Chapter Text
Jason thought the problem with Batman was that he never stopped to actually talk to civilians. There were some decent and legitimate prostitution rings in Gotham, well as decent and legitimate as they can get, and Jason had learned that the girls have good intel. People pretended they weren't human and would talk around them, and the girls were more than willing to share if it benefited them.
That was how Jason learned there was a new creep in town; someone who was trying to get the Joker's attention. He had moved in within the last week and had ruthlessly taken over a block as his own, meaning the girls had lost prime working territory. But they were too scared to go back. They claimed something had been screaming almost non-stop for twelve hours the other night before the sound just cut off. And whatever it had been had not sounded human.
That intrigued Jason enough to go and check it out. If there was some new creep, Jason could show the who ran things around here and the girls could go back to working. Which would make them happy to give him more intel (And maybe some free services). If there wasn't some new creep, and something weird was just going on in the buildings, Jason could take care of it and the girls could go back working. It was a win-win situation for him.
And the night was slow as it was, so it gave him something to do.
~*~
Jason wondered what the appeal of working out of giant warehouses was. Sure, they were spacious and covered up noises pretty well, but there were so many spots where someone could sneak it unnoticed. Like Jason was doing now.
He had already taken down the patrol outside, and now he was slipping in through a window. Better to be sneaky and learn what was going on, rather than guns blazing. At least this time.
He had let himself into some kind of supply closet. He cursed his luck and debated trying the next window over when he started and almost cursed out loud. A giant replica Bat-suit was standing in the corner, next to a replica Robin outfit and replica Nightwing costume. Jason inspected the costumes, surprised at how accurate they were. He could almost not see the tiny flaws in the dark. After he finished with whatever the hell was going down in this warehouse, he'd have to remember to take these. They could come in handy.
After checking the coast was clear, Jason left the closet, having decided against going back out the window. It had started to drizzle and he didn't want to get wet just yet. He could hear muffled talking in the distance and he made his way towards that, crouched and keeping to the shadows.
As he got closer to the voices, he encountered, one, two, three guards that he easily dropped. All of them were heavily armed, which peaked his interest more. What was worth so much fire power?
Jason made it to the right door and leaned against the frame, listening.
“Is...is he supposed to be making that noise?”
“He's not supposed to be makin' any noise. That's why we...”
Jason strained to hear the noise they were talking about. It was a faint wheezing, sounding like it was coming deep from someone's chest.
“I think he's dying again. Do you think the things will fix him?”
“Paddles re-start your heart, you idiot. I think that's his lungs. We'll call the doc in. She can patch him up.” Then BANG! And Jason almost moved into action, but thought better of it. “That's a warnin'. I told you all, no hitting him in the chest with shit. He's a gift. We need him alive for that.”
That was enough for Jason's curiosity. He kicked the door in, guns out and ready to start firing. “A gift for me? You shou...ldn't have.” With the gun shots going off, he was sure no one heard the slight pause of shock in his sentence.
First he had to deal with these thugs, then he'd deal with..
Jason didn't kill without reason, but in his mind, they all deserved to die. There were seven henchmen, plus the 'big baddie', easily identifiable by his stupid get-up. Jason believed the rumors this man was trying to get the attention of the Joker. He was dressed like a male- Harley Quinn and not nearly as pleasing on the eyes.
“Hood!”
“Hi.” Jason kept his guns trained on the not so tastefully dressed man in front of him. “Who the fuck are you supposed to be?”
The man cackled and made some elaborate moves with his arms. “I am The-” Bang!
“Actually, I decided I don't care.” Jason gave the nameless fool an extra kick for good measure, then turned his attention to what he really did not want to look at.
The only reason Jason knew it was Tim Drake was the remains of his Red Robin costume. He was strung up by chains from the wrists, making his feet barely scrap the ground. Where the costume was ripped, Jason couldn't see skin. It was covered with blood and muck and bruises. By some miracle, which Jason quickly learned was some string, Tim's domino mask had stayed on, despite the swelling around Tim's left eye.
The only reason Jason knew Tim was still alive was that horrible wheezing noise coming from him.
Jason kicked everyone of the bastards who did this in the face as he made his way to Tim. It didn't matter if they were already dead.
He had never really liked Tim. Tim was Jason' Replacement. Tim had taken Jason's titles twice now. Tim was an arrogant son of bitch. But, on some insane level that only the wards of Bruce Wayne could ever understand, Tim was family. And that meant only Jason could kill him.
When Jason got to Tim he sucked air in through his teeth, which might have been more dramatic if he hadn't been wearing his helmet. Tim was way worse up close than far away. Jason could see the cuts and stabs where all the blood had come from and finally got what the hell those fucks had meant when they said Tim wasn't supposed to be making noise. They had cut his throat, enough to hurt, but not enough for Tim to bleed out.
Jason found that was a pattern among Tim's wounds. Nothing was fatal, except if it got infected, which some of the deeper cuts looked. His fingers danced over Tim's body, checking all the damage before he released the boy. He didn't want to accidentally make things worse. Finally he deemed Tim not likely to die if he was let down. The only wound Jason couldn't account for was what was making Tim wheeze.
Because Tim's arms were spread out, Jason couldn't hold him up when he undid the cuffs. He at least managed to grab Tim's right arm, so when the final cuff came off, Tim didn't fall onto the ground. Jason eased the younger boy to the ground and kneeled by him.
Jason had followed the leads, killed the bad guys, and made sure Tim wasn't dead. Now what? He supposed he could go drop Tim off on the GCPD station for Batman to find. But then the big bad Bats would think Jason did this and he sure as hell didn't want that.
He could leave Tim here. But that would have defeated the purpose of saving him because Tim would surely die if left here.
Jason scanned the room out of habit and saw something that made up his mind for him. A crowbar was lying slightly behind where Tim had been strung up, and it had blood spattered all over it.
