t been that different from him when he was brought here as a kid. The first few times the sheer abundance of food shocked him. He didn’t know there were so many options for everything.

Now Jason did a subtle loop and returned a few of Mason’s more bizarre items but kept the majority of the things the kid picked out. Once more this shop was on the League so as long as it all fitted in the fridge the price didn’t really matter. It was a good thing the two of them came because they left weighed down by bags.

“Hey, are you going to invite Steph and Tim over again?” Mason asked eagerly.

“At some point. Tim and Steph are on a come as you please basis so I’m not really sure when they’ll turn up.” Jason hummed. He knew Mason liked hanging out them both, as they were kids roughly his age. “Tonight though Crystal and Dan are coming over.”

Mason seemed happy enough to hear they had company.

“So what’s the plan, Batman?”

Jason scoffed at Mason’s phrase. “I’m going to teach you how to perfect a chicken parmigiana.”

“Oooh. Sounds fancy!”

Jason laughed, flinging his head backwards at Mason’s taunting reply. His laughter cut off abruptly when he saw the man staring at them across the car park. Alfred hadn’t aged much in the time they’d been apart. He still was dressed as proper and official as always. With the same perfectly tended moustache and his grey hair parted precisely down the middle. Jason paused as he locked eyes with the man before hastily looking away. By the time he looked up again, Alfred was sadly shaking his head and moving forward without looking his way again. For a moment all Jason wanted to do was run up to the old man and embrace him. Jason squashed this feeling. He couldn’t hurt Alfie like that. Not again.

“Who was that?” Mason asked quietly, having noticed Jason’s stumble.

“A face from my past,” Jason replied softly. “Someone who used to be very dear to me.”

Mason did not reply to that but walked beside him in a silent show of support.

---------------------

Jason was distracted for most of the walk back. He didn’t answer the questions Mason gently needled him with. He had spaced out nearly entirely by the time they set foot back into Crime Alley. That was until a muffled groan from the dumpster as they passed caused Mason to elbow him hard in his side. Jason hissed in pain.

“What the fuck, kid?!”

“Did you hear that?”

“Hear what?” Jason sighed, just in time for another whine to float out of the dumpster. Mason moved towards it.

“Come on, Jay, someone could need help.” Jason grabbed the kid’s arm before he could lift the lid.

“Or it could be an ambush. Let me.” Mason obediently backed up. Jason quietly hoped to whatever god was listening that this wouldn’t end terribly as he passed his shopping bags over to the kid. Then with a sinking feeling of trepidation, he pushed open the lid and peered into the bin. Lying on top of the pile of bags was a crumpled form of a guy. Jason gently rolled the body over, causing the young man to let out a high pitched moan. Jason clocked the blood that seeped through the man’s shirt first. He’d lost a lot. The next thing he registered was bright orange hair and a domino mask. The man’s eyes flickered open, revealing a beautiful green that blinked at Jason in a dazed manner, it didn’t take him long to realise that he recognised those eyes. In fact, they were startingly familiar.

“Jaybird?” The murmur was faint.

“Roy?!” Jason exclaimed.

“Jaybird.” Roy sighed happily. “I’m dead I assume.”

Jason made a pained noise in the back of his throat. “Not if I have any say in it.” He said fiercely. “Mason, come and help me pull him out!”

“Mason. Jason. Mason. Jason.” Roy murmured with a gentle chuckle.

“Yeah, clever boy. Mason, help me!”

Mason scrambled forward and helped Jason heave Roy out of the dumpster and onto the ground.

“You know him?”

“Today seems to be a day for faces from the past,” Jason muttered bitterly. Jason ripped open Roy’s shirt and inspected the stab wounds on his stomach, hissing in sympathy as Roy tried to back away from Jason’s gentle touch.

“Come on, we’ve got to get him back to stitch up.”

“You sure you should be stitching up that?” Mason said, looking queasily down at the gaping wounds.

“Nothing I haven’t done before.”

Jason eased Roy up, slinging his arm over his shoulder and snaking his arm around Roy’s side. Mason gathered all the bags again and hurried beside Jason as he pulled his old friend along.

“M’bow.” Roy murmured.

“We’ll look for it later when you’ve got more blood inside your body than out.”

Roy chuckled.

“Course, Jaybird, always logical.” He slurred.

Mason ran up the stairs dropping the bags before running back down to help Jason with Roy’s dead weight.

“You are so going to need a good explanation for this.” Mason grimaced at the blood that seeped onto his shirt.

“The hero community is tight-knit.” Jason shrugged.

“Aren’t you a crimelord?”

“Well, I didn’t always used to be,” Jason grumbled bitterly. He hadn’t yet explained to Mason much about his past as Robin. Or even the fact that he used to be Robin. Now may be the time to amend that. “Ok, I used to be Robin. That’s how I met this idiot. Then I died, was resurrected, brainwashed and trained by an assassin league and then came here to be Red Hood.”

Mason blinked at him in shock.

“I think that gave me so many more questions rather than answers.” He muttered.

“Jason, you died?” Roy whined.

“Yup, buddy. I sure did.”

Mason propped open the door and Jason wrangled Roy up onto the sitting room table.

“Wow, this is uncomfy,” Roy murmured.

“More uncomfy than a dumpster?”

Roy hummed thoughtfully. “I’ll tell you after you’ve stuck the needles in me.” He said at last.

Jason laughed. He grabbed his first aid kit and the strongest anaesthetics he could find. He carefully cleaned out the wounds with alcohol, checking to see the extent of the damage as the blood cleared. It wasn’t too bad of a wound. No vital organs or veins had been hit. Jason efficiently sewed up the wounds, running his hand through Roy’s hair after each one to try and soothe his pain. When he was done he did the usual checks, concussion, bruises and internal bleeding. When he was happy enough with the health of his friend he moved the mattress from his room into the sitting room before he gently lifted Roy and laid him out on it to get some rest. Jason finally collapsed onto the sofa beside a pale-looking Mason, watching his childhood friend with worried eyes. Jason anxiously ran his hand through his hair, before he realised that his hands were stained with blood.

“Fuck.”

“Seconded.”

“Fuck.” Jason whispered again.

“So will he live?” Mason asked.

Jason nodded. “He should. He’s been through worse.”

“So Robin huh?” Mason said at last.

“Been there done that,” Jason said with a slight chuckle. His eyes were still fixed on Roy’s still form, watching as his chest rose and fell gently.

“And you died?”

“Tragically,” Jason said distractedly. “The clown blew me up.”

“Ok. That’s normal.” Mason muttered, more to himself than to Jason. “And then you were resurrected?”

“Well, technically no one knew I came back for a little while and no one knew how. So I wandered around in a comatose state until the assassins dumped me in a glowing pit that brought my mind back, gave me severe anger issues for a while and some cool powers here and there.”

“Assassins?”

“They’re called the League.”

Mason seemed to be either out of questions or overrun by the sheer number of them because the two of them sat in silence for a long time, both watching Roy’s prone form.

“Does Crystal know about this?”

“Know about what? Roy? No.”

“No. Yes, Roy is a lovely new development, but I was actually asking about whether she knew about Robin, your death and all that.”

“Oh, yeah. I cried on her, Dan and Renee’s shoulder about all of this a few weeks ago. It was prime Girls’ Night material.”

Roy’s form shivered. Jason stood up and went to find a blanket to cover his friend. Mason silently watched him go. Jason stopped to wash the blood off his hands, scrubbing them raw. When he returned it was to Mason boiling the kettle.

“Hot chocolate?”

“Yeah, thanks, kid.” Jason slumped back on the sofa. Mason soon came back with two cups of steaming Hot chocolate. Jason smiled gratefully as he accepted the cup. “I’ll start lunch in a little while,” Jason told him.

“Nah, don’t worry I can whip us up some edible sandwiches.”

“You don’t have to.”

“I want to.”

“Thanks,” Jason mumbled. Mason came back with some simple ham and cheese sandwiches, Jason mechanically took bites out of them but they tasted like ash in his mouth. The whole time Mason sat close next to him, pressed against his side like an anchor.

“Why don’t you tell me about your friend while we wait?”

“He was part of the Teen Titans team alongside the first Robin. He was just a friend of my brother’s when we first met. Green Arrow was his mentor, a pretty shit one if you ask me. So he was going through some things at the time. It’s why Batman used to invite him over to just be a kid for a little while. Anyway, we got on really well. He was one of the first to accept me as the new Robin. Once he came over to our house to hang out with my brother and ended up teaching me how to fire a bow. I was terrible. I think I nearly hit Batman at one point.” Jason laughed at the memory.

“You nearly shot Batman.”

“Yeah, well Dad used to get really out of it some days with lack of sleep and this was one of those days. He literally strolled out of the maze and in front of our targets, like half asleep, so really it wasn’t my fault.”

“You just called Batman Dad,” Mason said disbelievingly.

“Well yes,” Jason knocked his shoulder against Mason’s. “He used to be that to me.”

“That’s crazy, man.”

Yeah. It sure was. Crazy how times change. Now Batman chased him as he would any other common criminal and Roy was passed out on a mattress in the middle of his sitting room, sleeping off stab wounds.

Mason tried to distract him the rest of the afternoon with his English and Spanish assignments. Jason found himself catching his eyes wandering away from the paper and books to Roy more often than not, just to check that he was still breathing. Roy looked peaceful for someone who’d gone through so much. His face was older but then again, despite all that had happened to Jason, so was his. Roy had let his hair grow out, the ginger locks falling over his eyes.

Jason was so distracted between Mason’s attempts to keep him busy and his own periodic checks on Roy that he completely forgot the rest of the plans for the day. That was until there were three rhythmic knocks on the door. Jason stumbled up to get it.

Crystal and Dan fell through the doorway and threw themselves in a tangled embrace around Jason.

“We brought wine!” Dan singsonged, waving the bottle in front of his eyes.

Crystal however drew back from the hug and looked at Jason’s detached expression. Her eyes fell to the blood that still stained his jumper. He’d forgotten to change. He didn’t want to leave the room, leave Roy even for a few moments.

“Alright, who died?” Crystal said softly. Dan’s expression changed to that of instant worry.

“And do you need us to help hide the body?” She added seriously. Jason huffed a shocked laugh.

“No one died.” He sighed.

“Not that it wasn’t a close call,” Mason popped up by Jason’s shoulder. He pulled Dan and Crystal into his own hug, both girls fondly returned the teenager’s embrace. Mason’s increasing ease at showing physical affection the past week surprised them all. The girls had taken on the role of being the kid’s pseudo-aunts like fish to water.

“I feel like we need a bit more of an explanation than that,” Crystal murmured.

“No, maybe not,” Dan said her eyes fixed on Roy lying under the pile of blankets.

“Jason, did you pick up another stray?” Crystal sighed.

“Where did you find this one?” Dan asked.

“In the trash,” Mason said happily. Jason opened his mouth to tell his friends that they were all terrible people when Roy let out a groan. Jason immediately moved to his side, dropping to his knees beside the mattress. He was vaguely aware of Mason filling Crystal and Dan in on the situation as he checked Roy’s pulse. Roy’s eyes blinked open, blearily searching the room before they settled on Jason. His face cracked into a brilliant lopsided smile, awe slipping into his expression as his eyes traced Jason's face in disbelief.

“Jaybird?”

Jason nodded hesitantly.

“Jaybird you got hot,” Roy said seriously.

Jason spluttered and he could hear his friend's traitorous laughter behind him.

“You’re not too bad yourself, Roy,” Jason replied at last with a soft smile. He brushed Roy’s hair out of his eyes so he could see him better. Roy hummed happily in response. He moved to sit up before flopping back down with a pained hiss.

“Being stabbed sucks,” Roy whined.

“Yeah, want to tell me what happened there?”

“Gotham is mean,” Roy said with a pout. “And John is stupid.”

“John?”

As if summoned by his name, which in hindsight Jason wouldn’t put past him, another familiar face burst through the door. John Constantine had if anything declined in the time Jason had been away. He still wore the same long beige coat and blood-red tie that Jason remembered from meeting him as a kid but they were now scruffy and torn. His sandy hair was matted with blood on one side and his face was unshaven. He looked around the room in a crazed manner before his eyes focused on Jason sitting by Roy’s side. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

“You used to be dead.” He said slowly. “I didn’t resurrect you did I? I think I would have remembered if I did that.”

“Constantine,” Jason said with a long-suffering sigh as he looked at the infamous British cynic and sorcerer. “Why the fuck were you working with Constantine?” He asked Roy, disappointment soaking his voice.

“He needed help.” Roy tried to defend himself.

“Yeah, Little bird, don’t act like you’re too good for me. If I remember correctly you used to bum my cigarettes whenever I used to visit. So don’t act all high and mighty now.” Constantine snapped.

“Ok, fucking Radagast, why was he bleeding out in a dumpster?”

“Miscalculation. We got separated. Also, don’t call me the druggee-mushroom-obsessed wizard from Lord of the Rings! That’s mean.” The grown man said with a real pout.

“No, but you are certainly well-versed with substances! Some could say there is a similarity between you!” Jason responded fiercely.

“Oh, is this what this is about?” Constantine folded his arms and glared at Jason. “You’re worried that I’m dragging your boy Roy down the dark hole I live in?”

“Well, you don’t have the best track record of being a good role model! Do you, John?!”

“Jaybird, Jason, Jay.” Roy grabbed Jason’s arm from where he lay. “I haven’t relapsed. I’m clean and have been for the past three years. Constantine is careful around me.”

Jason stopped glaring at Constantine, instead raising his eyebrows at the sorcerer. Constantine just rolled his eyes at him.

“I’m not evil, Kid.” He said with a dismissive shrug. “I don’t push my lifestyle on anyone else. So is the kid ok?” He looked at Roy with what surprisingly could be described as concern.

“No thanks to you,” Jason muttered but with a sigh he beckoned Constantine out of the doorway. Crystal, Dan and Mason had settled on the couch as if waiting to watch the entertainment unfold. Jason glanced at them to see if they were alright and muffled a laugh when he saw Dan hold up an encouraging thumbs up.

Constantine methodically checked over Roy’s stitches, nodding appreciatively at Jason’s work. He ruffled Roy’s hair.

“Hey Arsenal, Jason did a good job looking after you, huh?”

Roy smiled stupidly. “Course he did. It’s Jaybird.”

“Yeah.” Constantine looked at Jason curiously. “Is there an explanation for how Jason Todd is alive and seemingly well after being placed six-feet-under all those years ago?”

“Not sure how I initially came back, all I remember is digging my way out of the coffin. Maybe you could help tell me more. You still dabble in necromancy right? Anyway after that it was the Lazarus.”

Roy let out a sad whine and Constantine’s gaze softened.

“Who knows?” He asked eventually.

Jason shrugged. “That I’m back? The League, they had me for the past few years. Some of my friends.” He said waving towards them sitting on the sofa, his friends waved back. “Robin and Spoiler. And now you two.”

Constantine nodded thoughtfully.

“Are you going to tell B?

“Oh, I do not get paid enough to tell Batman that his dead son is now back with us.” Constantine scoffed. “No, don’t worry I’m gonna leave that conversation to you, Kiddo.”

Jason dropped his head in relief.

“Thanks.”

“I would say anytime but really I hope this never happens again.”

Jason laughed. “Likewise. The next time I die I’d like to be cremated.” Constantine nodded in understanding, chuckling a little. Roy however squeezed his arm to get his attention.

“M’happy you’re back.” Roy moved to sit up once more.

“No, Roy, lie back down you are hurt.” Jason tried to push him back down. Roy just winced before wrapping his arms around Jason and pulling him close. Jason closed his eyes and leaned into the comforting weight of his friend.

“I’ve missed you, Jason,” Roy whispered into his shirt.

“I missed you too,” Jason murmured into Roy’s hair.

“Oh no, this is too sentimental for me,” Constantine muttered drily. He rose and started walking towards the kitchen. Jason watched him go with a huff of laughter.

“Do you have any alcohol?”

“We have wine,” Dan said, proudly brandishing their bottle with a smile.

“Thank you, my lovely. This will do very nicely.” Constantine grabbed the bottle. “I’m assuming everyone besides the child and invalid would like a glass?”

Crystal laughed. “I’ll help you with that.”

“Constantine, who invited you to stay?” Jason asked with a roll of his eyes.

“Well, I hardly think you’d let me take Roy out of your sight so you might as well offer me dinner.” Constantine flashed his shit-eating grin.

“Well, don’t expect me to offer you my bed,” Jason grumbled. Dan and Crystal were much too accepting of Constantine’s presence, laughing as he handed them both a glass of wine. The traitors.

“Oh, don’t worry, Little Bird, I can see you’d much prefer to have Roy in your bed.” Constantine chuckled.

Jason just glared as his friends laughed. Roy just hummed, still wrapped around Jason like an octopus.

“So what are you doing back in Crime Alley, Little Bird?” Constantine asked as he made himself comfortable on Jason’s sofa.

“It’s home.” Jason said simply.

“Uh-huh and would you know anything about this new highly trained anti-hero of the Alley that has Batman and Black Mask in a buzz?”

Jason stiffened and glared at Constantine.

“I think you know your answer.” He said at last.

Constantine laughed in delight. “Oh, this is too good. You are Red Hood! I love it! No seriously, I’m not being sarcastic, I love this development for you.”

Jason rolled his eyes, something he found himself doing with increasing volume the longer he spent around the sorcerer.

“Thank you for your endorsement.” He muttered.

“Seriously, if you ever need help just give me a call.” Constantine added, taking a sip of his wine.

“I think it’s neat too.” Roy murmured. “You help the people. Some of them around here even call you a hero.”

Jason laughed at that.

“Well some people call the Joker a hero. It doesn’t really mean much.” He said in response.

Crystal groaned, flopping down onto the sofa beside Constantine. “Oh, don’t try complement Jason. He doesn’t deal with them well. He refuses to believe that people can see him as a hero.”

“I literally kill people.”

“Yeah bad people.” Roy said as if he was being dumb. “I kill bad people too sometimes, just with arrows.”

“Yeah and I like killing demons. It basically pays my rent.” Constantine added with a grin.

“Being a detective pays your rent.” Roy corrected Constantine. “The demons is more like a hobby.”

“I’m a supernatural detective. They both go hand in hand.” Constantine argued.

“You’re a supernatural detective?” Mason asked.

“You bet, young man!”

“Is that even a real job?” Mason asked with his nose scrunched in disbelief. Roy and Jason burst out in laughter at Constantine’s affronted face.

“I don’t like this one.” Constantine said haughtily.

“He’s my favourite.” Jason said, highfiving Mason. “You tell him, Kid.”

“Oh, pot calls the fucking kettle, is being a Crime lord a real job either?” Constantine then looked at the snickering Roy. “Or being a vigilante.”

“Touché.” Roy said with a sigh.

“Hey, speak for yourself! I’m more than just a crime lord. I’ve got jobs, as much as a legally dead person can, I’m a tutor, self-defense teacher, occasional bouncer.”

“Wow, you’re practically Barbie.” Constantine said sarcastically.

Dan laughed uproariously. “Oh, Jason, please can we keep this one?”

“Absolutely not!”

Chapter Text

Despite his best efforts, Constantine lingered in Jason’s apartment like he was haunting it. For the past four days, he had like a stubborn stray cat, refused to leave during the day. At night at least, he gave Jason a much-needed respite and, since Mason was currently occupying the couch and Jason and Roy shared the mattress, he left to sleep elsewhere. Each morning, however, like clockwork, Constantine knocked on his door with a shit-eating grin to meet Jason’s morning glare. He was nice enough to bring coffee after the second day, which Jason accepted as a peace offering.

It didn’t help that Jason still had his late-night dealings and now early mornings so he could make sure Mason was prepared for school. The lack of sleep didn’t make dealing with Constantine any easier. However, spending time with Roy while he recovered made up for Constantine hanging around and looting Jason’s fridge.

“Take that! Doing it like a pro.” Constantine muttered. He had somehow managed to find a way to play Tetris on Jason’s TV and a huge chunk of his time was spent messing around with that.

Jason sighed and moved to sit with Roy who had finally managed to move from the mattress to the couch.

“Please tell me you two aren’t always a package deal?” Jason whispered into Roy’s ear causing him to laugh.

“Nah, he just feels guilty for losing me in Gotham of all places,” Roy whispered back. “He’ll be gone by the time I can do a pushup again.”

Jason dramatically sighed in relief and sunk down into the couch.

“Hey, be careful or I’m going to pull a Nanny McPhee on you.” Constantine leaned close to them both with a wicked grin. He groaned when they both looked at him with blank faces. “Americans!” He scoffed. “The thing with Nanny McPhee is that when you need her but do not want her, then she must stay. However, when you want her, but no longer need her, then she has to go.”

Jason stared at Constantine’s smug face. “Are you threatening to never leave?” He said slowly.

“What, you going to call Batman to kick me out?” Constantine mocked.

Jason turned to Roy, grabbed his face so their eyes met and looked at him as seriously as he could. “Roy, if Constantine becomes one of my permanent roommates I will kill him and I will blame it on the Lazarus.” Roy nodded seriously, though his mouth ticked up slightly into a smile. “Talk your friend into doing what’s best for him.” Jason released Roy’s jaw and patted it twice.

Constantine just laughed delighted.

“Feisty. Roy, you sure know how to pick them!”

“You are never going to let that fling with Cheshire go are you?” Roy groaned, punching Constantine’s shoulder and making him miss his block alignment in Tetris. Constantine didn’t even look fazed, much too smug with the reveal of this information.

“Oh, I want to hear more about that,” Jason said eagerly.

“There is no more to be said than that I’m only 21 and everyone has at least one crazy mistake by the time they reach that age.”

“Uh-huh.”

“Oh, you can’t talk, you arsehole. The standards of your exes are honestly reason enough for therapy.” Roy said pointedly to Constantine.

“I regret nothing.” The sorcerer replied with a shrug.

“That’s because you have the emotional capabilities of a dishcloth,” Roy muttered. Jason lifted his arm as Roy snuggled closer into his side, before letting it drop around his shoulder. Jason held a small amount of glee that he was now taller than the archer. The warmth that soaked into his side had Jason relaxing even with Constantine’s grating cheers and swearing as he played beside them.

Jason carded his fingers through Roy’s soft hair, humming absent-mindedly as he did it. It was probably the most at peace Jason had felt since he’d come back to life. These were the first people from his old life that he’d collided with. Crystal and the girls who knew him from the street had never known the Robin side of him, so they had no expectations for him to be that magical hero. Tim and Steph didn’t know him personally till he was settled in his role as Red Hood. Roy though, Roy knew him in his entirety. What he’d been, and now what he’d become. The lack of repulsion in every gentle touch Roy shared with him created a fragile sense of safety with his new identity.

As if Roy knew what Jason’s mind was lingering on he gently pressed against his side. “Do you think you’re going to tell Dick?” He asked softly. Jason tensed at the question. Constantine seemed to want to avoid this brewing confrontation of feelings and abruptly paused the game and moved himself over to the kitchen with a muttered “Oh no, I’m not dealing with this.”

“What’s making you ask this now?” Jason replied hesitantly.

“Well, the more I heal, the more I think about how I’ll eventually have to leave your apartment..”

“You don’t have to. You can stay as long as you’d like.” Jason hurriedly interrupted. He liked having Roy around.

“I know that, Jay,” Roy said with a soft smile. “But when I do see Dick again, which is sort of inevitable…” Jason sighed but nodded his head in agreement. “Well, when I do it may be hard to keep you secret from him. You know I’m a terrible liar, especially with the son of the World’s Greatest Detective to contend with. You know he’s working as a detective in Bludhaven now too! I’ll be so underprepared. And sometimes he just looks so sad when he thinks about you. He’s like a kicked puppy!” Roy rambled. Jason rolled his eyes and took pity on him. He lightly pulled Roy’s hair to get his attention to return to him.

“Roy, breathe. Don’t worry I’m not going to make you lie to Dick.”

Roy looked unbelievably relieved, he smiled brightly at Jason.

“Really?” He breathed.

“Yeah. Just give me some time. There is no way Dick is going to not snitch on me to Bruce. I wouldn’t ask that from him anyway. So I guess I just need a few more days to figure myself out.”

“You know they’d love to have you back,” Roy said gently. “They love you so much still.”

“They loved me.” Jason sighed. “Batman doesn’t overlook a blood-red ledger as easily as you and John do. Dick also. He’s always followed Bruce’s no-killing rule. It will be a lot harder for them to reconcile who they knew and the monster I’ve become.”

Roy cupped Jason’s face with one of his hands. He could feel the callouses the archer had from years of handling a bow. Jason raised his eyebrow at the gesture. Roy just looked at him seriously, gently swiping a finger to brush away a tear Jason didn’t even know had fallen.

“You are no monster, Jason.” He said fiercely. “I don’t know how you could think that when from what I’ve seen these past few days you have become someone your friends can rely on with utmost certainty. You have taken on responsibility for Mason, and have supported him with his studies. You have Crystal, Dan, Renee and all the girls in that club who see you as a place of safety. You speak about Tim and Steph with so much love, and I know I haven’t met them but I know you are an amazing brother to them. Jason, you are no monster to them. Why would you ever believe that you have become something not worthy of love when you are surrounded by it?”

“Yes, I know they love me.” Jason rolled his eyes. “Batman is different though. I am literally one of the people he places in Arkham or at least in a high-security prison. In case you’ve forgotten I’m a Crimelord.”

“Honestly, Jason, I think Crystal is more of a Crimelord than you at this point. You’re sort of the figurehead but overall you now act more in the realm of vigilantism. And even so, I think Bruce is smart enough to see that your crime empire is founded out of a desire to help and that it has greatly improved the Alley and the lives of the citizens that live in it.”

“Yeah that was the whole point for the crime empire but that doesn’t mean that I didn’t decapitate a whole load of people to get started.”

“Once more they were bad people, the sort Batman goes after anyway. Also at that point, your actions were mainly influenced by the pit anyway.”

“There is no saying that Bruce will see it that way.”

“Honestly Jason I’m certain that he’d be so happy to have his son alive that you’d probably be free from getting in trouble for the next few years,” Roy announced confidently.

“Maybe,” Jason said with a subdued smile. If only. Roy moved his hand down from his cheek and gently squeezed Jason’s shoulder.

“You’ve got time,” Roy murmured. “And I’ll still be here no matter what happens.”

“Thanks,” Jason whispered. Roy just pulled Jason into a tight embrace.

“Anytime, Jaybird. Anytime.”

Jason held Roy as gently as he could, trying to avoid the wounds on his side. He buried his head into Roy’s chest and let a few tears fall. Roy brushed his hand up and down his back.

“Is the sappy moment over?” Constantine called from the kitchen.

Jason snorted wetly.

“Fuck off, old man!” Roy yelled back.

“Got it. I’m gonna stay in here and help myself to Jason’s liquor cabinet.” Constantine replied.

“Don’t you even dare!” Roy admonished. “Remember you’re still a guest.”

“And you’re not?”

“Hey, Radagast, at least Roy is welcome here!” Jason lifted his head to grumble. “He can come anytime.”

“You may say I’m not welcome but you’ve yet to bring out your big guns to scare me away, Little Bird.”

“Only because Roy has terrible taste in friends and I am an idiot enough to be a friend to him,” Jason said with a laugh. Roy squawked in dissent.

“Hey, you know you love me.” He said with a lopsided smile.

Jason really did.

“Yeah. Yeah.” He muttered as he grinned fondly at Roy. “Keep telling yourself that.” He murmured.

Roy’s eyes flickered down to Jason’s lips, a motion that he could never miss with how he’d been trained to read body language. Jason’s smile grew. Over the past few days he’d noticed Roy’s lingering looks every now and then. This time he moved closer, Roy’s eyes widening in surprise at the action. The press of their lips was gentle. It felt like an inevitability. It felt like an answer to why he was brought back to this world. Like a reason. Jason sighed happily and deepened the kiss. Roy nipped at his bottom lip and raised his hands to cradle Jason’s face in a way that made him feel impossibly valuable.

This was much better than Jason had ever imagined.

His teenage crush on Roy had come back in full force the past few days. Roy had seemed so cool to him back then, with his dangerous-looking sleeve of tattoos and his competency with his bow. He had also always been sweet. Kind. He always made time to hang out with Jason despite being three years older than him and Dick’s friend first. It was at the time when Dick would sometimes get into one of his dark moods and storm off and the two of them were left together alone more often than not. Roy never seemed to mind. They would just goof around and talk, Roy distracting him from his brother’s resentment of Bruce. Even back then Roy was always happy to listen to Jason chatter away about his books and patrol stories and Jason in turn listened to his struggles with drugs and Oliver Queen.

Their relationship was a long time coming, one which not even death could stop from happening. Jason pulled back from the kiss and pressed his forehead to Roy’s with a smile.

“Jaybird.” Roy sighed his name like a prayer. Jason hummed happily. “Took you long enough.”

Jason laughed. “It’s only been four days, Harper.”

“Yeah, and you’ve been spooning me for three nights, Jay. Also, I hope you haven’t forgotten the years we spent together in a bout of post-death amnesia because that’s the basis of a very strong friendship I’d have you know.”

“And now more?” Jason asked softly.

“Oh definitely now more. Though for a moment here I thought I was just making this up in my head.” Roy admitted with a breathy laugh.

“Definitely not just in your head,” Jason confirmed.

“Not in my head,” Roy said voice touched with awe.

“Jesus Christ Almighty, you two are about to get so much more insufferable aren’t you?” Constantine groaned. Jason and Roy shot apart, turning to find the sorcerer who stood in the kitchen with a smug grin and a glass in his hand that looked like it contained Jason’s whiskey.

“Don’t you have your own life?” Jason complained. “And your own apartment? Not to mention another pair of clothes?”

“But you know you’d miss me. Also, I’d have you know this is fashion. A statement outfit never fails.” Constantine grinned. He walked over, taking a sip of his whisky. “Proud of you kids.” He ruffled both Jason and Roy’s hair. “Thought I’d have to wait at least a few more days.”

“Constantine, you’re letting your sentimental side show again. It’s unnerving. Stop.”

Roy laughed at Jason’s remark before speaking himself. “Thanks, John.” He said quietly.

“I’m not saying I approve entirely, Harper. He’s still a wanted criminal. But I guess you’ve got a type.”

“Not just any criminal, a crimelord.” Jason amended.

“Oh kid, just cause you say it often doesn’t make it ring any more true,” Constantine said in a condescending and pitying look.

Jason made an offended noise in the back of his throat and threw a pillow at the smug bastard that had invaded his home.

--------------

That night Jason saw Spoiler and Robin perched on a nearby rooftop, their legs swinging on the sides as they chatted away. Jason touched down behind them. When they noticed his presence he saw the two of them disconnect their comms and Jason felt fondness rise deep in his chest.

“Hey, haven’t seen you around much,” Steph said in greeting, her mask had been removed and Jason could see her bright smile. “You aren’t avoiding us now are you?”

“No, sorry, I have an unexpected visitor staying with me.” Jason removed his helmet as he sat beside them.

“Oh, you look very happy about that.” Steph said suspiciously. “Anything you have to tell us?”

Jason weighed the pros and cons of giving Steph and Tim any information about Roy. On the one hand, he wanted to tell anyone who listened about how wonderful Roy was, especially since Crystal had told him to stop texting her about his boyfriend as she was trying to work, but on the other hand Jason knew that if he did he would be in for constant sibling teasing.

“Well, maybe.” He said at last, grateful that the dark hid his blush. “What do you know about Arsenal?”

“He was Green Arrow’s mentee, and went lone wolf a few years ago, but he’s known to team up with Constantine and occasionally Green Arrow now that they’ve made up. He’s a brilliant archer, nearly better than Ollie, a bit obnoxious and a bit of a comedian. He’s been Nightwing’s friend from his Robin days, when they were both in Teen Titans, though he is a year younger than Nightwing they started at the same time. They’re still friends. Um. I can’t really remember much else from his file but I can check for you later.” Tim answered.

“Oh, it’s not that important. Although you’ve missed out on some crucial information there.”

Tim’s brow wrinkled in confusion. “What’s that?”

“That he’s my boyfriend now.” Jason said smugly.

Tim just gaped at him as Steph let out an excited shout.

“OMG, this is the last thing I was expecting! Tell me more! Tell me more!” Steph tugged on Jason’s arm in excitement.

“Wait you’re gay?” Tim just said dumbly. “How did I not clock that?”

Steph just elbowed him. “Robin, we’ve talked about this, your gaydar is irrefutably broken. Now let the man speak!”

