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It was several days after the whole Joker incident that any of the bats saw Jason or Badla, and everything returned to routine after they reappeared, but that didn’t mean things went back to normal.
The first thing Hood had said on the comms when they’d spotted the wolf again was; “Do you really think a wolf likes being called a cat’s pattern?”
Damian was the only one who took that seriously, and asked what Jason would suggest.
The man was in the middle of a fist fight when he grunted then spoke. “Dante”
Dick laughed, “Why?”
“If you make me explain going through the alphabet five times with a wolf to learn his name, I’m going radio silent again.”
And that was that.
It had been months since then. And the bats and the birds knew something was off between Dante and their brother.
That was what had brought them to the table tonight, and they went through, recounting situations they’d come across regarding the pair.
They had all caught Jason talking to the wolf on multiple occasions.
Tim spoke of the time he’d run to check on Jay when he went quiet after a gunshot.
-
“I’m the one wearing body armor, you’re not,” he growled. He heard a few low whines and whimpers through a growl. “Well then don’t use yourself as a meat shield, Cub.”
Red Robin had glanced carefully around the corner, catching a glimpse of the wolf and Jason pressing their foreheads together. He ducked back as Jason spoke again.
“Let me comm the others, let them know I’m turning in. I’ll take you back to the den and get you patched up.”
-
Another time was when Dick caught them rough housing on a rooftop during a quiet night in Crime Alley. The wolf and Jason wrestling and toward the end, his brother was panting, flat on his back with his helmet off and Dante was playfully gnawing on Jason’s foot.
Jason had hissed, pulling his foot back. And Dante whimpered and pawed at his face like he was upset.
“None of that,” Jason scolded with a gentleness Dick didn’t recognize. His brother had sat up and patted the spot next to him. As the wolf came closer, he held out his hand. “Let me look.”
Dante had set his jaw in Jason’s waiting hand, and opened his mouth wide. With no inkling of fear, Jason put his head way too close to the wolf’s teeth for Dick’s comfort, as well as his hand and arm fully inside its mouth.
Dick didn’t breath till he pulled back and Dante shut his mouth licking at his lips as he looked at Jason. His brother shook his head, frowning “They’re still not through the gums.”
In the most dramatic fashion he’d ever seen from an animal. Dante gave a shallow howl and threw himself back, playing dead. Because he was apparently teething.
Jason reared his head back, laughing with his full gut. “I get it, not only are you a king, you’re a drama king.”
Dante snapped his eyes open, staring at Jason, and looking affronted. After a couple of whines, Jason frowned. Moving to scratch under the wolf’s ears.
“I know they hurt Cub, I’m sorry.”
Dante crawled, pushing his snout under Jason’s arm and setting his neck over the other’s legs.
Jason and laid on top of him from that position. Dick was unable to hear what he said, but figured they were quiet reassurances as he ran his fingers through his fur.
-
“That’s a lot of trust…” Duke said seriously.
“If Dante was teething in the past few months, this means he’s still young,” Damian noted.
“Can we get back to how Jason stuck arm in his mouth?!” Steph shrieked.
Cass signed he’s gotten bigger.
“A lot of trust,” Duke nodded.
“He’s been a lot more… agreeable, I’ve noticed.” Tim said.
“Cass says as long as you don’t touch the doggy,” Steph snickered. And Cass nodded and took her turn to tell her story.
They’d heard bits and pieces of this one, but not all of it. She signed carefully and made sure everyone could see her hands.
It was mid patrolls, by this point they knew that if Dante wasn’t with Jason, he was patrolling on his own. He hadn’t ever had an issue on his own before then.
Jason had been with Cass when all of lower Gotham heard the wolf’s guttural cry of pain.
Cass said Jason moved faster than he should’ve, given an injury he’d sustained earlier in the night, but his posture held fear. That he stumbled when he’d landed and ran to Dante, his knees hitting the pavement hard as he found the wolf crying laying on his side in a corner of an alley, constant whimpers and actual tears. His body twitched slightly here and there, spasming from electrocution.
A human groaned not far away. One of Black Masks men, blood dripping as he was obviously bit hard and trying to get away after tasing the wolf. She was confused at the lasting effect the taser had, it shouldn't have done that much damage.
Jason whispered to Dante, his hands gently caressing the creature. “I’m here Cub, I’m here. You’re safe.”
The assailant was grasping at the wall as he stood and tried to walk away.
Jason snarled, unholstering his gun and shooting the man in the back of his head before Cass could stop him.
He didn’t even holster his gun as he went back to assuring that Dante was safe. And Dick was careful not to use his batons when they were electrified if the wolf was around. Noticing that the wolf came around him more because of that.