“All right, Babybird, you are coming with me.”
Tim's head jerked and it made Jason fall over. Even with the domino on, Jason could tell that Tim was now staring at him. The Red Robin's lips moved, but just a gurgling sound came out. Jason immediately realized what the wheezing had been.
Tim had been laughing.
Jason righted himself and scooped up Tim into his arms, princess style. His Replacement struggled a moment, then relaxed, resting his head against Jason's shoulder. Jason scoffed, but held Tim close, to make sure he didn't accidentally drop him.
Jason had a safe house only a few minutes away, but it took three times as long to get there. Jason couldn't use rooftops and had to stick to walking in shadows, making sure no one was following or seeing them. Tim's breathing had been ragged when they left the warehouse, but had evened out into soft puffs by the time they reached the safe house.
For the supplies he had, Jason thought he did a really good job patching up Tim. He'd have to go and get more wrap bandages and better material for a splint, and possibly some antibiotics, but Tim would survive for now.
The little bird was more banged up than Jason had realized before. At non-vital points, Tim's skin had been flayed, burned, electrocuted, cut ,stabbed, beaten, and who knew what else. Amazingly, there were not many broken bones. Jason could feel a fractured jaw and some ribs, but besides Tim's leg, everything else seemed intact.
Tim's right leg was his second worst wound, following his throat. Jason could feel the shattered bones under his fingers and set it the best he could. Tim would not be walking for a long while, let alone flying.
The wounds hadn't bothered Jason. He was used to cleaning wounds. But the track marks on Tim's arms had made him wish he had kept the idiot in the Harley get up alive just so he could beat the shit out of him.
Jason felt a little ridiculous as he wrang out the washcloth he had used to clean Tim. What the hell had he been thinking? He did not want to take care of Drake, but now he was stuck with him. At least until the kid was stable enough to move, and that would at least be a couple of days. Jason had been correct in thinking some of the stab wounds had become infected. Tim already had a fever and Jason had no idea what Tim had been injected with, and how long ago his last dose was.
And it wasn't like he could ask Tim.
Even if the kid knew (and Jason didn't doubt that he knew), and even if he could actually talk (Jason doubted that part), he had been asleep since Jason brought him to the safe house.
And how, exactly, had Red Robin gotten caught by a Joker rip-off?
That part annoyed Jason. When the little punk woke up, that would be the first thing to answer.
~*~
Jason opted out of going back on patrol, even if there were a few good hours left of darkness. He, instead, cleaned his guns and watched midnight reruns of a show he used to enjoy as a kid on stolen cable. And tried to not think about the boy in the next room.
Not thinking proved to be hard. Little questions or facts would pop into his mind when he least expected it.
The girls said the screaming had happened days ago.
How long had the Fool (Jason's name for him) had Tim?
Why had he not heard anything on the frequencies he wasn't supposed to be listening to about a missing bird?
Red Robin was meant to be a gift for some one. Was it the Joker?
Did they know who was behind the Red Robin domino?
Had he killed them all? Was there anyone left who knew the Fool had had Red Robin?
They said 'dying again.' Had Tim's heart stopped beating during his torture?
Jason kicked he table in front of him and got up. He needed to hit something.
~*~
Jason worked out in his little make shift gym until he absolutely exhausted himself. Then he slept on the couch. When he got up, he checked on his new responsibility, not surprised to find him still asleep or a little more feverish.
Jason left some water and a note (Don't panic don't move, went to get supplies -Jason), and left his safe house to get well, supplies.
Warehouses were a few blocks away, but Jason had set up this safe house in a nice, dinky little neighborhood of working class folks. There was some drug use, and petty theft, but nothing too serious. It was mostly people trying to get by unnoticed. The safe house was the top floor, all rented by him using different aliases, of a decent little brownstone, right down the street from a market.
Jason spent most of the day gathering supplies. He had to hit a few different places to get all the medical supplies he wanted because he was paranoid. Oracle had cameras every where and would surely notice a large purchase (or theft) of various first-aid needs for the vigilante crowd.
Next he got Tim some clothes, because he really hated the idea of someone else wearing his boxers, and Tim was sure as hell going to be wearing boxers when around Jason.
Then a quick run through one of those 'everything' stores, grabbing blankets, toiletries, another first aid kit, and some quick and easy groceries.
Tim was right where Jason left him when he got back. The boy most have really needed sleep badly, but Jason didn't judge. Well, only a little bit.
By the time Jason had put everything away and had patched up Tim some more, it was dark, and Jason needed to patrol.
Who knew, maybe he'd stumble upon another little bird in need of rescuing (and if it was a demon bird, he'd stroll on by.)
He left more water, even though the first had been untouched, some granola bars, and another note. Don't panic, don't move, out on patrol. -Jason
~*~
The night was rather uneventful. None of the big names showed themselves. Jason had kept a good ear on the chatter, but there was absolutely no mention of Red Robin. It made Jason furious in a way he hadn't expected. Did they even realize that the third Robin could have died if Jason hadn't been talking to prostitutes?
Did they even care?
Jason threw off his helmet as he slipped in to his safe house. Plans were changing. He wasn't going to play nice and go drop off the little bird once he was stable. No, Jason was going to keep him and cause panic. If the panic came. They would have to realize he was missing, right?
It is what they deserved, what he deserved, for not watching over his so called 'son'.
Jason checked on Tim, feeling oddly over protective this time around. The water was still untouched, though it looked like Time had moved a little bit. That was a good sign. Another round of antibiotics and a change of bandages, then Jason took his note and went to sleep on the couch.
~*~
Some of the water and one of the granola bars was gone when Jason checked on Tim again, but the Replacement was asleep, yet again. It made Jason oddly proud. He hadn't fucked this up.
The day was spent reading, training, and watching the news. Something was happening in San Francisco, but the reports weren't exactly clear. They never were when the Titans were involved.
