A/N: So, it's been ages since an update on any of my stories as I've been travelling for the past month or so. I'm back now and will try to update everything as soon as possible.

Also I have just created a tumblr so feel free to follow if you have it as I am new to it and followerless atm :) .com

Chapter two.

Jason tried not to look too impressed as they pulled into the cave. Although the secret entrance and giant penny made that difficult. "Holy shit, how do you pay for all this stuff" he exclaimed as he followed Batman towards the large computer setup. "You must be pretty rich to keep all this goin' huh?" he laughed as he continued, "you Bruce Wayne or something? Haha can you imagi-"

Batman stiffened mid step as he walked in front of the boy not daring to turn to look at him. Had the boy already known? No, it was impossible. Well, if he was really doing this – taking the boy in – then he would find out his identity soon enough anyway. He was about turn and take off the cowl, revealing that the boy was right when Jason began cackling behind him. "Fuck! You are, Jesus, Bruce Wayne is the guy runnin' around Gotham in tights makin' everyone piss themselves." Bruce sighed as he pushed back the cowl turning to face the laughing boy.

"Yes, and watch your language. Just wait here while I change an-"Jason interrupted.

"Wait, wait! Does this mean I get to live in your mansion!" He seemed to think better of that question and quickly carried on. "I don't have to though, I could uh... I could live here in the cave that would be, pretty cool too, I'm not scared of the bats or anything y'know."

Bruce looked at the boy, did he really think he would make him live in the cave? "Of course you can live in the mansion." Bruce found his own mouth twitching into a smile at the grin the boy gave him. Before he could say anything else footsteps echoed on the stone steps leading to the main cave area. A look over his shoulder confirmed that it was Dick descending the stairs. Bruce scrubbed a hand through his short hair and tried to give a reassuring smile to the young boy in the tattered red hoodie stood before him. Jason didn't look particularly reassured, if anything, he looked more apprehensive as he saw who was joining them.

As he descended the stairs Dick schooled his expression into what he hoped was one of mild curiosity. He briefly wondered if he should return to the main house as he was dressed in his civilian attire but, seeing that Bruce had the cowl pushed back he continued towards his mentor and the scruffy child with him. Bruce turned to face him blocking the boy slightly. "B? What's going on? who's the kid?"

Bruce made the necessary introductions assuring Dick in a low voice that he would explain later before asking him to show Jason to the bedroom next to his. Jason shot him a worried look, "I just thought you'd like to clean up before dinner." At the mention of a meal the younger boy perked up immediately, Bruce was glad that Jason didn't argue about cleaning up. It was obvious from the smell that as well as teaching her students the finer criminal arts Ma also didn't encourage personal hygiene, for Jason anyway. He supposed that if he had been squatting in an abandoned building in crime alley for God knows how long he would smell too. He gave both boys a smile before shooing them upstairs instructing the older boy to find some clothes for Jason and introduce him to Alfred.

Jason followed the perky older boy up the stairs and through what appeared to be a door but turned out to be a big clock. Which was pretty awesome if he was honest. He tried to school his face into something less impressed as he looked around the large foyer on the other side of the clock. The other boy, Dick noticed that Jason had stopped and turned giving him a bright smile. "It's amazing right? I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it." he gave Jason a considering look, "It can seem pretty intimidating at first, the big rooms and all the expensive stuff. You'll get used to it though, the place feels practically cosy now". Jason just shrugged he didn't want the older boy to know just how right he was, this place was a million miles away from crime alley and he wasn't so sure a street rat like him belonged there.

The clothes Dick gave him were a little big on Jason's scrawny frame but they were soft and warm and clean. Which was, Jason determined, the best feeling ever. The room the older boy had left him in was larger than the hole Jason had been living in for more than a year. Although he had accepted the clothes and the chance to take a shower he balked when Dick suggested he leave his clothes outside the room when he changed so some guy called Alfred could throw them away. Dick finally gave in after a continually heated argument, Jason was not letting these people disappear his clothes. Wayne might be the Batman but Jason wasn't so naive as to let them trick him into losing his own clothes. He didn't own much but he kept what he did have close. After the shower Jason felt amazing, he hadn't been this clean in months and the bad smell that had been following him for weeks seemed to have gone and been replaced with fresh lemon scent from the shower gel.

Jason couldn't quite remember which way Dick had taken to get to his room but the smell of food was wafting along the hallway and he figured that if he followed that he would eventually find the dining room. Who needed a whole room just for eating in anyway? When he found the room Wayne was sat at the head of a long table with Dick to his right. A dignified older man was dishing up food from large platters at the sideboard. Jason's mouth watered at the light and he felt a growing rumbling in his stomach. Wayne turned hearing his approach and gave him a smile gesturing for Jason to take the seat on his left opposite Dick. The older man was introduced as Alfred, the freaking butler. The old man greeted Jason politely as he filled his plate with steaming mashed potatoes, vegetables, chicken and gravy. He did however raise an eyebrow when he caught sight of the smelly bundle of clothes the boy clutched on his lap.