-
“We didn’t see either of them for two weeks after,” Tim said. “Then longer after, ‘cause Bruce got all pissy he killed someone.”
“Okay, but am I the only one realizing what’s going on? Consistencies and big picture I mean?” Everyone stared at Dick like he grew a second head.
“Jason got a pet wolf?” Steph said, smiling with a shrug.
Dick rolled his eyes and laid it out for them. “Has anyone seen Jay in a pit rage since the Joker was killed?”
The silence was loud.
“And further, have we ever seen him this happy? This… soft? Not only with Dante, but with all of us too?”
-
Damian leaned forward and took his turn.
The most recent account, and it was after an Arkham breakout only a few days prior, Dante had helped them track every escapee quicker than ever. And Jason was seemingly mid conversation with Dante.
“But you don’t understand, not just for that, Dante. I know this is the first one you’ve helped with, but the breakouts generally take us a week minimum to clean up.”
Dante rolled his eyes, giving a huff, opening and closing his mouth to mock him.
Jason stopped and got down on the wolf's level, grabbing the bottom of his open jaw and making him look at him. “I’m serious, Dante.”
The wolf pulled his face away, his ears swiveling, alert. He looked past Jason into the darkness as Damian stepped forward. Drawing his sword.
“Demon brat?” Jason acknowledged, but was unphased.
“I find you unworthy of Dante’s Companionship, I’m here to challenge you for him.”
Jason scoffed, rearing his head back and laughing. The modulator still carried pretty well as he looked at Dante. “What do you say? Do you want to live in the barn with BatCow, Jerry the Turkey, Alfred the Cat, and two large breed dogs?”
The deadpan look the wolf gave them both before turning and making a tall jump to the fire escape and to the roof was rather impressive.
“You don’t deserve such a creature, Hood.”
“You’re the one who gave him the cat name, brat,” Jason shot back. “Besides, I don’t own him, he does what he wants.”
Dante stuck his head over the side of the roof and chuffed.
Jason grinned behind the helmet “Tell you what, Robin. If you get my baton from Dante, you can join us on patrol in CA tomorrow. And if I get it, you owe me a keep quiet.” He pulled out the collapsible police baton and whipped it down, extending it.
They looked up at the wolf, who nodded.
Jason yelled up at him, “Don’t go easy on me, Cub.” Then threw the baton up in the air, higher than the rooftops. Dante launched across the gap and caught the baton. Running across the rooftops, both Red Hood and Robin released the grapples and took to the roofs after him.
Neither of them got close, and he disappeared for a while before Damian found them both lounging on a roof in Crime Alley as the sun was starting to rise
Jason was sans helmet, and Dante was curled around him. He landed on the roof behind them and Dante’s head picked up and turned to him. He poked Jason with his nose and looked back at him.
His brother sighed and waved him over. “Come on, baby bird, we both lost.”
“What do you mean?” Robin said, walking close and standing to the side near Dante’s head.
“He ditched the baton, meaning neither of us win,” he looked annoyed, but his voice was more amused than anything. Jason waved him closer, scooting towards Dante’s hind legs and gesturing to the empty space. “He doesn’t bite,” he grinned.
Dante huffed, giving a low rumble. His eyes on the skyline.
“Of course he wouldn’t, he’s far more intelligent than that and knows I wouldn’t harm him. He’s not the one I’m worried about.” Damian huffed and crossed his arms, looking away.
His brother frowned, but nodded. Dante’s tail moved deliberately and settled it over Jason’s legs. The wolf then chuffed at Damian, pointing with his nose to the empty space.
After deliberating, he settled down and watched the sunrise with his brother.
Petting the wolf as his head settled in Damian's lap, Jason showed him that if he ran his finger from the tip of his shout to behind his ears, the wolf would fall asleep and start rumbling as if he was purring.
And Jason let him tag along on patrol the next night anyway.
-
After a beat, Duke spoke up. “He helped me make cookies for a home-ec assignment. And it was really fun. Before when he was around, even his aura was… off putting. But it’s different now.”
“I asked for help on a case that crossed into CA, and he didn’t growl at me,” Tim said.
“He also helped me with a literary assignment a few weeks ago,” Damian mentioned.
They all gave anecdotes on Jason’s improved mood and behavior toward them.
“So, do you think he knows?” Steph asked.
Tim shook his head. “He’s even been nice to me, seemingly without trying, so I don’t think he does.”
“He hasn’t missed a weekly dinner in almost a year, we can ask him tomorrow night, but if he tells us to drop it, we do. Got it?” Dick glared at them all and didn’t let them go till they all agreed.