When the night came, Jason left the same note he had before and some more water, granola, and now some pain pills.
The chatter in the streets was insane. Even the thugs were talking about it.
Red Robin was MIA. He wasn't with the Titans. He wasn't with Batman.
No one had seen him on patrol.
Did the Bat get another one of his Robins killed?
Jason sat on a gargoyle, and if he hadn't been wearing his helmet, he would not have been afraid to show his smug grin. He knew where the little bird nested.
He managed to get a glimpse of some poor thugs encounter with Batman and Robin and they both were far more violent than usual. It put glee into Jason's soul.
They both deserved to feel like this.
The only damper in Jason's night is that he could not manage to find Nightwing.
~*~
When Jason crawled back through his window near dawn, Tim was sitting up in bed. The younger boy looked at Jason expectantly, but Jason breezed past him to the bathroom, a shower sorely needed. When Jason came back, Tim was still awake, but no longer sitting up.
“It took you a lot longer to wake up than I thought it would, Babybird.”
Tim glared and waved his hands at Jason and it took him a minute to realize what the movements meant. Tim was speaking American Sign Language. Of course Tim knew ASL. He knew everything.
“Okay, wait. Do that again. Slower.” Tim had to repeat himself twice before Jason figured out the signs. “How long were you asleep? Two days. Okay, seriously, you need to do that slower, I had like one class of this in high school.” And training from Bruce, because silent communication was needed at times, but Jason didn't mention that. Tim signed slower and Jason was able to piece together some things.
“How did you get here? I saved your sorry ass from that fuckwad in tights, that is how, and you weren't exactly in the condition to haul around Gotham. My turn for questions. How the hell did you get caught by that fuckwad? Didn't you have better training than that?”
Tim got an annoyed look in his eyes and he was signing way too fast for Jason to follow. “Okay, no, stop. We are not doing this. Wait a minute.” Jason went out into the living room. He turned off his wi-fi, grabbed his laptop, and brought it back into the bedroom. Tim was sitting up again. “Wi-fi is off and if you try any funny business, I will shoot you. Got it?” Tim gave a curt nod. Jason opened up some note-pad program and handed his laptop to Tim.
Tim's fingers flew over the keyboard and this was much easier than trying to figure out signs.
[He staged a break in on my patrol route. The store clerks were in on it. They shot me with high powered tranqs.]
Well, that explained it. It wasn't as pathetic as Jason thought it was. “Why you?” Tim shrugged.
[I think they wanted to give me to the Joker. But they didn't look like Joker goons. And Joker is still in Arkham.]
So Jason was right about that. “The little fuckwad was trying to impress the Joker, is what I gathered. Next question.” Tim rolled his eyes. “Why didn't anyone know you were missing?”
Tim stilled and for a half of a half of second, he looked pained, then it was gone, replaced by a mask of indifference.
[What do you mean no one knew I was missing?]
“Exactly what it means. No one knew you were missing until tonight. By my calculations, almost six days. Maybe longer? I don't know, I don't keep up with your schedule.” Jason felt a small pang of guilt at seeing Tim hang his head. The truth stung badly. Jason could see it, even behind all those walls Tim built up.
[Did you tell them where I am?]
“No.”
[Why not?]
“Because I don't fucking have to and I kind of like seeing them panic over it. Batman actually beat the shit out of some idiot tonight before hanging him off a lamppost.” Jason wasn't sure what he said, but something in that sentence sent a wave of fear over Tim. It was gone before it started, but it had been there.
Tim went a different direction. [Damage assessment?] Jason rolled his eyes but complied, telling Tim about his various injuries. Tim seemed to accept all of them and Jason pointed out which medications Tim was taking and how often.
Jason had more tact than to ask Tim what had happened to him. He could tell by looking at Tim what had happened. He had been tortured. For days. And Tim didn't feel the urge to tell Jason, so that was perfectly fine.
Tim asked about his fever and infections, and asked for better food, before his head started to droop. Jason took back his laptop and pushed Tim back into bed and Tim didn't fight it. He was asleep before Jason left the room.
Jason spent the rest of his time awake browsing comments on posts about Red Robin, marveling at the conspiracies people came up with.
Not one person thought that Red Robin was holed up with Red Hood somewhere.
~*~
Jason thought this whole arrangement would be a lot more awkward than it had turned out to be. He and Tim lived together much better than expected. Jason got Tim a burn phone (with no minutes on it) so Tim could type out communication instead of having to sign or use Jason's laptop constantly. They talked about nothing really. How Tim was feeling (physically) or how Jason's patrol went.
It had only been a few days, but Jason thought they would have torn each others throats out by now. Tim asked for very little. Some books to occupy himself and non-greasy food. Jason got him some books.
The only thing they fought about was Tim kept trying to walk, and Jason got tired quick of hauling Tim back to bed. He also hated having to bring him to the bathroom. So they came up with a solution of Tim using Jason's desk chair as a wheel chair. Luckily the floors didn't have any carpet and Jason got a kick out of Tim scooting around or launching himself every where.
Tim was still feverish and spent most of his time asleep. The times they were both awake were spent in front of the television, watching crappy reruns or game shows, before Jason went on patrol. The first night after Tim woke up, they had watched the news, but Jason learned quickly that it hadn't been a good idea.
One mention of Batman had Tim pale as snow and shaking. He had tried to get up and leave the room without taking his wheely chair. He had only made it a few steps and Jason went after him, shouting.
“Jesus, Tim, you have to use the stupid chair, I am not-” He grabbed Tim's arm to haul him up and Tim flipped. Tim turned on him, scratching, clawing, and kicking with his good leg. He was making a horrible noise, but it was so scratchy and raw and weak that it couldn't count as a scream or words. It was just horrible. Jason dropped Tim and stepped back, shocked.
Until that moment he had never even thought about Tim's psyche and what being tortured had done to him. Tim had seemed perfectly fine.
