Chapter 2
Jason argued, but Dick wouldn't hear it; Jason and the baby were staying at his apartment tonight. So while those two went back to the apartment, Dick went shopping (thank god for 24 hour pharmacies) for some diapers, a bottle, some baby toys, among other things before heading home to the apartment.
The first thing they really needed to discuss was what they were going to do with the boy. He didn't want to suggest it because he was Jason's son, but maybe it would be best to put him up for adoption; there was no way Jason could take care of a baby. And Talia had just taken off and it was always ridiculously hard to track her down. Besides that, it didn't seem like she wanted him (cold-hearted bitch) because she referred to him as an 'accident'. Not to forget to mention that, oh yeah, she took off.
Dick sighed as he dragged the bags up the stairs to his apartment, digging in his pocket for the keys. He turned the lock and kicked open the door, carefully, and made his way inside, closing the door with his foot. He made for the kitchen, placing the bags down before turning to the living room. And the sight he saw there, was easily the most adorable thing he'd ever seen in his entire life.
Jason was lying on the couch, one leg and arm dangling over the edge. The baby lay on his stomach, tucked beneath Jason's other arm, head tucked underneath the man's chin, the both of them sleeping soundly. Dick snickered at the sight, his first thought being 'aawww' and his second thought being 'jackpot' as he dug his phone out of his pocket and took a picture of the sight before him, making sure to turn the flash off so as not to wake them up.
But it got even juicier, and it was fortunate Dick decided to record a little bit of it, because moments later, Kaden started to whine and fuss a little and, still asleep, Jason shifted, absently tugging the infant closer to his chest and the child relaxed again, licking his little lips.
"Oh, this is going to make excellent blackmail," Dick said with a mischievous grin, tucking the phone into his pocket and retreating to his bedroom.
Dick woke the next morning to a loud, happy squealing sound and pushed himself up into a sitting position. He glanced out the window, the sunlight just piercing through the shades, signifying the first rays of dawn. With a yawn and a sigh, he rubbed the sleep from his eyes and slid out of bed, running his hand over his bare shoulder, then digging through his dresser for a pair of jeans, tugging them on.
He made his way out of the room and was once again, met with another painfully adorable sight. Jason was sitting on the floor, cup of coffee off to his right, playing with some blocks Dick had bought last night for the baby, setting them up and then letting Kaden knock them over, and every time he did, he squealed happily, clapping his hands and looking up at his father, waiting for him to set them back up again to repeat the game all over again.
"I see your morning is off to a good start," Dick mused, slipping past the pair of them and into the kitchen to get some coffee. Jason glared up at Dick, a glare that could probably kill even superman.
"This little 'bundle of joy' woke my ass-"
"Butt" Dick corrected. Jason flipped him off and continued.
"He woke me up at four in the morning, screaming his head off! It took me an hour to figure out he was hungry! What kid is hungry at four in the morning?!" Jason asked, pinching the bridge of his nose. Little Kaden babbled at Jason with the most adorable little frown when he took to long to set the blocks back up. Jason frowned at the infant and said "hey, hey, no need to get snippy, kid. Patience!" He set the blocks back up and Dick snorted.
"You telling someone else to be patient? That's a laugh!" Dick teased, earning another middle finger from Jason. Kaden chortled again as he knocked over the blocks again. Dick sat down on the couch behind Jason, sipping his coffee, Jason setting up the blocks again for Kaden to knock over. But he seemed to be done with that. Kaden crawled over to Jason's boosts by the door and grabbed one of them, trying to put it on. Jason snorted with laughter at the sight and Dick slapped his shoulder playfully.
"Better look out Jay, he'll be replacing you by the time he's six," Dick teased. Jason snorted.
"God I hope not," he replied, glancing at Dick out of the corner of his eye. The two of them watched baby Kaden carefully as the kid crawled back and forth across to the room, playing with whatever caught his attention, at least until he started crying again.
Dick jumped up first this time and grabbed the infant up in his arms, with Jason hovering over his shoulder.
"Ah, I see the problem. Or rather, smell it," Dick said, making a disgusted face. Jason could smell it too and it didn't take a genius to figure out the problem.
"Get me a diaper, would you?" Dick said, glancing over his shoulder at Jason as he gently laid the baby down on the couch. Jason moved toward the kitchen and dug through the bags for a diaper, tossing it to Dick.
"Baby wipes and baby powder too," he called over his shoulder, tossing the dirty diaper into the trash from where he was in the living room. Jason returned to Dick's side, handing him the aforementioned items.
"How'd you learn to take care of a kid?" Jason asked, quirking an eyebrow as he watched Dick re-diaper Kaden. The infant started kicking his little legs, laughing, and Dick picked him up and blew raspberry's on his stomach, the kids shrill laughter growing as his little hands grabbed tufts of Dick's hair. Jason just watched amusedly, amazed at how good Dick was with kids.
"Easy," he began, tossing Kaden in the air a few times "I've babysat for Roy a bunch of times. Lian's surprisingly well behaved for a two year old." Dick placed the child on the floor and gestured for Jason to sit down beside him on the couch. The two of them sat down and Dick sighed deeply before glancing over at Jason.
"Look, Jay, what I'm going to suggest...it's not easy. But I think you should consider-"
"No," Jason said immediately, getting up off the couch. Dick frowned.
"You haven't even heard what I'm going to say yet!" He protested. Jason snorted and sat down in front of Kaden. The infant giggled and reached for the man and Jason smiled at the boy, grabbing his tiny hand in his.