Jason ended up telling them everything, with Steph squealing at the appropriate moments and Tim nodding along attentively. He told them how he first met Roy, how they became friends, about the time they spent together as childhood friends, how they were reunited and about the past four days they’d spent together.

“Aww, there was only one bed!” Steph whispered when he was done. Tim snorted.

“Friends-to-lovers core.” His little brother said back to her conspiratorially.

Jason rolled his eyes. “I knew telling you two was a bad idea.” He huffed a laugh. “Let’s talk about Superboy now instead.”

“Noooo,” Steph whined.

“Yeah Kon and me is now old news.”

“Well as of a few seconds ago, so is Roy and me.”

“No fun.” Tim grumbled. “You can’t just drop juicy gossip on us and then say no comments.”

“Yeah, you shared with the class and the class has notes!”

“This is not an open conversation with the class. I will not be taking questions.” Jason retorted. Both Tim and Steph groaned dramatically.

“No fun!”

“I’m a crimelord. I’m not meant to be fun.”

“You sound like B right now.” Steph declared. Jason made a high pitch noise of offense. “I’m Batman, I’m not meant to be fun” She growled, in a very accurate mimicry of Bruce’s Batman voice. “Next thing you’ll be saying no gossip on patrol!”

“I literally brought the gossip to you! I gifted you with the gossip!” Jason exclaimed. No one appreciates being compared to their dad. Especially when their dad in his early twenties thought it was a good idea to cosplay as a Bat and beat up criminals to try and ignore his shit ton of emotional trauma and then continued doing that for over two decades.

“And then you took the joy out of the gossip by not allowing us to interact with the gossip” Tim said, mockingly serious.

“Fine.” Jason grumbled. “You each get two smart comments.” He conceded.

“Did he strike you with his cupids arrow?” Steph shouted as soon as he finished his sentence.

“That was bad. I expected better from you.” Jason stated.

“This is not really a joke but I just want us all to appreciate how much B would hate having Ollie as his son’s father-in-law. I can’t wait to see his reaction.” Tim snickered.

It was true. Bruce Wayne and Oliver Queen were frenemies from college with an infamous public rivalry taking place between the two billionaires that had been going on for as long as Jason could remember. The last time Jason could recall seeing the two of them out of masks Bruce had verbally berated Oliver for his treatment of Roy and Ollie had stormed out.

“This is even better than I could ever have dreamt of.” Steph said gleefully.

“I think B would hate having a murderer as a son more. It’s not like he’s going to have to have Ollie over every Christmas dinner when I’m probably not going to be even invited to them.”

“Hood, I wouldn’t be surprised if B kidnaps you just so you’d come to every family dinner when he finds out you’re back.”

Jason scoffed.

“Yeah you’re going to lose all semblance of independence when he gets his hands on you.” Tim said.

“Cause I’ll be in prison?” Jason asked uncertainly.

“There is really no getting though to you is there?! You can be so stupid sometimes.” Steph groaned.

“Eh. We can’t all be geniuses like Robin here.” Jason shrugged with a small smile. He spent a lot of time unwillingly imagining Bruce’s reaction to his return. The initial happiness at recovering his doomed Robin only for the realisation of what Jason has become to rip them apart again. Batman hated Red Hood. Jason was to inextricably Red Hood even when he removed his mask for Bruce to overlook.

“But tell me now what does Batman think of you and Superboy?” He asked in an attempt to steer the conversation away from him.

“I haven’t told him.” Tim stated. “I think he suspects though.”

“Yeah, Tim is still in the whole ‘my relationship with Batman is solely professional and I refuse to engage in any conversations that could bring up father and son feelings’ state of living.” Steph rolled her eyes.

“I thought I told you that you are going to have to accept that he’s your dad now.” Jason asked his brother. “Have you still not allowed him to adopt you yet?”

“Oh, great Hood has been trying to convince you too, now you can finally see that you are delaying the inevitable. Batman is your dad and you can’t deny it.”

“Just move into the manor already.”

“I think I’ve seen him pull out adoption papers five separate times and you have somehow made an excuse to disappear every time.”

“It’s getting ridiculous.”

“Fine. You two win! When he gets back to earth I promise to stop avoiding his attempts to adopt me.”

“Finally!” Steph cheered. “Hood, you have no idea how obstinate he has been about this.”

“I can only imagine. You are stronger than me for putting up with it for this long.”

“It has literally been years.” Steph nodded solemnly. “I deserve a medal.”

“Alright, alright, I get it. I hear you.” Tim grumbled. “I think I preferred when we were talking about Hood’s boyfriend. Let’s get back to that!”

“Oh, I pull the subject change often enough to know what your doing here, kid. However, just this once I’m going to let this drop as long as we talk about something else that is not to do with my new boyfriend.”

“Deal. So how is Black Mask’s operation faring to your attacks?”

“He’s cowering now.” Jason said smugly. “I’ve cut of the majority of the criminal organisations that he uses as his foundation and as his income. He’s floundering to the point that he’s sent three pretty shit assassins to try to kill me this week. I don’t think any others will be stupid enough to follow their footsteps though.”

“Three assassins.” Steph wolf-whistled. “Child’s play.”

“I’m slightly offended that it’s not more.” Jason agreed.

“And he hasn’t yet figured out your identity?”

“Course not.” Jason scoffed. “Batman hasn’t even figured that out yet! What chance does Sionis have?”

“Does this mean we are smarter than Batman since we figured it out?” Tim grinned.

“Both of you had the benefit of seeing my face. It’s a pretty big clue.”

“Don’t take this from us, Hood!” Steph whined.

Jason laughed, pulling Steph into a side hug. “Well, if it helps you definitely figured me out with less help than Robin.”

“Score!”

Tim tried to deny this. Jason just laughed at their bickering over who was the better detective and the more devious mastermind. He was watching them fondly when suddenly the hairs on his neck stood up in warning. Jason’s instincts kicked in and he yanked on his helmet, drew his gun and turned to face the advancing threat. His heart jumped when he took in the dark menacing form that stood behind them on the roof.

“Shit.” Steph hissed.

Batman glared Jason down. His arms folded threateningly over his chest as he loomed.

“Shit indeed.” Jason agreed lowly. He suddenly felt like a teenager again, being caught by Bruce as he tried to sneak out of the manor to smoke. “Batman.” He tried to say civilly with a dip of his head.

“Hood.” Batman gritted back. The tension between them crystallised in the air as they both held unblinking eye contact. Jason’s heart beat like a rabbit in his chest.

“Were you never taught that eavesdropping on someone’s conversation is bad manners?”

“I wouldn’t have thought a man such as yourself would worry about manners.” Batman bit out.

Jason opened his mouth to reply as scathingly as possible when Tim interrupted him. “Batman, I didn’t know you were back.” Tim said anxiously, worrying his Bo staff between his hands.

“I haven’t been back long.” Batman turned his disappointed dad glare on Steph and Tim. “Imagine my surprise when I got a worried call from Oracle that you two had gone dark on the comms only to find that you are consorting with this criminal.”

“I didn’t know you had a say about who we’re friends with.” Steph replied brazenly. Tim murmured in agreement.

“I do when they are a known murder. Spoiler, Robin step away from him.” Batman growled. “He can’t be trusted.”

Neither Steph nor Tim moved from Jason’s side.

“You wan’t to talk about trust?! Where were you when your Robin was taken?” Jason spat furiously.

“I thank you for helping him when I couldn’t but that does not mean you are harmless and to be trusted around…”

“I wasn’t talking about your current Robin. I was talking about the other one.”

Most people think Batman was more mask than man. Jason however knew better. Beneath, Batman’s stoic appearance Jason saw his father crumble, his shoulder’s stiffening and his breath catching minutely. A tinge of regret flashed through Jason.

“You know nothing about what you speak.” Batman said coldly.

“I know more than most.” Jason replied bitterly. He could feel his own emotions getting the better of him, his mind pounding with the urgent need to flee.

“What is that meant to mean?” Batman took two steps forward his voice brutally harsh. Jason could feel fear about Bruce finding out this way wash over him. He couldn’t do this. Not yet. Maybe not ever. Before Jason could figure his way out of this Tim moved between the two of them, his tiny form braced for a fight. Batman halted in shock, his jaw ticking in frustration.

“Robin?” He growled slowly.

“Batman.” Tim said back.

“What are you doing?” Bruce’s tired dad voice slipped out more with that question. Tim just shrugged.

Jason’s throat felt tight, his chest painful as he tried to figure out how to breathe properly again. He felt like he was suffocating. It was like he was in his coffin again, the oxygen running out and dirt filling his mouth as he desperately clawed his way out. Jason needed to get out.

“Spoiler, Robin, it was nice seeing you.” He said tightly, for once glad that his helmet cleared the panic out of his voice. “You know where to find me should you need to.”

With that he ran.

He didn’t stop running for hours, making sure that he disappeared without any way of Bruce following him. His legs burned by the time Jason allowed himself to return home. He slipped in silently through his window, setting down his helmet on the floor as he collapsed.

“Jaybird?” Roy said softly. Jason mumbled a greeting. A moment later the light was turned on and Roy knelt in front of him.

“Hey. Jason, are you ok? Are you hurt?” One of Roy’s hands cupped his face as the other patted Jason down checking for injuries.

“I think I just yelled at my Dad.” Jason heard himself say distantly.

Roy looked momentarily shocked before he gently pulled Jason up from the floor and eased him down on the mattress.

“I’d make you a hot drink,” The archer whispered “but Mason is knocked out in there.”

Jason huffed a fond laugh. He felt the pain in his chest ease as Roy arranged Jason so that his head lay on Roy’s chest, his boyfriend’s heartbeat was a soothing sound that cleared his head.

“Do you want to talk about it?” He asked softly.

Jason thought a moment before shaking his head. Roy hummed in acknowledgement, soothingly rubbing his hands up and down Jason’s arms. “Ok, go to sleep, Jaybird.”

“Love you, Roy.” Jason whispered as his eyes dropped closed. Roy’s breath caught and Jason vaguely felt the press of lips against his forehead.

“Love you too.” He murmured. Jason fell into the oblivion of sleep with the feeling of safety washing over him.

Chapter Text

The next day Jason's alarm rang obnoxiously early. Roy grumbled but followed him as he got up to rouse Mason. By the time he had managed to wrangle the teenager off the sofa and out of his pyjamas, Roy had made a pile of peanut butter and jam sandwiches for Mason's school lunch, just like Jason he had made extra in case any of the other kids were going in hungry. Mason mumbled his thanks, grabbing a bowl of cereal and mechanically eating it with his eyes half closed. Roy smiled softly at Jason as he took his seat beside the kid and slumped down, resting his head on the cool table.

Four hours. He’d got four hours of sleep.

“Roy.” Jason rasped. “Let me check your bandages.”

“Later, Jaybird.” Roy tutted. “I’m basically healed anyway, there is no rush for you to start poking and prodding me.”

“That’s what she said,” Mason mumbled, sending Jason an overly smug and sleepy grin. Jason just lightly whacked his arm.

“Standards, Mason, look them up before you speak.”Jason sighed, ever long-suffering

“I think Roy needs a crash course in those considering he willingly picked you.” Mason snipped back.

“Au contraire, I think I have exceptional taste,” Roy said, pressing a soft kiss on top of Jason’s head as he pushed a peanut butter sandwich his way. “Now, eat up Mason. You’ve got 10 minutes before you need to scram.”

Jason smiled fondly at how Roy had his and Mason’s routine already memorised. His boyfriend was amazing, Jason thought happily.

Mason huffed but started shovelling the cereal into his mouth. Roy moved behind Jason and soothingly ran his hand up and down his back. “You feeling ok?” He whispered in Jason’s ear. Bruce’s scathing remarks from last night flashed before his mind.

“After the kid leaves,” Jason whispered back.

“Are you guys planning sexy times?” Mason waggled his eyebrows at them. “Cause you are less discreet than I would expect from two people who have to hide their identities from the world on a daily basis.”

Jason rolled his eyes at the teenager’s teasing. “Your mind truly astounds and worries me.” He said drily. “And before you refuse to let this go, no Roy was not trying to seduce me in front of your young sensitive ears, he was just asking about something that happened on patrol last night,” Jason explained simply.

Mason’s grin fell and he looked at Jason with worried eyes. “Something bad?”

Jason hesitated. “Not bad in a way that you’d have to concern yourself with, just a little run-in with Batman that shook me more than I was expecting.” He admitted. Mason nodded understandingly.

“That sucks man.”

Jason chuckled. “It sure does.”

Roy’s hand squeezed Jason’s shoulder. Mason remained silent after that, mulling over what Jason had said but as he reached the door to leave, with his school bag slung over his shoulder, he suddenly launched himself at Jason in a fierce hug. His skinny arms wrapped around Jason’s chest and his face buried over Jason’s heart. Jason slowly lowered his own hand to pat the kid’s back.

“I’m sorry about your Dad, Jay,” Mason mumbled. “You don’t deserve that.”

Jason blinked back the tears that burned in his eyes, holding Mason close. “Thanks, kid.”

“I’ll punch Batman if I see him.”

“I’d prefer if you stayed out of trouble.” Jason laughed. “But that’s very sweet of you to offer. Now be safe and you can fill me in on everything you learn when you get back.”

“You’ve got it, man.”

When he’d seen Mason out of the door he turned to face Roy. “Is it too early to drink?” He asked. Roy laughed and wrapped his arms around Jason, leaning up to press a kiss to his lips. Jason smiled into the kiss.

“Now should I take your mind off of this or do you want to talk?” Roy pulled back and smirked.

“Oh, you little minx.” Jason chased Roy’s lips. “Make me forget and then we’ll see what I can recall for our talk afterwards.”

“You know I love a challenge, Jaybird.” Roy grinned wickedly, linking their hands he led Jason back to his room. They stumbled inside together, tripping and bumping into Roy’s bow as they entered, the weapon clattering to the floor as they laughed and kissed.

Roy pushed him down onto the mattress before climbing on top of him, his legs bracketing Jason’s hips. He pressed kisses and sucked and nipped a playful path from Jason’s neck to his thighs till he was writhing beneath him. With each hickey, he soothingly traced his tongue over the mark before moving on. He spent extra time on Jason’s scars, peppering them with soft kisses, especially lingering over Jason’s scar from his autopsy incision. Roy’s mouth explored Jason as he murmured words of admiration and worship against his flushed skin.

“Fuck, Roy. Stop teasing.” Jason moaned. Roy just hummed against him.

“If you can still remember how to speak then I’m not doing enough.”

Roy pulled his own shirt and shorts off and threw them to the floor before pressing their bodies together in entirety. “I thought you wanted to forget, Babe.” He whispered beneath Jason’s ear. Jason moaned ashamedly before yanking Roy’s face back to him and placing a searing kiss against his lips, his head spinning with giddy delight.

“I think there are some things I’ll never be able to forget. And you, Roy Harper, are one of them.”

Roy huffed a bemused laugh. “I’m going to show you another thing you won't forget.” He said, pulling Jason’s thighs up and throwing his legs over his hips. Jason let out a surprised bark at the sudden shift.

“Never.” He agreed with a joyful kiss on Roy’s cheek.

By the time Roy had finished with Jason, they lay on the mattress in a tangled and panting mess. Jason lifted Roy’s hand to his lips and pressed a gentle kiss to each of his fingers. Roy sighed contentedly.

“Fuck, I love you.” Jason breathed, pressing another kiss to the back of Roy’s hand.

Roy shifted to face him, smiling beautifully up at him as he linked their fingers together. “I love you too, Jaybird. I think in a way I always have. You’re my best friend and now my best boyfriend and I’m so glad that, for whatever reason, you were able to come back to me.”

Jason had never been more grateful for his second life than in that moment. He couldn’t imagine a world where their connection had ended before he and Roy could figure out this thing between them. If he had stayed dead he would never have been able to feel the warmth that seeped into every one of his bones at Roy’s touch. He wouldn’t have known just how perfectly they slotted together or intimately noted every scar that crisscrossed the archer’s body.

Jason brushed his hand down Roy’s side, carefully tracing the bandages there. He was so close to losing Roy without even noticing what he was missing. That was the thing about heroes and vigilantes, they had to live every day as if it was the last. Death caught him by surprise once, Jason wouldn’t let himself disappear with words unsaid again. Jason mentally groaned as he realised what he had to do. Fuck. He had to make a trip to Bludhaven.

Jason laid that aside for now, allowing himself to enjoy the comforting weight of his ridiculously talented and handsome boyfriend in his arms. Roy snuffled adorably as he curled around Jason, his eyes drooping shut. Jason started to drift off beside him when there was a massive crash from the other side of the door that jerked him awake. Jason shot up, reaching for his gear and pulling out a gun. Roy was similarly moving to arm himself. Jason wrapped his sheet around his waist and yanked the door open. Constantine stood, inexplicably surrounded by Jason’s pans and pots, looking unperturbed down the barrel of the gun pointed at him.

“Sorry, did I wake you?” He asked mildly.

“How did you even get in?” Jason exclaimed.

“Well, your high-tech security system and booby traps have not been engaged a single time I’ve visited so I just picked the lock.” Constantine shrugged. “Honestly, I was trying to be mindful of your boundaries, I could have teleported straight in anyway.”

Jason gaped at Constantine. “How is picking my locks any more respectful of my boundaries?” He exclaimed.

“Well, this way you had a chance of stopping me had you not been so engrossed in your boyfriend.”

Jason blinked, stunned before he turned soberly to his boyfriend. “It’s been five days. Roy, I think you're well enough to do a pushup. Drop now and give me five and maybe he’ll disappear.”

“Nice try but you won't get rid of me that easily. Did you know that Gotham real estate around here is remarkably cheap? Also, do you maybe want to put on some clothes before we continue this conversation?”

Jason shrieked in frustration, slamming the door and shutting Constantine’s bemused face out. His traitorous boyfriend looked like he was struggling to hold in his laughter as he shrugged on a shirt and pants.

“The longer he stays the shorter his life expectancy becomes,” Jason said fiercely.

“Aww come on, Love, he’s not that bad.” Roy pressed a placating kiss on Jason’s jaw. “You know you secretly like the chaos he brings.”

“He broke my coffee machine by trying to make it a homemade magical distillery yesterday!”

“He was bored,” Roy said with a sigh.

“He’s not under house arrest, he can leave!”

“He’s still in his own weird mother-henning mode. He won’t admit it but I scared him and now he feels a need to protect me.”

“There is nothing for him to protect you from here. I can do that job just fine.”

“I know you can, Jaybird, but you can also accept help. John has been there for me through some rough patches already. We have a partnership, and because of this we have each other’s back.”

Jason sighed. “I know that. I still don’t see why you chose him out of all people to have your back.”

“Well, I didn’t know you were still an option, Love. Also, he grows on you.”

“Like a fungus maybe,” Jason muttered. Jason opened the door again, now fully covered up and less embarrassed. “Can we at least get him house-trained?”

Roy just laughed and followed him out with a pat on the shoulder.

“Constantine.” Jason bobbed his head in a mimicry of an amiable greeting.

“Jason,” Constantine replied with an amused smile.

“Knock next time.”

Constantine didn’t even look remorseful but nodded anyway. He paced back into the kitchen and held out two takeaway cups of coffee. Jason sighed but accepted his.

“Thank you.”

“Do you own any turtlenecks?” Constantine said instead, his hand motioning towards Jason’s throat and the hickeys Roy had proudly placed there. Jason blushed. Oh, Constantine made being civil so hard.

“I’m not cold.” Jason gritted out.

Constantine grinned. “Relax, Little Bird, feel the breeze if you must. Now I’ve come with a peace offering.”

“Yes, the coffee is great, especially since we no longer have a working coffee machine.”

“I’m not talking about the coffee.” Constantine pulled a thick folder out of a pocket dimension and thumped it down onto the kitchen table. “I’m talking about information.” Jason quirked his head in confusion.

“Black Mask’s plans for the next month, extensive lists of his future deals and his next motions, the names and addresses of the next two assassins he has planned to set on you, his planned ambushes and his source of kryptonite and weapons.”

Jason blinked.

“I’ve been busy. Gotham is not the easiest place to sleep.”

“Holy shit.” Jason reached for the folder and flipped it open. “How the fuck did you get all this?”

“Don’t ask. I have my ways.”

Jason looked down in awe at the messy scrawl, that occasionally cut out into Constantine’s notes in Ancient Greek or Latin, which was the key to finally ending this.

Jason looked up at Constantine who was watching him expectantly and a little anxiously. This was more than a peace offering. This might as well have been a marriage proposal, considering how happy it made Jason. Not that Jason would have been happy to marry John. God help him if he did. Jason pulled out the stool beside him in invitation and Constantine silently accepted it.

“Let's get planning then.”

--------------------------

Jason began begrudgingly accepting Constantine as the day went on and he showed himself to be a competent and menacing schemer when not distracted by Tetris and DIY-improving coffee machines. Roy kept giving Jason looks which he could only interpret as ‘I told you so’, Jason hated the fact that his boyfriend was right even non-verbally. Halfway through the day, Jason invited a slightly hungover Crystal to join them, since she currently knew more about Jason’s resources and systems than he did at this point. Just like before she and Constantine got on like a house on fire. It was mildly concerning. They both took a break from planning to rib Jason and Roy over their new relationship.

By the time evening came, they had everything in place and were sitting in a circle on the floor with piles of crisps and a bottle of wine between them. Jason and Roy had bowed out of drinking tonight but Crystal and Constantine were more than prepared to work their way through it alone.

There was a knock on the door and Jason extracted himself from Roy’s arms to let Mason in, only for the door to swing open and two people who were obviously not his favourite teenage roommate to be standing on the other side. Steph grabbed Jason by his shirt and yanked him out of his apartment and into the halfway.

Tim shushed him. “Jay, we need to talk.”

“What? What’s happening?” Jason hissed, closing the door and looking anxiously between his little brother and his annoying sort-of-sister figure. He couldn’t see any visible injuries and neither were favouring one side more than the other.

“Don’t worry we have removed all the trackers and bugs that B hid on us and thought we wouldn’t notice,” Steph assured him. “Tim was very thorough.”

“That doesn’t worry me,” Jason exclaimed. “Are you in trouble?” He pressed.

“No. Not really?” Tim said uncertainly. “It’s just…well…”

“B is being insufferable and we need somewhere to stay. Can we crash at yours?”

“We made sure he didn’t follow us and we messaged him to leave us alone and that we were staying with a friend,” Tim added hurriedly.

“You two do realise that this is not a permanent solution in any way?” Jason asked. “B will not let up.”

“We know,” Steph said, nodding soberly. Jason sighed. The clock for his and Bruce’s reunion was ticking out of time.

“I’m sorry for putting you guys through this for me.” Jason rubbed his forehead as he tried to think about what to say next. “I didn’t want to create a fall-out between you and B. It’s not fair that I’m dragging you down with me.”

“Jason shut up.” Tim scoffed. “We are in no way mad about that. You’re our brother, of course we’d stand by you.” Steph nodded along seriously.

“Also, Bruce was being a dick.”

Jason blinked back tears as he looked at the two of them, arms crossed in obstinate righteousness. “Thanks.” He whispered. “And of course, you can stay.”

Steph whooped and Tim smiled tiredly.

“Ok, before you do go in, remember that I have company.” Jason knocked on the door to be let back in.

“Jason we could tell that from the hickeys on your neck,” Tim said matter-of-factly. Jason felt his blush creeping up his neck. Steph laughed manically. This was how Roy found them when he cautiously reopened the door. Jason beat red, Steph prodding his neck as she laughed, and Tim trying to duck away from Jason chasing him.

“This just got a whole lot more fun.” Roy grinned. “I guess you two are Steph and Tim.”

Tim halted in time for Jason to wrangle him under his arm and Steph stood next to the two of them wrestling as she gave a small wave to Roy.

“That would be us.” Steph pulled Roy into a quick hug. “And you must be Arsenal.”

“Please, call me Roy.”

“Hi Roy, nice work on Jason’s…” Jason clamped his hand over Tim’s mouth only for the little fucker to lick his palm.

Roy just raised an amused eyebrow in Jason’s direction.

“Should have worn the turtleneck,” Jason muttered darkly before he led the two terrors inside.

“Hi, Crys,” Steph said, immediately going up to hug his friend. Crystal let out an excited laugh and returned the embrace with a tight squeeze.

“Steph, babes, it is so good to see you again!” When Crystal finally pulled out of the hug she caught sight of Tim standing awkwardly pressed against Jason’s side. “And you must be Tim! Welcome to the family, darling!” Crystal, ever so slightly tipsy immediately smothered Tim in one of her all-encompassing hugs.

“It’s nice to meet you too,” Tim said properly, his manners from the many gala’s he must have gone to as a kid slipping through.

“No need to be so formal around us, kiddo.” Crystal laughed. “This is not Bristol.”

Tim smiled softly at Crystal and nodded.

“Does the big bad Bats know you two are here?” Constantine cut into the conversation, waving between Tim and Steph. At the lack of an answer, the sorcerer barked out a thrilled laugh. “Fugitives? I like it.” He took a sip from the wine and saluted both of them.

“Jason, why is John Constantine in your living room?” Tim asked slowly.

“He came with Roy. You’ll get used to him.” Jason sighed.

“It’s almost like I’m not the reason you are going to finally cripple the Black Mask,” Constantine said, pressing his hand to his chest and looking fake affronted. “Little Bird, I’m hurt.”

“Yeah, yeah. You still owe me a coffee machine old man.” Jason rolled his eyes but he patted Constantine’s back as he passed him.

“What is this about Black Mask?” Steph asked curiously.

“Come and check out what we’ve been working on,” Jason said, pulling her over to the folder and their plan of action.

Steph whistled. “I’m impressed.”

Tim took one look at their extensive planning and let out a giggle. “What?” Jason bumped his shoulder, confused by his fit of laughter.

“You colour code just like B,” Tim said happily. “Use the same shorthand too.”

“Omg, you really do. Like father like son.” Steph said delighted.

“Of course, that’s what you two focus on.” Jason groaned, flipping the folder closed and gathering the pile of papers that made up his plan, he tidied them away into a spare cupboard in the kitchen. Tim and Steph tried to get him to return it with loud apologetic noises from where they now sat on the pile of pillows on the floor with the rest of Jason’s guests. Jason just returned with a new packet of crisps and settled beside them, pulling Roy into his lap despite his friend's suggestive ooohs and laughter. Jason ignored them all, instead burying his head in the jut of Roy’s neck and letting his friends' and family’s voices wash over him. Constantine and Tim got on surprisingly well, Tim’s original hesitance, likely coming from Bruce’s personal reluctance to deal with Constantine, eventually turned into an intense conversation about magic. Meanwhile, Steph, Crystal and Roy had apparently all read the same fantasy romance book and after an extensive critique of it had planned to start their own book club.

Roughly another half an hour passed before there came another knock, signalling Mason’s arrival. Jason lifted Roy up and off him, pressing a kiss to the top of his head and going to get the door. It wasn’t just Mason standing on the other side though, behind him stood a timid dark-skinned kid with a vicious-looking black eye forming. Jason frowned in confusion.

“Uh…Mason? Do you want to introduce me to your new friend?”

Mason smiled apologetically. “I hope you don’t mind but I couldn’t think of where else to take him. This is Duke, he comes from the Narrows. He, um, he was in foster care after his parents were hit with Joker gas but his foster family sucks, they have a whole load of kids they are meant to be looking after and just neglect them and they hit him and he has nowhere else to go and the system obviously is fucking shit so…” He rambled.

Jason just gently grabbed Mason’s shoulder to calm the kid down. “You did the right thing, kiddo. Let’s get him inside and then we can talk a little more about what to do about his situation, huh?”

Mason nodded, a relieved smile stretching over his face as he grabbed Duke’s hand and pulled him closer. Jason tried to look as nonthreatening as possible and smiled at the kid.

“Hi, I’m Jason.” He said softly.

Duke eyed him carefully, glancing at Mason before he stretched out his hand in greeting “Duke Thomas.” He replied.

“Nice to meet you. I hope you don’t mind noise, I’ve got some friends over and they can sometimes be a tad overbearing.”

Mason perked up at the mention of guests. “Oh, who is here?”

“Constantine still hasn’t left. Roy of course. Crystal came by. Also, Tim and Steph will be staying with us for a little while if that’s ok.”

Mason looked thrilled. “Come on Duke, I’ll introduce you to them. You’ll love them.” With that, he disappeared inside with his new friend. Jason was left behind worrying about how he was going to find space for everyone to sleep and mentally berating himself for not getting a bigger apartment. Jason went to the fridge and grabbed some frozen peas, wrapping them in a tea cloth before handing them over to Duke for his eye. Duke mumbled his thanks. Both Steph and Tim had moved to join Duke and Mason on the sofa, chatting away with them. He watched as the kid slowly emerged more and more from his shell until he was answering their inane questions with a soft smile. Mason slipped away from the conversation and approached Jason.

“Hey, Jay, thanks for this.”

“Anytime,” Jason said somberly.

“Duke is worried about the other two kids he left there. He was basically looking after them by himself, the foster parents were only there for the compensation money. I told him you knew how to help them?”

Jason waved Crystal over to join them.

“Of course. We’ll find somewhere for them and make sure those parents never get their hands on another child again. I’ll deal with it kid, you go have fun.” Jason clapped Mason on the shoulder and pushed him back towards the other kids.

Crystal sobered up real quick when Jason filled her in.

“What do you want to do, Little Wolf?”

“You know those children and homeless centres we were talking about starting when the time came?” Crystal nodded. “I think we need to start setting those up, we can use one of the warehouses we cleared or something. Meanwhile, tonight I’ll visit Duke’s foster parents and teach them a lesson. Do you think Matt and his wife can take the kids in for a few nights before we find other arrangements?”

“I’m sure he’ll be happy to help out.” Crystal pulled out her phone and started tapping away at it furiously.

“Also any chance you can look for a new apartment for me? One with three bedrooms?”

Crystal looked up in surprise.

“I’ll keep this one as a safe house but I think I’m going to have to get used to accommodating a lot of overnight guests in the future. It’ll also be nice to have an actual bedframe.” Crystal grinned. “Also I know Cece is worried about what is going to happen to Mason if she applies to a college out of Gotham with her GED. I was thinking about offering to house him permanently if she decides to do that.”

“Kid grew on you, didn’t he?” Crystal asked with a shit-eating grin.

Jason rolled his eyes, “Don’t act like he didn’t grow on you too.”

“I think Cece will love you once you tell her this. I know she’s been worried about him but you’ve definitely eased her mind these past few weeks.” Crystal cupped Jason’s jaw in her hand. “I’m proud of you, Little Wolf.” She said seriously, her eyes glittering with unshed tears.

“Thanks, Crys.” He whispered.

“We’ve come so far.” She said softly.

“Bet you never saw this coming,” Jason said with a wet smile.

“Maybe not everything but I always knew you were going to do great things, Jay.” She replied fondly. Jason swallowed thickly. Crystal looked at him with teary eyes and a soft loving smile before she withdrew her hand and wiped her tears with a wet laugh.

“I feel ridiculous. I’ll keep you updated on the situation.”

“Hey, Crys?”

“Yeah.”

“You know I wouldn’t be here without you right?” He murmured softly. “Thank you for saving me.”

Crystal smiled sadly. “I think it was the best thing I’ve ever done.” She answered. “I love you, Little Wolf.”

Jason pulled his first friend into a crushing hug, the warmth of her body a familiar balm for all his worries, a protection from the world.

“I love you too, Crys.” He mumbled into her bushy curls.

“Alright,” Jason cleared his throat and pulled out of the hug. “I need to find two new mattresses for tonight.”

“Oh, good luck with that,” Crystal said solemnly. “The stores will be closed by now.”

“Trust me I know.”

Jason and Crystal returned to where Roy and Constantine were seated, talking about idle matters. Roy perked up and smiled at Jason as he approached.

“Hey, Love, you up for a quest?”

Roy grinned wickedly. “Always!”

“Ok, Constantine and Crystal, you watch the kids.”

“Oi, I did not come over to become a babysitter!” Constantine complained loudly.

“I’ll buy you a bottle of whisky. A nice one.” Constantine considered the bribe for a second before nodding his head.

“Make it quick,” Constantine muttered.

