To Steal a Rose

by Ephy

In fairy tales, Stockholm syndrome doesn't exist… But then, this is Gotham. Do you really believe fairies are *nice* here? -Jason Todd/Lex Luthor, Dick Grayson/Bruce Wayne. Like a fairy tale, part1.

2. Prince Charming at the rescue

Chapter 2 – Prince Charming at the rescue

It happened rarely but sometimes, there were days where no aliens attacked any city in the US, no major natural disaster happened, no plane crashed, no villains tried to rob banks, no women fell from rooftops. Days where Clark could quietly stay at work and write articles while drinking a cup of mocha.

Then the phone rang. Clark was good at ignoring it, most of the time, but at work that only got him glares from either Perry or, worse, Lois – so he took the call.

"Clark Kent, Daily Planet."

"I need you in Gotham, now."

"Hi to you too, Bruce. How are you doing today?"

"Jason is alive."

Clark almost dropped the phone.

"What do you know?"

"He just called me. Alfred, do you… Ah, a phone booth, at the corner of Davis and Park Lane, it is just next to the…"

"I know the place, I'm on my way."

Clark was already leaving. He still heard Bruce, back at the manor, whispering.

"Please bring him back home."

That made him run faster, not even giving an excuse for leaving the office. He never really managed to understand Jason Todd, who was, admittedly, the worst Robin Bruce ever had. However, Clark had never wanted him to die, just hoped he would improve over the years.

Besides, losing him had broken Bruce in a way Clark had never imagined possible. Only Tim's arrival had brought the ghost of a smile back to Bruce's lips. When he, too, had died…

Wait a minute. If Jason was alive…

He was already arriving at the crossroad. He hadn't taken the time to change so he stopped well above the ground to make sure no one would see him, and listened. For several minutes, he heard nothing special, only cars and generic people and no Jason Todd. What if his voice had changed too much? What if he didn't recognize him?

What if he didn't talk at all?

"Get the fuck out of my way!"

That was him! Clark dropped on the ground, blurring to the road where the argument took place. A car was honking at a truck in a one-way street, its driver cursing at the window.

"I don't give a damn about whatever you need to do in here, move!"

No doubt, it was Jason.

Clark stopped at ground level, hoping no one had seen him arrive. There were only warehouses on both sides of the street and the truck driver was too angry at Jason to look around, so the risk was thankfully low.

He went right at the car. The teenager saw him and tried to engage reverse gear to get out of the street backward. Clark gripped the handle, holding the car. The tires squealed on the asphalt. It was quite a good car, Clark noted; the handle groaned but didn't break.

"Hello, Jason", he smiled. "It has been quite a while."

The glare had not changed, but gave him the opportunity to notice Jason had grown during the months he'd been missing. Apparently, he had not been dead at all. What the hell happened to him?

"Go to hell, Clark", Jason spat at him, killing the engine at last.

"My apologies. Bruce insisted that you should go back home and required my assistance in finding you. I can call him and wait for him with you if you prefer…?"

If Jason had been a kryptonian, Clark would have had a red hole in his skull by now. Since he wasn't, Clark merely kept smiling at him until he got out of the car.

"So. Are we walking or what?"

"Shouldn't you park the car…?"

"He didn't intend to get out of the street, did he?"

Clark frowned, but didn't push the point. If Jason was willing to follow – or at least not to fight him… Not that he had kryptonite on him, but still, Clark didn't want the kid to break a bone by punching him.

Bruce wouldn't take it kindly. Especially so soon after his long-lost son came back from the death.

And Alfred would stare. Disapprovingly.

They walked to a parallel alley under the truck driver's curses. Clark heard him open the door to follow them and didn't leave him enough time to see. He just grabbed Jason and flew away, arriving at the manor in a flash.

Jason coughed.

"For Christ's sake, can't you at least warn when you do something like that? And let me down. I'm not a fucking princess."

"And here I thought you had grown so much elegance."

That made Jason snort – a positive reaction at last. Clark let him slide out of his arms and started knocking at the door. It opened before he could finish to Alfred's worried face.

"Master Clark?" Then he saw the kid. "Master Jason!"

Jason had the decency to wince.

"Hello, Alfie."

The butler stayed pale, but nodded to him.

"It is good to have you back."

His manners seemed to shake Jason in a way Clark had never seen any scream work. Hell, he hadn't even flinched that time a thug had broken his wrist. It had been so very Bruce-like that Clark had taken thirty solid seconds before realizing a kid had been hurt.

He remembered how mad Jason had been when he'd taken him out of the field to Alfred's good care.

"I'm not stayin'", Jason grumbled, but his tone was not very convincing.

"The hell you aren't."

Jason tensed as Bruce's shadow appeared at the door. It was rare to hear him curse at all, especially when one of his kids was there, but Clark supposed the circumstances were exceptional enough.

"You ain't deciding anything for me", Jason growled – and it was an actual growl, Christ, the kid's voice had become much deeper in those few months.

"I am. You are staying."

Bruce joined them on the steps and, for a second, Clark thought Jason was going to punch him. Then Bruce surprised them all by pulling the kid against his chest in a warm, inextricable, desperate hug.

"You're alive and I'm never letting you go again", Clark heard him whisper, low enough for him to doubt even Jason had caught the words' meaning.

The kid looked stricken. Then, tentatively, he pated Bruce's back.

"There, there. I'm okay."

His tone was only half-mocking, so Clark counted it as a win.

"Shall we continue this reunion inside?" Alfred suggested firmly. "Master Richard will be arriving soon. He left Blüdhaven ten minutes ago."

Bruce didn't exactly tensed at those words, but he… flinched, too quickly for anyone but Clark to see. Clark frowned. What had happened this time?

"Tea will be served in the library", Alfred concluded.

Bruce released Jason but kept a hand on his shoulder, obviously not wanting to let him go. The teenager frowned without departing from him.

It looked like they were doing alright, thank God. Between those two, things could be as good as they could turn bad. Bruce being Bruce, he often overstepped Jason's too sensitive boundaries. And yet, they'd been amazing partners on the roofs, understanding each other without needing to talk.

Bruce only achieved this miracle with his Robins, in the strict context of the Mission.

Which was why Clark was still there instead than giving them some privacy. Once Dick would arrive, Clark would let him play referee and go back to the Daily Planet. He had, after all, some explanations to give to Perry for leaving so suddenly.

