Notes: So, Liveandletrain prompted me for some Jason/Tim/Damian falling into Young Justice right after the events of invasion. Some discussion lead to a longer story than just that so here's the first chapter where the boys appear in Young Justice and are not very secret about their identities (Yes, we're totally rich kids who can be ransomed for money).
Chapter 1
The Zeta announced his arrival. He gave the team a couple of minutes to adjust to his appearance before he walked into the large room. Outside the large windows he could observe space and the Earth. With the cave destroyed because of Dick's scheming, the Justice League had decided to share the Watchtower with the team.
Nightwing had yet to decide if this was a good thing or not. However, he was here for a reason. He just had to check the progress Batman was making on coming home from the trial and then leave. A simple in and out.
It was never simple. The team, instead of leaving, seems to all gather where he wanted to be. They only gave him quick, disgusted glances before continuing their conversations in quite tones.
"Nightwing," Robin greeted him quietly. Nightwing gave his little brother a small smile. He knew Robin found it difficult to be around him after everything. He was selfish and appreciated the little bit of attention Robin gave him. The kid was too nice.
"Why haven't we removed him yet?" Lagoon Boy commented to Blue Beetle.
"That's not nice," Blue Beetle said. "Nightwing was a foundering member."
"So? That doesn't give him permission to walk around like he owns the place. Especially when he has no place in this team."
Robin frowned at them but was too timid to say anything. Lagoon Boy was free to think what he wanted. Robin knew however, that Nightwing was the best. He deserved to be here the most.
"Nightwing," Batgirl greeted sadly. She had noticed the change in Nightwing's demeanour over the past few weeks. She knew he was morning the loss of his best friend.
"Batgirl," Nightwing responded icily. Three days until the League was back. Until Batman was back. He would have to tell Batman all about his screw ups.
Before anyone else could say anything else, the room shuddered. Robin instantly had a weapon in hand, moving closer to Batgirl and Nightwing. Bart, now Kid Flash, was a second behind him, blurring across the room to stand just behind Robin. Beast Boy shuddered and turned into a wolf, growling at the empty air.
The empty air warped into a whirlpool.
"What is that?" Lagoon Boy asked.
"Stay on your guard," Kaldur responded, stepping closer to the other Atlantean. Everyone was on guard. Things had only just started settling down after Wally vanished, presumed dead after the events of the invasion a few weeks ago.
Tigress stepped forward with Black Canary right beside her. They were the two standing the closest as three figures came tumbling out of the distortion.
The biggest one landed on top of a skinny young man while a kid dropped into a roll, stopping at Black Canary's feet in a crouch.
"Ow," the young man moaned, shoving the big guy off and pulling himself to his feet. He held his head in pain.
"You're useless, the both of you," the kid said, pulling out a knife and glaring at Black Canary.
"Who are you?" Black Canary demanded to know, arms held at her side but ready to attack. "And how did you get in here?"
"Here?" the big guy questioned, looking around. He cursed. "We're on the Watchtower. Great."
Tigress frowned and stepped forward. She bent a little and shoved her face right up close to the young man, who stumbled back a little.
"You look like Timothy Drake," she said.
"What?" Robin questioned, looking at the young man. He could be him... if he was older and had neater hair.
"That's because he is. And he's Damian and I'm none of ya business," the big guy said, shoving Tim back and stepping between him and Tigress.
She just glared back, hands on her hips.
"How did you get here?" Black Canary demanded to know again.
Damian clicked his tongue and turned to Tim. "Well? Get us out of here?"
Tim ignored Black Canary's question and turned to himself. As his gaze travelled up and down, Robin felt himself blush a little under the scrutiny. Did his future self think him stupid? Did he hope to forget this time as Robin?
"I think I know which time this is," Tim said. "2016, correct?"
Robin nodded, looking awed.
"Oh, please," the big man said, waving a dismissive hand in Tim's direction. "We're surrounded by computers. It's hardly impressive that you managed to pull a date of one. Or off Tigress' presence here."
"Just the team's presence in general," Tim countered. "After all, the only time we were in the watchtower was in 2016."