Jason had no idea where to start in his quest for two new mattresses so he began in his building. Roy happily followed behind him as he knocked on his neighbour's doors and asked whether they had a spare mattress he could buy or borrow. Most of the replies were a resounding no and a few doors slammed in his face but an apprehensive lady, whose son had moved out to Metropolis, agreed to take the 400 dollars Jason was offering for his mattress. Jason gratefully received the double mattress which was in surprisingly good condition and handed over some of the League’s funds. The woman looked at him like he was mad for paying her this wad of cash but took it anyway before closing her door.

He and Roy managed to wrangle the heavy mattress down the stairs and into the apartment with only a little difficulty and swearing before they set out again to try and find another one.

“Take two,” Roy whispered to him as they stood in front of one of their untried doors, two floors above their apartment.

“More like take nine,” Jason grumbled as he knocked on the door.

It swung open to reveal Harley Quinn, dressed in loose pyjamas with tropical leaves on them, the bright red and blue dyed hair separated into two neat plaits and a pair of headphones looped around her neck. Jason was momentarily shocked with this new development but, from what Steph had told him Harley had split from the Joker and had recently joined the Birds of Prey and actively hated the clown nearly as much as Jason, so she was not in Jason’s bad books currently. Steph even seemed to respect the anti-hero and her change of character with the way she enthusiastically ranted about her.

“Yes?” Harley asked curiously. Jason swallowed his shock and continued with his mission.

“I know this is going to sound weird but do you have a spare mattress that we could borrow or buy from you?”

“What, are you having a sleepover?” Harley giggled.

“Something like that,” Jason admitted with a smile. “I can give you money if you want,” Jason added, pulling out his stack of bills as he spoke.

Harley just looked at him like he was insane. “There’s no need for that, Handsome. I don’t mind you taking my spare.”

Jason felt relief surge within him. Finally, the quest was done.

“Thank you.” He smiled brilliantly. “That would be great.”

“No worries. What’s your name, Sweetheart?”

“I’m Jason.” He stretched out his hand to shake hers. “And this is my boyfriend Roy.”

“Hi,” Roy said gleefully, waving at Harley from behind Jason’s shoulder.

Harley’s eyes brightened at that. “Nice to meet you two. I’m Harley. I’ve never gotten to know any of my neighbours before.” She said with a slight pout. “I don’t think they like me.”

“I have no idea why,” Jason said with a winning smile. “You have wonderful taste in pyjamas.”

“Why thank you!” Harley laughed. “I like you. So quick on the compliments. Please come on in.”

“Thank you.”

Jason stepped into the apartment. It was surprisingly nice, decorated with a whole load of plants and cross-stitched signs with vaguely worrying messages.

“Oh, and this is Bruce,” Harley announced. Jason tensed at the name before he caught sight of who Harley was pointing at, a giant Hyena with a pink collar. “He’s a great judge of character.”

Bruce, the Hyena, lifted his head and stared at Jason and Roy before huffing and settling back into his nap.

“He likes you,” Harley told him with a wink and smile. Jason gave her a strained smile in return.

“Why did you call him Bruce?” Roy asked casually.

“Oh, well when I was studying in med school to become a therapist there was this goth kid a few years above who used to always be in the library at night and we became studying pals. He used to have the same dark bags under his eyes as Bruce here does.” Harley scratched her pet under the ear.

Jason hummed in response. “That’s sweet.” He knew vaguely that his Dad had known Harley in college and that they had been friends back then but he didn’t know she still remembered him.

“I thought so too. Ok, here’s the mattress.” Harley pointed at the mattress covered in pillows and blankets. “It used to be Bruce’s but he now prefers his doggy bed. It’s clean and in alright shape.”

“It’s perfect, thank you,” Jason replied.

“I can help you bring it to your apartment if you want?” Harley offered.

“Thank god!!” Roy groaned, “The last time was hard enough.”

Harley looked at him with a confused smile. “Alright, then.”

By the time they managed to get the mattress propped up in Harley’s doorway the three of them decided it was time for a break. They sat outside in the hallway, Roy leaning against Jason’s side and panting slightly.

“Hey, is your side ok?” Jason whispered to him.

“I’m good. Don’t worry.” Roy replied, pecking Jason’s lips.

“So why do you need a mattress?” Harley asked from where she was sitting cross-legged in front of them.

“I have my brother and sister coming to stay and some friends,” Jason replied.

“Aww.” Harley cooed. “So it's a real sleepover?!”

“For them at least. Roy and I are lucky enough to have our own room. Though I guess I no longer have a sitting room now.”

“It's sweet that you are letting them carry out their home invasion. I wish I had brothers and sisters. My girlfriend comes over for a sleepover occasionally but that's it.” Harley said dejectedly. “I made a few mistakes a while ago with who I hung out with so I don’t have many friends. It can be a bit lonely.”

“Maybe one day you could join one of our sleepovers.” Jason offered.

Harley beamed up at him. “That would be amazing.”

Turns out Harley was pretty cool now that she had estranged herself from the Joker and rethought her life choices. She was funny too. Funnier than the Joker had ever been. She also lacked the complete and utter madness and vileness that the Joker was fuelled by. All in all, Jason approved of this newfound friendship enough that he allowed Harley to help them get the mattress to his door and let her into his home.

“Hello, we have got the second mattress!” Jason yelled as the three of them shuffled into the room, with said prize carried between them.

“Omg, Jason is that Harley Quinn?” Steph shrieked from the couch. Jason saw Harley freeze at her name, turning to face where the noise came from with an anxious frown.

“You betcha. She’s our neighbour.” Jason replied simply.

“Wicked!” Steph bounded up. “Hi, I’m Steph and you are awesome!”

He could see the small confused smile that formed on Harley’s face at Steph’s enthusiasm and lack of fear. They lowered the mattress to the floor next to the other one which had already been made into a bed. Crystal moved beside them with a folded stack of sheets.

“I’ll grab the pillows and blankets,” Jason said, leaving Steph to introduce Harley to the group.

When he returned the gathering had moved to the two mattresses on the floor. Tim and Steph had seemingly decided to share one whilst Mason and Duke took the other. Constantine had seemingly taken the open couch as an invitation to stay the night. He was already passed out on it and snoring quietly. Harley was sat next to Steph and Crystal and was happily regaling to the whole group stories about the work she had done with the Birds of Prey. Jason plopped himself down, throwing a blanket over Tim’s head and bundling him in it. It was his duty as an older brother. Tim squawked in outrage and wriggled himself free. Jason shuffled out of reach of Tim’s retaliation and into the safety of his boyfriend's arms. He has happy to see that Duke had seemingly slipped into the group dynamic with ease, contently listening and butting into the conversation and whispering into Mason's ear every now and then.

Jason had work to do tonight but just for a little while he allowed himself to stay in the comfortable buzz of conversation and laughter, safe in his boyfriend's arms and surrounded by nearly all of the most important people in his life.

Chapter Text

Over the night, only Crystal and Harley left his apartment, Harley with the promise of returning with cinnamon buns for the kids in the morning. Jason geared up and met Crystal outside his building to walk her to her shift at the club before he started his patrol. No one dared so much as wolf-whistle in her direction with the nefarious Crimelord escorting her. The club bouncer grinned when he saw Jason and Crystal’s approach, greeting him with a fist bump at the door. None of the girls at the club looked surprised by Red Hood’s presence, a few of them asking for his help zipping up their dresses and others directing him to glare at some of the more suspect customers in warning. Jason stayed till Crystal was ready with her makeup and clothes and due to hit the stage before excusing himself from the club and striding purposefully into the night.

Jason had the kids extracted and was on his way to Matt’s house within the next two hours, Duke’s foster parents suitably cowered and warned to not ever receive another child or his next visit would be much more violent. The little girl, Marlene, clung to Jason’s jacket as he cradled her on his hip and walked out through the shadows of the Narrows, the boy Nate was holding his other gloved hand and sucking on one of Jason’s emergency lollipops. It had taken a little while for the kids to trust him enough to come out and follow him but luckily his reputation as a protector of children had reached them and his promise that he was a friend of Duke’s won them over.

“What was that?” Nate whispered, his mouth still full of his lollipop. Marlene stirred from where she was dozing off on his shoulder and turned to where the noise of metal crashing came from another alley.

“Probably a cat going through the trash.” Jason replied, “Don’t worry, you’re safe with me.”

“Ok.” Nate mumbled, his little hand tightening around Jason’s. Jason tried to steer clear from any worrying noises, there was no need to traumatise these children further and he had his hands a little full for a fight. Jason could also feel eyes on him, as a shadow on the roof followed his movements. Jason couldn’t run with the kids and he just had to hope that Batman waited till he had them safe with Matt before confronting him.

Jason tried to keep Nate distracted by asking him questions about his friends and what he was learning at school. After a bit of needling he had the little boy nattering away about the Egyptians and firetrucks. On the trip they only ran into one imposing looking mugger who took one look at Hood and his armful of children before stepping out the way.

“Avoid the streets around the Bumblebee Bar.” The man said. “There have been fights breaking out around there. It’s no place for kids.”

Jason nodded his head in thanks and reworked his route to avoid that area. Matt’s apartment was back in Crime Alley on the ground floor. His henchman was standing outside the building with his wife, Nancy, to meet them.

“Hi Matt.” Jason greeted, relieved to see his friend's face. “Thanks for taking them in.”

“It’s no issue, boss. My daughter is even excited to have someone to play with. She’s always hated being an only child.” Matt replied gently. Nancy had crouched down in front of Nate and introduced herself.

“I’m Nancy and I hear you need somewhere to stay for a little while. I hope you like cookies, I made some this evening and I need help eating them now. Do you want to come in?” Nate looked up at Jason before shyly nodding and exchanging Jason’s hand for Nancy’s.

“Bye, Hood!” The kid waved.

“Bye, kiddo.” Jason waved back. Jason handed over the sleeping Marlene to Matt, who expertly arranged the little girl in his beefy tattooed arms.

“This is Marlene. She’s a very brave little girl.” Jason said softly.

“I’m sure she is.” Matt, gently brushed Marlene’s hair out of her eyes before soberly turning back to Jason. “How bad was it?” He asked seriously.

“Bad.” Jason replied sadly. “They couldn’t tell me the last time they ate more than bread and had been in the same pair of clothes for at least three days. The apartment was a mess and Nate has bruises on his arms from where the woman used to grab him and throw him around. I have the eldest of the foster kids staying with me, he’d been there the shortest time though and had been trying to look after these two and the other kids that pass through and protect them from those two monsters. He came to me with a pretty severe black eye.”

Matt nodded morosely, his eyes darkening with anger.

“We’ll get them a meal tonight then. I assume you have the two parents dealt with?”

“They won’t get a child under their protection again.” Jason assured him. “I didn’t do as much as I wanted to, couldn’t with the kids watching.”

“You did enough just by getting them out of there.” Matt clasped Jason’s shoulder and offered him a comforting smile. “How are you holding up?”

“I’m good, Matt.” Jason reassured his henchman who was watching him with worried paternal eyes. “I promise. I’ve sent over the money you’ll need to support them and can come and check out how you're handling the two little ones. I can also babysit whenever you need a break.”

Matt nodded in thanks, still watching him in concern. “Alright then, boss. Take care of yourself.” He said at last.

“Always.” Jason grinned back. “And thanks for doing this Matt. I won't forget it.”

Matt just smiled before gently carrying little Marlene inside of his home. They would be safe there. Jason had no doubt in his henchman’s ability to look after the kids and show them the love they deserved. Jason lingered standing in the street for a moment longer before turning back and walking away.

The shadow followed high on the rooftops, as silent as an owl. Jason could feel his presence though, his gaze burning down on his neck. Jason walked as if he hadn’t noticed. Finally when Jason had found a lowered fire escape and had climbed up off the dirty streets to the rooftops above the air beside him stirred and Batman stood in front of him.

“Bats.” Jason said in greeting, the mechanical rasp of his helmet ringing in the silence of the night.

“Hood.” Batman said evenly in return. His voice held a touch of warning within his growl.

“What can I do for you on this fine night?” Jason asked, lifting his guns and nervously playing with the safety.

“Where are they?”

“If they wanted you to know, don't you think you would?” Jason growled back. “They’re safe. That’s all I can tell you.”

Batman stayed where he was standing, the lack of aggression in his stance surprising Jason. After a long moment he nodded in acknowledgement. The minutest of movements made Jason aware of Bruce’s heavy sadness and worry, badly hidden beneath his cowl.

“Why do they trust you?” Batman asked at last. His voice held no animosity, only a tired curiosity.

Jason cleared his throat before he answered. “I never gave them a reason not to.”

“You have given me more than a few reasons.” Bruce said with a frustrated huff. “You act with violence and anger.”

“Never towards them.” Jason said fiercely. “I only act with violence towards the scum who deserve it and only to protect those who I love. I protect those who cannot protect themselves. We are not so different.”

Batman stiffened at that. “I do not kill.” He growled. “I don’t enact petty vengeance.”

“Do my actions seem petty to you? Does the Black mask not deserve someone to put a stop to his bloody and callous rule. The children of the East End deserve your protection just as much as those in the rest of Gotham. Yet you have abandoned them, unable to deal with the lawlessness of Crime Alley you have allowed them to die unprotected. You allow women to accept their fate of being raped and abused by men who have no fear of the consequences of their atrocities. Yes I kill. I have no regret for the bullets I have sent into the heads of the filth that prey on the vulnerable. My actions may seem despicable to you but I have done more for the people of the Alley than you ever have. You see them as irredeemable and not worth the effort to try. You turned your back on them.” Jason advanced towards Batman until they stood with their chests just an inch apart. He jabbed his gun against the hard chest plate as he growled his final point. “Nothing you do to try to stop me will ever make me do the same.”

Batman just watched him silently, seemingly unperturbed by the weapon shoved in between them.

“I can’t endorse your methods.” Batman replied finally. “Your brutality has no excuse. I will not get in the way of your personal crusade against the Black Mask but until you curb your violence I do not want you around Robin and Spoiler. I don’t care how close you have gotten to my kids. I don’t like you and I certainly don’t trust you.” The finality of Bruce’s statement was like a physical blow.

Jason’s heart crumpled in his chest, Bruce’s words restricting around it until all he could feel was a hollow coldness. He always knew Bruce could never accept him. Not with what he’d become and all the mistakes he had made. Ever since Jason cemented his place as a threat to the Black mask with a bag of decapitated heads he had traded away his father’s love in the name of vengeance. He held no regrets for his actions. Not with all he had built on them since. All the lives he had now under his protection. It still hurts to hear his Dad’s disapproval.

“I don’t care what you think about me.” Jason lied. “I think you should have more faith in Robin and Spoiler’s judgement. As long as they want to see me I will not turn them away. Be careful or your hatred for me will make you lose them too. ” Jason left Bruce with that final warning.

“Is that a threat?” Batman grunted, finally moving towards Jason. Jason ignored his question and turned his back on him. A second later a Batarang whizzed past Jason’s helmet, the sharp edges scraping a jagged cut into the surface. Jason spun around and stared in shock at Batman, who held another two Batarangs aloft.

“What the fuck!” Jason whispered. Batman just came at him in a blur of darkness and sharp unrestrained blows. Jason ducked away from the majority of the punches, though his side and leg were screaming in pain. Another batarang struck him in his shoulder, embedded deep inside of him. Jason looked down at it dumbstruck. He never thought he’d have one of these familiar weapons stuck inside of him, he remembered when he used to steal them from Bruce’s utility belt and practise with them. He remembers how Bruce gently wrapped a plaster round his finger after Jason nicked his finger on one of the sharp edges. Now from the dark edges of the weapon his blood seeps through. Jason in an instant moment of stupidity, not bearing to look at the offending weapon a moment longer, yanked it out. He pocketed it inside his trousers, vividly aware of how his incriminating blood stained the surface red. Then in a swift move that blurred his Robin and his League of Assassins training Jason threw his body at Batman, defending himself from his punch as he waited for a momentary lapse in Bruce’s defences to strike. Finally, Jason reacted. He attacked Bruce’s knee where it was weakest from an old injury, next he targeted his pressure points until Batman was bowed before him, groaning in pain.

Jason’s vision was green.
It terrified him.

Batman tried to rise and fight again before catching sight of Jason’s gun that glinted menacingly as it was pointed at his head. The safety was off. It would take just a tiny movement to end it all now.

Jason fought until his vision cleared. Until he finally had control over his body again and mechanically lowered the gun. Jason couldn’t breathe.

He choked out a shaky “Sorry,” before he fell to the floor in front of Batman’s slumped body and sobbed. His shoulders shook at the violence of his tears and as he struggled to breathe. He nearly killed his Dad. He was so close.

“I’m sorry.” He sobbed again.

Bruce lifted his arm towards Jason and Jason flinched back. He scrambled to his feet and ignoring the searing pain in his leg he pushed his body to run. Without another look back he let the shadows of the city he loved embrace him as his mind went blank, his only thought was that of escape.

Jason finally collapsed on a random rooftop. His wounds bleeding sluggishly as he let his eyes drop shut. Jason didn’t care anymore. If he bled out into the concrete he’d be doing the world a favour. He was too unstable. There was no saying when the Lazarus would next seize his mind. What if the next time he couldn’t come back in time? What if he hurt someone else he loved? He couldn’t do that.

Jason was home at least. This time he would die in home territory instead of in surrounded by the arid unfamiliar air of Ethiopia. He would fade into the shadows of Gotham for one last time.

His mind started to wander as his consciousness faded, summoning the faces of Tim and Steph, when they sat on a rooftop together and watched over Gotham as it grew dark, then Crystal, Dan, Renee and Mason, sat around his kitchen and covered in flour as they tried to bake a cake for Cece’s birthday, finally his mind wandered to Roy, his eyes bright as he traced Jason’s autopsy scar with reverence and awe. No. He could not leave them. He promised Roy he would stay. He promised. He couldn’t leave him again without another goodbye.

Jason pushed himself up, shoving back the darkness that crept over his vision. Gotham’s shadows were beginning to clear as feeble morning light broke through the grey clouds. Jason stumbled as he stood, his leg buckling under him. With his teeth gritted he tried to rise again.

When he finally made it to the edge of the rooftop he was on, his body trembling with pain, he looked out at the beginnings of a Gotham sunset. His vision whited out with his movements, Jason pressed on, he looked down on the familiar streets of Crime Alley and felt a tear fall. The way home was long and painful, each step had his body screaming. His shoulder had gone numb and his arm hung uselessly by his side. Still Jason took another step, until finally he stood on his fire exit outside his window and with a trembling knock he let his body fall.

The window opened in a rush and Roy looked out. His face strained with concern and dark bags hung under his eyes. He caught sight of Jason’s slumped form and froze.

“Jaybird!” Roy rushed out, his hands gently cradling Jason’s head as he pulled off his helmet. Jason met his worried eyes and smiled before his vision finally blacked out.

------------------------------

The first thing Jason registered when he woke was the pain. It thrummed through his body, and as he tried to lift himself up his shoulder spazzed beneath him, white hot agony shot through his arm. Jason fell back down with a muffled screech.

The next thing that Jason registered was that he was not lying against the hard unyielding concrete of a rooftop but was instead on a soft mattress and that he was no longer in his Red Hood gear.

The last thing he noticed was the figure sitting to the left of him, slumped against the wall.

“Constantine?” Jason rasped. The sorcerer straightened up and caught his eyes. He let out a sigh of relief and moved to his side.

“Hey, Little Bird. You gave us quite the scare.”

“Jesus, Jaybird, never do that to me again.” Jason turned his head and saw Roy leant on the other side of the mattress. He gazed into his boyfriend’s brilliant green eyes, the colour dulled by his tears.

“Roy?” Jason whispered, his voice breaking.

“I’m here Jay.” Roy smiled, his tears falling down his face. Jason tried to lift his hand to wipe his boyfriend’s distress away only to look down and finally register that their hands were already linked.

“Hello, Love.” He said gently. “Please don’t cry.”

Roy laughed wetly.

“You are fucking kidding me. Jason, we thought you were dead! You didn’t come home and then when you did you passed out in my arms. If Constantine wasn’t here you would have died.”

“What happened?”

“You lost a lot of blood.” Constantine told him seriously. “We were hoping you’d tell us more about this.” Constantine brought up a bloodstained Batarang.
Jason’s stomach dropped. His mind recalled last night in painful flashes, his talk with Batman, how it turned sour, the Batarang, the flood of green stealing his vision.

Jason yanked himself away from them. “Get back. I don’t want to hurt you!” Roy’s face shattered before he slowly brought himself closer to Jason, approaching him like you would a wounded animal.

“Jason.” He whispered reverently, lifting their linked hands to press a kiss to Jason’s bloodied knuckles. “Jason, you're not going to hurt us.”

“How do you know?”

“I know you.” Roy said fiercely. “You don’t scare me.”

Jason’s lips shook and he lifted his other hand and pressed it against Roy’s cheeks, his hand trembled with exertion and his shoulder screamed in protest. He looked deep into Roy’s eyes. His boyfriend boldly kept his soft, loving gaze as Jason desperately searched his eyes for fear. He found none. Jason let his arm fall from Roy’s cheek and closed his eyes to hide his brewing tears.

“I’m sorry.” He murmured. Roy let out a wounded noise.

“There is nothing for you to be sorry for.” Roy squeezed his hand.

“I lost control.” Jason replied with a small, broken voice. “I nearly killed him.”

Constantine and Roy shared a worried and confused look.

“I was so close to killing him.” Jason sobbed. “I didn’t want to but I couldn’t…” Jason sucked in a shaky breath. “There was just so much green.”

Roy ran a soothing hand through Jason’s hair. “Jaybird, you need to breathe. Just breathe for me.”

“You didn’t kill him.” Constantine told him seriously. “That’s what really mattered. You took back control.”

Jason nodded frantically in agreement and tried to breathe.

“You didn’t kill him.” Roy reassured him again, his hand still running through his hair. “And you’re alive.” His boyfriend sighed, emotion overwhelming his voice. “You’re alive.”

Jason closed his eyes and savoured the feeling of pain that served as a reminder that he was still here. He hadn’t left them. Not this time. His eyes snapped open and over to Constantine.

“You didn’t resurrect me right? I didn’t die this time.”

Constantine didn’t laugh at his panic. Instead he placed a hand above Jason’s chest and held his gaze. He spoke very seriously, probably more seriously than Jason had ever heard the sorcerer sound before. “I did not resurrect you. You never died this time. You came close. So close. But you never faded completely. I merely helped you cling onto that life and replenished it as much as I could.”

Jason nodded his head in thanks and relief. He did not want to come back for a third time. Not when he shouldn’t even be back now. He didn’t deserve his second chance, let alone his third. He closed his eyes again, exhaustion weighing heavily on his mind. He vaguely felt Roy shift to lie beside him, their still linked hands laid over his body.

The second time he woke up Roy was snoring softly in his ear, last night finally catching up on the archer. Jason didn’t try to move this time. He was tempted to let his eyes fall shut again when he heard the murmur of voices keeping vigil beside him. Tim and Steph were speaking in hushed tones. It took them only a few more seconds to realise that he was awake and then he heard them shift closer.

“Jason?” Steph whispered.

Jason grunted in response.

“Thank god.” Tim breathed. Jason blinked his eyes open to look at their twin anxious expressions.

“Hey.” He murmured in greeting, then after looking around the room he asked, “Where did Constantine go?”

“He and Harley are distracting Mason and Duke with Mario kart. I hope you don’t mind but they know that you are Red Hood now.” Tim said nervously. “Roy’s panicked yell to wake up Constantine woke us all up and then when Harley came this morning she sort of clocked that something was wrong and we had to tell her something.”

Jason sighed. Of course this is happening. “Are they ok with it?” He asked.

“Why wouldn’t they be?!” Steph said fiercely. Tim nodded in agreement. “It changes nothing.”

Jason closed his eyes. He’d cried enough the past few days. He just nodded his head.

“Jason, what happened?” Tim asked softly.

Jason kept his eyes closed and stayed silent for a few moments. Finally, when he spoke his voice lacked all emotion. “I ran into Bruce. We got into an argument. We fought. It ended badly.”

“That fucker.” Steph hissed.

“No. It wasn’t his fault.”

They stayed in a pregnant silence, the air heavy like before a storm breaks.“I nearly killed him.” He finally admitted in a broken whisper, staring up at the bland white ceiling of his room.

Tim took in a shocked breath and Steph stilled.

“The Lazarus it….I nearly killed him.” He sobbed.

“Oh, Jason.” Steph whispered, suddenly her small hand slipped into his free one. “But you didn’t.”

“I could have. It was just a trigger pull away.” Jason recalled in a detached voice. He waited for Steph to pull her hand out of his and storm out in disgust. She didn’t though. Instead he felt Tim gently lay his hand on his arm.

“Jason, maybe you nearly killed Bruce. But it wasn’t your fault.” Jason squeezed his eyes shut tighter.

“He nearly killed you too, Jay.” Steph said. “We nearly lost you.”

Jason sucked in a breath, despair flooding through him. He was exhausted.

“I’m sorry.” He whispered. “I didn’t want to leave you.”

“We know you didn’t, Jay.” Tim replied softly. “We are so glad you didn’t.”

“‘M glad too.” He murmured before sleep and pain pulled him under again.

The next time Jason awoke Roy was sat cross legged on the mattress next to him, carefully shaping the fletching of his arrows with a green knife shaped like a leaf.

Jason snorted. “You have that because of Legolas don’t you?” He waved his hand towards the knife.

“He’s a renowned archer.” Roy replied with a grin. “We all have our role models.”

“Alright, Legolas.” Jason lifted himself up with a groan. His shoulder throbbed but pain no longer shot through his entire body at the movement. The Lazarus pit gave him some benefits. His healing factor was probably the best of them. Constantine’s magic must have increased it further, or it would still hurt at least twice as bad. “I’m starving. Shoot me a rabbit or something will you?”

“I shall provide.” Roy replied with a grin, standing up and leaving the room. He returned with a bowl of spaghetti, covered with chopped up spicy sausage. An arrow had been placed in the bowl beside the fork. Jason laughed until the bruises on his sides ached.

He pulled his boyfriend in for a quick kiss. “Thank you. This is certainly a magnificent catch.”

“I hunted it in your honour.” Roy replied with a serious nod. “Took it straight out from under Constantine’s nose.”

“If he cooked it, is it even edible?” Jason asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t worry Mason watched over him and stopped him from burning the house down. You have a very good sous chef there.”

“I trained him well.” Jason nodded with a fond smile.

He dug into the bowl of spaghetti with passion. He was starving. His healing often required more energy and food to keep it quick. His trainers had proved this to him by starving him for long stretches and then timing how long it took for him to heal from their wounds depending on how long ago he last ate. Talia had thrown a fit when she realised, after one of the times when his body nearly gave up on itself. She nursed him back to health. When he went back to training it was to new faces. Because of this however he was intimately aware of how he healed and with whatever Constantine had done to help him heal he should be able to get out of bed and back to light exercise by tomorrow at this rate.

Roy looked outraged when he told him all this. He blinked in shock at Jason before grabbing the bowl and silently leaving the room. Jason frowned in confusion. When he returned it was with another bowl and Mason.

Jason waved hello to the teenager and gratefully accepted the bowl.

“Roy tells me you think you can get out of bed tomorrow like you didn’t nearly just die.” Mason scolded him.

“And he sent you in here, why?”

“To weaponize my puppy eyes.” Mason said simply. “You will do no such thing. I have the Princess Bride book here, I know you like it and I am going to read it to you and only when I have completely finished it will you be allowed to leave and if you try to do so beforehand Roy will sit on you.”

Jason blinked. Then he sighed and shuffled over so Roy could lie down next to him. Mason took a seat at the bottom of the mattress and opened the book. He cleared his throat and then started to read. He started slow at first, with his dyslexia causing him to occasionally have to ask for help, however he was incredibly soothing to listen to. Jason felt a soft smile form on his lips as he resigned himself to being bed bound and pampered for at least another day. His room slowly filled with Tim and Steph, and even Duke, dragging in pillows and making themselves comfortable around his bed. Constantine and Harley came in behind them. Harley surprised Jason when she pressed a kiss to his forehead in greeting, telling him in no uncertain terms to not pull that sort of shit again. His phone buzzed with messages of get well soon and concern from the girls, Matt, Lorenzo, and shockingly Carl, which Roy read out for him.

Jason still hurt but their persistent love served like a healing balm, distracting him from the agony of last night. However, surrounded by friends and family Jason felt the absence of those who were missing more keenly. Whenever he was sick or hurt it used to be Bruce who sat by his side, a book in hand. And it was his big brother Dick who used to distract him with games and silly stories of all the times he made Bruce freak out. Alfred would be the one to come in with a cup of soup and bread and honey sandwiches. Jason missed them. The pain was more prominent than his wounds. He wanted his Dad back. He still missed him. The same person who had done this to him used to be the one who tried so hard to take the pain away.

There was only one person Jason felt he could go to, one person who would understand the duality of hating and loving Bruce after he unknowingly hurt them.

Jason gave his friends and family one more day to hover over him and share their affections, then on the next morning he found himself standing alone in front of an unassuming blue door in Bludhaven.

Chapter Text

Jason’s phone had been buzzing pretty much nonstop since he snuck out of his apartment this morning and got on the train to Bludhaven. He ignored it. He’d left a note behind to Roy telling him not to worry about him and that he had something to do that he had to do alone. Now Jason felt trepidation seize him as he stood in front of Dick’s apartment. He had found out where his brother now lived pretty much as soon as he came back to Gotham but this was the first time he’d built up the nerve to actually go there. Still, Jason hesitated. By making his return known to Dick it was inevitable that Bruce would follow. Jason had the Batarang nestled in his pocket which showed just how well that reveal was expected to go.

But Jason really wanted his brother.

His hand shook as he brought it up to knock on the door.

He heard a clatter and then muffled footsteps as Dick approached. His heart clenched painfully. When the door opened Jason sucked in a shaky breath. Dick hadn’t changed that much over the years. He still had his shaggy black hair, falling around his ears. His skin was still a warm caramel that matched his comforting personality. He was wearing his uniform from last night's police shift, the shirt crinkled from where he’d slept on it and he held a cup of steaming coffee in his hand. He blinked blearily at Jason before his eyes widened dramatically and the coffee cup slipped from his grasp. His face drained of all colour, the ashy paleness looking distinctly wrong. Dick was meant to be the one who stayed colourful, who kept his hope and Robin's magic even when he left the colours behind. He wasn’t supposed to look this devastated and afraid.

“Hey, Dickwing,” Jason said hesitantly.

Dick stumbled backwards before slamming the door in his face. Jason blinked in shock. He could hear Dick’s body slumping against the door and his muffled sobs. Jason banged on the door again.

“Come on, Dick! Let me in!” Jason yelled desperately.

“Go away!” Dick’s voice came faintly from the other side of the door.

Jason was confused, he had no idea what he had expected but it wasn’t this.

“But I came all this way,” Jason said, his frustration slipping through, expertly masking his sick feeling of fear.

“No. No. I stopped seeing you. I got better. It's not the anniversary or your birthday. This isn’t fair. You’re not real so go away!” Dick sobbed. “You're not real!”

Jason felt nauseous. Dick thought he was a hallucination. Even worse Dick had been seeing hallucinations of him and from the sound of it, they hadn’t been happy experiences.

“It’s me, Dick. I’m really here. I need to speak with you. Please open the door.”

After there came no answer except the soft sounds of his brother breaking down on the other side of the door Jason started banging on the door again.

“Shit, Dick, you're scaring me! Let me in!”

“Go away! Please. Please, Little Wing. I’m sorry! I’m so sorry.”

“There’s nothing to be sorry for Dick,” Jason assured him, pressing himself against the door.

“I wasn’t there for you. I couldn’t save you.” Dick sounded so dejected like he had said it a thousand times. “I’m sorry. I’m sorry.” Dick’s voice faded out to more heartbreaking sobs.

“Dick, I need you to open this door right now,” Jason told him vehemently before he started knocking again. “Dick open this door or I will find another way in.”

“You're a ghost, Little Wing, it doesn’t matter if I open this door you always find me anyway.”

Jason wanted to wring the neck of this hallucination version of himself. Jesus fucking Christ, this was bad. This was so bad. Jason had never seen Dick like this. He’d seen him rage and scream at Bruce. He’d seen him cry, both at sad movies and about Bruce. But never once had he seen Dick look or sound this broken.

Jason scrubbed a hand over his face, wiping away the tears that had slipped out. Fuck.