"Did you at least start to move your ass to find Tim, too?" Jason was asking, because quiet couldn't last.

"We are on it."

Jason looked at Bruce.

"You knew he wasn't dead, didn't you? Twice isn't a coincidence. Shit. I could have not called."

"I am glad that you did."

The teenager rolled his eyes.

"You lost a Robin, buhu. You found a new one alright. And Tim is… a good replacement, I guess", he admitted reluctantly.

Bruce froze at that. Then looked at Jason intensely.

"If you could replace family, I would have bought myself new parents years ago."

Clark forced himself to stay still. He was only there in case they started throwing things at each other. It was not his place to intervene. But, damnit, Bruce…

Jason didn't seem moved at all by the confession.

"You could try with full-scale wax dolls. We'd put them on the sofa and talk to them. Ah, wait… With our luck, they'd soon be haunted by some poltergeist. So that's probably not such a good idea in the end."

Clark was going to punch this punk into next room. Before he could, Bruce snorted.

"Quit behaving like a teenager, Jason. Also, you had to warn me it was Luthor."

Jason shrugged.

"Right."

At that point, they were interrupted by Alfred bringing tea, cookies and some sandwiches. Jason and Bruce started talking strategy. Clark settled in an armchair, a hot cup in his hands, not giving any input even if he supposedly knew Luthor better than they did. If they wanted his opinion, they would ask for it.

Christ, Tim was alive too, and that was wonderful news! The kid had been a balm on Bruce's wounds after Jason's supposed death. He was such a bright, sunny child…

Someone was parking a bike in the yard – Dick. Clark put his cup down. Bruce noted the movement but, instead of relaxing, he tensed. Something had happened between those two and the hell if Clark wasn't going to find out what. Last time they'd fought, they hadn't talked to each other for months and Bruce's temper had been even worse than usual.

Clark didn't intend to let things become that bad again. Especially now that Bruce has his Robins back. The last year had been hard enough on him.

Then, Dick entered the room.

sososo

Since he had become Robin, Jason had been jealous of Bruce and Dick relationship. Of course, when he arrived, they were mad at each other. The few times they crossed each other's path had been all cold, freezing business. However, everyone knew how it had been before. Batman and Robin, the Dynamic Duo.

Jason had known, since the beginning, that he would never be up to that. He could become Batman's sidekick, not his partner. He could be Robin, but would never be Dick Grayson. He'd thought someday, Bruce and he would make peace with each other, and Jason would then become superfluous.

They did made peace, but Bruce didn't kick him away, and that had been one of the best days in Jason's life.

When Dick entered the room, he felt the same freezing cold he had when they'd been at their worst.

Jason looked at Bruce who, of course, was about as expressive as a gravestone. Aaaalright. What the hell did the airhead do this time? And he didn't mean Dick. Though the first Robin really was one when Bruce was concerned.

Unfortunately, this time, Dick had something else to concentrate on.

"Jason!"

"Oh for Christ's…"

Jason didn't get to finish: Dick hugged him so hard he squeezed the air out of him.

"You idiot, you're fucking chocking me!"

"I don't care", said the older man in his neck.

Hey, there were almost even now. He had grown during his seclusion.

"If you don't let go, I'm going to make you."

"You just try."

"Could you please refrain from breaking any furniture?" Alfred commented in his usual sarcastic tone. "Master Richard, maybe you would like some tea as well?"

Dick sighed, defeated, and finally stepped away.

"Yes, thank you."

"Well I guess I'm going to go back to Metropolis", Clark suddenly said, and wasn't that too early.

"Yeah right, just do that", Jason mumbled, pissed.

Clark ignored him entirely and greeted Dick, Bruce and even Alfred because hell, why should he ignore anyone else in the room? Jackass.

"I will have to come up with something to tell Perry for my sudden leave, Bruce, would you mind…?"

"Giving you an interview? Well, maybe not today, but…"

"No, of course not. But tomorrow? Would that be too soon? I know you'll be busy looking after Tim from now on…"

Smiling bastard, of course they were going to look into Tim. Not that Lex would do anything to the kid – and if he did, if he dared to hurt him or fuck him, Jason was going to personally take care of his murder. And he didn't mean that figuratively.

"No, no, tomorrow should be fine…"

Anyway, Lex wouldn't because he wasn't entirely nuts, so Tim was going to be alright. Just locked in. Damnit, Jason had to free the kid so Robin would be laughing on Gotham's roofs again. He wished he'd seen him dance in the night at least once. He ought to accompany him on patrol sometimes when Tim would be free.

The thought was… appealing. But to do that, he would have to stay at the manor and really, he didn't want to be around Bruce for any length of time. It didn't go well the first time around and the hell if he was going through that twice.

"Alright, see you tomorrow then!"

He watched Clark leaving. The room fell silent as soon as he was gone. Alright. The situation was that bad.

Jason didn't even try to be subtle. He turned to Bruce.

"So what did you do? Did you, punch Dick? Killed is cat?"

Bruce tensed to hard Jason might as well have shouted at him. Dick got up, ready to defend daddy Bat like the good boy he was.

"Stop it Jason. It isn't any of your business."

"Am I not supposed to stay here because we're all a happy family? Then it is. And don't defend him, idiot, he ain't worth it."

Bruce suddenly rose as well. Then walked out of the room because, of course, feeling was what any responsible adult would do in the same situation.

Jason rolled his eyes and turned to Dick.

"So what did he do?"

"As I told you…"

"Did he kill your dog? Nah, you don't have one. Did he finally fuck Babs?" That made Dick twitch. "Ohh, I see I'm close. Wait. Don't tell me."

"Jason" Dick growled.

They were all good at this in the family. Jason took a second to really look at him and saw the lines of tiredness on Dick's face. He was tense, as tense as Bruce had been when he'd left. Things were bad. And Bruce couldn't have fired him: Dick wasn't Robin anymore and he sure as hell had nothing to say to Nightwing. That meant it had been personal.

"Holy shit, he fucked you."

Dick froze. He could do that as damn well as Bruce. Except Jason never let himself be impressed by that trick.

"Are you fucking insane? And that's recent, too. Wait, was it because of Tim…?"

"Fuck off, Jason!"

That's why he loved his family.

