Tim fixed his eyes on the boy in the Robin costume sitting atop the Batmobile.
Who's the new kid, old man?" The boy asked. Bruce didn't respond. Tim studied the boy. His dark hair was wild, tanned skin marred with oddly bloodless cuts. His uniform was ripped and his mask was missing a lens. The most striking feature, however, was the cuts on his face, from ear to ear, a bloodless, gruesome smile.
"Tim." Bruce barked. Tim focused on Bruce.
"Yeah?"
"What are you staring at?" Tim looked back at the boy, who was now staring directly at Tim as he paced back and forth. Tim's eyes followed the boy's movements. His feet didn't touch the ground, just hovered about two inches above it. The boy walked- floated? But with the mechanics of walking- up to Tim.
"What are you looking at?" The boy asked, snapping his fingers under Tim's nose. Tim recoiled.
"Wait. Can you see me?" The boy asked hopefully. Tim shrugged. Bruce turned to Tim.
"Focus." Bruce said sternly. Tim's eyes flicked between Bruce and the boy.
"He can't see or hear me, no one can," the boy said," Except you, I guess... I'm Jason, by the way." Tim walked over to Bruce, who was filling out some League report on the Batcomputer.
"How will we begin, sir?" Tim asked the man. Bruce responded by jerking his head towards the track, a winding path that laced its way around the cave.
"Run." He said simply. Tim obediently began to jog around the track.
"Run." Bruce repeated louder. Tim picked up the pace. Jason was laughing as he ran-hovered?- next to Tim.
"Come on, Timmy! Faster! Let's go!" Jason called. Tim ran on, turning corners, his view of Bruce disappearing. Tim slowed to a jog.
"What are you?" Tim panted. Jason's smile fell.
"I was Robin."
"I know that. I just... I mean... Are you a ghost?" Tim asked, slowing to a walk. Jason shrugged.
"I guess. I mean... I never really thought about it, but... I can't leave the cave. I can't touch things, can't be seen, can't be heard."
Tim ran faster as he approached the final turn that would bring him back to Bruce. Tim stopped in front of the man .
"Well? How'd I do, Boss?"
"You started slowing down." Bruce observed.
"I got distracted. Some of the things in this in this cave..." Tim trailed off. Jason laughed.
"Bats, rock formations, ghosts, and, of course, the guy in the cape with the really cool car." Tim had to bite his cheek to keep from laughing at the phantom's commentary.
"Your stealth skills are... Adequate." Bruce continued. Tim smirked proudly. Bruce narrowed his eyes.
"You'll need to work on stamina. We'll start on combat tomorrow." Tim nodded.
"As for now," Alfred broke in," I believe Mister Drake should be heading home to ready himself for the gala, I have no doubt he will be attending." Tim smiled apologetically.
"I'm so sorry, Mr. Wayne. I can't come. I have," here Tim paused for a dramatic sigh, "Homework."
"It's summer." Bruce growled. Jason outright cackled, the cuts on his cheeks pulling apart slightly, allowing Tim to see flashes of bone-white molars. Tim shivered at the thought of the boy, not much older than himself, getting his cheeks split. Tim crossed his arms as he walked up the stairs, Jason trailing behind him. Tim pushed open the clock and walked through. Jason followed Tim outside. Tim looked up at the ghost, frowning.
"I thought you said you couldn't leave the cave?" Tim asked mildly. Jason froze and looked around.
"I'm out." He said disbelievingly. Tim grinned at Jason.
"So, what are you going to do with your new-found freedom?" Tim asked curiously. Jason froze. He visibly deflated.
"Yeah... I can't really do anything, ya know?," Jason said, "So, I'm just gonna hang around you."
"Why?" Tim asked, slightly concerned and mostly suspicious. Jason shrugged half-heartedly.
"It's more fun tormenting someone you can actually interact with." Tim rolled his eyes.
"Great... I went from 'ordinary kid' to 'haunted superhero-in-training' in less than an hour... Why is this my life?"
"Wow. These things are louder than I remember." Jason said from his place beside Tim. Tim gave the ghost-boy a sideways glance.