"I know what you're going to say, and the answer is no. I'm not giving him up or adoption. He's my kid, so I'm going to take care of him," Jason replied without looking up at Dick.
"He's my son, I'm not just going to abandon him. I'm not going to be my father," Jason said firmly, turning to look Dick dead in the eyes.
"I've made up my mind. I'm keeping him. You can't change my mind."
"How are you even going to take care of him?! You don't have a job, and your vigilante life...well, let's face it, it's dangerous as hell!" Dick argued, getting to his feet. Kaden looked up at the two of them, lip quivering, frightened by the sudden outburst, and he started to cry. Dick cursed under his breath and knelt down in front of the boy, picking him up and rocking him gently.
"We're sorry baby, don't cry," he crooned. Jason sighed angrily; he couldn't believe Dick would suggest adopting his son out! What the fuck?!
"Look, Jay, maybe we should at least drop by the manor and see what Alfred and Bruce think?" Dick asked, turning his attention over at Jason when Kaden stopped crying. Jason raked his hands through his hair and paced through the room a little bit.
"No. No, they're going to suggest the same thing. There's absolutely no point!" Jason snapped back. Dick shushed him, so as to keep Kaden from getting scared again.
"There is a point! Don't you think they deserve to meet him? I mean, Bruce raised you so he's practically Kaden's grandfather-"
"Technically, Alfred raised me," Jason pointed out. Dick shrugged his shoulders.
"Okay, I'll give you that. He raised all of us, Bruce included, but you know what I mean. And he is Damian's half-brother," Dick pointed out. Jason stood there, wide-eyed, then scrubbed his face with his hands.
"Fuck! That means that little hellspawn is my...no! Not even going to go there!"
"Step-son?" Dick teased. Jason shot him a murderous glare.
"Don't even. I'll kick your ass out the fucking window." Dick laughed in amusement.
"Hey cool it with the language around the baby, would ya? Don't want his first word being...well, anything from your vocabulary. Right Kaden?" Dick asked with a smile. Kaden giggled, playfully smacking at Dick's face with a chubby fist as he started babbling at him.
"Pfft, I could use hand gestures instead if you'd prefer," Jason retored with a sly smirk, flipping the older man off.
"Real mature, Jaybird," Dick teased, sticking out his tonuge. Jason sighed and took Kaden from Dick's arms and laid him on the couch, grabbing some clothes off of the coffee table and started dressing him in a pair of little jeans and-
"A superman t-shirt? Really? You're such a fucking nerd," Jason teased, pulling the shirt on over Kaden's head. Dick snickered and slapped him upside the head.
"You're just jealous of my style." Jason made a mock gagging noise.
"Go choke you ass," Dick said with a laugh. Jason grinned at him.
"Language, Dickie-bird," he mocked the older man from earlier.
"God, you're such a brat!"
Dick drove them all down to Gotham, Jason riding in the passenger's seat with Kaden sitting in his lap. They weren't able to get a car seat last night since everything was closed, and, go figure, the pharmacy didn't have one. They stopped at the story an grabbed one, putting it in the back before they headed to Gotham however. Fortunately, Kaden slept for the whole thirty minute drive, and the extra ten it took to get to the manor.
By this point, Jason seemed somewhat nervous as they pulled u to the manor, leg bouncing, fingers tapping on his knee.
"Relax, would you? It;s not like he's going to-"
"Batarang my face?" Jason asked, quirking an eyebrow. Dick laughed in amusement and leaned over to press a kiss on Jason's jaw. The two of them turned when they heard Kaden giggle.
"Oh, you like it when Dickie kisses momma," Dick teased.
"You ever call me that again, I'll plant your face through the windshield," Jason growled, a hint of tease in his tone. Dick laughed and stuck his tongue out at him. They hopped out of the car and Jason retrieved Kaden from the back seat before them made for the manor. Alfred had apparently seen them coming before the door opened and the butler was standing there waiting patiently.
"Good morning Master Dick, Master Jason. And who is this?" Alfred asked, bowing down toward the baby and patting his head. Kaden stared at him almost in awe but when the man patted his head, he giggled and reached for his mustache. Alfred chuckled in amusement, pulling back at the last second.
"His name's Kaden. We'll explain shortly. I'd rather only do it once," Jason answered. Alfred gave a curt nod and gestured for them to follow him inside. Jason felt increasingly nervous as they drew closer to Bruce's study. It wasn't so much because he'd slept with Talia (especially knowing Bruce had feelings for the woman) as it was apprehension that he might suggest the same thing Dick had. Or...and he knew Bruce would never do this to him, that the man might use his substantial influence to take Kaden away from him.
It seemed odd that he was so attached to the boy despite only having literally met him only hours ago, but...Kaden was his kid! And honestly, he kinda liked the idea of being a dad, not that he'd ever say that out loud. Though once he expressed his interest in keeping him, that probably wouldn't matter anyway.
"Master Bruce, Master Jason and Master Dick are here to see you, and they have a-" Alfred glanced back at little Kaden, who was playing with a strap on Jason's jacket "surprise for you."
"Come in," Bruce called through the door. Alfred pushed the door in and Jason and Dick made their way inside. Kaden's sudden shrieking laughter must've caught his attention because he immediately looked up from his work.
"What's going on? Whose that?" Bruce asked. Jason sighed deeply. This was going to be awkward.