"Tim it is, then", Jason concluded. "You idiot. And he ignored you and backed off because it's The Right Thing to Do. And you let him?"

Dick ran a hand on his face, looking even more tired than before.

"We both needed some comfort…"

"I'm not saying you shouldn't have fucked him, dude." Hell, Jason wished he had managed that. Bruce was… Bruce. No Robin could be indifferent to Batman. But hey, he had known only Grayson could get to him, had he not? "Why the hell did you let him go afterwards?"

Dick didn't answer, uselessly trying to look as stone faced as Bruce.

"Seriously", Jason insisted. "You should stop sacrificing yourself for him, dickhead. He doesn't deserve it."

"As if you wouldn't have done exactly the same, had you been there instead of me."

Jason glared.

"Once again, that's beside the point. Fucking him yeah, which Robin wouldn't? Well, Tim, maybe, he's still a bit young and innocent and all. But letting him give you the cold shoulder afterwards? Fuck. You do deserve better."

And God knew that was difficult for him to say something like that to the Perfect Boy – who apparently didn't agree with his title.

Dick looked at him intently.

"Are you telling me I should seduce him?"

For Christ's fucking sake, he was going to strangle him.

"I'm telling you you already did, moron!"

Jason might have well have slapped him. Apparently being slapped around was a common occurrence when one was Dick Grayson.

"Don't you ever say that."

Maybe he should actually hit that pretty face. That might not solve the situation but at least Jason would feel better.

"What, the truth?"

"Don't be stupid…"

"Fuck you, Grayson. Just… Shit. How can you be that bad at understanding him when it is about you while being the only one who understands him at all the rest of the time?"

Dick actually laughed at that, though it was a bit forced.

"It seems to me you are doing quite well on that regard yourself. I don't think I ever got him as well as you do."

Jason shrugged.

"We are more alike. Maybe. Which is why I'm telling you this again: do not let him push you away. Especially not now that he admitted he needed you."

"He would have fucked anyone. He needed comfort, warmth, not me."

"He needed so freakin' much comfort that it had to be you." Jason smirked. "Or possibly Kent."

Dick opened wide eyes at that.

"Clark wouldn't…"

"Of course he would not, he ain't entirely stupid. Contrarily to you, apparently. But since you did this, since you got him to do this… now is your time to fight, pretty boy. Don't miss that damn opportunity or next time, someone else will be there to comfort him." Jason snorted. "Not that I intend to die anytime soon."

Dick looked at him again, longer this time, wondering. Jason frowned.

"What?"

"Thank you. I'd never thought you'd help me on this."

Jason shrugged.

"Well, you know. Being away gave me some perspective."

Considering Jason had gone through all the stage of need and wanting to kill Bruce, it was kind of an understatement.

"Did it?" Dick sounded doubtful. "So. How did he treated you?"

Dick tried to be detached but Jason could see the worry he was hiding. That was kind of surprising. They had never got along that well. When they had met, Dick had been enraged that Bruce dared to give his name to someone else, and Jason… Well, let's not go back on that jealousy, mh?

Strangely, he didn't feel half as jealous now. Maybe it was because he had met Tim. He knew he would never become The Robin, now.

"It was alright. I couldn't go away but I had books… hey! Don't laugh!"

"I wouldn't dare", Dick grinned.

"Yeah, right… So he showed me some robotics. It was kind of fun."

Here it was, the disapproving frown. Jason couldn't care less. He'd never needed anyone's approval – he'd learn way too soon that he'd never get it.

Except perhaps Bruce's. Which he didn't get, either, so, that proved it.

"Let's go join him", Dick finally said. "He must be in the Cave."

Alright, no more let's-share-our-feelings moment that evening. That suited Jason who was already filling sticky with sweetness.

"Where else?" he snorted, following his elder's lead down the house.

The rest of the evening was spent on plotting the new bird's release – and perhaps, a bit, their revenge on Luthor.

sososo

Clark closed his notebook and smiled.

"So, Bruce."

He had arrived at 1PM, knowing they would have been strategizing during the whole night but nevertheless determined into conducting the interview Bruce had foolishly promised him the previous day.

Why had Bruce thought this would be anything else than an ambush?

"Do you have enough to satisfy Perry?" he tried to interrupt him.

"More than enough! But you know, I would like to ask you something…"

Bruce grunted.

"I need to go back to the Cave."

"Oh so you're going to talk to Dick at last? I heard him go downstairs about an hour ago."

Bruce froze. Then, it was about Dick, this time? He took a few seconds to master his rage. That was none of Clark's business.

"I don't give a damn about you thinking you're the only person in the world to care about him, Bruce."

Clark was stepping on the line and he knew it, as he'd just pointed out so well by himself. Which meant Bruce had entirely the right to turn around and leave him there.

"Oh no, you're not going to run."

Bruce glared. What was he going to do, physically forbid him to get out of the room?

"Please don't make me melt the keyhole. Alfred would be mad at me."

That almost got a snort out of him. Almost. Clark was still putting his nose in something he shouldn't and the hell if Bruce was going to let him. Goddamned journalist.

"I'm your friend, you know? I'm not pushing just to get some juicy news."

Was he done reading his mind?

"I didn't get that one, would you mind thinking a bit louder? … Just kidding, Bruce. J'onn would have spotted any telepathic power I'd have. I am as spiritually aware as a teaspoon."

"Did you just quote a fantasy children's book?"

"I was talking about my possible mental powers, not my emotional range. And don't try to change the subject."

Why didn't glares work on him? They worked on everyone else. Even Diana knew when to back off.

"Alright", Clark suddenly said, admitting defeat. "I won't ask any question."

Then he looked at Bruce and waited. Bruce twitched. No. No, he wasn't going to let that happen.

"If you think I'll start to talk just because you stopped pushing…" he started warningly.

Clark smiled.

"I'm not going to", Bruce insisted. "That has nothing to do with you."

Clark kept looking at him, wordlessly. Bruce decidedly went to the window to admire the perfectly kept garden. Summer made it beautiful, with well-kept flowers flourishing between the alleys.

They both stayed there for some time.

Clarh was going to tire. Bruce knew how persistent he could be but, seriously, they both had other things to do than to just stand there. Saving Tim, for one. Jason insisted he wasn't in any danger but the only thought of him being Luthor's prisoner made Bruce reconsider every oath he'd ever sworn about not maiming people on purpose.