Jason swallowed hard and kneeled next to the younger boy. Tim had stopped making that horrible noise, and stopped lashing out, but he still looked absolutely terrified. It made Jason realize how young Tim really was. He always forgot how young all the Robins were.
“Tim. Timothy. Hey.” Jason was surprised how soft his voice was. “I'm not going to hurt you, okay? Let's get you back up and into bed. Yeah?” Tim just stared, his blue eyes wider than Jason thought possible. The older boy tried to touch the younger's arm, but Tim flinched away. “I won't hurt you, Babybird.”
And that did it. Tim relaxed and closed his eyes, taking a long shaky breath. Jason didn't wait. He pulled Tim up and dragged him back to the bedroom. He left before he got the nerve to ask what had happened.
Jason realized after that that there was never any mention of Batman, Robin, or Nightwing, or their counterparts. He was curious, but he didn't want to send Tim into another freak out. He had expected Tim to be asking to go home now, or about his missing status, or something along those lines, but not a word. And Jason kind of liked that.
~*~
Jason was a quick learner. He had to be. Once was chance, twice was coincidence, third time was a pattern.
'Babybird' was Tim's calm down word.
Tim was much smaller than Jason, but when he wanted to throw down, the boy could throw down. Jason came home from patrol to find Tim in the midst of a violent nightmare. He was thrashing around, kicking, and making that horrible noise from his throat again.
Jason almost left. He could barely deal with his own problems, he couldn't deal with Tim's as well. But then he saw blood on the sheets. Tim must have ripped his stitches.
Jason started shaking the young vigilante, trying to wake him up. “Tim! Tim!” If he hadn't been wearing his helmet, the punch Tim gave him would have hurt. That being said, it hurt Tim more than it hurt Jason, but it woke the younger up. But it didn't stop the noises, or the thrashing. Tim grabbed Jason's jacket and they started wrestling, Jason trying to hold back and just pin Tim, while Tim tried to seemingly rip off Jason's head.
Jason was shouting and Tim was still screeching. Jason wasn't really aware what he was saying, but he knew it was meant to calm Tim down. He didn't know where 'Babybird' came from, but he said it and Tim stilled under him. Big blue eyes blinked up and pale lips mouthed 'Jay?'.
He sat and removed his helmet, letting Tim know that, yes, it was him. He got off of Tim and pointed to where the blood had stained his sheets. “Sit up. Take off your shirt.” Then he went to get the first aid kit.
When he came back he tried to ignore how pale and tiny Tim really was. He was, but he was just so tiny. Tiny and shaking and still recovering from that night terror. Jason didn't say anything, just patched up the ripped stitches and checked to make sure the others were okay. Tim just looked ashamed and didn't say anything.
He couldn't say anything, anyways, his phone was out in the living room.
Jason went to take a shower after he was satisfied Tim wouldn't start bleeding again. When he stripped of his shirt he was surprised to see scratch marks on his neck and shoulders. The little bird was tiny, but even when injured, he was strong as hell. Jason wouldn't underestimate him again.
~*~
Red Hood didn't realize he was avoiding the members of the Bat family until he was actively avoiding them; by running across rooftops with a blue flash behind him. It had been two weeks since Tim had gone missing, from when he had actually gone missing, not when people realized he was missing. So, in Nightwing time, Tim had been missing for almost a week. And Hood did not want to talk about it with the former Boy Wonder.
“Hood! Wait!”
“No, thanks!”
“Hood!”
Then his ankle was hit with something and it threw off his jump. Hood fell onto a rooftop hard and by the time he was rolling back up and shaking the wingding out of his boot, Nightwing was in front of him.
“Have you seen Red Robin?” Nightwing's voice sounded pained and Hood couldn't help but grin behind his helmet.
“Should I have?”
Nightwing whined and it was really annoying. “No one has seen him in a week!” Two weeks, Hood mentally corrected. “His last communication is two weeks old!”
“So his last communication was two weeks ago, but no one has seen him in a week?” Nightwing nodded eagerly. “So he cut off communication for a week before disappearing?” Another eager nod. Hood rolled his eyes. He was trying to be helpful and maybe lead Nightwing down a path of enlightenment, and also more guilt. But Nightwing wasn't catching on quite yet. How was this man a detective? “Who saw him last?”
“I...” Hood could tell by the muscle movements Nightwing had just blinked a lot. “I don't know.”
“You don't know who saw him last?” Nightwing was coming to the realization and Hood stepped back as Nightwing panicked.
“He's been missing for two weeks. Oh god. How could I have not noticed! Hood! Hood, where are you going?” Hood had turned and began to walk away.
“I haven't seen him and this is not my problem!”
“Of course it is your problem, he is your brother!” Hood turned mid step to glare, though behind his helmet, at Nightwing.
“I don't want to be a part of a family that can't even be bothered to notice when someone is missing!”
Then the blue and black streak was flying at him, all fists and anger. “What did you do to him, Hood!”
Hood blocked the shots and returned a few of his own. He didn't take well to being attacked. “I didn't do a damn thing to him!”
“You were running!”
“You were chasing me!”
They repeated the questions and answers in different forms until Hood got fed up. He clicked a button hidden in the sleeve of his jacket and there was a BOOM! Three blocks over. Nightwing looked over and it was enough of a distraction to get away.
~*~
Jason slipped into the bedroom window and was mildly surprised to see the bed was empty. He shed his clothes and gear and went to the bathroom for a shower. After a shower and a change of clothes, he went to find the little bird.
Tim was curled up, as much as he could be, on the couch, reading. In one of Jason's hoodies. And with..
“How did you get hot chocolate?” Jason was inspecting the kitchen now because he was sure that he had never in his life bought hot chocolate. There were many things in the kitchen right now that he did not buy.
There was a beep and Jason snatched Tim's phone from his hand.