“Look, Dickie-bird, I’m coming. It’s going to all be ok.” He promised his brother before running down the flights of stairs, out of the building and scaling the fire escape until his shoulder screamed. He stopped in front of Dick’s apartment window, prying it open with his fingers and falling through it with a thump. His heart hammered away as he pushed himself up and scrambled in front of Dick, falling to his knees.

Dick caught sight of him and whined, burying his face in his hands, desperately pulling on his hair like the pain would make Jason disappear. His eyes were red and puffy and tears streamed down his face.

“You look older, Little Wing,” Dick said hoarsely. “I wish I could have seen you grow up.”

Jason felt unsteady, his head spinning. He carefully laid his hands on Dick’s hands and removed them from where he had buried them into his scalp. He ran his hands over Dick’s knuckles and tried to get his fists to unclench.

“Shh. Hey, Dick, I’m here. This time I’m really here.” Jason whispered. “Please, can you look at me?”

Dick flexed his hand experimentally, his face pulling into a frown as he looked at Jason’s hands gently cradling his. He slowly moved his hands to squeeze Jason’s. His mouth parted into an oh and his face shot up to look at Jason’s. Jason smiled awkwardly at his brother. Dick just stared back at him, eyes widened with awe and confusion. He shuffled closer when Dick still hadn’t moved. This movement seemed to be what snapped Dick out of his reverence and he lunged forward and tackled Jason to the floor in a tight unrelenting hug. Jason let out a surprised laugh.

“Now that's more like the Dickie-Bird I know,” Jason said shakily, wrapping his arms around his brother’s trembling form. It was weird how much smaller Dick was now compared to him.

“Jay. Jason. Little Wing. You're here! How?” Dick exclaimed into Jason’s shirt, the material was quickly growing damp with his brother’s tears.

“I’m here, Dick,” Jason reassured him, tightening his hold around Dick. “I’m here. I’m not sure how but I can promise you I’m not going anywhere”

He held his brother as he shook apart in his arms, as tightly as he could to prevent him from unravelling completely until the pieces could not be put back together. They stayed like that for what felt like hours until Jason’s shoulder throbbed in pain.

“Hey, Dick?” He whispered. His brother nodded against him. “Do you mind if we move this to the couch? I’ve got a pretty fucked up shoulder right now.”

Dick pulled away, his lips twisted into a familiar frown of concern. He gently pulled the sleeve of Jason’s shirt up until he could see the wound on Jason’s shoulder. It had healed enough that it was just an angry red scar. Dick, gently rubbed his finger over the bump, Jason hid his wince.

“What happened?” Dick asked seriously, his protective older brother mode kicking in and making him seemingly forget that he’d just had a complete meltdown mere moments before.

“It’s a long story. Why don’t I make us some drinks and start from the beginning?” Jason replied. Dick nodded. He lifted himself off Jason and shakily stood up. Jason followed him into Dick’s kitchen. Jason started searching through the cupboards until he found Hot chocolate powder and cinnamon. The cupboards were worryingly bare of food. There was a stack of unwashed dishes in the sink and a half-eaten bowl of cereal on the counter. Jason lifted his eyebrow at Dick.

“Cereal for lunch, really?”

Dick just shrugged. “I wasn’t that hungry.”

Jason rolled his eyes but set about making a sandwich for Dick from the few ingredients he had in his fridge and two mugs of Hot Chocolate, just like Alfred used to make it. Dick constantly kept him in his sights as if he feared that at any moment Jason would disappear. Every now and then Jason would purposefully brush past him and press their shoulders together to remind him that he was in fact real and tangible. Dick sucked in a surprised breath of air with every touch.

“How are you here, Little Wing?” He finally asked when Jason had led them both back to Dick’s couch. His features were still coloured with disbelief.

“I don’t know, Dick.” Jason sighed. “I woke up in my coffin.”

Dick whimpered at that, his eyes once more going glassy with tears, Jason took his hand and squeezed it.

“I woke up in my coffin.” Jason started again. “But I wasn’t really me then. All I remember is flashes of digging myself out and then I have a vague recollection of the cold streets of Gotham. I apparently walked them in a coma-like state for a while. Then the League of Assassins found me.”

Dick stiffened at that, his grip on Jason’s hand had become painful.

“They put me in the pit,” Jason whispered. “The Lazarus. It healed my mind and gave me back my self but it also changed me. It fucked me up. I was so angry. It would completely take over my mind for days on end at first. Then I learnt how to live with it. The League liked my anger. They sharpened it as a weapon and trained me.” Jason took in a shaky breath “Dick, I’ve done terrible things.”

Dick didn’t draw back in disgust but instead shifted closer so his body was pressed against his brother's side. Jason cleared his throat and continued.

“I’ve killed people. A lot of people. Some I didn’t even remember killing, all I remember is the toxic green of the pit and waking up surrounded by the bodies. But eventually, I was considered stable enough to be sent out on missions. First, minor ones close to the League bases. Then they allowed me to come back here.”

“They told me things there. They twisted my mind until all I could think about was hurting you. Hurting Bruce. For fucks sake I even wanted to hurt the kid.” Jason sobbed. He expected this to be the moment Dick recoiled but his brother stayed, watching him with wretched eyes, brimming with tears. “All I could think about was revenge. I was so angry. It seemed that you had all moved on, that I’d been replaced and forgotten.”

“Never,” Dick whispered fiercely.

“I know that,” Jason replied. “I know that now.”

Jason took a deep breath and steadied himself. “Dick, I am the Red Hood.”

Dick’s face fell slack with surprise. Jason looked away from him, instead focusing on their linked hands. He could feel his tears fall. Eventually, Dick dropped his hand and Jason tensed, feeling cold wash over him only for that hand to lift Jason’s face up to meet Dick’s earnest gaze.

“That doesn’t matter.”

Jason laughed wetly. “It sort of does Dick. It’s a pretty big fucking deal unless you're forgetting the stories on how the Red Hood’s reign started.”

“No, Jay, listen to me. I don’t care about that. I don’t care how many people you’ve killed. All I care about is the fact that I’ve got my little brother back.”

Jason let out a pitiful sob but held Dick’s unshakeable gaze.

“Jason. I never dared allow myself to think I’d have a second chance with you. Now I do. So I’m going to say what I’ve been regretting not telling you enough before you died.”

Dick cradled Jason’s face, a tear slipping down his cheek.

“Jason, you’re my little brother and I love you. I’m sorry I wasn’t there for you that day. I’m so sorry you didn’t feel like you could come talk to me before you ran.”

Jason shook his head frantically.

“Dick, you can’t blame yourself for that. I was a stupid upset kid and I trusted the wrong person and it got me killed. You have nothing to be sorry for.”

“And you have nothing to be ashamed about being the Red Hood,” Dick told him just as forcefully. Jason opened his mouth to argue. “No, Jason. The Red Hood is more than the blood he sheds. He protects. It’s what he’s known for. Yes, I’m surprised you're now a pretty well-known crimelord but I’m not surprised that you're still putting yourself out there and looking out for all the people who can’t look out for themselves. I’ve heard about your rules that look after children, and all the traffickers and paedophiles you have ended because of it. And quite frankly good riddance. Jesus, Jay, you saved Tim. He’s only still alive because of you.”

Dick gets increasingly more sure of his words as he continues.

“You do such good, Jason. You’ve helped so many people and so many people trust you to save them. You have turned a place even Batman fears to enter into one that can begin to hope again. I’m proud of you.”

Jason was overwhelmed by Dick’s passion, he could feel his tears steadily falling down his face. His brother smiled sadly at him then before pulling him into one of his warm hugs. It felt like coming home. The feeling of safety was instantaneous.

“Thank you,” Jason whispered. Dick held him close, pressing a kiss on top of Jason’s head. Their hot chocolates grew cold on the coffee table beside them. Finally, Jason pulled back, wiping his face with a pathetic laugh.

“Wow. This was so many emotions.”

“Tell me about it.” Dick agreed with a little giggle. “I still can’t quite believe that you're back. Are you certain that you are not a shapeshifter or clone?”

“I mean. I’m pretty sure. Tim definitely ran a DNA test at the cave if you want to ask him.”

Dick laughed.

“Oh, of course he did. So what do you think of the kid?”

“I would honestly die for him,” Jason said with a grin. “He also occasionally terrifies me.”

“That sounds about right. Once he reaches a certain level of sleep deprivation he is the most imposing thing I’ve ever faced.” Dick nodded in agreement.

“Well, turns out he’s not the only person who seems to get hallucinations,” Jason said with a knowing look. Dick just wriggled uncomfortably on the couch.

“Yeah, well, It has been a while but I used to see you everywhere, Little Wing. I missed you so much.”

“That’s not worrying at all,” Jason said drily. “May I ask why my hallucinations were so mean to you?”

Dick shook his head. Jason just sighed and let the subject slide for now.

“Ok, well why don’t you fill me in on your life then?” He asked instead.

Dick beamed, launching into a retelling of his best cases as both a police detective and as Nightwing. He also shared his favourite stories of Tim, Steph and Bruce. Jason’s heart clenched at the mentions of Bruce but he continued to listen to his brother with a fond smile. After a while Jason found himself sharing his own stories of his friends. He told Dick about Crystal, Dan, Renee and Mason. He also explained to him how he first met Steph and then how she purposefully nudged herself into his life. He recalled saving Tim and the fear he felt at the image of another beaten Robin and then his relief at seeing the kid on the rooftop alive and well. Dick teared up at that part. He didn’t seem overly upset that the two of them kept Jason’s return to themselves, instead, he said simply “They were protecting you. I couldn’t be prouder.”

Finally, he had only two main secrets to update his brother on and he wasn’t sure which one he dreaded sharing more. Finally, he settled on what was definitely the happiest of the two.

“So, Dick, there is something I had meant to tell you..um…well before…”

Dick looked at him curiously and waited for him to proceed.

“Um, well I wasn’t sure then but I’m sure now…Dick, I’m gay.” His older brother just blinked at him before his face split into a brilliant smile.

“Little Wing, that’s wonderful. I’m so happy you told me.”

“Ok. Now that was the easy part. I want you to remember your happiness for me when I tell you the next thing.”

Dick nodded supportively.

“I’m dating Roy.” Jason blurted out.

“What?!”

“Roy Harper. Arsenal. He’s my boyfriend. It’s a relatively new thing but I love him, Dick.”

Dick blinked for a few moments, absorbing the information that one of his childhood best friends was dating his baby brother.

“And he’s good to you?” Dick asked hesitantly.

Jason nodded enthusiastically.

“He’s the best.”

“Ok. Well, then I’m happy for you.” Dick smiled at Jason, reaching out a hand to ruffle his hair. “And I’m going to need your address so I can ambush him with a shovel talk.”

Jason laughed in relief. “I think he’s expecting that.”

“Well, it's not like I need the element of surprise to get my message across properly.”

“Of course not.” Jason grinned. “Try not to scare him away, yeah?”

Dick’s eyes softened and he nodded gently with a smile. “I can’t believe it, my little bro, all grown up and in love!”

“Shut up, Dickwad!”

“No, no, I’ve missed out on years of teasing. You’ve got to give me this!” Dick laughed. Jason rolled his eyes.

“You’re worse than Steph! Honestly!”

“I believe that in no way shape or form. Now tell me how you two met!”

“Well, when I was a skinny, courageous fourteen-year-old…”

“You know what I mean. How did you re-meet?”

Jason grinned like the Cheshire cat before he launched into a dramatic retelling of his rescue of Roy from the dumpster. Dick hummed along at all the right places, his arm pressed against Jason the entire time. Eventually, they moved back into the kitchen to pop their Hot Chocolate mugs into the microwave.

“Oh, does this mean you’ve met John?” Dick asked suddenly.
“He practically lives in my apartment now!” Jason exclaimed. “And I can’t even hate him 'cause he is actually occasionally fucking sweet.”

“Ah, Sweet and sour. The Cynical man’s decline.”

“I don’t think you even know what you mean by that. But yeah, he’s like a stray cat that refuses to leave and then gets bored and starts knocking things off the sides. But he’s helped me out a few too many times for me to defenestrate him.”

Dick snorted. “Wow, life must be so hard!”

“Hey! You share a very small apartment with a sorcerer who occasionally starts to converse and summon ancient entities or breaks your fucking coffee machine! He also has a Tetris addiction.”

Dick laughed, then randomly pulled Jason into a bone-crushing hug. Jason squawked but melted into his brother’s arms.

“I’ve missed you,” Dick murmured again. Jason snuggled closer.

“I missed you too.” He admitted. “I wanted to tell you for so long but I didn’t know how to. I didn’t know what you’d say or how you’d take who I’ve become.”

“Jason there is nothing you could do that would make me stop loving you,” Dick said seriously. “As for who you’ve become, well, I think it’s pretty awesome. You’ve made a life for yourself. You have found people who love you and who you love. There is nothing better than that.”

Dick kept cuddling him and even though Jason was at least 2 inches taller than Dick now he still felt small and sheltered in his big brother’s arms. Dick carded his fingers through Jason’s hair like he used to do when he comforted Jason as a kid. Jason hummed contently at the action.

“So when are you telling Bruce?”

Jason stiffened and Dick’s fingers froze in his hair.

“Well about that Dick, I’m not so certain that is the best idea right now,” Jason said hesitantly. Dick made a hurt, questioning noise. Jason closed his eyes and sighed, wishing that he could hide away in Dick’s arms without thinking about that night.

“Bruce…Batman has made his disapproval and…um…hatred for me known.” Jason told Dick slowly. “I don’t think he’d be very pleased to see me.”

“That’s not true.”

“Dick, I fucked up.”

“Jason, you're alive. That’s all Bruce is going to care about.”

Jason pulled out of Dick’s arms and put distance between them. Dick’s eyes filled with hurt. Jason firmly closed his eyes to shut his brother’s face out.

“Dick I nearly killed him.” Jason blurted out into the silence. He opened his eyes to see Dick’s face shatter.

“I nearly killed him,” Jason said again, his voice rising in volume. “I was so fucking close to putting a bullet through his skull.” He shouted. “How can he forgive that? I’m dangerous, Dick. Especially to him.”

“Jason,” Dick said softly.

“No, Dick.” Jason pulled out the Batarang and threw it onto the counter, the echo of its clatter ringing out in the silence. “Batman fucking hates Hood. Enough that he nearly broke his number one rule. I love Bruce. I can’t see his hatred when he knows it’s me. At least when he hates me under the helmet I can tell myself it's just Batman and Red Hood, not Jason and Bruce. I can’t have him hate me when the helmet comes off. I can't. I wouldn’t survive that, Dick.”

“Jason, he wouldn’t hate you,” Dick said desperately.

“Are you not listening!” Jason yelled in frustration. “He fucking skewered me with a Batarang and I lost control. I couldn’t stop myself until he was crumpled at my feet with a gun pointed at his head.”

“Jason, that was the Lazarus..”

“Dick, I am the fucking Lazarus in walking form. It is a part of me, one I hate but can’t remove. I thought I had it under control. I thought you’d all be safe from me now. But how can I be sure of that when I nearly killed Dad!”

“Jason.” Dick approached him deliberately, his hand’s outstretched placatingly. “Oh, Jason.” Dick sighed sorrowfully, grabbing his shoulders. Jason allowed his brother to enfold him in another embrace, his hand cradling the back of his head and soothingly playing with his hair. Jason had lost count of how many times he had cried in the past few days, yet here he was bawling like a kid yet again. He sobbed uncontrollably, mourning for his Dad, and the chance of a relationship between him that Jason had destroyed the moment he put on his blood-red helmet. “It's ok. I’ve got you, Jaybird.” Dick whispered on repeat into Jason’s curls. “I’ve got you. You’re not going to hurt me. You could never hurt me, Jaybird.”

Jason could. He was trained to know how to cause pain. His entire body was shaped and melded for that purpose. For the first few weeks out of the League, he had to consciously choose not to. Jason didn’t want to be valued for his ability to cause pain anymore. He now remembered what it was like to feel someone touch him without the intention to cause harm. He had nearly cried when Crystal first hugged him when he met her again. She had known then that something was wrong immediately. With just a soft touch Jason had reverted to his seven-year-old self, flinching at the slightest physical contact and terrified to be held. It had taken him a week to acclimatise to the feeling of being loved again and just like before it was Crystal who gently coached him through it. The moments he spent with her were the first time he truly registered how he hadn’t viewed the world past the veil of green since he had been dipped in the Lazarus. Even when he thought he had, his vision had still been tinged in it. It was through her that he finally regained control of his mind. Jason had fought ever since to keep control. He had lapsed a few times, some even willingly as he harnessed the toxic green and fight stronger and more viciously. That night was the first time he had unwillingly lost it in a long time. And it frightened him. Far more than he could ever admit. What if he’d shaken the Lazarus’ hold a second later? The image of Bruce with a hole in his head leaking dark blood haunted both Jason’s dreams and his waking moments.

Jason was scared that the next time he fought Bruce he wouldn’t come back.

“I can’t see Bruce.” He whispered against Dick’s shoulder. “Please don’t make me.”

“I won’t, Little Wing, I wont. But whenever you’re ready I’ll be there. I wont let him hurt you and I wont let the Lazarus hurt him. I promise, Jay.”

Jason nodded fiercely, and the tremors that shook his body began to ease up. He drew in a weak breath, then another. “I’m sorry.” Jason whispered.

“Oh, Jason. There is nothing to be sorry for.”

Jason couldn’t help but snort, then he began to giggle. He’d said the exact same thing to Dick only a few hours ago.

“What?” Dick asked.

“We make quite the pair don’t we?” Jason said between his giggles. “We’re so fucked up its funny.”

Dick laughed along side him.

“Trauma comes with the lifestyle, Jay. But I think we’re doing pretty well with what we’ve been through.” He said with a secret smile.

“Your right, we’ve only had roughly three meltdowns today. We’re dealing like champs.” Jason murmured his agreement, still breaking into little wet hiccuping giggles.

“We learnt from the best.” Dick said solemnly. “Bruce has never once claimed to be well-adjusted when it comes to dealing with trauma.”

“That’s because he dressed up as a crime fighting furry. It would hardly be a believable lie.”

Dick outright cackled. “I would pay money for you to call him a furry to his face!”

“Do I have to wait until he knows its me? Or can Red Hood call him that?” Jason asked curiously. He’s pretty sure Bruce wouldn’t bat an eye if it was Red Hood who called him that. Well, thats if he gives Jason any time to talk at all.

“Nope.” Dick said gleefully. “Twenty dollars. Only if you say it to his face as Jason not as Hood..”

“You do know I’m rich right? Like I’ve got the League’s unlimited account. I don’t really need your twenty dollars.”

“It’s not about the money, it’s about the pride.” Dick insisted.

“Do you really want to kill me so soon after finding out that I’m alive?” Jason laughed.

“Of course not, Jaybird. I’ll protect you. Don’t tell me you're scared?” Dick teased.

“Alright then, Dickwad, I bet you twenty dollars to do the same. Whoever says it first wins.” Jason paused. “But you have to wait till Bruce knows I’m back and then after that its fair game.”

“Deal.” Dick agreed, squeezing Jason tightly.

They ordered pizza in for supper. It was that or Dick’s cereal collection. They were once more sat on the couch, Jason’s legs resting on top of Dick’s lap as he lolled his head backwards and let out a groan when he looked at his phone. While they were eating Jason finally replied to the barrage of messages from Roy, Crystal, Mason, Steph and Tim. He let them know that he was safe and would be back tomorrow. Crystal replied almost immediately with a thumbs up and photos of a new apartment on sale at the edge of Crime Alley.

“Hey, do you think you can take some time off from work? Say its a family emergency?” Jason, grabbed another slice of pizza and shoved it into his mouth.

Dick swallowed his own bite and gave him a wolf-like grin. “Without a doubt, Little Wing. What are you planning?”

“I’m going to check out a new apartment. I was wondering whether you’d like to come?” Jason asked tentatively. Dick’s grin widened.

“I’d love too.”

“Great!” Jason hummed. He texted Crystal the plan, telling her to let Roy know and to ask Mason whether he wanted to skip school on a sick day and check it out with him. She let him know that Steph and Tim had found out what was happening and would also be joining them. Then there came another text that Constantine was curious too. Then another that Harley would feel left out if she wasn’t invited.

Jason sighed and texted her to just bring everyone. Duke too if the kid didn’t have any issues skiving. Dick was also tapping away on his phone.

“Okay. I’m off for the next week at least.” He told Jason happily, chucking his phone onto the table. It bounced and fell onto the floor with a thump. Dick didn’t seem to care.

“What did the phone ever do to you?” Jason asked with a raised eyebrow.

“Don’t worry it once fell out of my pocket when I was practising flips on a rooftop and survived a three story drop.” Dick replied casually. He pulled off the olives from his new slice of pizza and handed them over to Jason who accepted them happily.

“So you are testing its lifespan?”

“You and I know that when it breaks Bruce will just buy me a new one.”

“I forgot how flippant you are with money,” Jason said with a laugh. “Yet you still don’t bother to stock your fridge. Alfie would be horrified!”

“Take-out is easier. Unlike you I didn’t take Alfred’s cooking lessons. Beans on toast gets old after a while and I don’t really have the skills for anything that needs to be heated.”

“How many fires did it take you to realise that?”

Dick huffed his offense before mumbling “Three.” Jason laughed.

“I’m surprised it wasn’t more.” He said with a cheeky grin. Dick was notorious for his inability to cook. Jason used to purposefully join him in the kitchen every time he tried just to watch the car crash that was Dick behind a stove.

“Shut up, you.” Dick shoved his shoulder. Jason winced.

“Oh, fuck. That was the bad one wasn’t it?” Dick exclaimed. Jason just rolled it back and gave Dick a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry. It’s all good. I heal quick.”

Dick shot him a suspicious look but instead of fussing more over Jason’s wound he just handed Jason another slice of pizza. Jason smiled in return.

“So are you well enough to accompany me on my patrol tonight?”

“I could do with letting off a little steam. I wasn’t even allowed to go to the loo alone back in my apartment. I really need to punch someone at this point.”

“We can definitely arrange for that to happen.”

-----------------------

Dick was not joking. Bludhaven was wild.

Jason didn’t even have his gear, he just borrowed a dominos mask from Dick, wore his red hoodie and pocketed the Batarang he bought with him. Dick didn’t have any spare guns. He also refused to let Jason borrow his escrima sticks. Jason spent the start of the patrol sulking about that. Dick didn’t budge.

It didn’t take long though for Jason to be distracted by the chaos of a Bludhaven night. It was a mix of stupid lunatics getting themselves into dangerous situations and having to wait for Nightwing to swoop in and save them, and the usual violent thug and gang activity. Jason and Dick fell into an easy rhythm.

It was one of the former who they were dealing with at the moment. They had come across a man who was ducktaped to a billboard, and refused to tell them how or why. Jason took one look at him and had to walk away so he could laugh. Dick gave him an unimpressed glare. His brother engaged the man in idle chatter as he surveyed the situation and Jason focused on breathing through his giggles. .

“Hood. Do you mind giving me a hand?” Dick yelled. Jason struggled to compose himself but returned to his brother’s side. It took them a while but they set up an intricate rope system and Jason lowered himself down to secure the man before he used the Batarang to cut him free. The man watched him with wary eyes.

“When Nightwing said Hood he didn’t mean….” He asked at last.

“Red Hood. I’m afraid he does, man.”

“What the fuck are you doing here?”

“I thought I’d come sight seeing.”

“At Bludhaven. Its not exactly got many tourist attractions.” The man sniped. Jason just grinned toothily at the man and continued cutting.

When he was done Dick raised them both to the top of the billboard. The man stood shakily on the top.

“Isn’t this exciting, Hood! Your first billboard rescue.” Dick clasped Jason’s arm and grinned at him wildly.

“First? You mean this happens regularly here?”

“Oh, totally. I’ve yet to figure out if its some sort of prank or gang initiation but this is like the fourth time I’ve found someone in someway trapped on one of these.”

“Bludhaven is weird.” Jason muttered.

“And Gotham isn’t?!” Dick laughed. “At least we have less colourful psychopaths running wild here!”

The man cleared his throat and interrupted their bickering “Do you mind? Can you not have this conversation on solid ground instead of on top of a precarious billboard?”

“Oh. Right!” Dick bounced on his heels, he grabbed the man around his waist and pulling out his grappling hook he jumped. Jason followed after him with a laugh. The man’s scream was hilarious. When Jason landed next to them on the rooftop the man was pale and shaky.

“Do you want our help down to the street?” Dick asked casually. The man frantically shook his head.

“I’ll take the stairs.” He squeaked in reply before darting off.

Jason and Dick burst out into uncontrollable laughter as soon as the man had disappeared.

“That was priceless.”

“You ready for some more?” Dick asked, patting Jason on the back.

“Bring it on.” Jason replied.

Jason got to throw his punch a little while later as he and Dick stopped a break in.

“Fuck yeah!” Jason exclaimed as he retracted his fist, his knuckles smarting at the power of the strike. Dick flipped behind him and kicked the other robber in the face with the grace of a professional dancer. The third man took one look and tried to run, only to be hit in the back by a shock of electricity from Dick’s escrima sticks.

“Nice job.” Jason said as he lifted his perp. Dick had already started tying his two together. Jason added his criminal to the pile.

“You too, Little wing.” Dick smiled.

With the perps down and the police on the way Dick and Jason moved on. They bounced around the city, the crime life keeping them busy. Jason made friends with a lovely prostitute after saving her from a mugging. He handed her a slip of paper with Crystal’s work number on and told her to message if she ever wanted help. Dick rescued a cat from a tree, only for the cat to scale it again and glare down at them as if daring them to try remove it. Jason was the one who tried the second time. He regretted that almost immediately when the little beast scratched him to pieces. When the cat climbed back up for the third time they decided to leave it be.

By the time they returned to Dick’s apartment they were pleasantly exhausted and aching from a job well done. They collapsed on Dick’s bed. Dick, the bastard, stole most of the blanket and refused to stop cuddling Jason. It didn’t matter though. Both were fast asleep within minutes.

Chapter Text

Jason and Dick were running late, even with Dick’s lawless driving. Jason closed his eyes as they veered close to incoming traffic.

“Eyes on the road, Dick!!” Jason yelled, clutching his seatbelt like a lifeline.

“Stop your bitching. It’s distracting!” Dick snapped back, pressing his horn for the twelfth time this trip and slamming on the brakes.

“Dickwad, I swear to god if I die in this car surrounded by the inexplicable smell of wet dog, I will come back and wring your neck.”

“Relax, Jay. I’m not going to kill us. You’re so dramatic!”

Jason blinked his eyes open for a moment only to see Dick breeze past some poor cyclist at a worryingly high speed. Jason preferred ignorance. He closed his eyes again and started muttering a prayer. He wasn’t even that religious.

Dick just wacked his arm.

“Jason, you’re overacting.” His brother said mildly. Jason felt the car swerve as he spoke.

“Dick, every year there are over 6 million car crashes in the US. It is the leading cause of death! I’m sorry that I don’t want to become part of a statistic.”

“Jason, we literally dance with death every night and you're scared of cars?”

“Yes!” Jason exclaimed. “Did you not hear me?! This is literally a death machine!”

Dick sighed before turning up the volume on the CD and drowning out Jason’s complaints with Taylor Swift.

Jason had never felt more glad to arrive anywhere. As soon as the car stopped moving, he clawed desperately at the handle and clambered out.

“Oh, sweet stationary ground have I missed you!”

Dick rolled his eyes and followed him out.

“So ungrateful.” He muttered, locking his car. “Hey, do you think its safe to leave my car here.”

Jason blinked at Dick’s sleek blue car, it wasn’t overtly fancy but this was still Crime Alley. Nothing and no-one was assured safety. Jason sighed before he pulled out a slip of paper from his pocket and wrote ‘Property of Red Hood. Don’t fuck with this.’ on it and placed it on the windshield.

“That’s the safest its going to get.” Jason told Dick dryly, putting the cap back on the pen. “And if not I’m sure Bruce will reimburse you.”

“Fine. We better get going anyway. This is your territory not mine so lead the way, Little Wing!”

It wasn’t hard to find. Not with the very familiar crowd standing outside the building. Mason saw them first and he elbowed Roy in the stomach. Roy’s gaze snapped up to meet Jason and his face broke into a relieved smile. Jason readied his body as his boyfriend threw himself at him. Jason caught him and placed a steadying hand on Roy’s spine to stop him from losing his balance. The archer buried his face in Jason’s neck, breathing him in.

“Fuck, Jason, don’t you pull that shit again!” He whispered furiously.

“I’m sorry, Love.” Jason murmured, running his hands through Roy’s hair and pressing a kiss on top of his head in apology. “I’m also so sorry for whatever Dick is going to do to you.”

Roy chuckled softly. “Apologies accepted. I’ll deal with Dick.” Jason lowered Roy back down onto the ground and with a bruising kiss on his lips he left his boyfriend to his fate. Dick stalked up to Roy with purpose oozing from his body, before he dragged him away to talk. Jason yelled ‘Good luck!’ after him.

The next person to pull him into a hug was Steph, who wrapped herself around him fiercely. Jason murmured his apologies for scaring her again only for Steph to step back and wack him on the chest. Hard. “You better be!” She hissed. “Pull a stunt like that again and I will mix all your spices together and watch as your cooking skills fall apart!” She threatened. Jason nodded solemnly.

“I wont.” He assured her.

Crystal saved him from Steph’s next brewing act of violence by sauntering up and pressing a peck on his cheek.

“You’ll love this place’s kitchen.” She said in greeting.

“I’m sure I will. I had my best man on the job house hunting.”

“Mhmm.” Crystal hummed. “Next time answer your phone, boy.”

“Will do.”

Tim, thankfully, didn’t berate him, seemingly happy with the others’ work. Instead he sidled up beside Jason and leant into his side. Jason wrapped his arm around his little brother instinctively. No words were passed between them but there was an unspoken understanding in the embrace. It was an apology and a promise all at once. Tim nodded his head before he moved to go save Roy from Dick’s shovel talk.

Mason also didn’t tell him off.

“Can I get the biggest bedroom?” He asked instead.

“I think you know the answer to that.” Jason replied with a raised eyebrow.

“At least it’s not a couch.” Mason grumbled. He smiled though when Jason wrapped him in a quick hug, and returned the gesture. Duke didn’t hug him but awkwardly knocked their shoulders together and told Jason that it was good to have him back.

Constantine also didn’t show any physical affection, instead leaning against the building with a bored mask on his face. At Jason’s approach though he raised his head, dropped his cigarette and watched him.

“How’s the shoulder, mate?” He asked at last. His gaze flicking to the offending area.

“Alright.” Jason replied. It only ached slightly from last nights activities.

“Good.”

Harley pranced over to the two of them and surprised Jason by squeezing him in a tight hug.

“You sure know how to give people a good scare don’t you?” She asked cheerfully. “Is this something I should get used to.”

Jason shrugged. “I hope not?” He said uncertainly. “Maybe?” He amended. Harley just laughed.

“Well even when we’re no longer neighbours you can pop by mine whenever you need.”

“Thanks.” Jason smiled. “Same here.”

Roy and Dick returned to the group. Roy’s arm slung over his old friend's shoulder. They had seemingly come to an agreement about protecting Jason’s virtue. Tim mouthed a small “You’re welcome” Jason’s way from where he was walking behind the two. The three of them stopped around Jason, with Roy tucking himself into his side.

“Dick and I are good.” He said smugly.

“They wanted to fight at dawn.” Tim rolled his eyes in amusement.

“It would have just been a friendly umbrella joust.” Dick defended them quickly. Jason just sighed.

“Dick refused an archery competition.” Roy grumbled.

“Cause, Robin Hood, I feel like you’d have a smidge of an advantage there!” Dick exclaimed.

“It’s not my fault you never stayed around for my lessons!”

“Well, I think you must have quite liked the extra alone time with Jason!”

“Don’t make it sound like we weren’t just hanging out as friends then! I did not come onto your little brother before he was of age!”

“Ok, Thank you Dick for defending my honour when there is no reason too. But maybe we can stop this bickering? Roy didn’t come onto me. I kissed him first.” Jason interrupted. “I am old enough to look after myself.”

“I know, I know, Little Wing.” Dick said, suitably admonished. “And I am happy for you two, really, I am.”

“It’ll just take a little getting used to?” Jason asked.

“Well, yes?”

Jason just rolled his eyes and left Roy and Dick together for a bit of exposure therapy. Instead he wrangled Tim away with him, his little brother gave Jason an understanding pat on the back. Jason just whispered in his ear. “Just wait till he finds out about you and Superboy,” Tim paled at the idea.