The man had taken his children away.

Clark's insistent gaze kept weighting on him. Christ, Bruce could not even think about his abducted pupil.

"Are you still there?" he gritted between his teeth.

"I just want you to know I would listen. You know. If you do want to talk."

"I won't!"

"Alright, no need to be angry…"

If only his eyes could fire kryptonite…

Some more minutes of silence. And now Clark wasn't just looking but also listening.

"It only happened once", Bruce said before he could catch himself.

"Only once?"

"The night we found Tim's corpse."

That would shut him up. It didn't miss: Clark darkened.

"We will find him. You know my powers, I hope you do take them into account during your brainstorming. I haven't been intruding, but…"

"Luthor knows your powers as well as I do. He would have prepared against them."

Clark didn't answer to that. He also didn't go back to the topic he wanted Bruce to talk about. Which was actually worse.

Bruce had thought Jason gone, then Tim, for a terrible second before his brain decided that couldn't be it, it had to be a trick.

Thankfully, his brain had been right. But it might as well have been wrong, and then…

Then he would have been left alone, with only Dick. An estranged Dick, like the first time he'd had to push him away.

His chest contracted with pain. The mere idea was intolerable.

"It was mistake", he whispered, more for his sake than Clark's.

"Then you will let things as they are."

Clark's voice was pointedly neutral. Bruce knew he disapproved anyway – and who gave him the right? It was easy to sit there and watch!

"You know that just avoiding him is not going to work."

"I'm not avoiding him", Bruce stated. "He's in my house right now."

"Because you found out Jason was alive yesterday. When did you plan to tell him you were going to retrieve Tim by yourself and invite him to go back to Blüdhaven?"

Bruce had hoped Dick would have proposed that himself. Which was beside the point.

"You're aware he is not going to leave as long as Tim isn't there, aren't you?" Clark said. "Only a major crisis or a really bad quarrel with you… You weren't going to provoke him into leaving, were you?"

"What kind of man do you think I am, exactly?"

"One that would hurt Dick bone deep and pretend nothing happened."

Bruce clenched his fist convulsively not to break anything. Clark sighed.

"I'm sorry. I know he's family and that makes it complicated…"

"Yes. Yes, it is, and no, you don't know anything about it. Complicated doesn't cover it. If someday you find yourself ball deep into Kon then, maybe, you'd start getting it."

"Bruce…"

"He loves me, Clark! He's my son. And he loves me."

Clark put a hand on his shoulder. Bruce hadn't heard him get close, and it wasn't because the man was quiet.

Bruce realized he was trembling; he stopped with an effort of will.

"I will stay away from him. He'll be miserable for a while then he'll get better. And so will I."

The hand slipped away.

"Is it worth it? To stay alone?"

Bruce closed his eyes.

"You know very well that's not why…"

"You don't act like this not to hurt him, since you just admitted pushing him away would."

And he was back at wanting to break something. Possibly krytponian bones.

"I'm just saying you should take a good, deep look at your reasons, Bruce. Maybe they are not as right as you think they are."

How could Clark say that? Dick saw him like a father, or a mentor at the very least. He had been his ward for six years. He had been twelve when they'd met, Bruce was ten years older… How could any of that suddenly make sense just because he stopped to think about it?

"I mean it", Clark insisted. "Think about it. That doesn't mean you have to change your mind, but take some perspective."

And I'm sure you will, he didn't say out loud. Bruce heard it nonetheless.

"Very well."

Clark grinned, back to a perfectly fake joyfulness.

"Great! You know Bruce, sometimes, talking to you is a bit like to be in my dentist waiting room. I know I will feel better afterward but God I don't want to be there."

Bruce glared. The bastard had never had a tooth taken away in his whole life.

So maybe it meant this didn't hurt him, either.

sososo

Tim was bored. It sounded casual, but after several weeks of doing next to nothing, his brain idle, he was seriously starting to consider options. Such as opening his skull on the walls so Lex would have to let him out – or, at least, Tim would become unable to feel the emptiness around.

He knew Jason had been released. The previous Robin had warned Bruce, probably as soon as he'd gotten to a phone. Tim really hoped Bruce wouldn't be too long.

"You're not being fair", Lex commented. "I'm keeping you company."

"For at least three hours a day, for which I'm grateful considering your busy schedule", Tim admitted easily. "It's still only three out of eighteen waking hours in average. Generally more, considering how little space this place offers."

Lex put a stone on the goban with his sharkiest grin. Tim smiled back, all cute and innocent, while deciding what move would expand best his territory.

Of course, this was just to manipulate him into liking Lex. The man shouldn't have bothered; Tim had always been interested in the supervillain's brilliant mind and couldn't help but to be thrilled at the opportunity to talk with him. However, liking someone didn't mean that person would ever be considered as above rules. Lex was losing his time.

Ah, well. They both enjoyed the games so Tim guessed that as long as he didn't point it out too loud, Lex would keep occupying a few hours of his days. God knew he needed it.

He was bored.

"You look a bit off, today."

"I'm bored."

"You're offending me. I won the last forty-six games, and you pretend to be bored?"

Tim sighed.

"I don't manage to concentrate. My mind feels too…" Blank wasn't the correct word. So maybe he should settle for… "anesthetized."

Lex certainly couldn't read people's thoughts but he sure looked at them as if he could. His eyes were an intense green, Tim noted. Less so than Ra's al Ghul, though, of course. The percentage of villains that had eyes of an uncommon color was really high, was it related? Most of them where metas, though, so it wasn't exactly a direct correlation. Lex's irises might have become greener because he used kryptonite that often.

"You've drifted again."

Tim winced.

"My apologies."

"I'd like to give you access to a computer but you'd be out in an hour and I intend to keep you for some time."

Tim nodded absently. Lex was too well informed to lower his guard despite his usual arrogance. He actually seemed to be more wary of intelligence than brute strength – which was wise.

Then again, Lex was used to fight against Superman, and who was stronger than that? If he could handle him, he could hand anyone else.

And even Kal El wouldn't be Superman without his brain.

Tim played a stone then pressed the stopwatch with a sigh. His time was almost entirely up.

sososo

Jason was definitively going insane. One would think being release would have helped. Instead, he kept felling oppressed and, this time, he had no cell to blame for it.

