Chapter Text
The lights went down under the big top and signaled the start of Haly’s headlining act. The crowd murmured with cheerful anticipation. It was Jason’s first time at a circus and so far he was having a blast. He’d enjoyed most of the performances he’d seen, a few rides and games, and especially all the animals. He insisted the best part, however, was Bruce bankrolling any snack he wanted. Holding a massive tub of popcorn, he grinned up at Bruce as The Flying Graysons were announced. Bruce suppressed a laugh and turned his attention back to the center ring. The family trapeze act was promised to be truly spectacular. The trio beamed and waved from the high platform. As the two adults took to the air, Bruce couldn’t help but smile at the joy on their young son’s face as he watched his parents begin to fly.
Bruce didn’t hear the rope snap. What alerted him was the subtle jerk of the Graysons’ bodies as it lost tension. He didn’t think, only moved. Turning on the bleacher, he palmed the back of Jason’s head and pulled the boy towards himself. Jason’s popcorn spilled to the floor as he found himself suddenly pressed face first into his dad’s chest. Bruce closed his eyes as the collective gasp masked the inevitable sound of two bodies hitting the ground.
“Bruce, what the hell!” Jason shouted, his voice muffled in Bruce’s shirt.
Quickly Bruce shifted to a crouch in front of Jason. Around them people shot to their feet. A few started crying. He kept Jason’s face between his hands, narrowing his field of vision to only him. “It’s ok. I’m sorry.”
Immediately Jason was spooked, his eyes wide and looking desperately at Bruce. “What happened?” He demanded with his deeply engrained bravado.
“The performers were injured, Jay. I don’t want you to see it.” His voice was calm. The crowd began to roar with panic and distress. Jason’s eyes darted to the sides, afraid.
“Look at me, Jay.”
Jason did.
“You’re not in danger. They’re just upset.”
Jason nodded again, tears now shining in his eyes.
“I’ll walk us out. I don’t want you to look. Can you do that for me?”
Jason steadied himself with a deep breath. “Yeah.” He said. “I can do that.” Always unwilling to be treated like a kid, Jason had nevertheless come to trust Bruce’s instincts to protect him from nightmare fuel. He’d come to the manor with so much already.
“Good.” Bruce rose to his feet and Jason followed. Bruce put an arm around his shoulders and Jason fixed his gaze on his own shoes. People jostled them from every side as Bruce led the way down the bleachers. In a moment they were shuffled along with the rest of the crowd out into the clear night.
They stopped and Jason looked up at Bruce who was staring with creased brow toward the tent entrance. Paramedics, already on standby for such a large event, pushed past them on their way inside.
“Bruce?”
Jason’s voice snapped his attention back into place and he looked down at his son. “You ok?” He asked him.
“Yeah.”
Bruce gently pulled him to his side and Jason didn’t hesitate to hug him around the middle. “Let’s get you home.”
Neither spoke on the walk back to the car. It wasn’t until they were stuck behind a long line of cars trying to exit the large grassy field that Jason piped up again.
“They fell?” He asked, his tone matter of fact.
”Yes.” Bruce nodded. “Their rope broke.”
“Are they dead?”
“I think so.”
Jason paused and his next question came out hoarsely.
“The kid was still on the platform, right? I can’t remember.”
Bruce reached up and cupped the back of Jay’s head in his hand. “He was.”
Jason took a shaky breath. “Good.”
Alfred sensed the mood immediately and was quick to encourage Jason off to shower and to bed. Before leaving Jason looked intently from Bruce to Alfred and back.
“I’ll tell him.” Bruce said, and then promised to be up in a while to say goodnight. That wasn’t their norm, but the evening had unsettled them both. They needed it.
“What’s the matter?” Alfred asked as soon as Jason’s footsteps disappeared out of earshot.
Bruce heaved a deep sigh as he sat down at the breakfast counter. Alfred already had a coffee pot prepared and reached for a mug in the cabinet.
“Thanks, Alfred.” Bruce said, taking the offered mug. “I’m going back to the circus once Jay’s settled.”
Alfred stood with his hands folded on the counter and waited for further explanation. Bruce met his eyes and to Alfred’s shock, his boy was on the verge of tears.
Alfred didn’t ask. He just waited.
“The trapeze family, the headliners.” Bruce began.
Alfred nodded. He recalled the advertisements. Without a net! Death defying!
“Their rope broke.”
“The child?”
“Still on the platform.” Bruce said. “He watched.”
Alfred nodded in understanding. “Did the lad see?”
Bruce shook his head. “I blocked him in time.” He sipped his coffee then ran a hand over his eyes. “I don’t think it was an accident.”
“And you’d like to check on the boy.” Alfred added.
“Yeah.” Bruce agreed slowly.
Alfred lightly thumped the counter with his fist. “Then I shall ready the car, sir.” With that he was gone, off to the cave. Bruce allowed himself a few moments to finish his coffee and then headed upstairs.
Leaning in Jason’s doorframe, Bruce watched the boy, his hair still damp, pull a book down from his shelf.