“Oh, he’s going to be insufferable.”

“Completely.” Jason agreed.

Crystal then clapped her hands to get everyone’s attention and breaking up the idle chatter that was happening thorough out the group.

“Well, now that everyone is here. Let’s get this show on the road!” She said, waving a key in the air.

“Quick question before we do, who's the new tall, dark and handsome?” Harley asked, pointing at Dick. Mason also added his confusion at the new face.

“That’s my older brother. Dick.” Jason explained.

“Dick?” Mason asked incredulously.

“My family was Romani. It wasn’t weird to them, only when we came to America did it become weird. Richard sucks so I count it as an improvement.”

“I mean you do you, man.” Mason replied with his hands raised in surrender. The teenager still whispered to Jason. “You have a brother called Dick and you never told me?”

“We weren’t on talking terms till yesterday.”

“It’s still a fun trivia fact to know!”

“Fine, I’ll tell you the next time I get a sibling.”

“You better!”

“Okay!!” Crystal yelled. “I’m glad that’s settled. Welcome, Dick, I’m sure you can get to know everyone in your own time but we have an apartment to view. So get your asses into motion and move!”

No one dared to interrupt Crystal’s tour after that. The apartment was perfect. It had the three bedrooms he asked for, a sitting room that could fit another two mattresses if need be, along with his couch and TV, and a kitchen that with a bit of a squeeze all his friends could sit around. For Crime Alley it was shockingly nice, it would need a new coat of paint and some mould-be-gone spray but all the walls were intact and the windows could open and lock. Crystal’s investigating proved that none of the neighbours were psychopaths or involved in anything bigger than dealing cigarettes and booze. Something which may come in handy for a future Girls night.

Mason seemed thrilled at the concept of having his own space. Jason had claimed the biggest bedroom with the easiest access from the fire-escapes and gave the kid an option to pick his own out of the remaining two. The teen took this task very seriously, recruiting Duke and Tim’s help. While they were occupied, Constantine, Dick and Roy all looked at the defences they could place around the house. He even saw Constantine drawing protective runes around the windows and doorways. Jason just let him do it as he sat at the kitchen table with Crystal, Steph and Harley and talked about paint and furnishings. Harley had already started the cross-stitches she would gift Jason to decorate his new home.

“So, its a done deal?” Crystal asked, her phone already out to call the seller.

“It’s perfect.” Jason assured her. “Thank you.”

Crystal had had access to his bank account since she had become his lieutenant. It took her only a few minutes to finish the process.

“Congrats. The house is officially yours.” She told him with a soft smile.

Harley and Steph whooped.

“How long do you think it’ll be before we can move in?” Jason asked her.

“With this small army? A few days max.” Crystal laughed.

“Well then we might as well get started!”

They spent the rest of the day just cleaning. Constantine despite his refusal to pick up a mop paced around weaving in spells to protect him from evil and most usefully to protect him from damp. Everyone collapsed that night in his old apartment, with the mattresses shoved together in the sitting room until it was on giant bed. Duke was the only one missing as Jason had taken him as per his request to visit Matt and his foster siblings.

Jason awoke to his face being covered by Roy’s hand, his boyfriend had seemingly mistaken it for his heart during the night. Crystal was also spooning his boyfriend, her face slack with sleep and hair poking out of her bonnet, Mason somehow squeezed between the two of them. Tim was slumped on Jason’s other side, curled up tight into a ball, with Dick cuddled around the baby bird. Harley had her arm thrown over both Steph and Constantine as she lay on her back. Constantine was still wearing that damn coat. Everyone else were either in their pyjamas or in Jason’s borrowed clothes. Jason couldn’t see anyway of extracting himself from the tangle of bodies so he just resigned himself to his fate of a lazy morning trapped in bed.

Steph was the next to wake, blinking dazedly she made eye contact with Jason before slumping back down and making herself comfortable. The movement jostled Harley who groaned and turned over, bumping into Constantine. The sorcerer fell off the mattress with a squawk. Jason bit his tongue to conceal his laughter.

The loud noise however had Tim, Dick and Roy shooting up, alert and ready for attack. Crystal groaned something about “fucking vigilantes” and rolled back to sleep. Mason grabbed his pillow and threw it in Roy’s and by proximity Jason’s face. Jason was finally free enough to scoot out off the mattress and begin making coffee and breakfast. He checked his watch for the time and swore.

“Shit, Mason! You’re meant to be at school! You too Tim and Steph.”

“We called off sick remember.” Came a grunt from Steph.

“That was for yesterday!” Jason yelled back.

“I’m sure they can put it together that we are still sick.” Mason grumbled.

Jason sighed. It’s almost like the three heathens didn’t care about their education.

“Well, then you better pull your weight painting.” Jason told them.

It took them many hours before they could even begin painting. The trip to the store to choose the colours and pick up paint cans took three hours alone. Then there was a late lunch break at a Crime Alley diner where Renee and Dan joined them. Another new face that joined them was that of Poison Ivy, dressed in a red flannel t-shirt and an already paint stained pair of trousers, who Harley introduced as her girlfriend. Jason was happy to have the extra pair of hands. He also accepted the pot plant she shoved towards him with an anxious smile as a house warming gift. Jason really hoped he didn’t kill it. He’d never had that much of a green thumb. Hopefully, Mason was better than him.

It was late afternoon when Jason let them all into his new apartment. Mason immediately grabbed his pot of blue paint and him, Steph and Tim left to tackle his room. Constantine laid himself on the only flat surface which was the kitchen table and closed his eyes for a snooze. Crystal, Dan and Renee began to paint the walls around him. Harley and Ivy took the sitting room. Dick refused to paint the guest bedroom alone because that was ‘boring’ so he ended up helping Roy and Jason with their bedroom.

At this point Jason wasn’t sure which of them was the third wheel.

It changed from moment to moment.

Jason smeared his paint covered hands on Roy’s face as he pulled his boyfriend into a soft kiss. Dick just cleared his throat awkwardly behind them. With a roll of his eyes and a laugh Roy pulled away. They kept their hands interlinked.

At another point it was Dick chasing Roy around with a paintbrush, cackling manically. They staged a fake sword fight with their brushes for Jason’s entertainment. The two childhood friends falling into easy banter, throwing mediaeval and fake Shakespearean insults at each other.

Then when Jason was finishing the first coat of his wall, his brother slumped dramatically over his shoulders. Complaining about his arms hurting and his need for a break. Jason ignored him and continued painting with the steady weight of Dick hanging behind him.

Eventually they had finished and the three of them collapsed on the newspapers that covered the wooden floor with a groan. Their clothes were splattered with the soft yellow paint. It had even made its way into their hair. Jason was definitely partly to blame for that. Especially with Roy. His boyfriend had nice hair, sue him.

“I can’t believe its done.” Jason murmured.

“There is still the guestroom.” Dick reminded them with a shit eating grin. Jason groaned.

“The kids have energy to work off. Let them take that.” Roy said, his eyes shut.

“God I feel old.” Dick moaned.

“That’s cause you are.” Jason told him. He received a paint covered hand to the face for that.

“Fuck! Dickwad!” Jason yelled, wiping the paint off from around his eyes. Jason grabbed a paintbrush and shoved it in Dick’s already paint speckled hair. It didn’t take long for the two of them to be rolling around in the newspaper and wrestling each other. Roy stayed lying on the ground with his eyes closed.

“Settle down, children.” He told them, unbothered.

Jason yelled in triumph as he managed to pin Dick down.

“Quick, Roy! Grab the paint!”

Roy didn’t move. His boyfriend was a traitor. Jason told him as much.

Thankfully, their yelling had caused a crowd to gather in the doorway.

“Tim, you know you’re my favourite right.” Jason turned his imploring gaze on his little brother. “Dip your hands in that paint and smash it on Dickie’s face.”

“Nooo, Timbers, remember who has been your brother longer.”

“I was dead. That’s not my fault!” Jason shouted.

“Don’t pull the death card on me to become the favourite!”

“I died. I deserve this.” Jason replied smugly.

Tim just watched them with an amused frown.

“Fine. Be like that Tim.” Jason sniped. “Steph?”

“Oh no, I now know I’m second best here.” Steph crossed her arms and looked at them with twinkling eyes. Mason snorted beside her. Dick used their hesitance to help to wriggle his way out from Jason’s grasp and flip them. They continued scrambling to gain control until they were pulled apart by Constantine’s electric magic.

“I’m not going to say I expected better from you.” He said with a quirked eyebrow. “Cause that would be a lie. However, do you think this little squabble could wait till after dinner?”

Dick and Jason shared a glance before they nodded.

“Truce?” Jason asked.

“Truce.”

Jason stood up and offered his hand to Dick. Both brothers stood, wiped their paint and dust covered clothes and then continued on like nothing had happened.

Jason threw his arm over Tim.

“I wont forget this.” He hissed. “You have betrayed me.”

“And me!” Dick added cheerfully. Jason and Dick shared a knowing glace before they non-verbally agreed to join forces against their little brother. Tim squawked as two pairs of newly paint covered hands ruffed his hair.

“Why?” He whined. “This is so not fair. I miss being an only child.”

“We all have B to blame for that.” Jason said sagely.

Dick and Jason smiled before squeezing their little brother in a hug between them.

“I wouldn’t have it another way.” Dick murmured. His heart practically singing at being able to hold his two baby brother’s in his arms.

---------------------

When Jason went out on patrol that night his arms were still splattered with paint. Roy and Constantine had offered to join him and the three of them had carried out the beginning of their plans on their final attack on Black Mask. So far they had confiscated six warehouses worth of black market weapons, drugs and the occasional kryptonite. Constantine had been placing the goods into pocket dimensions, till his face was pale and strained and his feet were unsteady. Jason managed to convince the sorcerer to go back home after that, with Roy escorting him so he wouldn’t get lost.

Jason stayed out a little longer. He sat on a rooftop and listened to the sounds of the night. Gotham never had a pleasant soundtrack. It wasn’t like there were gentle crickets or anything but Jason had lived there long enough to find the sounds of sirens and distant street brawls soothing. That was until his phone rang. Jason frowned.

His screen flashed with an unknown number.

With a moment of hesitation Jason picked up.

“Um. Hello. Who is this?” He asked.

“Red Hood, don’t hang up.” A female voice said sharply on the other side.

“Um...Ok?” Jason answered, his confusion evident.

“My name is Oracle.”

Oh shit.

“How did you get this number?”

“That’s not relevant right now.”

“It feels relevant.” Jason grumbled.

“Look, don’t worry. Your identity is not compromised. I was just asking if you could do me a favour?”

“Go on.” Jason said at last.

“Both Batman, Robin and Spoiler are currently indisposed.” Jason knew half of that at least, after all he had two of them in his house. The fact about Batman was new.

“What do I have to do with that? I didn’t kidnap them if thats what your thinking!” He said defensively.

“I know that. I also know that Robin and Spoiler trust you. This is why I’m asking for a favour.”

“Ok?” Jason said hesitantly.

“There has been a kidnapping. The victim is in the apartment above Stew’s noodles in the Narrows. It shouldn’t be a hard job but I have no-one else to send.”

“Nightwing not answering his phone?”

“No. He’s not. Nor are the others.” Oracle replied, sounding distinctly frustrated. “So can you do it?”

“Sure.” Jason agreed after a little while. He wasn’t currently busy and this call was certainly curious.

“Thank you.” Oracle breathed out. “I wont forget this.”

“No worries.” Jason said truthfully. He still wasn’t sure who the elusive Oracle was but she must be friends with Bruce and the kids. He had his suspicions but no way of proving them. He could probably ask Steph and Dick later. They could tell him whether he should be worried that she’d somehow acquired his number.

“Bye.” He said to Oracle and hung up. He made his way to the restaurant and feeling in the mood for dramatics swung from the opposite roof and smashed through the apartment window. He landed surrounded by shards of glass, crunching beneath his heavy boots. When he looked up at the scene in front of him he couldn’t help wishing that he’d made a more subtle entrance, one he could just walk back out of without anyone noticing.

What is his life?

Sat, tied in a chair, in a ruffled dress shirt was Bruce Wayne. Well more accurately Brucie Wayne. The man was putting on a really good impression of a tipsy and dopy socialite. His eyes widened only slightly at the Red Hood’s arrival before he broke into a clueless smile.

“Who’s this? Is he with you?” Bruce asked mildly, his voice slightly slurred, and his head lolling backwards to face his kidnappers. Jason knew him well enough to guess that he hadn’t drunk a drop of alcohol at whatever gala he was kidnapped from and was only still tied up to maintain his cover.

Jason wished one of the kidnappers would shoot him right now. Put him out of his misery. He hated dealing with Brucie Wayne.

“Shit.” One of the kidnappers said. “It’s the fucking Hood!”

“What is he doing here? This isn’t a kid. Billionaires should still be fair game to kidnap!”

Jason sighed deeply.

“I’m here as a favour.” He admitted. He sounded so tired even through the helmet’s mechanical whirl.

“Come on man! We just wanted some money!” One said in reply. Wait. He was vaguely familiar.

“Carl!?” Jason exclaimed. “What the fuck!”

Carl looked suprised to be recognised and swiftly shrunk behind one of his friends.

“Look, Boss. We didn’t know you’d care.” Carl tried to say placatingly.

“I literally pay your salary. If you needed money so badly you could have come to me!”

“It’s just a small job. It’s Bruce Wayne. He gets kidnapped practically once a month!”

“So you thought you’d join the trend!” Jason yelled. “Jesus, does Lorenzo know?”

“No. He’s my cousin not my babysitter!”

“I feel like I’m missing something.” Brucie said cheerfully, his head whipping between the two of them. Jason will never answer an unknown phone number again.

Jason took pity on his dad.

“This is Carl. He’s my employee. This however was not something I planned.” He growled.

“Don’t sound so disappointed.” Carl muttered darkly. Jason just lifted his hand to shut him up.

“Ok, I am officially too tired to deal with this so I’m going to take him and leave and Carl…we’ll talk about this later.” Jason pulled out a pocket knife and cut through Bruce’s bonds. Bruce just lifted his hands to rub at his chaffed wrists and straightened his cufflinks. Jason freed his legs next, only for one of them to jerk up and kick him in the helmet.

“Oh, sorry. Pins and needles you know!” Bruce said with a sickingly sweet and innocent smile. He looked the picture of an apology. Jason wasn’t buying it. He closed his eyes and drew in a shaky breath before letting it out and opening his eyes again.

Jason was better than this. He would not let Brucie Wayne’s hidden passive aggressions get to him. He also couldn’t let Bruce know he knew he was Batman or it would only lead to a fight.

“It’s no issue.” He gritted out. Bruce’s smile widened. Jason thought he could even see the malice in his cheerfully blank eyes.

This was going to be a long night.

“Alright. I’m taking the billionaire.” Jason said again. With his hand placed against Bruce’s back he pushed his dad forward. Bruce fake stumbled as if he was too drunk to walk. Jason’s jaw hurt by how hard he was clenching it beneath his helmet. He faced the three kidnappers. “Don’t do this again.” He berated them, then nodded once and left. They took the stairs down, Jason keeping a steadying hand on Bruce. Despite the fact that he was only fake drunk Jason would not put it pass Bruce to purposefully throw himself down the stairs to solidify his character as Brucie.

Bruce giggled and tripped. Jason just tightened his hold and sighed.

“I didn’t know you were in the business of saving people.” Bruce announced breezily. “Or is this another kidnapping.

“This isn’t a kidnapping.” Jason muttered. “It’s a favour.”

“To me?”

“To a stranger.” A stranger who Jason would be having harsh words with about lack of warning. Oracle probably thought this was funny. That or she had no idea that Red Hood knew Batman’s other identity. That seemed more unlikely. What the hell was she thinking?!

“How bizarre.” Bruce hummed. “I can give you a cheque anyway if you’d like?”

“Keep your money.” Jason growled.

There was at least one silver lining to this situation and that was the fact that Jason had only experienced his own annoyance bubbling, not a hint of unnatural green in sight. Maybe the Lazarus just didn’t like Batman but saw Brucie as a non-threat. It made this slightly easier. Jason didn’t have to wrestle for control of his own mind while wrestling his fake inebriated Dad down the stairs. When they finally made it to the bottom of the steps and into the closed noddle bar, Jason breathed a sigh of relief.

“Hey do you think we could order a bowl?” Bruce asked suddenly. Jason looked around the dark pallor, all the lights were off and chairs were on the tables.

“I think they’re closed.” He told Bruce, carefully enunciating each word.

“How can you tell?”

Jason wished he could be anywhere but here. Brucie’s act required him to make people question his ability to survive adulthood but this idiocy was a new low in Jason’s mind. He couldn’t do this. This was a new and unpleasant torture.

“Do you really need to keep up the idiot act?” Jason groaned. “There is no reason to pretend. I’m not one of your clueless socialites. I know you went to Med school.”

Bruce stiffened. “How do you know that?”

“I have a friend who named their hyena after you.” Jason replied, hopefully the answer would be confusing enough that Bruce wouldn’t question what other trivia Jason knew about him.

“Thats sweet, I guess?” Bruce said hesitantly. “So you know about me. I don’t know about you. That’s hardly fair.” His dad honest-to-god pouted. His heart was thumping loudly, half in excitement at seeing his dad alive after he’d nearly killed him on that roof top and half with fear that he was going to slip up.

“I’m here to rescue you from a kidnapping not become your best bud.”

“Surely they don’t have to be exclusive?” Great. Bruce was trying to use his anonymity to pry him from information. The motherfucker. That’s so cruel, after all Jason had done for him. It was also so undeniably Bruce.

“Why don’t we save the niceties?”

“Awww. But they’re the best part!” Bruce offered him a crooked smile. Jesus, Jason had half the mind to leave the idiot here and let him walk home alone. However, there was no doubt that Bruce would be an easy target dressed in such expensive clothes and with no weapons on his person. Jason couldn’t do that to his dad.

“I think you should consider not dying as the best part.”

“Oh, my kidnappers never try to kill me.” Bruce said, like Red Hood was being stupid.

“Yeah?” Jason hummed, he had removed his lockpicks and began on the door.

“Yeah and Robin….” Bruce started to speak before he cut himself of.

“Robin and Spoiler usually come to get you?”

“Yeah. I guess they’re busy tonight.” Bruce said sadly.

“I guess so.” Jason murmured. Then he stood up and clapped Bruce’s shoulder. “I guess you’ll have to make do with me. Don’t expect the princess treatment.”

Bruce let out a breathy laugh at that.

“But that’s the best part of being a damsel in distress!”

“Well I’m no knight in shining armour. Just someone who should have let a call go to voicemail and is regretting it minute by minute.”

Jason led them out of the noodle place and through the streets of the Narrows. Bruce no longer acting drunk and keeping stride beside him.

"Have you been painting?" Bruce asked curiously. Jason crossed his arms self consciously.

"Being a crime lord isn't my entire life!" Jason said defensively.

"I never said it was!" Bruce raised his hands placatingly. "I was just curious about whether you knew your arms are yellow enough that they are reflecting what little light is around."

"Are you always this chatty when kidnapped?" Jason sighed.

Bruce grew silent after that. His face was creased in his familiar thinking frown. Jason left him to contemplate whatever new realisation he had.

“If I get you to the Diamond district you can order yourself a taxi?” Jason said after a little while. The manor was a long walk to make.

“I don’t have any cash on me.” Bruce patted his dress pants down, “They took my wallet.”

“Fine.” Jason grumbled. “I’ll order you a taxi.”

“Thank you.” Bruce said sincerely. He looked at Jason and gave him a soft honest smile. “You're not who I thought you’d be.” He murmured at last.

“Trust me. I get that a lot.” Jason scoffed. His heart panged at Bruce’s words, a small glimmer of hope kindling inside of him. Jason squashed it down and focused on navigating through the streets.

Jason escorted Bruce through the most dangerous districts of the city and into one that a billionaire would be more familiar with. At least any who didn’t spend their nights running around fighting crime. When they were at a place where taxis actually dared to go, Jason pulled his phone out and ordered one. He stayed and sat silently on the curb next to Bruce until the car arrived. Bruce didn't try and engage him in any new conversation and Jason found himself relaxing in his dad's presence.

When the car pulled up Jason handed the man a wad of cash and told him to listen to Bruce's instructions.

"Try not to get kidnapped again on the way home?" He said tiredly.

Bruce laughed. It was small and breathy but it counted.

"I'll try my very best. Can't help how desirable I am."

"I think it's less you and more the money they're after."

"What are you saying my brilliant personality and looks isn't enough of a reason to kidnap me?"

Jason wasn't sure how well his unimpressed look translated through his helmet but he gave Bruce one anyway.

"Whatever helps you sleep at night." Jason scoffed "Stay safe."

He then turned to the taxi driver.

"If you try kidnap him I will find and end you."

The man looked severely bored and only raised an eyebrow in response. Jason would take that. He then turned and disappeared without a goodbye.

Chapter Text

Jason used his new apartment as a project to distract himself from thinking about Bruce. Roy eyed him knowingly as he was dragged around furniture stores over the next few days and as Jason started panic buying carpets and kitchen devices. Even Mason kept giving him worried looks.

It helped that there were so many things and people to keep him busy.

He still had Steph, Duke and Tim staying with him. Though now they were sharing his new guest bedroom instead of the floor of his sitting room. No that was reserved for Dick. His brother still had the week off of work. Constantine was also still there, but only because the sorcerer seemed to be critically unemployed. He’d managed to take advantage of Jason's panic buying and convince Jason to buy a more comfortable couch only to commandeer it for himself.

Harley and Ivy came over often. Always bringing either a new cross-stitch sign or potted plant.

Cece visited Mason on her day off. She proudly showed them her GED certificate. She didn’t seem all too surprised that Jason’s company had tripled in size since she’d last come. Instead she just grabbed Dick as soon as she found out he was a police officer and dragged him over to help her with her college applications. Jason made the mistake of complaining that he’d be more useful than Dick and was soon roped into helping too.

Crystal was a constant, dipping in and out as she relayed the consequences of their nightly attacks on Black Mask. Sionis was standing pretty much alone now. Cut off from his suppliers and his customers and with increasingly dwindling followers. Jason had taken out a lot of them but now an increasing number of them were willingly jumping ship and searching for employment elsewhere. A few had even been vetted by Crystal before joining his ranks. He’d heard that Sionis had even started considering taking a permanent vacation out of Gotham.

With all these people coming and going, Jason didn’t think twice about the doorbell ringing on Friday afternoon. The kids were in school and Constantine had dragged Dick out grocery shopping to give Roy and Jason some alone time. The two of them were cuddled up on the couch, a bowl of popcorn on the table in front of them as they had a movie playing idly in the background. Jason wasn’t really watching, too occupied by the soft kisses Roy was leaving on his neck. Jason gently caressed his boyfriends back and shifted him closer. He tilted Roy’s face up to seal their mouths together in a long and fiery kiss. Roy moaned into it. It was then that the doorbell rang. Jason groaned and knocked his head on the back of the couch. Roy pressed their foreheads together and let out a soft breathy chuckle.

“I thought they were meant to be giving us alone time.” Jason murmured, ignoring the bell and instead chasing Roy’s lips again.

The doorbell rang a second time.

“Obviously not everyone got the memo.” Roy laughed at Jason’s disgruntled groan.

“Next time we go back to my old apartment. It’ll buy us time before they find us.” Jason told his boyfriend as he clambered off his lap. Roy hummed in agreement.

“Lets see who the offender is.”

Jason caught the shirt Roy chucked his way and pulled it on over his head before grabbing the door and yanking it open.

“Not the opportune time guys…” Jason trailed off and blinked.

Instead of one of his friends there were two kids. A short Asian girl, dressed in black, that looked around Steph’s age, who Jason had never seen before. The other was a very familiar face. One he’d never expected to see again.

“Damian?” Jason exclaimed.

“Hello, Akhi.” Damian replied primly.

“What…” Jason cleared his throat. “What are you doing here, squirt?”

“Mother thinks I am no longer safe in the League so she sent me to find you.” Damian replied like Jason was asking a stupid question. Well, that’s how the kid practically always spoke. Jason wasn’t so sure why he’d thought that would have changed in his absence.

“I thought she planned to send you to Batman when the time came?”

“Tt. She thought you’d take better care of me.” Damian deposited a letter in his hand. Jason tore it open.

------------

‘Jason,

Give him a better life than I ever could. I know I failed at getting you out but I couldn’t fail Damian too. The League wont come after you, I’ve taken care of that much. When the time comes introduce him to your father. I’ve gathered from rumours that you are no longer trying to kill him. I’m glad.

Show him how to live as more than just a soldier. Let him be a child.

Talia.’

--------------

Did Talia just drop her kid on him?

He knew Talia had tried to make Jason’s own time in the League more bearable, taking him under her wing. Their relationship had never been close despite that. It was more out of guilt for placing him in the Lazarus than any kind of love. However, because of her distant protection, Jason had been assigned as Damian’s bodyguard for a while. He spent enough time around the kid that Damian started calling him ‘Akhi’ after he found out that Bruce used to be his father. Talia hadn’t corrected him but after that their time together became less and less frequent. Jason hadn’t even been given time to say goodbye before he’d left.

Jason cleared the lump in his throat and looked back at Damian’s carefully blank face. The kid was waiting expectantly for Jason’s reaction just unlike most children he did that with an eerie stillness. The girl beside him stood in much the same way. She definitely had some training. Maybe even a lifetime of it like Damian.

“Well why don’t you two come in?” Jason said at last.

“Jason, who is it?” Roy shouted from the couch.

Jason wasn’t entirely sure what to say to that. His sort-of-little brother. Bruce’s secret blood son. A child assassin who was seemingly now in Jason’s custody. At Jason’s lack of answer Roy stuck his head up and looked over. He stood up when he saw the two newcomers.

“Damian, why don’t you and your…um friend take a seat on the couch while I talk with Roy here.”

Damian eyed Jason’s boyfriend suspiciously before nodding his head. Jason grabbed Roy’s arm and dragged him to their bedroom.

“Ok, Jason what’s going on here? You’re sort of scaring me.”

“I think I’ve just acquired a child.” Jason blurted out.

Roy stared at him in shock.

“I think I’ll need a little more explaination, Jaybird.”

“Ok, this is going to sound a little insane. Damian is Bruce’s son. Like his actual son. Like 50% of his DNA. The other 50% is Talia al Ghul’s, daughter of Ra’s al Ghul. Damian is no longer safe in the League of Assassins so Talia sent him here.”

“Why would she do that?”

“I was Damian’s bodyguard in the League. His protector.”

“Ok, so you have a kid now?”

“Technically he’s Bruce’s and I’m just gonna look after him for a little while?” Jason said hesitantly.

“You know that seems to be happening a lot now. Bruce is going to have no children left at this rate.”

Jason threw his hands up in an way that he hopes Roy would interpret as ‘Exactly!’

“Roy do we even have enough space for two more kids?”

“Well, not permanently. But I’m assuming Tim and Steph will leave eventually? Until then kid can take our room. Mason didn’t mind sharing with Duke, so I’m sure he wouldn’t care if he and Tim joined with another mattress again. Then the girls could share one room, that’s if Steph and this new girl don’t mind. We can camp out in the sitting room with Dick and Constantine.”

“Maybe,” Jason sighed. “You sure you wouldn’t mind?”

“They’re family, Jason. Of course not. Plus we got a bigger place now so we should have the space.”

Jason nodded his head and let out a breath of air. They would figure this out.

“Okay. Let’s go and deal with the two miniature assassins in our living room.”

“Yup. That would probably be for the best.”

Jason kept a hand on Roy’s back as they re-entered the room. They both sat on the table in front of the couch and faced their two new guests. The girl didn’t speak, but her eyes tracked their movements with a calculative gaze that made even Jason unnerved.

“Dami. I’d like to introduce you to Roy. He’s my boyfriend.” Jason said evenly. Damian’s icy blue eyes flicked to size Roy up. His gaze lingered on Roy’s sleeve of tattoos with distaste. The kid still held the antiquated views of the League when it came to most things. Jason was slightly nervous about how he would take this news.

“I don’t see how he would be a suitable match for you, Akhi. Is he a warrior?” Damian asked at last.

“Yes. Roy is an expert archer.” Jason told Damian. “But that’s not why I love him. He is loyal, smart and kind and he supports me.”

“And you love him?” Damian’s nose stuck out imperially.

“Very much.” Jason told his little brother softly. Damian took one more look at Roy before he nodded.

“Very well then. I accept your suitor.”

Roy cleared his throat awkwardly. “Thanks, kiddo. It means a lot.”

“I don’t see why, Roy? You do not know me. My opinion should hold no value.”

“It matters because of what you mean to Jason. His family is my family.”

“Oh.” Damian said stiffly. “Well then. You are welcome.”

“Ok with that over I want to establish some ground rules if you are to stay with me.”

Damian tensed and awaited his orders in a way that made Jason sick to watch. The girl did the same, her head quirking to the side curiously.

“Firstly, you and your friend are not to harm anyone who enters that door. They are my friends and family. So no maiming. Secondly, you are not to be dismissive or aggressive to any of them for their life choices. Whether that’s about who they love, who they are or what they do. Thirdly, you are to leave the League’s teachings behind and try and have fun. You are a child. If you need anything you are to ask me. If you are in danger in anyway. You come to me or Roy or another adult. In this apartment you are not an assassin. Who you are outside of that is something you are going to need to discover and we will all be here to help you do that.”

“I understand, Akhi.” Damian nodded his head seriously. “We will not disappoint you.”

“Ok. Now what is your name?” Jason turned to the girl. She just stared back at him.

“That’s Cassandra. Her father is Cain. She doesn’t speak.”

“Because she doesn’t want to or because she can’t ?” Jason asked carefully.

“She was never taught to speak. Her father wanted her to be better versed in people’s movements and expressions. She started learning a bit as we travelled but she still prefers to just listen.”

Roy sucked in a sharp breath.

Jason looked towards the girl. She understand their conversation and pointed at herself before she whispered.

“Cass.” Her voice sounded painfully raspy as she spoke. She probably had damaged vocal cords from the misuse.

“Cass. Is that what you’d prefer to be called?” Jason asked. The girl nodded.

“Ok, Cass, do you know sign language?”

Cass looked surprised at the question before she nodded. Jason didn’t know much but one of his nicer League trainers had been deaf. She taught him a little. She’d been killed not long after.

Jason jogged his memory as much as he could so he could sign “Hello” and “Safe” to Cass who beamed at his attempt. She nodded and signed back “Thank you”

Guess he’d be learning a new language in his free time.

“It’s very nice to meet you, Cass.” He said gently. “Would you like some Hot Chocolate?” The girl looked confused at the question but eventually nodded.

“What’s Hot Chocolate?” Damian demanded.

“Its a drink. I’ll make you some.”

Jason’s new way of life was going to be quite the adjustment for Damian. The kid knew very little about the outside world except how to survive. There was a time when Jason had been just like that. Now like Crystal did to him Jason introduced Damian to one of the pleasure’s of life and the idea that there was more than just survival.

--------------------

Dick had taken one look at Damian before turning to face Jason.

“Jay, why do you have a baby Bruce? And do we get to keep him?”

It was true that the kids resemblance to Bruce was uncanny, just with a darker and richer skin tone and instead of jet black hair he had a dark brown. They had the same eyes though.

“This is Damian al Ghul and Cassandra Cain. Though she likes to go by Cass. They’ll be staying with me for a little while.”

“Omg. Bruce has a kid.”

“Yes.”

“With Talia?”

“Yes.”

“And he doesn’t know?”

“Yes?”

“Can I hug him.”

Dick did not wait for Jason’s reply before throwing himself at the prickly child assassin. Jason really hoped Damian remembered the first rule of no maiming.

“It’s not an attack, Damian!” Jason yelled when he saw the kid reach for his blades. Damian just tensed and looked towards Jason for further explanation. “It’s a hug. A display of affection.”

Dick made a wounded sound.

“Why is he displaying affection? I don’t know him.”

“Dick is our Brother. He likes hugs.”

“So doing this makes him…happy?”

“Extremely.” Dick murmured. Damian hesitated before relaxing into the embrace.

“Ok.” Damian replied softly. Jason sighed before gently detaching the kid from Dick’s octopus hold and then wrapped his arms around the kid in his own hug. Damian still seemed confused but returned the gesture.

“Is this a thing that happens often?”

Roy snorted.

“Better get used to it, kid.”