Moreover, the manor was creepy. It always had been, too big and too silent, but right now it was worse. Everyone was worried about Tim, himself included. By itself, that wouldn't have been a problem: it was just a case to solve. They were going to save him, eventually.

But Dick and Bruce were just being impossible.

They weren't communicating. And by that, Jason meant not even wordlessly, like any sane Robin learnt to do around Bruce. Whenever they crossed path, they just stood there coldly and talked strategy.

After several days of that, Jason had had enough. He'd stolen a plain black suit and his old bike, which Bruce had kept under glass – heh – and drove straight to Gotham.

Thank goodness for polluted air and clumsy thugs. He'd really needed to punch someone into oblivion.

Picturing Bruce's face on them helped.

"So, the prodigal son is back", Dick mocked as he parked his bike back in the Cave, three hours later.

"You might be able to stand this shit, I am not. Where's Bruce?"

"Taking care of a crisis with the Justice League."

Jason frowned.

"And you stayed here to hold the fort? Shouldn't you help with your own team?"

"He said he could handle it."

Did the idiot really pretend to believe that?

"You really want to avoid him, don't you?"

Dick shrugged.

"He should learn not to say that except if he means it. Also, someone had indeed to stay, to monitor Luthor's places."

"And obviously I was labeled incompetent", Jason pointed out, sarcasm dripping from his mouth like acid from the Joker's daisy.

Dick had the nerve to look annoyed at that.

"Officially, you're still dead."

"Bruce already ran all the tests he could think of, he knows I'm me. He could have announced the Big News to every paper on the planet days ago."

He just didn't trust Jason, as usual, and not telling people he was alive was a pretty effective way to keep him in. Damn the man and his need to control everyone. He wouldn't even admit that he did. Lex, at last…

Wait. Did he just think Lex, at last? What the fuck was wrong with him?

"Did you just bite a lemon?"

"Fuck off. Or no, tell me more about this crisis you're oh-so-not interested into."

Dick frowned.

"Don't joke around about that. People died. The League itself has been targeted."

"Superman? Please, tell me it was Superman."

That earned him a whack at the back of the skull. He let Dick go with it just because of the sense of normalcy it provoked.

And yet, it wasn't enough.

"Jason, what's wrong?"

Of course now would be the moment when Dick would put his head out of his ass long enough to notice something wasn't okay. Jason still didn't intended to share with the class.

"Birdboy. The crisis."

"Well, Superman isn't dead." Pity. "But Sue is. And Jean had been badly hurt."

Jason blinked.

"Who the hell… You mean Sue Dibry? Someone is targeting people we know in our real identities? What the fuck is wrong with you!? Why didn't you tell me sooner?"

"Because you're officially dead. You don't risk anything."

"What about Babs? Or the commish! If anything happens to them…"

"They've been warned."

"They deserve better than that!"

Dick glared at him then turned back to the console in a very Brucish movement.

"We have told them people close to us were targeted. You know how they reacted."

Jason sighed. Sometimes, having badass friends was a pain in the ass.

"Is she still laughing?"

"Not since I told her about Sue, she isn't."

"You're not going to have me in tears because of her, Dick. Sue married a superhero, she knew the risks."

Besides, Elongated man was a jerk. And no, Jason didn't get along with many people at the League, but who cared? Well. None of them deserved to have their close ones killed, either. They all needed a safe place, usually someone, to go back to.

However, Elongated man's wife? Jason was sorry for them but it could have been much worse.

"Lois Lane has received a menacing letter yesterday."

Than sure explained why Jason hadn't seen Clark around today.

"Doesn't she always? The woman is scary."

And as badass as Batgirl, as far as Jason was concerned. If someone tried to kill her, he wished him luck. She was more than capable to defend herself.

Yeah, Jason liked her. Too bad she lived in Superman's town.

"Maybe we should let them try her", he said out loud. "She's more effective than Kal El."

Dick frowned, probably about to put an end to Jason's banter – but the com suddenly pulsed red and both former Robins turned at the console to check what was happening.

"Gunshot at the Drake's", Dick stated, pale.

"But Tim isn't here! And he's supposedly dead, too!"

"Apparently, that didn't stop them. I have a visual."

A window opened on the top-left screen. A blond-haired journalist babbled something about Captain Boomerang having been spotted. What the hell was that guy doing out of Central City? Jason didn't lose time wondering and activated the trackers. A map of the city deployed on the top of the other windows. In Drake's street, the red dot localizing Batman was pulsing.

He might have arrived in time.

He might not.

Dick activated the com.

"B. Status."

That was Nightwing's voice of command. Jason ever only heard it in the com' on the very few missions Bruce and he had collaborated on with the Titans. He hadn't expected Dick's entire face to become as hard as his voice in such moments.

No doubt, he was a Bat.

They both waited a few agonizing seconds for Bruce's reply.

"A man down", came the harsh answer. "Captain Boomerang has been hit too", he added, like an afterthought.

"Help is on its way", Dick said, already sending an ambulance.

"No need." Bruce's voice was at its roughest. "Jack Drake is dead."

Technically, the sentence didn't echo. No drums underlined its weight.

Jason still felt like something had hit him, hard.

Tim's mother had died little after he had become Robin, he knew. And now his father? While he was away, in Metropolis or any other fucking place Lex would have him?

What is a goddamned curse?

"Are you heading home?" Dick asked, steady.

"I need to go back at the Watchtower first, to debrief."

"If you're not at the manor at dawn, I'm going to come and drag you back myself. Do you copy?"

Once a Robin, always a Robin. Jason poked the micro.

"He and I both. I would love to scare the hell out of everyone there while they're already that jumpy."

And if Dick's proposition was a comforting one, to force Bruce back gently so he could get some sleep, Jason's was a threat. If Bruce didn't want everyone to know he was alive, he'd better get his ass back soon. They deserved some private time between orphans to celebrate Tim joining the club. Maybe he'd give him a card, like, "the Orphan diploma" or something.

"Copy that", Bruce said, then turned off the com.

Dick casted Jason a glance.

"Well, it did work, didn't it?"

"It did."

They were Bruce's good little soldiers. When he came back at the Cave, four hours later, they were still reviewing the whole damn case.