[I bought it.]
“What do you mean 'You bought it?!'” Tim took back the phone, typed, then handed it back. “'I went to the store.' What the fuck, Tim?!” Tim snatched the phone back.
He had it for a minute before showing it to Jason.
[I can't live off greasy burgers. I can barely chew. I needed something healthy and you refused to provide it, so I went out and got it. I left the change on the counter.]
Jason whipped his head around and saw the neatly stacked money. “How did you even get to the store? You can't even walk.” He was practically growling. “And where did you get the money? I know that Red Robin suits doesn't have any pockets.”
[ I found your emergency funds. Under the mattress is not original.] Jason did growl. [I made crutches.] Tim motioned to the front door, and sure enough, make shift crutches made from things Jason didn't even know he had in the apartment, were leaning against the wall. [I re-established your wi-fi, found the nearest market, and went. Don't worry. I kept my hood up and no one knew it was me. I even avoided the cameras.]
Another growl and Jason plopped next to Tim. He snatched the cocoa out of the younger boy's hands and took a sip. Tim smirked.
[Why are you home so early?] Jason glared at Tim, but he just kept smirking.
“I had an unwanted encounter and decided to call it a night before I had even more, brooding encounters.”
He saw the emotions change in Tim's controlled face and Tim took back his cocoa.
[Nightwing?]
“Mhm.”
[What did he want?]
“To know if I had seen you.” There was an almost pleading look in Tim's eyes. “I didn't tell him.” Jason scoffed. “I'm not stupid. I told him I hadn't, he thought I was lying and did something to you, we fought, I kicked ass, and came back before Daddy Bats could show up.”
That term didn't seem to set Tim off, but he looked extremely anxious. Jason reached out and squeezed the back of Tim's neck, carefully.
“Look, Babybird.” Tim's muscles relaxed under Jason's fingers. “You and I both know you could have contacted them the second I left you alone. I got you a phone, even if it doesn't work, and I've left you with my laptop plenty of times. You already proved you can hack into it, to find a grocery store of all things, and can leave if you are determined enough. But you haven't contacted them. They haven't busted down my doors, dragging you back to the Manor. I get it. You, for whatever reason, aren't ready to go back. I'm cool with that, as long as you don't piss me off or steal my money again.”
Tim was typing again and Jason really did think it was going to be something important. Or at least relating to the conversation.
[I got you peppermint hot chocolate with mini marshmallows.]
“Shit, really, those are already out?” Jason was scrambling over the back of the couch, hoping Tim had left enough water in the kettle (that Tim had purchased) for another cup.
~*~
“Don't piss me off” somehow translated to “pull your weight” in Tim Drake's mind and Jason wasn't sure how. And “pull your weight” somehow meant clean the apartment and cook. It half amused Jason and half pissed him off. It was nice to live, even temporarily, somewhere clean, and even better to have a hot, healthy meal. But Jason could not figure out how Tim moved around the apartment without making any noise at all.
Tim relied on his crutches more than the wheely chair and Jason missed the chair. It squeaked.
Tim's fever was gone, but he still slept a lot. And he would have nightmares. And Jason wished he didn't care. He didn't even know why he cared. But when ever he came home to find Tim thrashing about, he'd sit on his bed, hold the back of Tim's neck, and use the word that calmed him down. Tim would wake up the moment Jason sat on the bed, but he just couldn't settle down right away. Sometimes, after Jason managed to calm Tim down, they'd stay like that for a bit, in silence, until Tim fell back asleep. Jason would adjust Tim so he was more comfortable, then go about his before bed routine.
After dinner, but before Jason's patrol, they sat on the couch, watching some trivia game show that Jason was sure Tim would be shouting the answers to, if he could talk. It has been two weeks since Jason had brought Tim back, and most of his bruises were fading and his wounds healing. Jason knew Tim could make sounds now, that didn't sound like something out of hell. He made them when he slept. But Tim just kept using the phone to text and Jason didn't push it.
The couch was small, but they were sitting a little too close. Jason's arms were draped over the back of the couch and Tim was almost curled into Jason's side. They were almost touching. But neither of them moved until Tim gently tugged on Jason's jacket. Jason peered down with his brows raised. Tim typed quickly, then held the phone up for Jason to read.
[I want to write letter to Alfred. Can you deliver it?]
And Jason understood immediately. He hadn't even thought of Alfred.
Bruce, and Dick, and Damian deserved the worry and panic over Tim. Alfred didn't. Alfred had been nothing but kind and loving to all of the batkids. Jason felt a twinge of guilt for having made Alfred worry.
He nodded and Tim hobbled up. Jason steadied him by placing a supportive hand on the small of Tim's back until Tim wobbled off without a sound. Just another normal touch now.
Jason could hear the scratching of the pen on paper and tried to not think about how he'd have to go back to the Manor. Maybe if he timed it well enough, everyone else would be gone.
He tried to pay attention to the show, even got angry when the idiot missed a various obvious question, but he couldn't help but wonder what Tim was writing.
Before sunset, Tim was done and sticking a sealed unmarked envelope under Jason's nose.
[Don't read it.]
“I'm not twelve. But now I totally have to open it as soon as I leave.” Tim glared and Jason grinned.
Jason put his helmet in his backpack and put a white t-shirt on over his armor. Now he looked like some punk instead of a bad-ass vigilante.
The bike ride was longer than it should take, because Jason kept back tracking and being extra paranoid. He watched the rooftops more than the road. They had been in his territory a lot the past few days and he did not want any surprise visits.
When Jason finally arrived, he felt twitchy and nervous. What if they hadn't left yet? What if they went after him after he dropped off the letter? That he hadn't read. As curious as he was, he respected Alfred's privacy.
It took ten minutes for him to finally knock on the door and it opened almost immediately. The wave of emotions was intense, but Jason kept it together. He hadn't seen the butler in so long and he hated to say he missed him .