When Jason finally released Damian, Cass taped Jason on the shoulder. When he turned around to see what she wanted he was taken aback when the girl awkwardly wrapped her arms around him. Jason stilled and looked down, his heart clenching in his chest. He gently laid his hand on her back and closed his eyes.

When Cass broke away she had a small smile on her face. She signed ‘Happy’ before waving hello to Dick. Dick made a high pitch noise he reserves for when he sees something adorable. Jason could practically visualise Dick’s big brother instincts engaging.

There was no stopping him.

Constantine meanwhile was still frozen in the doorway. His eyes wide and fixed on Damian. Roy bumped his shoulder against the sorcerer to break him out of his trance.

“Dear God, Bruce’s spawn.” Constantine murmured. “He’s going to kill me for keeping this from him.”

“Don’t worry, I did it first if that matters.” Jason told him cheerfully.

“Batman is going to murder me.” Constantine’s voice went hilariously high.

“I’ll buy you a ticket to Hawaii to hide out.” Dick offered.

“I can get you a new identity too.” Jason said with a grin.

“I’ve lost all deniability.” Constantine continued to mumble, his eyes going distant. “First hiding your return, then the location of his other two kids, now this. There are only so many messages I can dodge from him.”

“Alright, Constantine lets get you something to drink.” Roy said, taking his friend by the shoulder and leading him to the kitchen with a bright laugh. Damian was watching the sorcerer with very poorly hidden disgust. It was an expression Constantine was used to getting from Batman and it didn’t help ease his obvious discomfort. Jason could see his eye twitch.

“Will it be alcoholic?”

“Even better. It’s Hot Chocolate.”

“Can it be Irish Hot Chocolate?”

“Sure you can give it whatever nationality you like but if your asking to add whiskey we’ve run out.”

“Is this Hell?” Constantine muttered darkly.

Dick and Jason were having a hard time containing their laughter as they watched the shell-shocked Constantine leave.

When the kids came back from school Jason had to explain all how he acquired a child all over again. Tim had much the same reaction to Damian’s existence as Constantine. He blinked at the scowling boy who introduced himself as Bruce’s true son before seemingly questioning his life. Jason watched all stages of grief pass over his face before he came to an exhausted acceptance.

“I’m too tired for this.” Tim finally mumbled, collapsing on the couch next to Roy who patted his shoulder placatingly. Steph tried to make conversation but Damian only glared and answered with monosyllables. In the end she diverted her attention to Cass, bringing out her nail polish and chattering away about how she met Jason. Duke tried to ask Damian about his hobbies, and eventually gave up when all the kid could tell him was the various fighting styles he was trained in. The kid looked vaguely traumatised to see such violent sentences come out of a child.

Mason actually took the news the best. He wasn’t surprised in the least that Jason had a baby brother who was apparently a deadly assassin. He just fist bumped a confused Damian and welcomed him to the family. Damian nodded his head and stared at Mason. Mason just stared back. Mason remained unperturbed, pulling out his schoolwork and laying it on the table. He had to create a poster for history. Damian said nothing but moved to stand by his shoulder and watch him.

Meanwhile Jason, Dick and Constantine were having a hushed meeting in the kitchen about how to get an assassin adjusted to normal life and the idea of doing things for his own fun and not as part of some training exercise. Dick wanted to take him to the arcade. Jason said they’d have to start smaller. Constantine recommended putting the kid in a vigilante costume as a joke only to receive twin unimpressed glares. It was Roy who finally came in for a snack who offered the best idea.

“Get the kid a pet. Something fluffy to look after. You can’t go wrong. Teaches him empathy and fun all at once.”

With that Roy, ripped open his packet of crisps and walked away.

That was how by that evening Jason ended up with two skinny kittens Harley sourced him, one for each assassin. Damian sat with the pure black one cradled in his lap as he listened to Steph explain to him the concept of game shows. Cassandra had an energetic orange one which had finally fallen asleep in her arms. Steph had painted her nails a dark purple and now Cass was carefully doing Tim’s in black, her tongue poking out as she concentrated. Duke had his biology book open and was quizzing Constantine just to see how little the sorcerer knew about the natural world. Apparently it was not relevant information for him to remember. Even the basics of the photosynthesis seemed to invade him.

Half way through the night Jason’s phone buzzed with a message from Crystal, with a photo of Black Mask’s boat being loaded for his departure. Jason grinned, sharing the photo with Roy. Another photo followed of the man himself getting onto the ship, accompanied only by his worse and most menacing men, the few remaining bad apples Jason had yet to get rid of. Constantine lifted his thumb up to confirm that it was really Sionis who had entered the boat and not a body double, the spells he had left on the boat to make sure of his identity triggered only at the man’s presence. Jason waited until the tracker they had placed on the boat showed it heading out to sea before he pressed the trigger and let the explosives he had planted do their work. This way the casualties and damage would be limited. Instead of any innocents getting caught up if he had blown Black Mask’s club or home, Jason had caught him during his cowardly flight on open water.

After all his work it seemed a bit anticlimactic.

The newspapers tomorrow would cover the death of the crime lord. No one would weep for him. His reign of terror finally over. He had gotten what he deserved.

They celebrated that morning with donuts and by introducing Damian and Cass to cartoons. Harley and Ivy came over with a bottle of champagne, and cookies with his Red Hood helmet iced on them. Crystal practically toppled Jason over with the force of her embrace as he opened the door to let her in. She brought with her a congratulations card signed by Dan, Renee, Matt, and Lorenzo. It was no surprise that Crystal took an instant liking to Damian’s prickly personality. What was surprising was how receptive Damian was to her. Dick found her teaching the kid how to carry out a peaceful transition and fill in the power vacuum left behind by Black mask without sacrificing the morals of their crime empire while doing it. He had left the room pretty quickly with a face pale with worry after seeing Damian’s intense interest in the matter.

Without Black Mask, Jason had more time on his hands. With long hours of his night free, Jason started getting lessons from Billy, one of the dancers at the club who knew sign language because her brother lost his hearing in a warehouse bombing while working with Bane. Billy was a quick teacher and he was a quick learner and soon he was able to hold semi-complete conversations with Cass. He in turn taught the rest of the apartment. Cass and Steph had gotten on like a wildfire, Steph dragging her to outings throughout the city and blowing Jason’s money and clothes and sweet treats.

Dick had extended his leave from the police department to help Jason parent the six children he now had under his care. Not that his brother counted as a responsible adult. In fact Jason counted him as the seventh child under his care. He considered himself the closest thing to an actual adult they’d got as Constantine didn’t count even when he was present. The sorcerer had disappeared for a three day long mission in England, it was the first time in weeks that he’d left and now Jason couldn’t believe that he was missing the British bastard.

Roy and Jason had started a tradition of sneaking out on dates whenever they could. Each trying to find the most absurd way to distract Dick before they went. So far Jason was winning, with an artfully photoshopped photo of a celebrity in Gotham’s Diamond district he’d managed to have Dick on a wild goose chase and fangirling for an entire day.

Things were going great. So suspiciously great that Jason should have seen it coming.

On a day that started like any other the Joker escaped from Arkham.

Chapter Text

Jason should have gone into the prison and put a bullet through the maniac’s brain when he’d had the chance.

He knew this would happen. He’d gotten too complacent and waited too long.

Now he was out there.

Crystal had been the one to tell him. Her face deathly serious as he opened the door. His first call was to Dick who had taken Damian to the zoo. Next he called Mason’s school and managed to get both him and Duke sent home. Tim and Steph had taken the initiative themselves and arrived moments behind the first two kids. Cass luckily had been in the apartment already, cooking muffins with Jason and Roy. Jason had Crystal give Matt and his family his address. Dan, Renee and Cece were called in too. His apartment was the safest place for them all to gather. Constantine had warded his apartment against evil and Jason knew no bigger evil than the Joker. Harley and Ivy had arrived last, already dressed in their gear.

Batman was currently holding back the chaos alone.

Dick had cut contact just like Tim and Steph to protect Jason. His usual phone left in Bludhaven to stop him from being tracked.

The Joker hadn’t been located yet but his followers had started causing havoc throughout the city. Their clown masks grinning manically as they threw Joker gas through shop windows and blew up roads.

Jason left Ivy and Roy to look after those who stayed on lockdown in his apartment. Roy had complained heavily but Jason put his foot down. It was stupid enough to counter Joker’s attacks as a Gothamite hero but even more stupid to go up against him with no prior experience. Plus, someone had to keep an eye on Damian. The kid had a worrying gleam in his eye as he looked at his blades.

Jason had been unable to stop Tim and Steph from suiting up and following him and Dick. It was their city. They would protect it. Harley promised to have their backs if Jason had to split from them. Cass had also dressed herself fully in black and refused to stay behind.

Jason’s vision blurred with green as he walked out through Crime Alley. They came across some of the Joker’s gang setting up explosives around the club. Cass disabled them as Jason fired metal in the air. This was his home. How dare they come here.

Dick had managed to get in contact with Oracle and let her direct them around the city. Each of them separated off to put out the fires the Joker’s followers set and prevent the chaos from spreading. Jason ended up with Dick and Cass fighting beside him. Finally, in a short respite where Joker’s followers worryingly went beneath ground they gathered on a roof to try understand the scope of the damage.

Cass stood worryingly close to the edge of the building, her body still as she listened to the growing chorus of sirens. Dick was getting regular updates from Oracle as they awaited whatever the Joker was planning next. Tim and Steph returned with their capes smoking slightly. They removed their filters from their mouth as they landed.

“Its hell out there.” Tim said somberly.

“An underground train was hit with Joker gas. We had to sedate as many of the passengers as we could.” Steph told him.

“It wasn’t pretty.”

Harley came with them. Her face strained.

“Hood, incoming.” Dick yelled in warning. Jason looked up as Batman landed on top of the roof.

He looked at them all in silence.

“Oh, fuck.” Steph groaned. “Please can we not have a shitting contest between you and Hood tonight. We’ve got more important things to deal with.”

Harley giggled at that. Jason didn’t miss how she had moved closer to Jason’s side at Batman’s arrival, her hammer slung over her shoulder in an idle threat.

“I’m not here to fight.” Batman growled lowly.

“That’s good.” Dick said. “Because you would be outnumbered, Old man.”

Jason blinked in surprise. So did Bruce.

“Nightwing?”

“You attacked him with a Batarang unprovoked, B.” Dick said darkly.

“He threatened Robin and Spoiler.”

Dick laughed, it lacked all humour. The sound even sent a chill up Jason’s spine. “I highly doubt that.”

Tim grunted in agreement.

“Hood is our friend.” Steph told him, her voice holding no space for argument. “We didn’t appreciate you hurting him.”

“I was wrong.” Bruce said in reply. Jason nearly recoiled from shock. “I realise that now and I am sorry.”

“Are you apologising to us or to him?” Tim asked suspiciously.

“Both of you. I trust your judgement. I am sorry it took me so long to realise that if you believe he is worth fighting alongside then he probably is. I am also sorry for attacking him that day. My anger got the better of me.”

It was surprisingly Cass who spoke next. It was only one faint word but it rang through the silence.

“Truth.” She said simply. Her gaze fixed on Batman.

Jason whipped his head around in shock.

“So what, now you're all of a sudden chill about me?”

“I still disapprove of your methods but not of your overall goal. You said that night that we are not that different. Maybe I was too quick to dismiss that.”

“If I’m right you called me petty!”

“Are you going to make me apologise again?” Bruce’s voice turned exasperated.

“He should.” Tim muttered under his breath. Dick made a noise of agreement.

Jason however just sighed. “I’m also sorry. For nearly killing you.” He said awkwardly.

“You said that on the night.” Batman stated. “I’m still not entirely sure why you didn’t kill me then.”

“Despite what you think I don’t want you dead.” Jason growled.

“I know that. I just don’t know why. Most crime lords would jump at the opportunity.”

Jason was very close to saying ‘I’m not like the other crime lords’ but bit his tongue, it would sound too much like ‘I’m not like other girls’ and Steph would not let him live it down. Instead Jason remained silent. He had no way of explaining why he didn’t want Batman dead. That he couldn’t bear the idea of doing that to his Dad.

Batman seemed to realise that Jason wasn’t going to answer him.

He turned to face Steph and Tim instead. “Thank you for coming out tonight, Robin, Spoiler.” He nodded his head at them.

“We didn’t do it for you.” Steph said primly.

Batman sighed. “Regardless. Also I’m glad you're here Nightwing, I didn’t know you were in Gotham.”

“I’m an adult. I don’t need to update you on my whereabouts.” Dick grumbled. Batman’s frown deepened.

“Harley…It’s been a while.”

“Don’t sound so happy to see me, Batsie.” Harley glared at him.

Bruce sighed, placing his head in his hand and rubbing his eyes through his cowl.

“Can we reserve your obvious animosity and disdain for later?”

Steph scoffed.

“I agree.” Jason said before any of the others continued this squabble. “I think its best that we put that behind us now and focus on the Joker.”

Batman gave him another curious glance. Jason just ignored him and looked imploringly at his family. Dick was the first to nod, with a badly hidden roll of his eyes and huff. Steph had her arms crossed over chest and was shirting Jason’s gaze by glaring at Batman instead. Tim looked unimpressed but shrugged his shoulder in acceptance. Harley bounced up and down on her heels before dramatically muttering ‘Fine’. Cass, the angel that she was, just smiled at Jason and gave him a thumbs up.

“Ok. I’m glad thats settled. Now, lets talk about…”

Jason was cut off by an unamused and out of place “Tt.” that came from the shadows. Jason’s head snapped towards the noise.

“Akhi?” Jason asked incredulously.

Damian emerged, his head covered in a dark black hood and a green scarf covering his face. He had his two blades jutting out behind his shoulders, looking comically too big for the kid.

“What the fuck?”

Damian just glared obstinately at him.

“You were meant to stay in the apartment! What do you even think your doing out here. Its dangerous!” Jason scolded him.

“I can look after myself just as well if not better than Drake!”

Tim grunted in offense.

“Firstly, no names.” Jason corrected his little brother. “Secondly, you are 10 years old. You should not be out here!”

“What is the worst the clown can do?”

“Kill you!” Jason yelled. “He could kill you Akhi!”

Dick laid a hand on his shoulder to calm him. “Hood is right, Baby Bird, the Joker is not to be messed with.”

“I have been trained.”

“That doesn’t matter.” Jason hissed. “No amount of training matters. You never know when death comes, don’t go seeking it!”

Damian looked down ashamed. “I just wanted to help, Akhi.”

Jason sighed before crouching down so he was face to face with Damian. He placed his hand on his little brother’s shoulder.

“Thank you, Baby Bird. That’s very sweet. I just want you to stay safe. You're a child, Akhi, you shouldn’t have to deal with this at your age.”

Damian tutted.

“I’m serious. Something could of happened to you. You could have been hit by Joker gas or hurt.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s fine. Let’s just not do this again.” Jason sighed. He ruffled Damian's hair.

“Can I stay this time though?”

Jason hesitated. He didn’t want his baby brother anywhere near the fight. Not with the fucking clown. But Damian was just as likely to continue fighting anyway just out of his view if he sent him away.

“Only if you stay with Nightwing.” Jason finally said with another sigh. He looked up at Dick again who nodded.

“I’ll look after him.” Dick assured him.

Jason straightened up and stood. Batman was watching the scene with a calculating gaze. His eyes focusing on where Dick’s hand was now fixed on Damian’s shoulder. There was a small uncertain frown on his face.

“Ok now…” Jason started again.

“Hood!!”

Jason’s head whipped up.

Roy jumped across and alley and onto their roof, running at a sprint. He didn’t stop till he collided with Jason. His quiver and bow rattled at the force of the impact. Jason steadied him, his hand landing on his boyfriend hip instinctively.

“I’m sorry. I tried to stop him but the kid is a fucking shadow.” Roy babbled. “I had my eye on him one moment and the next he was gone.”

“Babe, relax. He’s fine.” Jason soothingly ran his hand down Roy’s back. “I should have known the kid wouldn’t listen.”

Roy’s body stopped trembling and he let his head fall onto Jason’s chest with a thump. He groaned. Jason continued caressing his back and holding him.

“Akhi.” Jason looked over Roy’s shoulder at Damian. “I think you should say sorry to Arsenal here. You gave him quite the scare.”

Damian huffed before grumbling an apology. Jason would take it. He finally used both his hands to lift Roy’s face so his boyfriend was looking at him, his gloved fingers brushing away the tears that had leaked through the archer’s mask.

“See, everything is alright.”

Roy let out a small chuckle, his own hand rising to rest on Jason’s hands as they still cradled his cheeks.

“Thanks.” He whispered.

“Now, If I’m not sending the brat away I guess I can’t convince you to return back home and stay safe either can I?”

Roy shook his head.

“I can help. Let me help.”

“Only if you stick by Nightwing and the kid and stay out of the most dangerous trouble.” Jason told him sternly. He hoped this wasn’t a mistake.

“You got it!” Roy grinned, pressing a kiss to the side of Jason’s helmet. Jason rolled his eyes and left his hand on his boyfriend’s hip as he turned back to face Batman and his friends. Dick was very badly hiding a smirk. Steph wasn’t even trying to. Batman was looking vaguely stunned. His body tense and upright.

“Arsenal?” Batman growled.

“Hi Bats, Batarang my boyfriend again and I’ll shoot an arrow through your shoulder.” Roy said in greeting, his usual friendly smile was sharp. Batman made a confused noise in the back of his throat.

“Red Hood is your boyfriend?” He whispered, his voice thick with confusion.

“Damn right he is. Step carefully Bats.”

“I feel like I’m missing something real big here?” Batman exclaimed, looking around the crowd of vigilantes, making an uncharacteristically dramatic hand gesture.

“I’m surprised you haven’t worked it out yet.” Damian said when no-one else spoke. “I thought you were meant to be smart.” Jason’s baby brother had obviously picked up on the animosity between the group and Batman and unsurprisingly leant into it.

Dick muffled his laughter as he shushed the kid.

Tim didn’t. “Right on, Baby Bird!”

“Well I for one think we should stop talking about me and focus on the issue at hand.” Jason interrupted his siblings before their grudge against Bruce gave his identity away. He was very touched that his family had chosen to stand by him, even if it was against their dad, but now was not really the time.

“What do you know about the Joker’s plan?” Jason asked Bruce. Since he was currently the most amiable and level headed with the man it seems.

Batman was still looking at his kids but cleared his throat and answered Jason. “Not much. There is rumour he has something planned on the docks. That and he’s expected to hit the banks around the city.”

Jason nodded. “Ok, Nightwing, Baby Bird and Arsenal can take the South Gotham. Spoiler, Robin and …” Jason trailed of pointing at Cass. He didn’t know what cover she would like to go by.

“Black. Bat.” Cass whispered pointing at Batman.

Well ok then.

“As long as he doesn’t call copyright…Black Bat.” Bruce didn’t complain so Jason moved on. “You three take Central Gotham. Harley you and I stay in Northern Gotham. I don’t want to leave Crime Alley undefended.”

“I will stay here too.” Batman said. “I’ll scope the docks.”

Jason nodded. “Ok. That should cover the worst hits. Everyone keep on your air filters and stay safe.”

Damian put up his hand.

“Yes, Akhi?”

“Arsenal did not come prepared with an air filter.” He told Jason primly.

“Snitch.” Roy muttered. Jason sighed. “Robin?” Tim shook his head. So did Spoiler and Nightwing.

“No spares sorry.”

“I have a spare one.” Batman offered awkwardly. Roy looked reticent to take anything from Bruce but eventually conceded and grabbed the mask.

“This fixes nothing.” He said while accepting it. He moved back to Jason’s side and tucked himself under his arm again, glaring at Bruce.

Bruce’s frown deepened.

Jason let out a long suffering sigh. He rubbed his hand affectionately through Roy’s hair.

“That’s enough, Love. We are not fighting Batman tonight.”

“Does this mean we can later?”

“No?”

Harley laughed brightly.

“This is so much better than Mason’s soap operas.” She said with a delighted clap of her hands.

“Ok, Harley lets go!” Jason cleared his throat and grabbed his friend by the arm, dragging her off. She waved at Batman as they left.

“That was so awkward.” Harley whispered to Jason conspiratorially.

“Nightwing, Robin, Spoiler…” Batman started to speak but before he could finish they were gone.

Jason looked at his dad standing alone on the roof, his head falling downwards dejectedly and his shoulders slumping.

“Hey Bats!” He yelled from the next roof across. “The docks are this way!”

Batman’s head lifted in surprise. Jason just sighed and waved him over.

“As long as you don’t mind working with a redeemed rogue and current crime lord?” Jason added teasingly. Batman hesitated before jumping onto their roof.

“I’ll take all the help I can get.” He told Jason with an exhausted smile.

“Well then, we better get moving.”

----------------------

Just because they were heading in the same direction doesn’t mean him and Batman worked side by side. With the Joker’s crew emerging on different sides of the East End all at once they were forced to split. Harley shouldered her hammer as they made their way through the streets of Crime Alley. Ivy had made a protective shield of green vines over the buildings. Batman looked around with an inquisitive frown.

“This area should be safe.” Harley hummed. “I’ll take the left.”

“I’ll go right.” Jason hummed, waving goodbye to her.

Batman silently turned towards the docks.

Jason ended up covering as much area as he could. His gun’s emptying round after round of bullets as he cut through the Joker’s forces when he came upon them. He ducked a smoke bomb and walked through the acid green Joker gas unscathed, his helmet filtering out the toxins. He tried to get as many citizens as he could away from the affected areas, his heart clenching as he saw the unlucky few who the gas had hit laughing uncontrollably as they tore at their faces until they bled. Jason tranquilised as many as he could until he ran out of darts.

A pitiful drizzle had started, the patter of the raindrops rhythmically hitting his helmet and his heavy jacket.

Jason wasn’t sure why but he found himself drifting closer and closer to the docks.

Jason froze as he heard a familiar cackle floating on the salty air.

A shiver ran down his spine. The chill eating into his bones.

Jason mechanically reached for his gun, slipping in a new cartridge into the chamber. Then he closed his eyes and took a long deep breath before he walked towards the noise.

Jason’s heart thumped painfully in his chest. He kept close to the shadows, caped in the comfortable and steady darkness of Gotham. The noise was coming from one of the warehouses by the docks.

Jason came to a stop as he surveyed the unfolding scene. The sight of the Joker's acid green hair and his unhinged blood red smile had him fixed in place, paralysed. He watched helpless from the shadows as Batman threw a punch at the clown. He heard Bruce’s grunt, watched as his hit missed and his body swayed unsteadily. His movement’s growing more sluggish. The Joker just danced around him, the sound of his laughter momentarily flashing Jason to another warehouse.

It took Jason a while to blink away the images. When he did he noticed the syringe on the floor beside where Joker and Batman’s fight was taking place. Bruce’s unsteady movements suddenly made more sense. Bruce did not stop fighting despite his obvious struggle against the unknown drug. The Joker remained just out of his reach, toying with him with a never ending psychotic smile. He had a crowbar held relaxed in his hands, and occasionally twirled it like a circus baton. Bruce shook his head and stumbled.

Jason’s heart skipped a beat.

The Joker’s laugh buzzed in his ear.

Jason felt a sharp fear stab through him as he watched Batman’s knee buckle under him and the dark knight double over.

“Bye bye Batsie.” The Joker mocked. “Where are your little birdies?”

Bruce struggled to lift himself again and swung another sluggish punch. The Joker side stepped it.

“Busy all over the city. Too far from here. Would they even come if you called?” He singsonged. “Some little birdy told me that they are seen with the big bad bat no more.”

Bruce fell to the floor again. His head drooping to thunk against his chest armour. He attempted to lift it but the drugs were too strong.

“All alone. Don’t be so sad Batsie. We can fix that. Give me a smile”

The Joker’s white gloves gripped beneath Bruce’s chin, yanking his head upwards. His other hand drew out a wicked looking knife. Bruce tried to feebly tilt his face away from the blade.

“Let’s turn that frown upside down.” The Joker hummed viciously, his blood red lips curling into a feral smile. “Don’t you know its better to have a smile on your face.” The Joker placed the blade in Bruce’s mouth, setting it against the corners. Bruce stilled entirely.

“That’s right. Be a good boy. This will only hurt a little bit.”

‘Be a good boy’

The words rang in Jason ears. He’d been told the same. Just before the crowbar swung.

Jason felt like something snapped inside him and he was finally able to move. He left the shadows in a rush on wobbly legs.

“Joker.” Jason growled to get the maniac’s attention. The Joker turned slowly, thankfully removing the blade from Bruce’s mouth and letting his face fall from his hands. Jason’s body shook slightly as his dark eyes fixed on Jason.

“This is an interesting development.” The clown said his face transfixed in his unmoving twisted smile. It held no humour, only an unending coldness.

“Joker, just because your jokes aren’t funny doesn’t mean you need to stoop to the level of carving fake smiles. Accept that you're not amusing and move on.” Jason had never felt more grateful for his helmet hiding the tremor in his voice. Bruce struggled to lift his head and looked at Jason in shock.

“You're the one who stole my name. How brave.” The Joker’s growing smile made Jason’s heart plummet. “Yet your hands still shake.”

Jason tightened his hold on the gun. The Joker quirked his head. Jason felt more fear than he ever had through his trials in the League. It was a fear so encompassing that it controlled his mind just as much as the Lazarus. Jason tried to breathe through it.

“Walk away thief. You hold no loyalty to the Bats.” The Joker smiled condescendingly.

“That might be so. But I owe even less to you.” Jason gritted out. He kept his gun pointed at the Joker as he purposefully strode in front of Batman’s crumpled form.

The Joker’s smile crystallised into something sharp and dangerous.

“So be it.”

Maybe it was the cloud of fear or maybe it was his mind flashing back to that night in the warehouse or maybe it was just Jason’s inescapable fate but whatever it was he never saw the crowbar coming.

Chapter Text

Jason's helmet rang at the impact, shattering into pieces under the solid iron. A chunk of the helmet dug into his forehead, and blood poured over his eye, distorting his vision. The Joker swung again, this time gouging his arm and forcing Jason to drop his gun. The sharp and familiar pain shooting through him. Jason lashed out with his other fist instead but he moved too late. The crowbar shattered his knee next. Jason found himself flat on the floor when the next one came straight for his chest. It was a far too familiar image. One he knew from his nightmares. This time Jason rolled out of the way. Now with no helmet to hide his face, he made eye contact with Bruce when he did so.

His dad’s face was deathly pale.

“Jason.” Bruce murmured softly. His expression crumpling with despair and confusion.

Jason had no time to deal with that. He kicked out at the Joker’s spindly legs to give himself time to stand again. The Joker stumbled back, with a delighted laugh.

“Putting up a fight? How sweet.”

Jason growled, spitting the blood from his mouth. He was choking on the metallic taste. His teeth no doubt stained red. He ran his hand through his head to move his blood-soaked hair out of his eye. It didn’t help his vision improve by much.

“Oh you are familiar now. I couldn’t place you without the blood.” The Joker hummed. “How curious the little Birdie I buried rose again, here for a second time.”

Jason fought his body’s instinct to freeze or flee. He forced himself to meet the Joker’s gaze.

“I’m here to get revenge.”

“I’m shaking in my boots.” The Joker laughed. “Little Robin, you should have walked away.”

“Wasn’t an option.” Jason bit out.

“Couldn’t leave your daddy to die? He had no such issue leaving you.” The Joker danced in front of Jason’s vision a blur of green and purple.

Bruce made a broken noise behind Jason.

“We both know no one is to blame for my death except for you.”

The Joker laughed.

“Have you forgotten lovely Sheila’s assistance? Mummy led her lamb to the slaughter.”

Jason’s breath caught. Bruce slurred a stunned and pained “What?”. Jason had to guess that he hadn’t worked out that part of the story. It would explain why Jason had been buried next to the woman who willingly handed him over to this monster.

“She was not my mother.” Jason hissed furiously.

“You can’t escape that druggie’s DNA any more than you can escape history repeating itself.” The Joker lifted his hand to tap his chin as if mulling over an idea. “First I’ll bury you and Bats then maybe I’ll find another baby bird’s wings to break. I could collect the entire set.”

For the first time Jason’s crushing fear was replaced by blind unrelenting anger. The Lazarus sung in the back of his mind. Jason let it in. The Joker’s face reflected green at the strength of Jason’s acidic glowing eyes. For the first time Jason registered a flicker of fear cross the clown’s face.

The Joker swung again but this time Jason caught it before it could land. He yanked the crowbar from the Joker’s hands, throwing it to the ground with a clatter.

“Wrong words.” He growled.

Jason no longer registered that it was the Joker in front of him. The part of his mind that quaked at the monster’s image had been shut off. Now he was just a threat to be ended. He no longer felt the pain from the crowbar’s blows. The flimsy piece of metal no longer mattered. It no longer held any power over him.

No the green did that.

Jason had the Joker by his throat within seconds. He’s skin prickled vaguely as the clown tried to claw his way out of his grip. To him it was a distant sensation, not worth thinking about. Jason’s only thought was that of watching the life drain out of the clown’s body. Jason threw him to the ground like a rag doll.

A part of him wanted to do it with the crowbar. The same weapon that had killed him. A smaller deeply buried part still shrank from the weapon.

Jason found his gun back in his hands. He didn’t remember crouching down and reaching for it.

“Now, wait.” The Joker tried to say. His eyes widening in horror. His smile was noticeably absent from his bloody lips.

Jason fired three times.

Two to the chest and one to the head.

The gunshots rang through the silence of the docks.

Jason looked down at the lax body, the blood welling through the Joker’s suit and between his glassy eyes. Jason stared down at him for a long minute. He watched the unnatural stillness and felt a heavy vindication settle in his chest.

Mechanically Jason removed the knife from his boot and hacked off the clowns head just to be sure. Only then did the green seem sated, purring in the back of his mind.

Jason turned to face Batman. The man’s eyes didn’t leave his face for a moment. The green whispered to make him pay too, for replacing him, for letting the Joker live so he could only escape again, for the new scar on his shoulder. Jason clawed his way to freedom, fighting for his own mind. Finally he let the knife fall from his hand.

When the green faded the pain surged back all at once. Jason fell to his knees at the force of it. Bile rose in his throat and he ended up dry heaving over the concrete.

Bruce dragged his body over to him, his gloved hand reaching for Jason. Jason whined but was too tired to pull away. Let Bruce deal with him as he saw fit. Jason didn’t care anymore.

The Joker was dead.

Bruce’s touch was shockingly gentle. The fingers brushing over Jason’s face were as light as a feather. Jason whimpered when they skimmed over the cut on his forehead.

“Jaylad?” Bruce whispered.

Jason closed his eyes and let a tear slip down his face. Bruce’s fingers caught it.

“I don’t understand.” Bruce’s voice quivered.

“Before you put me in Arkham can I say goodbye to my friends? I promise I wont run.” Jason blurted out.

Bruce physically recoiled. His movements jerky with the drugs weighing down his mind.

“I wont run.” Jason said again. “I promise.”

“Jason what?!”

“I don’t regret killing him.” Jason said fiercely.

“Jason.” Bruce breathed.

“No Bruce. I don’t care.”

Bruce shook his head as if to clear the haze of drugs.

“Jason you're alive.” Bruce told him seriously, like this was the answer to everything. His hands cradled his face and tears fell from beneath his cowl. Jason’s face scrunched in confusion, his frown pulling the cut on his head. Jason winced.

“I killed the Joker.” He said dumbly.

“You're alive!” Bruce replied to him reverently.

“I feel like we’re having two separate conversations here?” Jason mumbled. His head hurt. Actually there wasn’t much of his body that didn’t hurt.

“Are you a side effect of the drugs?”

Jason was getting really tired of being thought of as a hallucination. Before he could answer though Bruce was overcome by the drugs and faceplanted onto the ground. Jason looked at him blandly before blinking away the darkness creeping over his vision and checking his dad for a pulse.

He was relieved to find a faint one beneath his fingers.

Thats a start.

Jason scrambled in his trouser pockets until he finally found his phone. He wiped away the drops of blood as they landed on the screen. Jason blinked through the smudges to pull up his call log.

The phone ran once before it picked up.

“Hello?”

“Oracle?” Jason mumbled.

“Hood?”

“Barbara?” It was a hunch. A guess.

“What?!” By the sound of it it was the right one.

“Babs. It’s Jason.”

There was a sudden icy silence.

“That’s not funny.” Barbara’s voice sent chills down Jason’s spine.