Damian snorted and did some impressive flips with his knife. No one could tell if he was trying to be intimidating or if he was just bored.
"How did you get here?" Black Canary demanded to know again.
"They look well off," Lagoon Boy. "Like those rich people from cartoons."
"Cartoons?" the big guy seemed offended by that. "Whatever." He grabbed Damian by the wrist before he could slice Black Canary. "Be good brat."
"Quiet, Todd! I'll do as I like. These children are hardly League material and if she defends them, then I'll defeat her."
"Whatever brat," Todd said, rolling his eyes. Robin and Batgirl shared a baffled look. They both noticed his resemblance in appearance and level of patience to their deceased friend.
Tim started to explain, hoping to keep them from putting the pieces together. "We were in Gotham, at a gala of Bruce Wayne's when the ground opened up-"
"More like, some criminals got their hands on some fancy toys and thought using them on the 'heir to the Wayne fortune' would achieve something," Todd interrupted, pointing a thumb in Tim's direction.
"Anyway, I happened to be standing near Damian-"
"And both of you stood there like statues as you got sucked in."
"Shut up. At least I didn't get sucked in because a ten year old grabbed my jacket."
Jason adjusted his jacket self-consciously. "Sorry I was standing near you, then. Now we're stuck here."
"Could you stop?"
"Stop what?"
"Making commments. No one cares about your commentary."
"Please, my commentary is the most entertaining thing about that story. Everything else is just another Monday."
"It was Saturday night, Todd. Are you really so stupid you didn't know the day?"
"Are you really so dull that you don't even notice a joke when it punches you in the face?" Todd added.
"Please don't actually punch him in the face," Tim said, running a hand over his face. How did Dick handle this?
Jason lead the way as Black Canary escorted them to the 'guest rooms'. They all knew they were being lead to a room which locked from the outside and was monitored by a camera.
In other words, they were being arrested.
"I hope you find these accommodations acceptable until we can arrange for you all to be sent home," Black Canary said diplomatically. She closed the door and their trained ears picked up the beep of the lock sliding into place.
"Why don't we just break out already?" Damian demanded to know.
"Because they're our best chance of getting home," Jason Todd pointed out. He walked over to the large bed and claimed it as his own by bouncing onto it and proceeding to lounge and relax into the soft mattress.
"I don't know about that," Tim said. "Do you really want to deal with Batman? Or Nightwing?"
"Nightwing? He was hiding in the corner, like we couldn't see him," Jason huffed. "I doubt he'll be much of an issue."
"Really?" Nightwing questioned through the intercom. A moment later, the lock beeped open and he walked in with Robin behind him. "Not much of an issue, am I?"
Robin looked them over, Jason especially.
"What are you staring at?" Jason demanded to know.
"Have you heard the name 'Jason Todd'?" Robin said. Nightwing held him back as the excited kid wanted to step closer to Jason.
Damian snorted, making a comment about how Todd would be stupid enough to not recognise his own name. Tim sighed and shook his head, apologising for their bitter words.
"It seems we react with harsh words whenever things don't go our way," he said.
"Oh, like Bruce!" Robin said.
All three heads turned to him. He looked at his shoes, face heating up in embarrassment as he tried to figure out what he had done wrong.
Jason turned back to Tim. "You were a strange kid."
Robin's head snapped out to watch Tim's reaction. The words hadn't even been directed at him and they hurt. However, to his wonder, his older self just shrugged.
"Better than boring. If I wasn't strange, I wouldn't have had the chance to be Robin."
Nightwing smiled down at Robin as awe grew on the young hero's face. His little brother was going to grow up strong. He was glad for it.
Nightwing also looked over to his other little brother. Jason grew up well for someone who was robbed of his chance to grow naturally. This, he decided, was better than the image he held in mind of Jason underneath the cold dirt. More sarcastic and harsh than little Jason this big Jason might be, but he was alive.
"I'm glad you're alive," Nightwing said to Jason with tears pricking his eyes.
"What?"
"I'm glad you're alive," Nightwing repeated for the baffled young adult.