Leradomi: Request granted. :) Glad you liked the story so much!
guest (Guest): I was able to create another chapter for this so far, this one involving Nightwing. :)


Family Reunion

Jason wasn't quite sure that breaking into his brother's apartment was the best idea.

I mean… who even has this kind of security?

He knew that since Dick was a member of the Bat-family, that it was only natural to protect what was yours. He vaguely wondered why anyone hadn't linked the fact that Nightwing was really Dick Grayson yet.

I mean, if he just enters and exits the same place, and someone followed him back here, wouldn't it be easy to figure out who he was?

He could say the same thing about him and even Bruce, although Jason had always tried to think of different ways to get back to his apartment. He tried to make it harder in case anyone followed him but he doubted that his brother had done the same.

I guess he just doesn't think to…

He knew that Dick wouldn't be back for a few hours, so he decided to scope out the place so more. You never knew when your brother's place would come in handy…


Just as he had thought, it had taken Dick three hours to get back, making him think that crime was low tonight in Blüdhaven. Surprisingly enough, it also took him about a minute to realize that Jason was there.

"Who's there?" Dick asked, although he was still in his Nightwing persona with Jason being in his own outfit as well. He really knew that he should get a new one eventually but that could wait for another day.

It's not like Gotham's going to change in one night…

"No one important." Jason stated as he stepped closer to the light that was emitting from the light from the ceiling.

His voice was still disguised by the mask that he wore and he was pretty sure that his brother had no clue he was. He noticed the subtle reach towards the escrima sticks that his brother had near him at all times, especially during patrol.

He probably keeps them with him at all times, even when he isn't Nightwing…

He held up his arms, showing that he was unarmed, his guns still in the holsters.

"I mean no harm." He began and he knew at that moment that he meant it. It wasn't Nightwing's fault for what he had become, more so the Joker's than Bruce's even. "I just want to talk."

His brother leaned against the wall, supposedly taking a relaxed position but Jason knew better. It would just be easier for him to be attacked if he let his guard down or tried to attack Nightwing. His brother folded his arms across his chest before giving Jason a pointed look, mask still on his face.

"Then talk."

This is where things get complicated…

Jason bit his lip; the little nervous tick that he had developed seemed to refuse to go away. Despite knowing that his brother couldn't see his face, he still shifted a bit in nervousness. Nightwing's eyes narrowed at this and Jason knew that his brother was analyzing his every move.

The way he used to do in training, the way he does to enemies and even friends…

He shook his head briefly to clear it before focusing his gaze back on his brother, the pain building again. It felt like if he didn't do something, then he would explode.

But I can't just say "Hey I'm back from being 'dead' and have been plotting Bruce's death and the whole reason Gotham is in ruins is because of me" can I?

He figured he might as well start with the simplest way of letting his brother know he was alive, by removing his mask. He started to lift his hands towards his face, intent on taking the red mask off before seeing Nightwing tense, the escrima sticks now in his hands and ready to be used. He paused before shifting his head a bit.

"I just… I'm just going to take it off, ok?" He stated, watching Nightwing nod in confusion.

Well of course he wouldn't understand. Secret identities are supposed to be kept a secret for a reason.

Jason quickly clicked the release button that was on the back of his mask, before removing it with shaking hands. He had closed his eyes, not wanting to see Dick's reaction at first before he opened them and viewed his brother with his own eyes for the first time in years.

"I don't think you hitting your brother with electric escrima sticks would be very nice, do you?" He tried for sarcasm but it only came out a whisper before he was looking back at the ground, nervousness making his stomach tighten.

Nothing was said for a few moments, making Jason wonder whether his brother even recognized him, before he was enveloped in a hug. His eyes opened wide in surprise before he tried to look over at Dick's expression. He noticed that his brother's mask was now lying on the table that had been near where he had been previously.

"Jas(1), is that you?" Nightwing- no Dick- asked and Jason couldn't help roll his eyes in embarrassment, like so many times he had before.

"Does the fact that you're not stabbed prove anything?" He asked and Dick let out a watery laugh, before pulling back to look at Jason. Jason couldn't help but wonder if this was real.

I mean… I expected him to be in denial…

Dick's expression turned to one of confusion and Jason couldn't help but remember the J mark imprinted on his face. His brother seemed to be able to make him forget things like that.

Oh yeah… that…

"What happened to your…" His brother trailed off and Jason tried to shrug although he knew that Dick would be able to tell how tense he felt. He didn't like dwelling on the past very much…

"I'll explain in time."

He tried to pretend that it didn't matter much but Dick saw through that as well, his brother's face going hard before leading him to the couch and making him sit down. Dick was about to sit down as well before he must have realized that he still had his costume on.

His brother gave him an apologetic look while Jason shrugged before his brother slipped into another room. It only took about a minute for his brother to come back out, another product of training, this time in a pair of pants and t-shirt. His brother then sat down beside him and gave him an intense stare.

"Talk." He stated and Jason did just that, explaining everything that had happened since he had last seen Dick, which had been years ago.


Surprisingly enough it had only taken around two hours to tell his brother everything and by the time he was done, he felt emotionally unstable, another side effect of talking about the past. There were a few seconds of silence and he could tell that his brother was trying to process everything.