“Master Jason. What a pleasant surprise, do come in.” Jason shook his head, already feeling guilty for denying the request.
“Can't, Al. I'm just here playing delivery boy.” He dug into his jacket pocket and held out the letter.
“I will be sure to give it to Master Bruce.” Jason shook his head again.
“It's for you Alfred.” The butler looked surprised. “It's from Tim.”
“Master Timothy?” Alfred took the letter and cradled it preciously.
“Do me a favor, Al.” The older man looked up. “Give me a five minute head start before you tell him I was here.” Alfred gave a look of understanding and a nod.
Then Jason ran like a bat out of hell was chasing him, because in five minutes, there would be.
~*~
It was a lot harder to avoid Batman than it was to avoid Nightwing. Red Hood knew this, but had to be reminded as the back wheels of his bike exploded. He had almost made it back home. He would have been crazy to go out patrolling tonight after going to the Manor. Even if his enterprises were taking hits because he hadn't been around as much.
Hood abandoned the bike via grappling hook with a curse. That was the bike that could carry the most groceries.
His line snapped with a twang and if Hood didn't know Batman's 'no kill' policy first hand, he'd swear the Bat was trying to kill him. He used the momentum from his swing to crash through a window and was thankful the room he found himself in was abandoned. There was a 'thunk' behind him, then Hood was on his chest with a knee in his back.
“Where is he!?”
“Who?” Hood asked as innocently as he could. The response was a Batman slamming his helmet into the ground and asking the question again. “He's safe.”
“What did you do to him?!”
“Okay, why does everyone think I'm the one who hurt him?” Hood realized his choice of words as the Bat slammed his head again. He had admitted Tim was hurt. “I saved his life, now get off of me.” The knife in his boot's heel was out and Hood kicked back. He hit air, but he had enough to to get up and face his once mentor.
“Where is he?” The tone was softer now. Well..softer for Batman.
“Okay. Did Alfred tell you what was in the letter or did you just hear our name's together and come after me?” Hood had no idea what the hell was in the letter, but he was praying Tim had mentioned not wanting to come home. Batman's posture relaxed out of fighting stance and Hood allowed his to relax as well.
“That he is safe and not ready to come home.” Hood's chest actually swelled at that a bit. Tim felt safe with him. He knew that but...he had written it.
“So why exactly, are you fucking attacking me?”
“He needs to come home.” Hood barked a laugh.
“So he can be around people who didn't even realize he was missing until he should have been dead?” Hood's words turned to venom and he was enjoying this far too much. “He would have died if I hadn't shown up. He wouldn't have lasted another fucking night.”
Batman's face scrunched and Hood knew it was meant to be intimidating, but God this was all to enjoyable. “What happened to him?” And then Hood did laugh because this was all too good. Either Tim hadn't told Alfred or Alfred hadn't told Bruce and...this was all just too perfect.
The Robin that had died had saved the Robin who had been fired and Batman didn't even know what had happened. It really did show what Robins the Batman cared about.
Hood knew his laughing was unnerving and he knew he could just walk out. So he did, and Batman didn't stop him.
~*~
Tim was an anxious ball when Jason finally climbed through the window. One day he'd use the front door just to throw Tim off.
Tim let out a whine and came to Jason motioning for Jason to take of his helmet. The older man noted that Tim didn't seem to realize he had made a noise while conscious. The helmet was tossed aside and Tim was leaning up and touching Jason's nose. He hadn't even realized it was bleeding. Tim looked extremely distressed and Jason felt guilty.
And he hadn't even done anything!
Tim's phone was in his face before he even realized Tim had been typing.
[They went after you, didn't they? Because of the letter.]
“I don't think Alfred even got to read it to him before he took off. And no, I didn't read it so I don't know what it actually said.” Just that is said that Tim felt safe.
[He did this to you?]
And Jason felt even more guilty because Tim went from distressed to terrified. He was shaking, and pale and...it made Jason angry. That Tim, for whatever reason, was terrified of Batman. He couldn't understand why at all. Batman was Tim's idol and now even mentioning him set Tim on the edge of a panic attack.
“He smacked me around a little before I told him what is what and he left me alone.”
And then Tim was shaking so hard he could barely type.
[You told him?]
“No. Not that you...I told him I got to you before he even knew you were missing. That you could have died and he never would have known in time.”
And then Tim was hugging him around his middle and nuzzling his chest like a kitten and it was weird. Jason took a moment to raise his arms and wrap them around Tim's tiny frame.
“Why are you so afraid of him now?”
Tim went still for a second, then clung to Jason. Jason wished he knew what was going on inside that head, but he knew that wish would be unfulfilled.
They stayed like that for a long while, until Jason's legs began to ache and he was sure Tim's good leg was killing him. He had never been touchy or clingy before, and Jason had always hated Dick's hugs, but he could tell the difference between an annoying brother hug and a hug that was needed to stay grounded to the world.
Tim let go first, then hobbled out of the room. Jason began to prepare for his shower, until Tim came back in with the first aide kit. Jason was about to get annoyed, but Tim looked determined. No words were exchanged, text or otherwise, as Jason sat on the end of his (Tim's) bed and let Tim tend to his wounds.
~*~
Jason took the time to realize exactly how traumatized Tim really was. Tim was good at hiding it, but once Jason knew he should probably be looking out for things like that, he noticed them.
Like the fact Tim never left the apartment, except to go to the market down the street, and that had only been once. Tim made Jason a shopping list every few days, and Jason never even thought about it, because if Jason fetched the ingredients, Tim would cook for him. And Jason liked what Tim cooked.
Tim avoided seeing violence. He wouldn't watch the news, and seemed to favor trivia shows or family style- violence free shows. Even the games he played on Jason's laptop where violence free.