“Are you going on patrol?” He asked as he climbed into bed with a particularly fat book.
“I’m heading back to the circus.”
That got Jason’s attention. “You don’t think it was an accident?”
Bruce shook his head. “I don’t.”
Jason looked him hard in the eye. “Make sure the kid’s ok.”
“I will.”
“Ok” Jay nodded.
“Are you good?” Bruce asked carefully.
“Yeah.”
When Bruce hesitated Jason insisted, “I promise! Go help.”
Bruce suppressed a small smile. “Alright. Goodnight, Jay.”
“Night.”
Jason opened his book as Bruce closed the door.
Batman arrived conspicuously, pulling up to the big top in the Batmobile. There weren’t many options for a covert entry to a circus laid out in an open field. But the crowds had all vacated and the only people still around were cops and circus folks. As Batman moved toward the tent he passed a few patrol cars. One was being guarded by young officer, who stood with her hands on her belt. She was consciously trying not to lean against the car and glanced around every so often. Behind her, sitting in the back seat, Batman could see the Grayson boy. His head was bowed. It looked, but more accurately, felt all too familiar. He didn’t stop but made his way inside.
“Why is the boy still here?”
Gordon turned on a dime and his face instantly settled with recognition.
“Batman. Word travels fast.” Gordon said with a nod. “CPS is swamped. The kid’s with us until they can get somebody out here.”
Batman nodded. A couple of nearby cops eyed him uncomfortably. “Did you interview him?”
“The kid says he saw some guy threatening the circus owner this morning. Said he heard something about protection money.”
“Did he get a name?”
“Zucco.” Gordon watched his non reaction. “That name ring a bell?”
“Hm” Batman grunted and walked away to inspect the crime scene.
Gordon was used to such noncommittal responses and followed without complaint. “We collected samples to see if there’s any chemical agents on the rope. No signs of cutting.”
Batman crouched over the indents in the dirt. There was only a small amount of blood, most likely where each of them had bled from the nose or mouth. He looked over to where the Graysons’ bodies were covered on gurneys near the entrance, ready for transport. Batman banished the thought of the boy alone in the police car.
“The boy is material witness then. You think CPS can keep him safe?” Batman asked, rising to his full height again.
“Unfortunately their usual protocol for this type of thing is a temporary placement at the juvenile detention center.”
Batman’s white covered eyes bored holes in Jim Gordon.
Jim’s hands went up in a placating gesture. “Hey, I don’t like it either, but it’s a secure facility. He’ll be safe.”
“It’s not acceptable.”
“You got room at your… lair?”
“No.”
Gordon sighed. “Still haven’t found that sense of humor.”
“What about Bruce Wayne?”
Gordon raised an eyebrow. “What about him?”
“He fostered a kid. His property is a fortress. Call him.”
“He actually adopted the boy a couple months back. That’s not a bad idea.”
“Call him. Arrange the placement with the social worker when they arrive.” Batman said and then turned and stalked off.
“Hey! He might not agree.” Jim called after him. Batman disappeared out the exit. Jim shrugged and pulled out his phone to call CPS. He wanted check the viability of such a plan before bothering Bruce Wayne so late at night.
Jason woke to knocking on his bedroom door. He checked his alarm clock. Almost 3 AM. What the hell? He leapt out of bed, but old habits kept him from opening the door right away.
“What?” He said instinctively, but without hostility. He was a long way away from his old apartment in Crime Alley.
“Master Jason,” Alfred said. “I require your assistance.”
He flung the door open. “What’s wrong, Alfred?”
“I’m not sure I would describe it as wrong. Follow me.”
Jason trailed after Alfred as he walked to a linen closet at the end of the hall. “Master Bruce has managed to get custody of the Grayson boy.” He said as he pulled out a set of bedding and towels.
“He’s bringing him here?” Jason asked, shocked, as Alfred turned and headed back down the hall.
“Indeed he is.”
“Right now?”
“Right now.” Alfred pushed open the door to the bedroom adjacent to Jason’s. “Please find a fresh pair of pajamas from your drawer and bring them here. They’ll be too big but they’ll have to do for tonight. Also a pair of jeans and a shirt for tomorrow.”
Jason nodded quickly and tore off for his room as Alfred moved to prepare the bedroom for its new inhabitant.
Jason and Alfred were waiting impatiently at the breakfast counter when the security panel on the wall pinged Bruce’s arrival. The front gate alarm went first and a moment later the garage’s. They both got up and Jason ran down the hall to the garage door with Alfred walking briskly behind him. The door opened and Bruce appeared in plain clothes, carrying a child out cold against his broad shoulder. He was wrapped in Bruce’s jacket and underneath it still wore his leotard and leggings from the performance. Bruce raised a finger to his lips and deposited his keys in the key box by the door. Jason tried to get a look at the sleeping boy’s face as Bruce walked side by side with Alfred toward the stairs.
“I’ve prepared the room next to Master Jason’s” Alfred said softly.