“No, Babs, its really me.” Jason could feel his head spinning as he whined. “Ask Dick. Wait no he’s busy.” Jason frowned. What was he doing?

Oh yeah.

“We’re at the docks.” Jason breathed. “The grey building.”

“Whose we Hood?” Jason could hear the clack of her keyboard through the phone.

“Bruce and I.” He slurred. “An’ the Joker. But he’s dead. I killed ‘m.”

Jason let out a broken sob. He wasn’t sure if it was in relief or fear of what was to come.

“I killed ‘m. He threatened the baby birds, Babs.”

“Ok, Hood stay on the line with me.”

“Bruce is drugged.” Jason slurred out. He could feel his vision growing darker. “I don’t know what.”

“Are you drugged too Hood?”

“Nah.” Jason laughed. Then he couldn’t stop his giggles. That was until a sharp pain shoot through his skull. Jason groaned. “‘M head hurts.” He told Barbara.

“What happened Hood?”

Jason frowned.

“He broke m’helmet. I made that helmet.”

“I’m sorry to hear that Hood.”

“S’fine. I can make another one.” He hummed.

“Ok, Hood. Help is on the way. Just stay with me a little while longer.”

“M’sorry.”

“Why are you sorry, Hood?”

“I don’t think I can stay, Babs.” Jason felt another tear slip from his eye.

“Just a little longer.”

“I’ll try.” Jason closed his eyes. “Can you call Constantine?” Jason asked suddenly.

“John Constantine?” Barbara said in suprise. Jason hummed in agreement. Constantine would be there for Roy. He’d have his back if Jason couldn’t.

“He’s nice.” Jason told Barbara.

“Maybe your thinking of a different Constantine?”

“No,” Jason grumbled. “John.”

“Ok, I’ll call Constantine.”

“Tell him to bring back Earl Grey from England.” Jason murmured. Alfred loved Earl Grey tea. “And tell Roy m’sorry. He’s m’love.”

“I’ll do that.” Barbara assured him gently. “Hold on, Jason. Dick is on his way.”

“Mmhmm.”

“Jason?”

“Jason!”

Jason’s mind went pleasantly blank and he slumped over Bruce’s body with a sigh, the phone falling from his hand.

---------------------------

Jason awoke to his head feeling like clouds and his limbs feeling vaguely disconnected from his body.

He groaned.

This better not be fucking Hell.

Eventually, Jason realised that the heat radiating against his side and chest came from the bodies tucked against him. He blinked away the blurriness from his eyes to find Damian curled up like a cat on one side and Tim snoring softly on his other. Jason frowned in confusion. His face felt tight at the movement. It took him a few more moments to realised that prickly sensation was the pull of stitches and gauze. Jason wouldn’t need patching up if he was dead. That was good? Of course it wasn’t bad that Jason was still alive. Just unexpected.

Guess there was no escaping his confrontation with Bruce.

Great.

Jason shuffled his body upwards on the pillows to look around. That’s when he noticed that Roy was sitting on the chair beside him, his head resting on Jason’s mattress and his hand tightly clasped around Jason’s. Jason felt a soft smile grace his face, he tugged gently on their joined hands and Roy stirred.

“Whatsit?”

“Roy?” Jason whispered.

Roy’s head shot up at an alarming rate and his green eyes fixed on Jason, tears glazing them over.

“Hey, Love. You're awake?” He squeezed Jason’s hand and gave him a brilliant smile.

“So it would seem.” Jason murmured, giving Roy a lopsided grin. His face twinged a bit at the movement but Jason couldn’t stop. “I missed you.”

Roy huffed a startled laugh. “I missed you too, Jaybird.”

“Did I worry you again?” Jason asked softly. He didn’t want to keep worrying Roy. He really hadn’t meant to leave him again.

“Jason, you were hurt. I’m never not going to worry when you get hurt. But you’re safe now.”

“I’m sorry.”

Roy placed a hand on Jason’s cheek. “Don’t be.”

Then his boyfriend leant over him and pressed a gentle kiss on his forehead. Jason’s heart fluttered at the action.

“Fuck I love you.” Jason said seriously. Roy laughed.

“I love you too.”

Jason hummed happily, closing his eyes as he settled back down on the soft cushions. He shot awake a moment later.

“Wait! Did I call Constantine nice?!” He exclaimed. His conversation with Babs emerging to the forefront of his mind.

“That’s what you remember!” Roy laughed.

God, Jason must have really been dying.

“He’s not going to let that go is he?” Jason groaned. “Can I plead concussion and near death experience mind fog?”

“You can try. I think he’s gloating too much to take any excuses. He did bring the Earl Grey tea you asked for though. A shit ton of it.”

“He’s here?”

“Him and Bruce have been seperated to different sides of the manor. Steph’s keeping peace between them.”

“The manor?” Jason mumbled.

It was only then that Jason registered that the room he was in echoed too much to be his small apartment. Fuck. Jason opened his eyes and actually looked at his surroundings. Bruce had redecorated the med bay. For one there were more beds. Jason was surprised to see that Dick was passed out on the one beside his. His body twisted in a way that most would assume was uncomfortable but Dick never slept normally. Cas sat cross legged at the end of his bed. She gave Jason a little wave when he met her eyes. There was a bruise forming on her jaw but she smiled brightly. Jason waved back. Now he realised where he was he was surprised that his hands were not cuffed to the bed.

“Roy?”

“Yeah?”

“What pray tell are we doing here?” Jason whispered. He looked suspiciously around the cave’s med bay.

“Babs insisted and I can’t find the exit in this damn cave.” Roy whispered back conspiratorially.

“What about Bruce?” Jason asked hesitantly.

“The man’s a wreck. I never thought I’d see Batman so emotional.”

“That doesn’t sound right.” Jason frowned. Bruce couldn’t care for a killer even one who used to be his son. He may have allowed Jason to continue working as Red Hood but that was before he had the ability to fully track him down. Now with his identity in the open there was nothing to stop him from placing Jason in Arkham. Jason wouldn’t even stop him, the prison didn’t sound so bad without the Clown as a possible cell mate.

“I think you’ve misjudged your dad, Jay.” Roy sighed, his hands scratching Jason’s hair pleasantly.

“But I killed Joker?”

“I don’t think that’s the reason he’s upset.”

Jason frowned. He had never considered a future where Bruce would actually welcome him back. His dad had always held his no kill rule as an uncrossable absolute. It was what had put distance between them the first time. Just before he’d run. Just before he’d died. Bruce was furious at just the suspicion that Jason had pushed Felipe Garzonasa from that Balcony. He didn’t even have to do it for Bruce to show his disapproval. It took only the possibility for him to take away Robin. It didn’t matter how much Jason had insisted that he hadn’t. Now there was no denying that Jason was a murderer.

Now Jason wasn’t sure what to think.

Jason ignored all that and tried to lighten the mood. “Is it cause Dick called him a furry?”

Roy let out a startled laugh just as Jason had hoped he would.

“As far as I’m aware your brother hasn’t thrown around that particular jibe.”

“That’s good. That means I still have time to win the bet.” He hummed thoughtfully.

Roy still looked confused but just laid another gentle kiss on Jason’s forehead.

“You do that, dear.” He said supportively. Jason would. He’s not going to lose 20 bucks to Dick.

Damian shifted against his side, letting out a small yawn. Over the past few days they’d started to teach the kid how to emote like a human. It was adorable.

“Hey Dami.” Jason ran a hair through his baby brother’s spiky hair. Damian’s blue eyes flickered open.

“Hello Akhi. Our Father cries a lot more than I expected. It’s very unseemly.” He told Jason seriously as he sat up.

Jason huffed a laugh.

“So he knows about you now?”

Damian nodded. “He does not take surprises well.”

“No he never really has. Not when he hasn’t planned for the eventuality.”

“I love the fact that he has precautions for every possible attack against the Justice League, even for if the threat comes from inside the League, but couldn’t imagine a faulty condom.” Roy chuckled.

“He is certainly unique.” Came Tim’s sleepy voice. “And you, Baby bat, are the only one of us actually related to him as you like to remind us so often.”

Damian let out an indignant squawk.

“Tt he is a great warrior.”

“You’ll be questioning that when you see his Brucie Wayne persona.” Tim replied with a wide shit eating grin. “I’m sure you won't be so eager to be related to him after that.”

Jason sighed as he plucked the knife that appeared out of Damian’s hands. Damian no doubt ready to fight for his father’s honour.

“No fighting on my sick bed.” He scolded his baby brother. Tim chuckled delightedly. “I can see you really like no longer being the youngest.” Jason told his other little brother dryly.

Tim grinned wickedly in response.

Jason was more than a little worried by that. He was just about to ask Tim about what sort of trouble he was planning when someone cleared their throat in the doorway.

Jason smiled brightly when he saw who it was. Alfred’s returning smile was overwhelmingly fond. Jason had missed him.

“Ah Master Jason, I see that you are awake.”

“Hey, Alfie. It’s been a while.” Jason replied slightly awkwardly. He wasn’t particularly certain how to approach his resurrection with the man who was basically his Grandfather.

“Far too long, Master Jason.” Alfred said softly.

Alfred was carrying a tray with a steaming cup of Hot Chocolate. Damian and Tim shuffled their way to the end of the bed so that Alfred could place it on Jason’s lap.

“Did Constantine give you the Earl Grey?” Jason asked off-handily as Alfred stepped back with a gentle pat on Jason’s shoulder.

Alfred looked surprise. “The sorcerer arrived with quite a few bags of it. I wasn’t aware it was for me.”

“It’s still your favourite right?”

“It certainly is, Master Jason.” Alfred replied, his voice sounding raspier than before. Jason didn’t mention that there were tears forming in the Butler’s eyes.

“I missed you Alfie.”

“I missed you too, young boy. I’ve made your favourite chicken noodle soup to aid in your recovery.”

“Thank you.” Jason cleared his own throat and blinked back his own tears.

“It was no issue, Master Jason. I am just unbelievably happy to have you back.”

“Its good to be back Alfred.” Jason said truthfully.

“I will let the rest of your guests know that you are awake.” Alfred said with a sharp nod of his head before he walked out of the room. Jason saw the Butler wiping away a tear with his white gloved hand.

“Um, who?” Jason whispered to Roy.

“Except for Steph and Constantine. Harley was here but had to leave to meet up with Ivy, they’re tidying up the remnants of the Joker’s plans. And yesterday Crystal and Mason came knocking. Alfred let them in.”

“They came to the manor?”

“Yeah. Crystal managed to dissuade the home invasion Mason would have launched if she didn’t bring him. They’ve been updating everyone else on your recovery. I think if you’d slept another day Renee and Dan would have broken into the cave.”

“How long have I been out?” Jason asked.

“The Joker’s been dead for two days.”

“Oh.” Jason said softly.

“Mason actually punched Bruce.” Roy said to cheer him up. Jason made a high inquisitive sound. Mason had done what?!

“Don’t worry Bruce had gotten the drugs out of his system so it wasn’t in poor taste. The kid actually has quite the swing.”

“I mean he should I taught him that.” Jason really wasn’t sure if he should feel proud or not. On one hand that was his kid. On the other his kid had just punched his dad for him.

“After that him and Bruce have actually gotten on pretty amicably.” Tim assured him.

“That’s not all together true! I can’t believe that man is actually Batman.”

Mason flopped down on Jason’s bed with a cheeky grin. Jason luckily lifted his Hot chocolate up in preparation of the act and avoid that disaster. The kid squeezed him in a quick hug before settling down at his side.

“Hello, Kiddo.” He said in greeting, lowering his Hot Chocolate back onto the tray. “You punched Bruce?”

“I told you I would when I saw him. Not gonna lie he looked so miserable I almost felt bad.”

Crystal took a seat on Jason’s other side much more carefully.

“Glad you're back in the world of the living, Little Wolf.” Crystal pressed a kiss to his cheek. “I made sure the clown’s body was cremated. He’s not coming back thanks to you, Jay.”

Jason gave his friend a small shaky smile. “Thanks, Crys.”

A moment later Steph ran into the room and launched himself at Jason’s bed. Roy used his quick reaction speed to grab the Hot Chocolate before the girl landed on top of the tray and Jason’s chest. The pain was only minimal.

Jason let out a grunt before wrapping his arm around Steph’s chest. He spat out the mouthful of blonde hair with a chuckle.

“Steph.” He said in greeting.

“Jason, I think you need more protective armour.” She told him seriously. “Leather just isn’t enough.”

“I’ll get on that.” He murmured, pressing a kiss to the top of her busy curls.

“You better!” When Steph pulled back there were tears in her eyes but she still smiled fondly down at him. “You’re my favourite brother. You can’t leave me with these three idiots.”

Tim and Damian made noises of complaint and right on time Dick let out a loud snore. Jason giggled.

“Don’t worry I wont.” He assured her.

His final guest luckily didn’t throw himself at him. Constantine patted Jason’s shoulder awkwardly in greeting.

“I didn’t appreciate the late warning on the shopping trip, kid.” He told Jason. “But I got you the stupid tea….you know cause I’m so nice.”

Jason groaned.

“I was concussed!”

“And a concussion is similar to being drunk and you know what they say about being drunk?”

“That you personally should do it less?”

“That that’s where the truth comes out.” Constantine told him with a smug smile.

“Uh-huh. And how’s dealing with Bruce going for you?” Jason asked the sorcerer with a quirked eyebrow.

“There is not enough alcohol in the world to make it easier.” Constantine said seriously. “He seems all too forgiving to his kids for keeping you and his spawn secret from him but I apparently am judged by a different set of rules.”

“Is he not aware that you’re a man child?” Jason asked. “Or is it just cause you’re not his?”

“Hardy-ha-ha.” Constantine replied dryly. “Get your dad off my back before I’m chased out of this city.” He said seriously.

“If I did that you’d still be occupying my couch.”

“But Jason, I thought you thought I was nice?” Constantine whined and fake pouted.

“See you repeating that doesn’t make me want to help you more.”

“They’re your words not mine.”

Jason didn’t need that reminder. Next time he was suffering severe blood loss and a head injury he’d make sure not to open his mouth. Roy was looking much too amused. Traitor. His boyfriend had a terrible taste in friends.

“Hey how come you didn’t mention me when you were dying?” Mason asked with a cheeky smile.

“Ok, firstly not dying… merely passing out. Secondly I was not sound of mind, Mason! I’d suffered a serious head injury. I don’t know what you expect from me!”

“Well not you professing your love for Constantine.”

Jason was rethinking his fondness for this kid.

“I didn’t profess my love. I called him nice and asked him to pick up tea. It’s not a big deal.”

“You keep telling yourself that.” Constantine patted his shoulder condescendingly. “But I think we all know that secretly you like me.”

“If anything you tricked me into being endeared to you through a weird reverse Stockholm syndrome situation.”

“Thats what they all say.” Constantine said nonsensically. “But in all seriousness I’m glad you're OK, otherwise I wouldn’t be having nearly as much fun if your final words had been calling me nice.”

With that the sorcerer retreated to a free bed and nonchalantly settled down. Roy had to steal away his pack of cigarettes and remind him that this was a med bay. Constantine grumbled his complaint but then decided he was due a nap.

“I can’t believe I called him nice.” Jason whispered to a grinning Steph.

“Don’t worry. We all make mistakes.”

Jason hummed in agreement and sipped Alfred’s Hot Chocolate. It was as delicious as he remembered. Mason, Steph and Tim soon started a game of Uno over his blanket. Damian watched them with a detached intrest. Dick awoke after one of Tim’s enraged shouts after getting hit with two plus fours. Jason resigned himself to Dick’s fussing. Roy and Crystal did nothing to save him from it.

“Do you need a new gauze?” Dick asked his hand pressed against Jason’s face as if to take his fever. Jason was very confused by his brother’s first aid skills.

“What I need, Dickie Bird, is some space.”

“What about your knee? Does it hurt?”

“No it’s pretty numb and it’s currently being used as a card table. I’m assuming I’m on the good drugs. Dick, if you shine that torch into my eyes I’m going to have to punch you!”

Dick pocketed the torch with a pout.

“Are you hungry?”

“Is that an offer to cook? Cause if it is I’m scared.” Jason told Dick seriously.

His brother rolled his eyes.

“There’s no need for attitude, Little Wing.”

“Oh, I disagree. The attitude is the only thing carrying me through this conversation.”

“Dick, are you certain he doesn’t have a fever?” Tim murmured from where he was playing his cards. “I think there is a thermometer in the top drawer.”

The little shit.

Dick looked like he was considering it before Jason grabbed his arm and pulled him back.

“Dick, I’m fine. I feel fine. If you stick a thermometer down my throat I’m going to get Roy to carry me bridal style out of the door.”

Dick sighed.

“Fine. No thermometer.”

“Also, Tim, I’m going to remember this when you get sick next time.”

Tim waved his threat away distractively. It often felt like none of his family remembered he was an active crime lord. Or at least semi-active. Not even killing the Joker seemed to make his younger brother treat him with respect.

“Jason.”

Jason looked towards the doorway. Bruce was staring at him with a strange pinched expression on his face. Jason’s heart leapt into his throat at the sight of his dad. Bruce looked tired. He had two days worth of stubble gracing his chin and a bruise on his jaw. Jason wondered if Mason had given him that. His eyes were also suspiciously red. Damian hadn’t been exaggerating about the crying it seems.

“Bruce.” Jason breathed.

Bruce opened his mouth to say something but Dick stood between them, his arms folded over his chest.

“I thought we told you to stay out, Bruce.” Dick said sternly.

“I know but…”

“Jason needs space from you.”

Jason cleared his throat. “Dick, as sweet as this is. I can speak for myself.”

Dick looked back at Jason with a confused frown.

“Dick, let him in. There is no point in delaying this conversation.”

“Fine.” Dick gritted out, standing out of Bruce’s way.

“Can we talk?” Bruce blurted out. Jason nodded, before clearing his throat.

“Yeah.”

Bruce looked warily at his friends who surrounded Jason’s bed. All of them were glaring at him. Jason sighed. No wonder Bruce looked so hesitant.

“All right guys. Go be busy elsewhere. Bruce and I need to talk alone.”

Jason’s family grumbled but extracted themselves from his bed and side, filtering out the doorway. Each giving Jason an affectionate and supportive gesture, be it a hug, forehead kiss or pat on the shoulder. Roy left last. His boyfriend tapped his fingers against Jason’s shoulder and raised his eyebrow in question. It was a silent ‘Are you sure?’. Jason took a deep breath and nodded. Roy gave Jason a sweet parting kiss.

Finally, when he was all alone Jason turned to face Bruce.

Chapter Text

There was a moment where everything seemed to stand still. His heart frozen in his chest as he and Bruce stared at each other in silence.

“You can sit if you want.” Jason pushed himself upwards on his pillows and Bruce stumbled forwards. He seemed to hesitate before lowering himself down on the edge of Jason’s bed.

“I’m sorry about them lot. I didn’t ask for them to be so…aggressive?” Jason said when Bruce did nothing but stare at him with a peculiar expression.

“No, I know that.” Bruce blurted out. “I sort of asked for it myself with my past treatment of you.” He added more slowly.

“You didn’t know it was me.” Jason said with a confused frown.

“But I knew they cared for you and I went after you anyway.” Bruce fidgeted, plucking at his trouser leg nervously. “And I hurt you.”

Bruce’s voice was high and pained. Jason wasn’t certain on what to do so he ended up awkwardly patting his dad’s hand. Bruce let out a sob at the gesture.

“I’m sorry, Jaylad. I’m so sorry.” His dad’s shoulders shook violently.

Jason didn’t hesitate to shuffle towards his dad and slowly wrap his arms around him. This didn’t stop the shaking, in fact he felt Bruce fall apart in his hold. Jason was at a loss of what to do.

“Bruce I hurt you too.”

Bruce just sobbed.

“Please, Dad, stop crying.” Jason said desperately. He felt his own tears pour down his face as he buried it into Bruce’s shoulder. A tremulous hand settled on his back.

“I’m sorry, Dad.” Jason sniffled.

“Oh, Jason, my boy, my beautiful boy, you have nothing to apologise for.” Bruce told him fiercely. “I was meant to protect you and all I did was cause you more and more harm.”

Jason whined in disagreement. Bruce tightened his hold around Jason’s back.

“I never blamed you, Bruce.”

“You should have. For everything. For pushing you away into the Joker’s clutches, for attacking you on that rooftop, for forcing you to fight that monster again.”

Bruce’s voice faded off.

“No, Bruce, don’t do that. I don’t blame you and I’m not going to allow you to blame yourself.”
“I should have figured out it was you. With Tim’s drugged ramblings and his sudden trust in you. It was all there. Instead all I did was lash out and nearly kill you.” Bruce’s voice was a small and feeble thing.

“I was dead. It’s understandable. You were just trying to protect them.”

“Jason…”

“I almost killed you too. I didn’t want to, hadn’t for a long while. But when I first came to Gotham it was for revenge.” Jason took in a shaky breath. “Bruce I had plans, sick fucking plans, to hurt you, to hurt the new Robin. He was a replacement in my mind. A cuckoo in my nest. All these thoughts were fuelled by a blindness from the Lazarus pit and I was so angry. I was so unbelievably angry that I couldn’t see past it. It took a conversation with Steph to shake me out of it. But Bruce, if I hadn’t spoken to her that day I would have hurt him. I would have been the threat that you perceived me to be. So I don’t blame you for being suspicious. I don’t blame you for not trusting me.”

“Jason that doesn’t…”

“It does matter.”

“It doesn’t take away from the fact I nearly killed you. Roy told me how close you came. Jason I would have never even known what I’d lost.”

“I didn’t want you to know.”

Bruce made a soft broken noise. “Why not Jason? Why didn’t you come home?”

“Bruce, I'm a killer. I didn’t think there was a place for me here anymore.”

“Jason. You are my son. There will always be a place for you. This will always be your home.”

“So it doesn’t matter?” Jason said slowly. “It doesn’t matter the people I’ve killed. The blood on my hands? That doesn’t matter to you all of a sudden?!”

“Not as much as having you back in my life matters to me!” Bruce replied deathly serious. He pulled out of Jason’s hug to curl one of his hands around the back of Jason’s neck and Jason met his sincere steely blue eyes. “Not as much as you matter to me.”

Jason couldn’t stop the tears that fell. His vision was blurry as he held Bruce’s gaze.

“And the Joker?”

“You’re hardly the first person to try kill him. The only difference is I’m pretty sure yours will stick.” Bruce said with a faint chuckle.

“What does that mean?”
“I came so close once. A few months after your death. It was Clark that stopped me. He knew that once I crossed that line I could never come back. He knew that with that action I could no longer be Batman. Gotham still needs a Batman.” Bruce said the last bit softly, as if he was trying to convince himself.

“You nearly killed him?”

“A few more hits and I would have.” Bruce closed his eyes and tilted his head to the ceiling. Bruce nearly broke his rule for him. His dad was going to kill the fucking clown for him.

“How come I never heard of that?” Jason whispered.

“I never told the others. Only Clark knows.”

“We’re not so different.” Jason whispered the words he told Bruce on that rooftop that fateful night.

“We really aren’t.” Bruce replied with a slight smile. Bruce’s thumb had started rubbing soothing circles on the back of Jason’s neck. Jason found himself smiling back at his dad in turn.

“Except I’ve got the better fashion sense.” Jason said with a shit eating grin.

Bruce let out a shocked laugh. “I don’t think I’d agree with that.”

Jason knew it was time. He couldn’t hide his growing grin.

“Says the man who dresses up as a giant furry every night.”

Bruce’s mouth hung open at his words. Then he snorted before descending into uncontrollable giggles. Jason’s grin grew.

“Am I making you reconsider your suit design?”

“Fuck, no. You are however making me reconsider why I chose you to be my child.” Bruce teased him. “No respect for your poor old dad.”

“You made your choice.”

“I sure did.” Bruce said fondly. He then pressed a gentle kiss to Jason’s forehead. Jason closed his eyes as his heart clenched and he felt a warm sensation of coming home wash over him. Jason found himself snuggled into Bruce’s side as his dad embraced him. They stayed like that for a while, Jason just breathing in Bruce’s woody cologne and revelling in the closeness. Bruce held him like he was something precious. Then again it was a miracle he was even here cradled in his father’s arms. He thought he didn't get to have this.

“Bruce?”

“Yeah, champ?”

“What do you think of Damian?”

Bruce hummed thoughtfully. “It definitely took me by surprise to be gaining two sons when I woke up in the med bay. Well, regaining you. I don’t think he likes me that much.”

Bruce sounded sad at that thought.

“Nah, the kid is just like that. He definitely looks up to you.”

“Well, I think he looks up to you more. From what I’ve seen him and Tim have an interesting rivalry going too.”

“Dick’s still Damian’s favourite.” Jason grumbled. “He takes him to the zoo.”

“I’m sure he doesn’t have favourites.” Bruce chuckled. The sound caused his chest to vibrate where Jason was still cuddled against it.

“No, I’m pretty sure he does. He said that to my face.”

Bruce let out a breathy laugh. “Well, I guess you can take him to the zoo next time and win his favour?”

“Maybe you can come too?” Jason asked hesitantly.

“I’d love too.” Bruce murmured. “I’ll take all of you. All my boys. And Steph.”

“And Mason, he wants to see the reptile section.”

Bruce made a face and sighed. “Sure, and Mason.”

“Still bitter he punched you?” Jason teased.

“I’m not saying it wasn’t deserved but it actually hurt.”

“Yeah, I taught him that.” Jason said unrepentantly. Alright he was fucking proud of the kid.

“And what a fine teacher you are.” Bruce muttered.

“I Learnt from the best.” Jason told him.

“In that case…” Jason could hear the smile in Bruce’s voice.

“Oh yeah, the League had some of the best martial art instructors that have ever lived.” Jason added with a giggle.

Bruce just sighed.

“It’s good to know you're still a sarcastic little shit.”

“Why change perfection?” Jason hummed happily.

“And I’m assuming you were the one who taught this to Mason too?”

“No, he was a little shit when he came to me.”

“Mhmm. No one has really told me who he is.” Bruce sounded hesitant to ask.

Jason laughed. “He’s my teenage roommate and the brother of one of my friends. He used to sleep on my couch and now he has his own room in my new apartment. Trust me, he grows on you.”

“And Crystal?”

“She’s a very old friend. Do you remember when I told you that story of the girl who gave me Hot Chocolate when I was on the street?”

“That was her?” Bruce murmured.

“Yeah. That was her.”

“I must thank her for that.”

“She has saved my life many more times after that. You’d run out of breath if you tried to thank her for everytime.”

Crystal had shaped the path of Jason’s life just as much as Bruce had. Maybe even more. Without her he wouldn’t have been alive to steal Bruce’s tires. They would have never met.

“Oh and she’s basically running my crime empire.”

“I feel like that is something I shouldn’t know.” Bruce brushed his hand up and down Jason’s back. Jason huffed.

“If you're cool with me being a crime lord then you're going to have to be cool with her too. She’s family.”

“I guess Crime Alley has shown significant improvement since you came in.”

Jason felt a bubble of pride rise within him.

“I know what I’m doing.” He said smugly. “Plus, with Black Mask gone someone has to control the crime.”

“Mhmm.” Bruce hummed. “I think I’m going to have to take a step back from your crime empire. Give me some deniability will you?”

“Fine.” Jason grinned. His head felt light from happiness. “I’ll keep my secrets.”

Bruce pulled back and ruffled Jason’s hair. “Come on, let’s get you comfortable on your pillows.”

“Are you going to stay?”

“Of course.” Bruce said softly. “Do you still like Jane Austen?” Bruce pulled the book from his pocket. It was his old copy. The pages curled with use and love. Inside the front cover would be Jason’s wonky childhood signature.

“Yeah. Yeah I do.” Jason murmured. His throat felt like it was closing and his eyes burned with new tears. Jason shuffled back so he was lying down again and so that Bruce could fit beside him. It was a tight fit on the med bed. Jason had grown a lot since the last time they’d done this. He might even be taller than Bruce. They still managed. Jason curled against his dad’s side as he flipped open the first page.

“It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife.” Bruce started.

“Alright mate, I’m gonna leave.” Constantine groaned, pushing himself off the bed he was collapsed on. Jason had in all honesty forgotten the sorcerer was there. He’d thought he would have left with the rest. Bruce seemed to have missed he was there too and blinked at Constantine dumbly. “Your conversation was at least mildly entertaining, but I’m not going to lie here and listen to that drivel. I’m here for the drama, not these sappy happenings. ”

Jason made a low offended noise in his throat. “This is fucking Jane Austen!”

“I know. I’m British too, so it’s not offensive when I say I think she’s overrated.”

“Do you hate women, John!” Jason exclaimed.

“No, just this one’s work.” He replied mildly.

“I can’t believe you’d say that. I offered you my couch, my booze, my friendship. I can’t believe I even called you nice.”

“Uh-huh. Bye Batsie. Don’t forget to do the voices. Maybe then you’ll actually add some entertainment into that bloody pretentious book.”

“Constantine, you fucking heathen!” Jason shouted after him.

“You know you love me!” The sorcerer yelled back. “I know you don’t just put up with me for Roy and one day I’ll get you to admit it!”

“I can’t believe Constantine lacks all taste.” Jason muttered darkly.

“I certainly can.” Bruce growled. He was glaring at the doorway where the sorcerer had just sauntered out.

“Come on, start again.” Jason nudged his dad. “Do the voices.” He added after a few moments.

Bruce let out a long suffering smile but began to read again. Jason snuggled closer into his dad’s side and let the soothing familiar words wash over him.

------------------------

By the time Bruce got to the second chapter, Jason’s eyes felt pleasantly heavy and he was being tugged gently into sleep. That was until Steph burst through the doorway with Dick hot on her heels.

“Oh good. You are both still alive.” She said as she came to a stop when she caught sight of the two of them squeezed on the bed.

“Is there a reason we wouldn’t be?” Jason asked uncertainly.

“Well, we weren’t sure how this would go.” Dick admitted waving between Jason and Bruce.

“Uh-huh.” Jason said with a raised eyebrow.

Roy luckily saved Dick by following him in with a fond smile sent Jason’s way.

“Constantine said you were fine and to give you some time together alone. Dick and Steph just grew impatient.”

“So Constantine was a plant?” Jason said dryly.

“A self planted plant if that helps?” Dick said awkwardly. “We weren’t planning on spying.”

“Yeah, Constantine was waiting to punch Bruce if things went south and by my guess is a little upset he never got the chance.” Roy said with a little laugh. He gently took Jason’s hand and squeezed it. “Hey, Love. Are you doing ok?”

“Yeah. Never better.”

Roy bent down and pressed a soft kiss to Jason’s forehead. Bruce’s eyebrows climbed.

“You got to give it to him, Bruce, Roy has balls, kissing the Dark Knight’s baby boy right under his nose.” Steph said cheerfully.

“Oh, so are you speaking to me again, Stephanie?” Bruce asked her mildly instead, giving no comment on Roy’s blatant audacity. Jason knew his dad would find his boyfriend’s bravery impressive though he’d never admit it.

Steph looked unperturbed by Bruce’s question.

“Well, you’ve made up with Jason haven’t you?”

Jason also knew Bruce couldn’t be mad at her. He valued loyalty too much.

Bruce just sighed and nodded his head. Steph smiled widely before perching herself at the end of Jason’s bed with her legs crossed. Dick pulled up a chair on Bruce’s side. Roy didn’t hesitate long before grabbing another chair and sitting next to Jason, once more linking their hands.

“Does Bruce do the voices?” He whispered conspiratorially in Jason’s ear. Jason nodded minutely.

“Come on, Brucie bear, we’re all waiting.” Steph bounced up and down on the bed.

Bruce had a small smile on his face as he returned to the story. He didn’t get much further than a few paragraphs when the next interruption came.

“Oh, good god. I didn’t know whether to believe Constantine when he said Batman was reading Pride and Prejudice to you.” Mason groaned.

“It’s good revision for you.” Jason told the kid. Mason rolled his eyes but pulled up another chair by Roy. “Plus, Bruce does the voices.”

“Of course he does, he’s a theatre kid. That’s obvious from the way he dresses like a bat and beats up thugs.” Mason chirped.

Bruce mumbled his offence.

Dick however shot up at the words.

“Yeah, he must be dramatic to build his own fursona!” He exclaimed, excitedly.

Bruce thumped his head backwards against the bed’s headboard with a groan. “Why? Just why?”

Steph, Mason and Roy were giggling hysterically at Dick’s obvious excitement and Bruce’s reaction.