It's just like him… he analyzes almost everything before speaking…

"That… all happened in the last few years?" His brother asked, although he knew it was a lot to take in. Jason snorted before replying, leaning back a bit into the couch.

"Yeah, you think I'd make it up for fun?" He asked before instantly feeling regret at saying it when he saw a flash of pain go through his brother's eyes. He went to apologize but Dick held up his hand, stopping him from speaking.

"I know you didn't mean it." Jason sighed before sitting back, not quite sure what else to say.

What else is there to talk about?

"So… not that I don't enjoy you coming here but why did you come?" Jason felt a stab of indecision hit him, making him bite his lip. Truth was, he kind of hoped that Dick could have told him why, since he didn't feel like he had it all figured out yet.

"I'm… not sure…" He trailed off, his voice little more than a whisper. He didn't want to admit that he might have come here because of the whole 'family' thing but he was beginning to suspect that Dick already knew that that was the reason. His brother only looked at him for a moment before standing up and stretching.

"Well… I'm sure you'll have plenty of time to figure that out." Jason gave him a curious look when his brother smiled at him. "I mean… now that you're part of the Bat-family-." He cut his brother off at this by standing up.

"Whoa… who said that I was part of the Bat-family?" Dick only laughed a bit before replying.

"I did, just now actually." Jason leaned back against the post behind him and crossed his arms across his chest.

"Who said that I wanted to be a part of it?" He asked, uneasiness flowing through him. He wasn't used to being controlled and he sure didn't want to start that again. His brother only laughed before coming over and ruffling his hair, just like he had when he was younger.

"You'll want to be eventually so I'm extending the invitation now." Jason only sighed at this before moving a bit towards the window, to stare out it. There were a few moments of silence before he heard Dick sigh.

"Do you still remember what I said that night Jason?" Jason nodded before glancing back at his brother.

"Of course." He stated and then decided to mess with his brother. "Something about family and all that mushy stuff." He held back a smile when his brother sighed and leaned up against the wall, fake exasperation on his face.

"Come on now. You can't tell me that you forgot. We're family and we'll always-." Jason cut his brother off by finishing the sentence for him.

"-be here when you need us. Yeah I remember no need to drag it into my memory more than needed." His brother only laughed at this.

"Oh come on. That should have been framed it was so awesome." He looked back to see his brother's joking smile.

"So you're saying that I should have typed up, printed out your words, and framed them because they were that 'awesome'?" He asked, feeling a smile making its way onto his face. Dick only smiled at him.

"Yep." Jason rolled his eyes at this before turning back around to stare out at the slowly falling rain.

"I bet it would be in a golden frame." Jason stated and he could tell that Dick was giving him a confused look that he knew was fake as well.

"Why's that Jas?"

Jason turned back around to face his brother, the dreary rain forgotten for the moment.

"Because you're the 'Golden Boy'." Dick only frowned at this before letting out a laugh with Jason smiling a bit.

Things feel normal again even though they aren't.

He knew that this time they talked, things were reversed. It was Jason this time that had a distant and troubled relationship with Bruce with Dick being the one working side by side with the Dark Knight.

"You know you could come by the manor once in a while…" His brother started, his voice soft. "I'm sure Bruce and Alfred would love to see you again and I could introduce you to Tim…" Jason instantly felt his blood run cold at that.

"No thanks." He stated and Dick made a move towards him, probably figuring that Jason was going to leave. "I'm not interested in meeting the Replacement(2)."

Dick's face turned to one of confusion before it lit up in surprise.

"And I thought I was the one giving nicknames…" He whispered before his voice got a bit louder. "Tim's really not so bad; after all, we have a pretty good relationship despite the way we met, right?"

Jason winced at this before grabbing his mask and slipping it back on.

"Yeah well… I highly doubt it would go the same way…" He slipped the window open preparing to leave before he was stopped by a hand on his arm. He turned back towards his brother.

"You're not still going to use the whole 'Arkham Knight' name, are you?" Jason paused, wondering what he was going to call himself now. The idea hadn't even occurred to him, and yet he knew he couldn't just stop doing what was ingrained into him from childhood.

"I don't know yet…" He stated, still trying to think over it. First he had to change his outfit and now his name…

"What about Red Hood?" His head snapped around towards Dick at this and his brother let out a laugh. "It's because when you were younger I gave you that red and black jacket that had a red hood and-."

"Yeah, yeah I get it…" He cut his brother off, his face heating from embarrassment, making his brother laugh. His brother let go of his arm, allowing him to move away a bit. "I'll think about it." He stated before going off into the night.


(1) Even though it's spelled Jas, the pronunciation is 'Jace', something that I always thought that Dick would call him since he tends to be the one to make up nicknames.

(2) I'm not going to take credit for this nickname but it is pretty accurate. In most fanfictions that I have read on the Batman (comics) archive, people always have Jason call Tim 'The Replacement'. So whoever created that nickname, it's pretty cool.

So thanks to those who reviewed, I was able to create another part. Originally I was going to post it as a different story but then I figured I'd make it easier on you all by posting with 'Why?' I hope you all enjoyed it and have a great rest of the week! Please let me know what you thought!
-AnimeWolfGirl16