Someone had killed one of their own. And was going to pay hell for it.

sososo

Dick felt tired. About half an hour ago, Jason had left them alone in the Cave to crash in his bed upstairs while muttering something about idiots, dizzy with weariness. Dick wished he could have followed.

But he couldn't.

He could see the day's weight on Bruce's shoulder, almost literally. Knots had formed with worry and grief. Not that any of them had liked Jack Drake – God knew Tim would have deserved a more attentive parent – but they knew. They knew how he would feel when he would learn about his father's death.

Damn. Tim deserved better than that, too.

"You should get some sleep", Bruce said.

Dick was very tempted to just look at him but Bruce wouldn't understand. Which was more than ironic, considering.

"I'm okay."

"It's late, you'll need some strength tomorrow…"

"So will you."

The Yes but I'm Batman remained untold. Thankfully.

They kept working silently. They had to find who hired Captain Boomerang and to put an end to the crisis. Only then would they be able to tolerate the idea of announcing what happened to Tim.

God, Tim…

A hand brushed his shoulder, then settled on it carefully. He hadn't heard Bruce getting closer. Hell, he wished he could just lean on him, like before. Just to curl under his cape and feel at home…

But it wasn't his place anymore. He was expected to be strong, to handle himself – and God knew he'd wished that to happen back when he was Robin! He'd wanted to allow Bruce to rely on him. What a fool he'd been.

Gosh, he really ought to eat some chocolate if he started sounding so depressed. Alright, his baby brother had been captured by a supervillain and just became an orphan. Wasn't this just like any other day in the Bat-world?

And now he sounded as cynical as Jason.

He put a hand over Bruce's, because he'd been still for too long. If he hadn't touched him back, Bruce would have felt rejected and would have tensed, and… They didn't need that right now.

To his surprise, instead of disappearing, the hand squeezed his shoulder. He glanced up. Bruce's eyes were intent, fixed on him, as if wondering.

"Hey, you're going to make me blush."

That didn't interrupt Bruce either.

"Seriously, you're staring. Do I have something on my face?"

And then Bruce bent and put his lips on Dick's. It took him several seconds to realize Bruce was kissing him.

Bruce was kissing him.

He considered backing off for at least two more seconds, stunned, before realizing Bruce was starting to flinch. Then he could just – grab him, like this and – kiss back, devouring his mouth, and get up to wrap himself around him and…

Bruce started laughing.

"Sorry. Sorry. I just feel like I've just given you water after a very long trip in the desert."

"If I was Jason, now is when I would punch you in the face."

Bruce groaned.

"Don't talk about him right now."

Dick grinned and arched to press against him. That earned him another groan.

The day after, they'd probably go their separate ways again, but the desert metaphor was a very good one. He couldn't refuse Bruce's touch any more than he could have water. He was starving for it. He'd been starving for it long before they'd fucked the first time but at least, then, it had been easier pretending, because he hadn't known how it felt.

Now, though….

Bruce's hands left his shoulders to cup his thighs. Hah, he hadn't realized he'd put his legs around his waist. That was a bit embarrassing… Oh. Oh, Bruce's thumb were massaging that very soft spot between his thighs and his buttock, and, god, in the end, he didn't feel embarrassed, at all.

He arched again, shameless. Then moaned, just in case Bruce didn't get the point.

"God…" Bruce groaned.

So he did get it. Good.

There was something satisfactory about how Bruce could carry his weight effortlessly. He still put him on the console – and took a step back. Damn it! Alright. Maybe that only put him half an inch away, considering how close they'd been the second before. But it was still too far.

"Shh, Dick, I… I just wanted to say…"

Bruce struggled to find his words. Dick took a good – internal – breath and braced himself. Silence lasted. Then some more. Dick raised his eyebrows.

"Yes?"

"I'm not good at this."

Dick gave him a few more seconds. He was starting to stir, he needed to… Well. Feel more of Bruce, or to get the hell away so he could cry himself to sleep, surrounded by chocolate wrappers.

"I know I haven't always been there for you… and… That's an understatement. But I've decided to take my responsibilities, this time."

Dick blinked. He wasn't going to talk about those stupid adoption papers again… was he? No. Not right after he'd put his hands on his…

Bruce was staring. He expected him to have understood… something.

"Bruce, I'm good at translating what you don't say but, right now? I need more hints."

The older man winced.

"Oh."

"Yeah."

"I'm doing it all wrong. But words, they're not my… forte. And if I just keep kissing you, you would assume something that isn't true."

Now what the hell did he mean by that? Something Dick would assume wrongly. Did Bruce dislike kissing him? Did he still see him like a son despite of hard-on Dick clearly felt against his leg? Did Bruce have this secret fantasy about Dick in his old Robin suit?

"No. I still don't get it."

Bruce sighed in frustration. How could one of the three leaders of the Justice League, who inspired awe and terror into most other members and frequently made speeches which people quoted be so incompetent when he tried to express any feeling whatsoever?

Wait a minute.

Dick stared in disbelief. No. Now, he was clearly assuming. And he shouldn't: he had gone down that road before and hell, how stupid one could be at 17.

"Yes", Bruce suddenly said.

"What…?"

"Yes, that's it. That's what I meant."

For the fucking love of all the mothers of all bloody gods in the world.

"Bruce. A sentence. Subject, verb, object. Now."

And if he didn't do that in the next few seconds, chocolate it would be. Tons of it. Bruce probably red that in his eyes, because he nodded.

"Alright. I would like us to be more than… this."

"More than what? We've seen each other twice in the last four months and I only came back because we found out that Jason was alive. Anything is more than nothing."

That hit home. Hard. Painfully. Good, because Dick felt like he'd been punched in the gut for the last ten minutes of that conversation. It was time to fight back.

Then Bruce started to turn around. Dick's stomach twisted because if he left now, he'd never go back to those feelings ever again, and fuck, he had interrupted him, he interrupted Bruce who tried to tell him something important, what had he done?

He extended a hand to grab – something – anything – and caught the edge of the cape.

It was so silly. He was standing there, in the Cave, grabbing that little bit of Batman's cape, a grown man silently begging. Like he'd begged him not to leave him alone when he was twelve.

That also meant something to Bruce because he stopped. And sighed.

"I hurt you so much."

"I've just done the same to you."

They just stood there, at cape's length, not-looking at each other. That's how they connected the best, which was fucked up. But who cared?