"What?" Jason asked defensively. Tim rolled his eyes. An older woman in a large hat approached the pair.
"Is that you, Little Timmy?" The woman asked peering at the boy from behind her thick spectacles.
"Yes, Mrs. Sullivan." Tim said respectfully. Jason frowned.
"You're being boring. I'm bored." Jason whined petulantly. Mrs. Sullivan patted Tim's cheek in a grandmotherly fashion.
"How are you doing in school?" She asked. Tim smiled, a touch nervously.
"It's summer." Tim corrected quietly. Jason laughed merrily. The ghost-boy walked behind the woman. He screwed up his face as he concentrated. Tim's eyes widened as Jason knocked over Mrs. Sullivan's hat. The hat hit the ground as Tim met Jason's triumphant gaze.
"I can touch things." Jason said in awe. Tim tilted his head. He knelt and picked up the hat and handed it to Mrs. Sullivan.
"I have to go ma'am; I see my mother." Tim excused himself hastily. The pair of boys made their way to the side of the ballroom.
"What the hell was that?" Tim growled softly.
"Awh! Come on," Jason said with an impish grin, white teeth flashing beneath split cheeks, "Don't pretend like you actually care what the old hag had to say."
"That's not the point, Jason." Tim caught sight of a familiar figure making its way toward him.
"Hello, Mr. Wayne." Tim said as he smiled blithely at the man.
"Tim! Glad you could make it. I hope you're not putting off homework for this." Jason cackled and Tim blushed.
"He's got you there, Timmy." Jason said between gasps of laughter.
"Of course not, Mr. Wayne; it's summer." Tim answered cheekily. Bruce's smile became more genuine and he chuckled. Jason's face suddenly became more pensive as Bruce clapped a hand on Tim's shoulder and moved along to talk to someone else.
"Jason," Tim whispered, " Don't." Jason just smiled mischievously. The phantom followed behind Bruce, reached forward and grabbed the man's wrist. Bruce jerked in surprise. He shivered as he looked around for who had grabbed him. Jason's hand phased through Bruce's wrist and returned to Tim's side. Tim was scandalized by the ghost-boy's behavior, but Jason was enjoying himself, laughing raucously. Tim brushed his hair from his face.
"Quit laughing," the boy growled quietly. The ghost by his side just laughed harder. Jason gasped for unneeded air.
"But, your face!" He howled. The ghost-boy's laughter slowly dwindled to light snickers. Tim leaned back against the wall, closing his eyes.
"Timothy." Tim' eyes opened. His mother had called his name. Janet was wearing her expensive, heavy, fur coat. It was time to go. Tim slunk to his mother's side.
"We're leaving. Never have I been more insulted." That was directed at an elderly gentleman who was looking at Janet, disgusted. Jason tilted his head.
"What happened?" Jason asked. Tim frowned as he followed his mother to their car.
Safely secreted away in Tim's room, the pair of boys, living and dead alike, were whispering quietly, as though to speak too loudly would summon their topic of conversation.
"Bruce has a League meeting tomorrow. You think he'll let you patrol with him after?" Jason asked. Tim shook his head.
"I haven't even started training with him for real. No way he'll let me out tomorrow. I don't even have a costume." Jason crossed his arms.
"Isn't it obvious? He's going to make you Robin." Tim flinched.
"But... You're..." he protested weakly. Jason scowled.
"Not anymore. I'm dead, remember?" Tim lowered his eyes.
"I don't want this. I never wanted this. I... I don't get much of a choice anymore, do I?" Tim whispered to himself. Jason's face softened a little.
"Yeah, he does that..." Jason said quietly. Tim scoffed.
"He pisses me off."
"He does that too." Jason said with a laugh, "But, just think, Timmy, you're gonna be a superhero." Tim rolled his eyes as he flopped down on his bed.
"My inner five-year-old is screaming for joy." Tim deadpanned. Jason chuckled.
"Go to sleep, kid. I'll see you in the morning." Tim rolled over.
"Technically, we're the same age." Tim mumbled into his pillow.