Tim wouldn't shower or knowingly sleep unless Jason was there. He'd flinch at loud noises. If Jason was late coming home from patrol, Tim would get anxious.
And since the night Jason came home with a bloody nose, Tim had to check him over for wounds. Even if Jason hadn't been hurt that night. Jason had yelled that he didn't need to be coddled at Tim, the second night Tim came to him wanting to see if Jason was okay. One look from Tim, with his big blue eyes, had Jason sitting on his bed and allowing the younger boy to see he wasn't hurt.
He didn't know how Tim could convince him to do things without even talking. Just the fearful look in Tim's eyes had Jason bending to his will. Jason told himself that this is how Tim was coping and not allowing Tim to cope would just make him worse. And making him worse meant Tim would stay longer.
At least Tim wasn't having as many nightmares. Jason had kept a keen eye on that. He wasn't sleeping very well, but he wasn't thrashing around for half the night.
The only thing that Jason thought was not getting better was the fact Tim still refused to speak and was avoiding anything relating to the other members of the Bat-family. Jason didn't understand either of those things. Avoiding the outside world and violence, and wanting to make sure he was okay, Jason sort of got. Tim had been kidnapped and tortured. Those were logical responses. Fear of talking and Batman weren't so logical.
~*~
Jason could see the light from the screen behind his eyes lids. He didn't want to open his eyes just yet, but something bumped against his shoulder and Jason gave in. He cracked one eye open and read the text.
[I want to help you.]
That got Jason to sit up. Tim practically crawled into his lap with how close he was sitting. “Help me with what?”
[Your patrols. Whatever you do. I can help.]
Jason eyed Tim and looked him over. He had lost weight and Jason guessed he would maybe tip the scale to 100 pounds. His leg was still in the make-shift cast. And Tim was wearing Jason's hoodie, again, which was at least three sizes too big on him.
“You can't even walk on your own.” Won't even leave the apartment, Jason mentally added. “How can you help?” And then Tim smiled and it was the first real smile Jason had seen since he brought him here.
[Your computer. I can be your eyes and ears and track things. I can help.]
“Like my own personal Oracle?” Jason mentally hit himself for saying the name. He expected the tensing and paling, but it never came. In fact, Tim's smile got wider and he nodded. Well, that was interesting. Oracle did not set anything off in Tim.
“I have been working on a new system...” Tim was grinning now and Jason sighed. “Fine. If you can get into my network, you can help.”
[I'm already in. I've been in for days.] Jason glared and Tim kept grinning.
~*~
The only reason Jason wasn't mad at Tim for hacking into his network was the fact Tim pointed out all the flaws in Jason's security. Jason was good at many things, but coding and computers were not at the top of the chart. Tim was simply amazing at both those things and Jason allowed to him be in his more nerdy element.
Jason told Tim about the case he was working, a drug ring with a dirty cop that sold to kids. It would need some bulletproof evidence to get the cop locked up, and the guy was being a bit tricky. Jason didn't tell Tim about the other case he was working on. He wanted to make sure everyone who had been involved in hurting Tim was taken care of.
“Hood!” Red Hood couldn't help but smile under his helmet as a gaggle of prostitutes came jogging up to him. The first one to reach him threw her arms around his shoulders in a hug. He didn't return the hug, but he pat her side. “Girls, this is the Red Hood! He's the guy that got our block back! Hood, these are some new girls. They'll tell you anything you need to know.”
And they did have good information to share. The dirty cop had a habit for a drug that his ring didn't supply. The girls didn't know who he got it from, but there weren't many suppliers in the area. One of the younger, but not too young, girls mentioned the dirty cop was a little too rough and Hood made a note of it. He wouldn't mind being a little too rough back.
He thanked the girls, then started towards his next destination.
[Really? Hookers?] The text rolled across his vision and it was still taking time to get used to this type of communication.
“I wouldn't have found you if I didn't talk to them. Be grateful.”
~*~
Stakeouts were boring. Jason was sitting on a roof ledge, his helmet sitting beside him. He couldn't smoke with it on.
He was swinging his legs childishly when his phone began to vibrate. That made him raise his brows. No one should have this number to even be able to call him.
“Hello?”
“Jason.” Ah.
“Babs.” Of course she would be able to find his number, if she really wanted to. “What do I owe the pleasure?” He actually had a soft spot for the redhead, so he could kind of be civil.
“I want to talk about Tim.” He should have guessed.
“Uh-huh.”
“How is he?” Jason rolled his eyes and he knew Barbara knew that.
“Safe.”
“That isn't what I meant. I know he's safe. How is he?”
Jason debated hanging up. He didn't really want to talk about Tim to anyone else. First off, it wasn't his place to do so, and secondly, he hated feeling gossipy. But then he remembered that Tim hadn't flinched when Oracle had been mentioned.
“He's dealing with it.”
“With what?” Jason groaned.
“Not my place to tell. He'll talk when he wants to.” A statement that meant more than Babs would realize. “You usually hack into my frequencies when you want something. Calling is new.” He wouldn't bother asking how she got the number.
“Tim kept me out of your helmet. Take good care of him.”
“I am.”
“Good night, Jason.”
“Night, Babs.”
~*~
Jason stopped counting how long Tim had been staying with him. He only knew that they had been in the safe house too long and it was going to be time to change soon. He brought it up to Tim as he put groceries away and the younger boy just nodded. It looked like Tim had every intention of moving safe houses with him.
He and Tim made a pretty good team. They brought down the dirty cop and all those involved with him, and had done a few more cases. Having Tim behind a computer was actually really useful. Jason just wondered when Tim would leave the safety of the computer.
He had at least started to work out again. He couldn't do much, with his leg still out of commission, but push ups and upper body training was what he focused on. Jason knew that Tim had to be fit to be Red Robin, but had forgotten how fit Tim was, since the boy had almost constantly been hidden under the giant hoodie that Jason had given up ever calling his own again.