“Thanks Alfred.” Bruce whispered. “Jay, I’m sorry we had to wake you. I just thought seeing you might make him feel a little more comfortable.”
“I’m glad you did! It’s not every day you get a middle of the night surprise brother.”
“Jay, please don’t say that when he’s awake. He just lost his family.”
“I won’t!” Jason hissed defensively. “I’m not stupid! Jeez!”
“Ok. Fine.” Bruce said, trying to mollify him. “And this is only temporary. He’s a witness and needs a safe place.”
“Sure. Temporary.” Jason huffed a laugh. “Just like I was.”
He didn’t see the humorous look Alfred exchanged with Bruce.
Alfred pushed open the door to Richard’s new room and followed Bruce inside. “Jason brought a pair of pajamas but you should let the child sleep. I can change the sheets again. It’s been a long night for the little lad.”
Bruce agreed and set Richard down carefully on the massive bed. He covered him with the comforter and stepped back. The boy didn’t stir at all. He was completely spent from adrenaline, grief, uncertainty and the most terrible and overwhelming night of his short life.
Jason was watching him with a pained expression. Then he looked up at Bruce. “He’s gonna be so confused when he wakes up, Bruce. We can’t leave him here alone.”
“I’ll keep the door open and sit in the hall. I want you to get some sleep.” Bruce said as he switched off the lamp beside the bed. He ushered Jason out of the room and Alfred followed.
Once in the hallway Jason sighed heavily. He then held out a fist towards Bruce who tapped his own against it. He turned and did the same to Alfred who responded in kind. Jason rarely initiated hugs unless he was scared or sad, like he’d been earlier at the circus. Bruce wasn’t a physical touch guy and neither was Alfred so fist bumps suited both of them just fine. Although, Bruce would reach out if Jason was upset. He always remembered the weight of his own father’s massive hand on top of his head. Even now he found some comfort in the memory of it.
“Thanks for making sure he’s ok.” Jason said seriously.
“Somebody told me I had to.” Bruce said with a smirk. “I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow. Go to bed.”
“G’night, Alfred. Night night, Dad-Bruce.” Jason said and went to his door.
Bruce snorted. “Commit to a title, Jay.” He called quietly after him. Jay waved dismissively over his shoulder.
‘Dad-Bruce’ and ‘Bruce-Dad’ were the most recent (albeit tongue-in-cheek) experiments in deciding how he would address his adoptive father. ‘Pops’ came out now and then. ‘Old man’ was common too, but just Bruce was the norm and would likely remain so. ‘Dad’, he obviously found too difficult to say. Willis had been dad to him. That didn’t bother Bruce. Just as long as Jason never took to calling him ‘Father’.
Alfred went to bed shortly after Jason, and Bruce settled into his vigil. He sat on the floor with his head tipped back against the dark wooden wainscoting. What little remained of the night he spent drifting in an out of sleep, keeping an ear out if Richard woke up. It was extremely likely that if he woke he would be disoriented and probably not remember how or why he ended up in a strange house. Toward dawn, Bruce heard him mumble something in his sleep but he didn’t wake up. By then there was no more sleep to be had. His mind began turning everything over.
It was sneaking up on a year and half since he’d brought Jason home. He couldn’t believe he was doing this again. But Jason had been right, more so than he even realized. Bruce had already committed to Richard Grayson. He’d seen himself in that little boy on the platform. It broke his heart to walk out of that tent and leave him sobbing up there. He was comforted only a little to have caught a glimpse of a performer, who no doubt knew the boy, climbing up to him. He couldn’t have done anything anyway. His priority was his son. He was so grateful Jason had listened. The sight of the Graysons’ broken bodies would not have left him. No matter how tough Jason was, his heart was gentle and he was deeply sensitive. Bruce was certain he himself would never forget. He was almost grateful for that, though. He felt responsible for the image, as though he owed it to Richard somehow to keep it. He knew what it was like to carry something like that alone and at that same age.
Bruce needed to get to work on finding Zucco and bringing him to justice. There was no telling how Richard would react knowing his parents’ deaths had been murder and not just a tragic accident. He hoped it would be nothing like his own reaction had been. Between himself, Alfred, and Jason Bruce felt confident Richard would have all the support he needed. Most importantly he intended for Batman to give him the closure he would need to move forward.
In the meantime there was day one still ahead of them. The Grayson boy still had to wake up with the sun and face a world without his parents. Jason would be the first to say a kid couldn’t do better than Bruce and Alfred and Wayne manor, but none of that took away the pain. He might not be the first to say it, but he knew that part all too well. When Richard rose from bed, the pain would be acute. And Bruce understood that better than anyone.
Pale dawn light filled the hall and Bruce found himself breathing calmly, just waiting. He was about begin a life again for the third time. He’d said once to Alfred, and thought often, that bringing Jason home had been like getting a second chance. It didn’t undo his parents’ murder, his implosion, his training, or Batman. He didn’t regret his choices, but it was like a brand new sun had risen over all of it. He didn’t know what would happen with Richard Grayson, but it was a third start. There was no denying it. And he was ready.