Then Bruce closed the gap between them. He put a hand on Dick's waist, the other cupping his cheek, and kissed him. No tongue this time, no passion: it was a soft, butterfly kiss, and Dick's heart was going to explode.

He pressed his lips, meeting the kiss halfway, barely daring to breathe. He felt Bruce smile and had to fight back a moan, because Bruce had kissed him, he'd kissed him and it wasn't because he was feeling bad or because he needed comfort, but because he wanted to have his mouth on Dick's. Dick's and no one else's.

And here it was, Dick was whining with need, and how stupid did that sound? But he'd needed this since he was fifteen and horny, since he was seventeen and desperately in love, since he was nineteen and aware of an empty gap in his heart the exact size of Bruce's shadow.

The hand left his waist to grab his neck. The kiss deepened, and God, Bruce was good at tenderness, he just discovered, but he was even better at passion.

At this point, there were back on the console, and Dick's legs where they belonged, around Bruce's waist. The cape draped around them, as it should, keeping the outside world at bay.

sososo

Dick's muscles were aching all over. They always did when he slept in the Cave. This time, at least, he wasn't bone-cold because of – he felt a jolt of joy at the thought – Bruce's body was warm against his back.

Then he realized he wasn't sleeping directly on the ground, but on Batman's cape.

He grinned.

"What the… Oh for fuck's sake!" Jason's voice was gravely in the morning, Dick noted. "Couldn't you two walk to a damn room!? Not that the view isn't amazing but, Christ, I didn't need to imagine the keyboard being all sticky."

Dick's grin widened. Jason pulled a face.

"You didn't actually do it at the console, did you?

"We didn't", Bruce said, not bothering to move.

If this continued, Dick was going to spread a muscle on his face, he was sure. Yet somehow, he failed to care.

"You two are disgustingly soppy", Jason complained.

"Someone is jealous", Dick singsonged.

Jason pretended to puke and opened the monitoring window. There hadn't been any major warnings during the night, only the usual handbag rubbings and a few minor muggings.

Bruce's hand laid on his stomach. Dick wished they had been sensible enough to drag themselves to a bed last night. And to lock the door. He didn't fancy being awaken by his little brother – stepson? this was going to be awkward – but Alfred would have been worse.

"Should the breakfast to be served upstairs, sir?" the butler's cultured voice asked from three steps behind. "Though you might want to take a shower before eating anything."

"Thank you, Alfred", Bruce said, absolutely unfazed. "The library would be perfect."

He kissed Dick on the neck, making him shudder, then got up. Dick remembered how he had been so hesitating and groping only a few hours ago, struggling to find the words. It was hard to conciliate that with that man perfectly at ease with being naked in front of both his father figure and his adoptive son.

Then again, he had nothing to be ashamed for.

And Dick wasn't precisely prude, himself.

"What's for breakfast, then, Alfred?" he asked, getting in his feet as well.

He draped the cape around him because one, he didn't exactly took the time to clean up the night before, two, no one should ever miss an opportunity to drape oneself in Batman's cape. Seriously.

Jason snorted.

"You performer."

"At your service."

Alfred frowned disapprovingly as Dick followed Bruce to the stairs. Costumes weren't supposed to get out of the Cave but apparently, he got a "better that than being naked" pass.

Bruce winked at him.

Jason was alive, Tim was alive, and Bruce just winked at him. Dick had never felt happier in his life.

sososo

"They what?" Babs squealed in the com. Then after a moment of silence. "And you don't even let Dick announce that to me himself? You little brat."

Jason was monopolizing the bat-computer and its super-comfortable bat-seat, feet on the bat-console and something he really hoped wasn't called a bat-keyboard on his lap. General advisory: never let one's 12-year-old sidekick name all if one's stuff. Bat-keyboard didn't sound cool at all.

"I totally get to tell you myself since I found them afterglowing in the damn Cave. I'm going to need years of therapy to forget what I saw."

"I might even believe that had I not saw you check on Dick's ass so many times."

"Did you see the ass he has?"

"Oooh yeah."

Jason snorted.

"Right, I guess I deserved that mental picture. Not a bad one, either."

"I hope you got a good imagination because you're not seeing me naked any time soon."

"Awww, and here I hoped!"

Babs laughed. Hell, he had missed that laugh.

"So, how are you doing?"

"You're aware I've been back for more than a month now?"

"I'm still not used to hear your voice without thinking I'm hallucinating, ghost-boy. Humor me."

Jason winced. Had he really thought not to tell anyone he was alive and just disappear? That would have served Clark alright, and maybe Bruce, too, the moron, but even if they'd never been close he liked Dick. And Barbara… She'd been the one ally he'd had, the one who never glanced down to him, who always was there to listen to him bitching when he'd needed too.

Once again, he'd call her to not-say how stupidly jealous he was of his damn I'm-always-the-first brother.

Which was really horrible of him, actually, since she used to date said brother. Several time. And he'd just dropped that bomb on her without warning.

Well, that way, they could bitch together.

"Want to come around to mope together?" She asked. "I've got ice-cream and really bad movies."

She was his friend for a reason, wasn't she? Jason considered the proposition.

"I'm supposed to be on monitoring duty. Also, your father doesn't know I'm alive."

"Fuck Bruce and his rules. I told him as soon as I knew."

Jason couldn't help but to laugh at that. And to love her even more. He and Jim Gordon weren't close but they'd met long before he'd crossed Bruce's path, and… Let's say he owed Gordon more than one. Like most Gotham's street rats.

"Alright, I'll be there in an hour. I have to convince Dick to take over my duty-time all the same."

"You sure he's going to agree?"

"Dude. Years of therapy, remember? Also, I know where are stocked the Cave's cameras feeds. Do you know how much I could sell those precious recording on the super-hero market?"

"Go do you thing, little punk. I'll be waiting."

Jason climbed the stairs grinning. Dick and Bruce just finished having breakfast – at 1PM but that was normal Bat-breakfast time. He barely slowed down at the library's door, his leather jacket in a hand.

"Where are you going?"

"At Babs', she invited me over. Dick, can I borrow your bike?"

"May I", Bruce corrected absently over his newspaper.

"Whatever. Dick?"

"You crash it, you scratch it, you're dead for good."

"Hey!" Jason protested, grabbing the keys. "I'm the one who get to make death-jokes!"