“Ha Ha! Too late Dick. I won! I called him it over an hour ago!”

Dick slumped dramatically back down into his chair.

“Come on! How did you work that into an emotionally charged conversation?!” He whined.

“I’m a man of great depths.” Jason gloated. “And you owe me twenty bucks.”

“Wait, this was all a bet?!” Bruce squawked in outrage.

“Honestly, I’m surprised no one’s called you that sooner.” Steph told him with a wicked grin.

“If it helps, it was less about the money and more about the pride. Neither of us really need twenty bucks, not with Dick so happy being your trust fund baby and my League funds.”

“I’m not a trust fund baby!”

“Hate to say it, Dick, but you sort of are.” Bruce told his eldest with an amused smile. “Each of you kids have your own trust funds. Though maybe I should consider shutting you ungrateful brats out.”

“Once again, I really don’t need your money. Dick though may have to have some lifestyle changes.” Jason grinned.

“Hey if Jason doesn’t want his trust fund can I have it?” Mason piped up unashamedly.

Bruce hummed, looking at the kid with eyes which looked worryingly paternal. His dad really had an adoption problem.

“I can give you your own if you want?”

“I was joking.” Mason then frowned. “You look well too serious though. You’d actually make me a trust fund after knowing me for only a day and after I punched you?”

“I’ve been told by Jason that you’re family.” Bruce shrugged. “Plus, I can take a punch.”

“You’re insane.” Mason breathed. “God, the rich are weird.”

“As a typical rule, yes that is very true.” Bruce grinned. “I mean you don’t know Roy’s mentor yet but boy is he something.”

Roy let out a laugh. “I was wondering how long I’d have to wait for you to rib on Ollie.”

“I’ve heard you’ve made up. Does this mean I’ll have to see more of him?” Bruce sounded despairing at the very idea of being forced into quality time with Oliver Queen.

“Not as much as you’ll have to see Constantine.”

Jason was grinning wickedly. Family get-togethers were going to get a whole lot more interesting. Bruce groaned.

“At least we know that we can get him to clear out of a room by reading Jane Austen.” Bruce sighed, looking down at the book.

“Bollocks, I love the lady.” Constantine came back in with the widest most shit eating grin. “Could sit here and listen to your soothing docile tones day and night. Don’t worry Brucie, I promise not to interrupt too much.”

Bruce’s expression looked distinctly sour as he watched the sorcerer take his seat on one of the other beds. It looked like his dad was going to have an aneurysm at Constantine’s presence. Jason found himself grinning delightedly at his friend.

“I’m glad you’ve come to your senses, John.”

“Well, he does the voices doesn’t he?” Constantine replied with a knowing grin.

“Harper, I believe I have you to blame for this.” Bruce scolded Roy halfheartedly. “Why couldn’t you keep better company?”

“Constantine is great company!” Roy defended his friend.

“Especially in times of crisis,” Jason added, “or when creating times of crisis.”

“Or at drinking parties.” Constantine nodded, pointing at Jason as if he could corroborate his story. The snitch. Bruce raised his eyebrow in obvious disapproval.

“It’s true he’s the life of the party.” Roy grinned. “Usually naps half way through and then bounces back like a fully grown man who is nearer to retirement than his teenage partying days but deep in denial.”

“Ok ouch. Bloody hell, for someone who usually avoids hand to hand combat you don’t pull your punches.”

“Hey, our friendship is founded in truth.”

“Our friendship is founded in a joint mess up three years ago that got severely out of hand.”

“Was this the sort of mess up the Justice League should have been made aware of?” Bruce asked dryly.

“Nah, we assumed that if it got too big it would come to your attention anyway.”

Bruce looked decidedly unimpressed. Before Bruce could press them about whatever they did Tim came in the room with a small frown and a plateful of Alfred’s lasagna.

“Constantine, you had one job and that was to tell them that dinner is ready and to go grab a plate!”

Constantine did not look in any way remorseful.
Dick and Steph jumped up to go get their own food, shoving each other out of the way as they did. Mason followed at a more resigned pace.

Roy stood up from his seat.

“I’ll get you a plate, babe.” He told Jason, placing a gentle kiss on his lips before he wandered out. Jason smiled at his boyfriend's retreating form.

“Yeah and don’t worry yourself Brucie Babe, I’ll get you a plate too.” Constantine said with a smirk.

Bruce opened his mouth to contradict his offer but then snapped it shut. His dad’s arm slung over his shoulder tightened its hold around him and he seemed reluctant to leave Jason’s side so he just nodded his head at the sorcerer.

“Thank you, John.” He gritted out.

Constantine just sent a mocking salute towards Bruce.

Tim fist bumped the sorcerer as he passed him in the doorway. The two had gotten remarkably close, after many nights discussing magical matters. Bruce made a quiet disgruntled noise at the gesture.

Tim just smiled knowingly at Bruce before propping himself down on the end of Jason’s bed. He took delicate bites of his lasagna as he watched Bruce and waited for him to speak.

“Tim…” Bruce sighed. “Do you forgive me?”

Tim tapped his chin pensively before grinning. “‘Course, B.”

“So are you going to finally agree to move into the manor?” Bruce asked his third son tiredly.

“I don’t know, Jason’s sleepovers are fun.” Tim said teasingly. Oh no, Jason is not having this. There is a chance that he could reclaim some ground in his own apartment if Steph and Tim don’t mind returning to Bruce.

“Nah, kid, we talked about this. You gotta let him adopt you.”

“Wait, you've talked about this?” Bruce sounded confused but hopeful.

“Extensively.” Jason groaned, before turning back to his baby brother. “You can come for occasional sleepovers wherever you want but I’d quite like to stop sleeping on a mattress in my own living room.”

“You won’t be staying at the manor?” Bruce asked quietly. Jason looked at his dad’s dejected face and nearly gave in.

“Nah, Old man, I’ve got my own place with Roy and well…Mason.”

“You know you could come back if you wanted to?” Bruce pressed.

“I know. And I’m sure I'll stay here every now and then but I need my own space.” Jason smiled softly and patted his dad’s arm.

Bruce nodded in understanding but looked a bit sad at the prospect of not having Jason back for good.

“Don’t worry. You’ll have a busy enough house with Steph, Tim and maybe Damian and Cass too when and if they’re ready.” Jason assured his dad.

“Duke as well.” Tim added. Jason looked at him in confusion.

“Well the kid needs a legal foster parent so Crystal had the idea that Bruce could become his guardian.” Tim explained.

“This is the first I’ve heard of this.” Bruce frowned.

“Trust me, Bruce, you’ll love the kid and it’s not like you don’t have the space or money to take him.”

“Does Duke know of this plan?” Jason asked his little brother.

“Absolutely.”

“Great. I’m glad that’s sorted.” Jason hummed. If Duke was happy with this then he was happy.

“Hang on, what if I don’t want to adopt another kid?”

Both Tim and Jason laughed at Bruce’s question. Then laughed some more. Bruce watched them with a concerned frown.

“Yeah right! As if you wouldn’t jump at the chance for another kid.” Tim scoffed. “I mean you’ve been trying to adopt me for years now and I’ve seen you mentally plotting about how to adopt Cass the past day.”

“You’ve known I wanted to adopt you all this time?!” Bruce exclaimed.

Tim shrugged. “You’re not subtle. I’ve hacked pretty much all your files for fun, you really think I wouldn’t have come across your adoption paperwork?”

Bruce spluttered. Then he sighed. “I’ll have Alfred make up some rooms and draw up the paperwork.”

Tim took another bite of his lasagna with a hidden smile. Jason grinned.

“You have a problem, B.”

“What?!”

“An adoption problem.”

“I feel like very few of those are my own fault! You all seem to find me!”

“It’s true we usually come to you but then you are the one who decides to keep us.” Tim waved his fork to enunciate his point. “I was just meant to be your Robin.”

“You were always more than just my Robin, Tim.” Bruce said softly.

Tim smiled. “I know. But you're the fool who wants to make me your son.”

“And you’ll say yes?” Bruce asked hopefully. Tim made eye contact with Jason who smiled supportively.

“I would love to have you as my dad, Bruce.”

Bruce beamed. Jason rolled his eyes, his dad really did have a problem about adopting kids. No doubt Cass and Duke would be next. Not that Jason could speak much since he’d pretty much adopted all of them as a brother first.

“I’m glad, Timmy.” Bruce's smile shone bright. “I’m really glad.”

“Hey, look at that, Baby Bird, it’s gonna be official!” Jason didn’t have enough energy to get up and embrace his brother so he just gave him a thumbs up. He’s sure Dick would give him more than enough cuddles when he found out. Bruce however untangled his embrace from Jason and shuffled down to the end of the bed to envelop his younger kid. Tim squeaked slightly, moving his plate out of the way before he was smothered by his dad’s arms.

“Oh, Bruce is showing emotional competence.” Steph said as she entered with her own plate. “What did I miss?”

“Omg, is Tim finally getting adopted!” Dick yelled. He placed his plate on one of the nearby beds before throwing himself over Bruce and Tim’s embrace.

“Finally,” Steph rolled her eyes and took one of the vacant seats by Jason’s side. Damian tutted at the scene of public affection before taking the other seat.

“I thought Drake was already adopted?”

“Honestly, kid, so do most people.” Steph assured him.

“Hey, if I hang out with you long enough will he try and adopt me too?” Mason asked, looking concerned by the answer.

“It’s not too hard to dodge him.” Steph laughed. “Tim’s been doing it for years, you’ll be fine. Just join me as the unofficial child.”

“Thank god. This family is too weird to be more than unofficially linked to it.” Mason said under his breath.

“Hey!” Dick exclaimed.

“Can you really deny that, Circus Boy?” Jason lifted his eyebrow at his older brother’s objection. Tim snickered.

“Mason has more than a point. I mean Jason alone is weird enough. He’s undead. Tim is well Tim and Dick is Dick. Damian also speaks for himself. Bruce started all this madness alone.” Steph gestured at each of them.

Jason nodded along.

“I can’t believe Roy is willingly joining this family.” Tim muttered.

“Oh, he’s been a part of it for long enough that he knows what to expect.” Dick said cheerfully.

“I can’t believe Bruce is going to have to get used to Constantine at family dinners.” Tim beamed.

Bruce groaned.

“I mean do I really?”

“Oh yes. He’s family now.” Jason was surprised at how much he meant that.

Bruce grumbled for a little while but when the sorcerer and archer returned with two plates each, he accepted his with a small smile and a thank you. Constantine looked dubious when he did not take offence to his banter. Jason laughed at his suspicious face. He kept watching them all warily as he settled on one of the empty beds.

“Ok what did I miss?” He asked at last.

“You and Roy are invited to Sunday lunch.” Bruce just sighed. “It starts at 12. Don’t be late.”

Constantine looked surprised at the offer.

“Ok, what alternate dimension have I fallen into now or did I just mishear you?”

“Sadly no.”

“Little Bird, what’s happening?” Constantine dramatically whispered. Jason shrugged with a grin.

“Alfred makes the best roasts.” He replied. His heart was bright at the thought of sharing those again with his family, both new and old.

It didn’t take long for them all to gather, squished against Jason’s side or sprawled throughout the med-bay. The hum of their conversations and laughter soaking into Jason’s skin and making him feel a fuzzy warmth throughout his body. Bruce never left his side, only shuffling up a bit so Roy could join Jason.

This was home.

Not the manor. No, he had long ago moved on from those dark walls and impressive rooms to the bright paint and cosy space of his apartment. Yet, in this moment, surrounded by those he loved, Jason finally realised he had found his home. His home was in Roy's laugh, as the archer buried his face in Jason's shoulder. His home was in the twinkle in Crystal's eyes as she met his dad's best Bat glare without a flinch. His home was in Mason's excited chatter as he spoke to Alfred about Jason's cooking escapades as the butler looked at the teenager with a familiar fondness. His home was in the way Steph jabbed her elbow into Jason's leg when she tackles Timmy into what could be a wrestling match or an embrace. It is in Damian's soft tuts as he listens to Dick's absurd tales. It's in the way his older brother shares a conspiratorial glance when he wants Jason to back him up on some outlandish tale of Bruce's early days with them. It is in the scoffs that arise from Constantine's prone figure on the bed, and the sorcerers obvious glee at making Bruce squirm. Its in the way Tim tries to haggle with Alfred for non decaf energy drinks to hide his yawns. His home is in the steady, solid presence of his dad pressed against his side. Bruce was the piece Jason never expected to regain of his little family. Now he could feel the rumbles of his dad's laughter against his side when Steph does something particularly absurd. He can feel the warmth seeping from his body and his voice.

Jason was finally home.

Nothing else had ever felt more right.

Chapter Text

Jason had finally been released from the med bay. He had not however been released from his family’s care. He struggled his way around the manor on a pair of crutches under their anxious eyes. Someone was always there to offer him a helping hand, open up doors, carry his drinks and pull him up a chair. Honestly, it was exhausting.

Roy was the only person Jason actually liked following him around like a lost puppy. His boyfriend, however, was having way too much fun watching everyone else get in Jason’s way with their well meaning pampering.

Jason ended up covertly bribing Tim, with the promise of high tech circuit boards and spare parts so he could create his own laptop, to convince him to create a distraction in the kitchen so he could sneak away unnoticed. His little brother seemed all too willing to cause some concentrated chaos.

Jason was used to doing things in much worse physical conditions so it wasn’t too difficult to shimmy himself out of a window and onto the roof with his current injuries. Finally alone he spread out on the roof tiles, still warm from the setting sun, and let out a relieved groan. He closed his eyes and listened to the gentle background noise of the manor. A wave of nostalgia washed over him, leaving his insides feeling warm like toffee.

“I see you are seeking an escape from the madhouse too, Little Bird.”

Jason lazily turned his head to face Constantine, the sorcerer lowered himself down beside him with a muffled groan and a grumble about his joints misbehaving. Constantine’s company wasn’t actually one that Jason was trying to avoid. Despite the sorcerer’s apparent tendencies to mother hen people with an air of cultivated indifference after near death experiences, he had actually been the least crazy over these past few days. He hadn’t treated Jason like he was fragile. He hadn’t done anything more than occasionally push a cup of tea in Jason’s hands and ruffle his hair.

“I just needed a short break.” Jason admitted after a while, breaking the comfortable silence that had built between the two of them.

“Wanna bum a cig for old times sake?” Constantine asked. His voice held no judgement for Jason’s withdrawal from the household.

Jason huffed a laugh and nodded, accepting the cigarette from his friend’s scarred hands.

“And you’re wondering why Bruce thinks you’re a bad influence?” Constantine grinned as his finger burst into controlled magical flames and lit both of their cigarettes.

“Once more, you were smoking long before I got involved.” Constantine nonchalantly tried to defend himself. “Also he only caught me smoking with you that one time!”

Jason laughed at the memory. “He ran your ass out of town.”

Constantine reacted with a dramatic full body shudder at the reminder. “I didn’t come back for months after that incident. I don’t think he stopped glaring at me for a year either. It didn’t help that a certain little Robin then tattled to Daddy to get me in more trouble every time I visited because he found his reactions funny.”

“They were fucking funny.” Jason giggled. Little Jason had been quite the menace to Constantine for a few years whenever Bruce was around. His Dad and Constantine’s feud had been prime entertainment to him back then and honestly still was now. He used to purposefully point out the times the sorcerer had sworn in front of his sensitive young ears and even once blamed the time he got his ear pierced on him because Bruce would comically flip out.

Constantine smiled slyly. “Ok, It was fucking funny.” He admitted. “He once took a pair of scissors to my tie mid conversation and then told me that I knew what I had done.”

Jason snickered. “Was that after the ear piercing incident?”

“You know very well it was and we also both know I wasn’t even involved in that.”

“You took the fall like a champ though!”

“Yeah, you’re welcome. You owe me a tie.” Constantine scoffed, knocking their shoulders together.

“I was quite sad I had to let my piercing close up.” Jason admitted with a sigh, slumping against Constantine’s side. The sorcerer hummed thoughtfully.

“I could redo it for you.” He suggested. “This time when Bruce blames me for it I’ll at least deserve it.”

Jason considered it for a moment before nodding with a wicked grin. He might as well make use of Bruce’s fear of spooking him to do this when he wouldn’t get in trouble for it. Currently Bruce was so happy to have him back that Jason could get away with murder, quite literally.

“I’m going to have to call Roy to bring an old earring from my room.”

“As long as he isn’t going to be a wanker and snitch on our whereabouts for his own entertainment.” Constantine took a long drag from his cigarette.

That’s how the three of them ended up piercing Jason’s ears with a hot needle on top of the Manor’s roof. Roy was fully onboard with the idea. He made extra sure that they initial marks were symmetrical before sitting back and letting Constantine do the actual deed. Jason hissed as the needle sunk through his lobes, squeezing his boyfriend’s hands.

“We should have done this with more alcohol.” Jason muttered. “If I ever do my seconds it’ll be at a girls night when I am sufficiently drunk.”

“Stop squirming and shut your mouth.” Constantine grumbled before moving to do the other ear. “If you don’t want a wonky piercing you’ll stop your complaining.”
Roy laughed and stroked the creases on between Jason’s brows to ease his frown. Jason stuck his tongue out at Constantine but settles down for the second piercing.

“Ten bucks that Bruce trips Constantine up on the stairs because of this.”

Jason giggled. “Babe, he’d be much more subtle. Ten bucks that Constantine's coat mysteriously goes up in flames.”

“It’s fire proof you idiots.” Constantine grumbled under his breath. “Are you certain the slant of this roof isn’t making you mistake this for even?” He asked warily.

Roy peered back over to check, Jason smiled as his boyfriend’s face blocked out his vision. His tongue pocked out in concentration as he double checked the positioning before he nodded. Jason pushed his head up to press a kiss to the tip of the archer’s nose. Roy giggled at the action.

Constantine made a gagging sound. “I miss having single friends.” He muttered.

“No, you don’t.” Roy sing-songed. “You love us.”

Constantine sighed but didn’t disagree.

Jason laughed at the mental image of Constantine at their wedding probably still complaining under his breath. There was no doubt the sorcerer would still be hanging around when they eventually tied the knot, he would probably still be commandeering Jason’s couch and drinking his liquor. As much as he tried to pretend otherwise, Jason didn’t really mind.

“Ah, I see this is where the party is happening!”

Jason shot up and turned his head to face Mason, the kid was crawling out of the window to join them.

“Hey, kiddo, you’re just in time to watch Constantine pierce Jason’s ear.” Roy greeted him happily.

Mason grinned and shuffled across until he was on their section of the roof.

“Well, this will be fun.”

“Hey, you want a cigarette, kid?” Constantine offered offhandedly. He still had his own cigarette in his left hand while the right held the needle.

“Don’t you dare.” Jason glared at him. “Don’t corrupt my kid.”

“And now you sound like Bats, Little Bird.”

Roy laughed. “Come on, let’s actually get this over with before we get more unexpected visitors.”

Jason lay back down with a groan and waited for the sharp prick of the needle. Once the hole had been made Roy gently slotted in the stud. Jason winced against the pulsing pain. His boyfriend pressed a kiss on his cheek to soothe it before tucking himself under Jason’s arm. Constantine sat back down to the side, the burning end of the cigarette glowing in the receeding light. Mason refused his next offer of a cigarette with a small smile. The four of them remained there for a little while longer, until the last remnants of the sun’s lights disappeared behind the horizon and they had to use their phone flashlights to see their way back to the window.

No one else did end up finding their retreat.

Jason didn’t find the house as loud and constricting when he returned. The part of him that felt jittery from the constant worried eyes of his family had settled somewhat. Jason ended up reclaiming one of his crutches whilst Roy kept their arms linked together on his other side.

Bruce immediately noticed them as they re-entered the kitchen where everyone was gathered. His dad’s face broke out into a relieved smile.

“Where were you?” He asked with an exasperated fondness. Jason allowed himself to be pulled into a somewhat frantic embrace.

“Trying to get some air.” Jason muttered into his chest.

“I thought you’d left.” Bruce whispered, his arms tightening around him.

Jason huffed a laugh. Bruce was in a clingy, dramatic phase still, showing more emotion than Jason knew what to do with.

“I wouldn’t do that without saying goodbye.” Jason replied in a hushed voice, hiding his smile in his dad’s chest.

“Do you need anything?” Bruce asked as he drew back from the hug. “Any meds? A drink? Maybe something to eat.”

Jason sighed fondly. “This is the reason I needed to find space, B! I promise I am fine and don’t need anything.”

“Not even a hot chocolate?” Crystal asked from where she was sat with her own drink next to Alfred.

Jason looked at his friend with a smile. He honestly wouldn’t mind a hot chocolate but he had a point to make now. “No thanks, Crys. But if I did I could do that myself.”

“None of us are saying you couldn’t, Master Jason, but just because you can doesn’t mean you have to. We are all here to help your recovery.” Alfred reminded him.

“I know. I’m very grateful for you all.” Jason replied gently. “However, I may actually make a run for it if you guys continue to follow all my moves. It’s really sweet but also incredibly stalkerish.”

Only Crystal had the decency to look apologetic. The rest of his family were a bunch of freaks who knew nothing about personal boundaries. Dick just bounded over and wrestled Jason into a hug.

“We promise to give you more space, Little Wing.” His brother murmured into Jason’s shoulder. Jason sighed and gave up, gently patting his brother on his back and waiting for him to release him. Jason had been receiving constant hugs since he got injured. Constant. He didn’t usually mind but there was a certain point where it was nice to just have a breather. He almost couldn’t wait to withdraw back to his apartment with just Roy and Mason after Alfred gave him the medical all clear.

When Dick finally let Jason squirm away he sighed and faced his entire family. “I’m glad we’ve had this talk. I can already feel the difference.” He said with a roll of his eyes and a pat on his brother’s arm.

Roy chuckled and slung his arm over Jason’s shoulder, steering him back out of the kitchen. “Don’t worry guys I’ll keep an eye on him till dinner. I promise to take really good care of him.” Steph wolf whistled in response and Tim and Mason giggled.

They were just at the doorway when Bruce cleared his throat menacingly behind them. “One moment, boys.” Both Jason and Roy stiffened at his tired dad tone and turned back around.

“Jaylad, what’s that on your ear?”

Jason let out a huff of frustrated breath. “You’re a detective Bruce. I’d have thought you’d have recognised what an earring is.”

Bruce opened him mouth as if to say something. Jason remembered the last lecture, it was all ‘You are too young for body modification. Do you know how unhygienic it is to do it at home? I would have taken you to a parlour if you just asked.’ His Dad had been right in the end. Jason’s ear had puffed up and gotten infected until he had to remove the piercing. At least this time Jason hadn’t done it entirely himself and was more responsible than his thirteen year old self. Also with his enhanced healing from the Lazarus it wouldn’t be long until it was fully healed.

Bruce was probably also remembering their last argument about this as his face softened as he gazed at Jason.

“It looks nice.” Bruce said at last. Jason smiled brightly in response.

“Thanks Dad.” He rolled his eyes, acting like the compliment didn’t warm his insides. Roy squeezed Jason’s waist and the two of them disappeared off. Not before they heard Bruce’s next words behind them.

“Constantine, a moment if you will?”

-------------------------

Two days later, one eventful Sunday lunch, and multiple times when he had questioned whether murder would bring him peace and quiet, Jason finally convinced his family to allow him to return to his apartment. He didn’t leave the manor behind though.

The next week was a constant flow of visitors.

Harley and Ivy came over for tea on his first day, bringing a large bouquet of sunflowers. Both had also found a cake with bright red writing on it that said ‘Congrats the fucker is dead!’ with a doodle of the Joker with crosses over his eyes. They do say revenge is sweet. Jason would like to add that it is also delicious. He ended up liking off the frosting from his fingers as he listened to his friends updates on the reaction from the underworld to loosing both the Black Mask and the Clown in such a short period of time, both to his hands.

Mason and Roy got roped up into a Girls’ night on the next day. Renee brought the cocktails, Danielle the nail polish, Crystal the chick flicks to watch, Harley brought the slightly manic murderous energy that ever Girls’ night needed, and Ivy both weed and non weed brownies. Steph ended up dropping by with a whole load of clothes and makeup. It didn’t take long for Jason to be in a corset with shockingly blue eyeliner and his hello kitty pyjama bottoms. It was certainly a look. One which caused Roy to pull him into his lap with drunk giggles, pressing soft kisses to his neck as the girls awwed and Mason fake gagged. Overall Girls night was a great success.

Jason was nursing a hangover on the next day when Dick dragged him out to the arcade with Tim, Duke and Damian for a brothers’ day out. Jason really envied his boyfriend who was still bundled up under their duvet and sleeping of the night before. He humoured his brother though, gladly accepting the pair of sunglasses Tim had bought for him. It seemed that Steph had been keeping him updated on the goings on of Girl’s night. Tim was much too smug every time a loud noise made Jason wince. Damian eyed the neon lights of the arcade with a wary eye but was soon happily carrying around a large turtle plushie which he had won. Jason spent much of the time collapsed on one of the couches as he judged Tim and Dick’s table tennis tournament. They finished off the day in a burger bar with Steph and Cass joining them, having finished their sister’s day of bowling and movies.

Bruce came to visit his apartment on the next day. His dad huffed a laugh when he saw the soft yellow paint in Jason’s room that had speckled his arms that night he went to rescue him. It reminded Jason that he had not yet spoken to Carl about that night. Bruce and Jason ended up snuggled beneath Jason’s throw blanket with hot chocolates and Alfred’s shortcake biscuits. They talked about the time they’d lost together before they finally settled into the more comfortable conversation of how Jason taught himself Graffiti. Bruce somewhat hesitantly offered that Jason could practise doing murals throughout the expanses of the Bat cave if he wanted. Mason arrived back home from school and immediately took to making snippy comments and sarcasm towards Bruce. His Dad took it with an amused and fond smile and a whisper to Jason that the kid reminded him of another little Crime alley boy he knew before.

Roy and Jason had a relaxed Friday by themselves, lazing around the apartment. Jason revelled in the warmth of this boyfriend’s embrace and at the press soft kisses. Their peace was only momentarily broken when Jason’s Red Hood helmet began to play various Disney villain tunes. No matter what Jason tried it wouldn’t turn off. It didn’t take long for him to realise that Tim had hacked it. They ended up shoving it in the bath with a pile of blankets to muffle the sound. The next hour was spent with the two of them plotting a retaliation prank before Jason had to make his admiration for his boyfriend’s wicked genius known and they tumbled into their bed.

He woke on the Saturday to the insistent knocking on his bedroom door. It was much to early to be Mason, as the teenager had an aversion to mornings. This left one more likely person.

“Fuck off, Constantine!”

“Um…Its actually Bruce. Constantine let me in. I’m here to help with the lunch?”

Jason swore under his breath. He had forgotten he’d invited all his family over to have lunch at his.

“You can come in.” Jason yelled before burying his head back in the crook of Roy’s neck and closing his eyes again. He would savour every last moment of the warmth of his bed. Roy grumbled about getting up and shifted so he was pressed closer to Jason’s chest.

Jason heard the door swing open. “I see I’m early.” Bruce said awkwardly.

“Depends what time it is.” Jason muttered back.

“It’s 10:30.”

Jason groaned. He should probably get up and get everything ready.

“Did you bring Alfred with you?” He asked instead with a stifled yawn.

“He’s picking up dessert.”

“And the kids?”

“Dick’s bringing them.”

Jason hoped his big brother’s reckless driving didn’t halve their family’s number.

Roy yawned and rolled over so his face was pressed against Jason’s chest. “Does this mean we need to get up?” He mumbled. Jason carded his finger’s through Roy’s soft hair and pressed a sleepy kiss to his forehead.

“I’m afraid so, love.”

Jason opened his eyes and looked to Bruce. His dad was standing self consciously in the doorway, wringing his hand as he waits for them. Jason grinned. He should probably be the one feeling embarrassed now but he refused to feel embarrassed of being soft with his boyfriend in his own room.

“Did you bring the picnic blankets?” Jason asked as he shifted out of the duvet and his boyfriend’s arms. Bruce raised an eyebrow at his hello kitty pyjama bottoms.

“What you want a pair, B?” Jason said in response with a cheeky smile. “We could be matching.”

He shuffled through his cupboard to find a loose band t-shirt to cover his chest because he had seen Bruce’s eyes flirt down to his autopsy scar more than once and his eyes grow sadder every time. Jason ran a hand through his hair to try order it and let out another yawn before joining Bruce in the doorway. He pulled his Dad into a loose hug.

“Morning.” He mumbled.

“Morning, Jaylad.” Bruce replied fondly.

“Ok, lets get this place ready.”

Jason pulled the trays of homemade lasagna out of fridge and put them on the counter, in preparation of baking them. He gladly accepted the coffee Constantine had brewed for them, downing the mug in a few quick gulps. The back of his throat burned but he could already feel the tingle of it healing.

“Come on, B. We need to make space.”

Bruce and eventually Roy helped him rearrange his sitting room so there was space to lay out the picnic blankets and pillows so there would be enough room for everyone. Roy joined them within half an hour, his hair loosely contained in a pony tail. Within the hour everything was ready and the apartment was filled with the delicious smell of the lasagna as it cooked. Constantine went out to grab drinks, Jason repeatedly reminded them to not all be alcoholic. When it was around half an hour before the others were due to arrive Jason took up the task of waking the teen. Mason grunted and grumbled as he was wrangled out of the warmth of his bed. Jason ended up throwing the kid over his shoulder and marching him out into the sitting room before dumping him on the couch.

“Uh-uh. Stay awake.”

“Piss of you fucker. Or bring me some coffee at least.” Jason rolled his eyes and obliged, avoiding Bruce’s amused gaze.

Alfred replied with bags filled with pastries and cakes for dessert. Jason pulled the old man into his kitchen, excitedly showing him the lasagna and garlic bread he was cooking. Alfred fondly praised his efforts, making himself a cup of earl grey tea before sitting down delicately next to a slightly more awake Mason on the couch and reviewing the picnic set up they had going on.

“This looks very comfy, my boys. You’ve done a good job.” He said as he took a sip of his tea.

Jason beamed at the praise and Bruce’s mouth ticked up into a slight smile.

Jason was ready for when Dick and the kids turned up. He held in his hands his helmet which was still playing music, currently ‘Be prepared’ from the Lion King. Bruce had eyed it with a confused frown but had yet to ask why it was doing that. As soon as Jason opened the door he shoved the thing into Tim’s hands.

“Fix it!” He hissed.

Tim laughed. “It worked!”

“Fix it!” Jason repeated through gritted teeth.

Jason then let the rest of his siblings enter the household before slamming the door on the menace.

“You can come back in when it is silent!” Jason called through the door.

Dick was looking thoroughly amused by the interaction. Jason was certain that Steph had been involved with the prank as her expression was far too smug and knowing. Damian seemed the least bothered by their antics and ignored them all to claim a place on one of the blankets, where Dick was soon to join them. Duke joined Mason on the couch and slowly eased complete sentences out of the sleepy teenager. Cass bounced over to quickly hug Bruce before darting off and perching on kitchen counter to watch Steph as the girl helped herself to the hot chocolate powder.

By the time Harley and Ivy had arrived Tim had fixed Jason’s helmet and was allowed back inside. Jason would have to tinker with it later to make sure it would not be corrupted by any other attacks by his brother.

The girls come next. Renee still in her clothes and makeup from the club, her eyes tired but bright as she greets him. Jason nods his head towards his room and she gladly slips away to get into something more comfortable. Dan and Crystal both press kisses to his cheek before lowering themselves down onto the picnic blankets near Steph. Cece arrives and immediately makes a byline for Mason, smothering her little brother in hugs as he tries to push her away as his cheeks grow red. Matt and his wife were the last to arrive, the kids launching themselves at Duke and excitedly telling their foster brother about their life.

When everyone was there Jason brought out the lasagna. It was an amalgamation of his own recipe and one of Alfred’s. Constantine had brought a huge collection of sodas, lemonade and ginger beer. Jason just sighed looking at the supply which could last weeks and accepted his card back from the sorcerer. He didn’t miss the very nice bottle of Whiskey which he hid away in Jason’s cupboard.

When everyone had a plate and a glass Jason took his own and settled down between Dick and Roy. Bruce caught his eye from where he was sat beside Crystal and Cass and smiled. Jason grinned back.

He looked around his collected family, all happily munching and chatting away and he knew this was far from the last lunch he would be hosting in his apartment.

Jason sat back and enjoyed the moment.

For the first time he had faith in the future.