Jason was caught up in a laptop puzzle game and didn't notice the creaking of the floor stop as Tim finished his work out. He did notice when a phone dropped into his view and he messed up his game. “Ugh! Tim! You could just tap me on the shoulder or some shit! You fucked me up!” He slammed his laptop shut and read the message.
[I want to watch the lunar eclipse tonight. It starts at 2.]
“Okay? We have roof access.”
[You can't see it from the roof.] Jason turned to look at Tim. He was covered in sweat, and his getting too long now black hair was stuck to his forehead. Tim was going to be lucky. Most of the cuts he had received were not turning into scars. Jason didn't know if the wound on his neck would scar. Tim kept it wrapped in a bandage still.
“Okay, well, I can't change the trajectory of the moon. I'm not that good.”
[We could go somewhere else to watch it.] Jason raised his brows. Not only was Tim willing to leave the apartment, but he assumed Jason would miss patrol to go with him. Jason hadn't been looking forward to patrolling with a lunar eclipse. The crazies came out even more.
“Do you have someplace in mind?”
~*~
Jason never would have thought to go to the docks to watch the eclipse. Maybe that is why Tim was considered a genius.
Jason wouldn't actually admit it to anyone, but he was having a good time. Tim could not walk to the docks, and his cast didn't really work well with Jason's bike, so it ended up with Jason giving Tim a glorified piggy back ride. Jason ran along rooftops, and jumped, and used his grappling hook, all while Tim clung to his back and grinned like an idiot. Jason could tell he missed flying, and to be honest, Jason kind of took it for granted.
They ended up on the roof of a warehouse. Tim sat on the ground, with his legs outstretched, while Jason sat behind him, on a crate. Jason had noticed, as he dragged the crate over, that Tim had seemed really tense. While it was his idea to watch the eclipse, Tim was still anxious about being outside. Jason thought about it a moment. Tim had been tense on their own roof until Jason picked him up onto his back.
Tim felt safe with Jason.
So Jason plopped the crate right behind Tim, sat, and threw his leg over Tim's shoulder. Tim tensed even more, then realized it was Jason's leg. He relaxed. Jason felt a faint brush against his pant leg and knew it was a silent 'thank you.' As awkward as he knew it looked, sitting with his knee resting on Tim's shoulder was pretty comfortable.
Tim got out the snacks he had brought along, because of course he brought snacks, and the pair settled down to try and have a relaxing evening.
But nothing ever went as planned.
Jason snickered at Tim's newest question. “No, I don't think Superman ever goes to the Moon to watch a terrestrial eclipse. Only you would be nerdy enough to want to do that if you could survive in space.”
Tim was typing up his next question when it happened. A whisper of a cape and the crunch of boots.
“Jason?” Jason turned his head. Batman was standing at the other end of the rooftop. Tim had already stilled. The Bat stepped forward. “Tim?”
Tim turned to peek around Jason and Jason knew what their ex-mentor saw. Tim's hoodie did not hide his neck at all. The bandages were easily visible.
“Tim!”
Tim was gripping onto Jason's leg hard enough to leave a bruise, and shaking as hard as Jason had ever seen him shake. He had lost all of his color. Jason kicked into action in such a graceful and elegant way, he would have put Dick to shame.
Jason had Tim in his arms and off the rooftop in a matter of seconds. Tim didn't even start, just buried his head into Jason's jacket, trembling and making gasping noises. Jason refused to try to figure out whether or not Tim was crying.
On a normal day, Jason was faster than Bruce, but now he was slowed by an added 100 pounds and had lost the ability to use one of his arms. He needed to hold Tim up somehow. He ran as hard and as smart as he could. No leaps he couldn't make without his hook. Nothing that would involve a hard roll to recover from.
Tim was shaking and gasping in Jason's arms, but he couldn't comfort the boy. He needed to focus on getting them away from Batman. He knew where he could go, but he just had to get there. He could hear the running behind him, only one set of footsteps. Either Robin was not present, or was setting up an ambush. He hoped it was the former.
For whatever reason, probably Tim's safety, Batman did not try to force Jason to stop running.
Tim must have looked over Jason's shoulder, because he let out a horrible sob. He was crying. Jason tightened his grip on the boy in his arms. They were so close.
“Tim.” Jason's voice was ragged. He was running too hard to talk. “Tim, do you trust me?” Tim wasn't responding. “Damn it. Babybird!” Tim did look up at Jason, with tear stained cheeks, and trying to breath, but he was looking at Jason now. “Babybird, do. You. Trust. Me?” Tim gave a tiny nod. “Hold on tight.”
Jason used his shoulder to bust open an old door, then raced towards another room. The second it took to break down the door was a second closer Batman got.
Jason adjusted his grip as he ran. He needed to do this perfectly or he could kill them both. He busted open another door, spun, wretched open another door, and went through.
He could feel the heat on his back as they fell through the chute and into the cellar. The room above had been one of Jason's nests, and he had triggered the explosives around the room when he had opened the door that hid the escape chute.
Jason stumbled as they landed, but kept a hold of Tim. No thud beside them meant Batman had not gotten to Jason's escape plan.
It didn't mean he wouldn't find a way down here, so they needed to move fast. There was a hidden door in the cellar that lead to the sewers. That could take them back to the apartment.
Jason was glad he had all these random explosives set up around the city. They were starting to become very handy.
~*~
Tim was still shaking as bad as before when Jason finally laid him down in the bed. Jason was able to remove his jacket before Tim was clinging to him again. He looked down at the mop of black hair buried into his chest. He couldn't understand why the sight of Batman did this to Tim.
He slowly sat himself on the bed and tried to get comfortable as Tim curled on top of him. Jason gently gripped the back of Tim's neck. “Shh, Babybird. I got you. You're safe now. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you.” He kept repeating variations of that line as Tim sobbed into his chest well into the morning light.