He didn't wait for their answer to slip out. He'd bought pop-corn on the road.

Driving out of the manor's gates felt liberating. Maybe Bruce had realized he was starting to turn crazy closed in, or he'd been too sex-fuzzy to care. Whichever. If fucking Dick gave him a pinker point of view on life, that might make everybody's lives easier – especially Jason's.

She had hot chocolate ready. Real one, not the cheap powder one. Jason was absolutely not ashamed to curl around his mug.

"Mhh, this is good."

"Alfred would felt betrayed."

"Alfred doesn't only make excellent tea. Sometimes, he even drinks coffee."

"And that didn't kill him?"

"The investigation about what could even just unsettle him is still ongoing."

They both grinned over their mugs.

"I missed you, brat."

"I would say that so did I, beautiful, but at least I had no one insulting me… Wait. Scratch that. Luthor was even worse than you."

She frowned.

"You're talking fondly of that jerk."

Jason winced. Shit. Did he?

"And you weren't doing it on purpose", Barbara noted.

Sometimes, he wished she wasn't that keen. He tried to find something to say – a joke, anything – but that was hard with her looking at him inquisitively.

"You're aware that he still abducted you. And Tim. It was for his own purposes. He manipulated you."

"Yeah well maybe I'm tired to everyone assuming I'm an idiot!"

Barbara opened wide eyes.

"I was kidding! I know you're not stupid, Jason, far from it…"

"Right. Just not a genius, like all of you."

"Dick isn't a genius", Barbara pointed out. "And Bruce might be one, but he's socially disabled."

Jason snorted.

"Looks like you are the only person around with both a brain and a heart."

"Well, there was Tim, too. Before Luthor abducted him."

He glared.

"I got your point, Babs. No need for a hammer."

"I didn't want to insult your intelligence, earlier, you know."

Jason shrugged. He knew. Besides, Barbara was used to be the smartest person in the room. That must have been hard on her when she'd been a kid.

"I mean it", she insisted. "You're not stupid. You're not even average. You know I wouldn't lie to you."

He knew that, too.

"Thank you", he said.

She sighed. He drank a few sips, the chocolate warm and comforting. There had been a time when he would have killed for a hot beverage and a safe place to enjoy it.

"What did he do?" she asked softly.

And for someone who cared. And who managed to actually show as much because sometimes, Bruce was just too much to handle.

"Nothing special. He's an arrogant jackass with no scruples whatsoever."

"He's been honest with you, then."

Jason frowned.

"I guess he has."

"What else?"

"He taught me robotics", Jason admitted reluctantly. "And let me play with his things in one of his workshops. Android hands, stuff like that."

She could be as blank as any bat when she wanted, but Jason was used at deciphering the goddamn Batman. He could see she was impressed. And worried.

"He realized your potential outside fighting and helped you reach it", she analyzed. "He allowed you to archive something you specifically liked. Something no one else encouraged you to do before."

"Hey, we knew he's a manipulative ass."

She winced.

"Maybe I didn't realize how good he was at this. You want to go back, don't you?"

Jason opened his eyes wide. Then didn't say anything because… because he missed the workshop and the acid comments on his pride and mocking Superman in company.

"Shit. I'm going to kill him."

"We need to free Tim first", she remembered him.

"Fuck", Jason grumbled. "He made my chocolate taste like ashes."

She raised her eyebrows.

"Aren't you the poetic one, all of a sudden?"

"It's my brain. It got too big for my head, it's hurting."

"Sounds like a tumor, you should get that checked out."

Jason laughed. Ashes didn't taste that bad when one was in good company.

"Maybe my poetic tendencies come from frequenting a drama queen for too long. Are you aware of how much Dick can sulk?"

"God, only too much!"

Barbara was a true friend. She didn't push the matter about Lex – about Luthor for goddamn's sake. Instead, they bitched about Dick, about Bruce, about how hot they must be together, wondering about threesomes and rating super-heroes asses. Dick always won that one.

sososo

He wasn't at school. He wasn't at the apartment. He wasn't at the farm, nor at Kara's nor at the mall. Clark couldn't hear his voice or his heartbeat anywhere.

Clark was going to kill Bruce.

He stormed into the Cave, aware for his eyes slowly turning purple and not managing to care.

"Where is he."

Bruce's heart didn't miss a beat. Perhaps he would, when Clark would start strangling him.

"Where is whom?"

"Don't even start playing this game with me, Bruce. Where is Kon?"

"Bruce?" Dick asked.

Clark hadn't even noticed him, though he'd been sitting there the whole time. That he was there was a good thing. He was going to help putting some sense back into Bruce's mind.

Thank God Jason wasn't around. Clark didn't need more pressure on his control.

"I'm not going to hurt him", Bruce said at last. "Don't worry. I'll give him back to you."

"Yes, you will. Right now."

Bruce set his jaw stubbornly. Dick was looking at him, then at Clark, fazed. Then he got it.

"Did you just kidnap your best friend's son so you could pressure Luthor?" he yelped.

"Tim has been gone for four months. He needs to be freed."

Clark knew what Bruce implied, that Tim should be told so he could mourn his dead father. He didn't care.

"Because your pupil is going to be miserable is not a reason to detain yet another kid!"

"I explained the situation to Kon", Bruce said. "Though he was doubtful that ploy would work on Luthor, he entirely agreed we should try."

"Even ignoring the fact that you talked to him about this behind my back, he is mentally fourteen. He doesn't have the maturity to take such decisions!"

Bruce raised his eyebrows at him.

"But he has enough to help saving the world on a monthly basis?"

"That's not the point!" Clark exploded. "You should have asked me, out of friendship if nothing else!"

Bruce started at him, his eyes cold and hard. He didn't care, Clark realized. He wasn't interested in having worried him. He just wanted Tim back and didn't stop at silly things like other people's feelings.

Then Dick put a hand on Bruce's arm and the coldness melted away. The teenager was frowning.

"I actually agree with Clark, you know? Though I do want Tim to be freed. What were you thinking? That he wouldn't have agreed, had you asked him first?"

Bruce pursed his lips.

"He isn't known to show much common sense regarding how to handle Luthor. Especially when Kon is concerned."

Dick casted a quick warning glance at Clark. Let me handle this, it said. Clark decided to trust him – not because he felt like Dick would succeed but because the alternative was to shake Bruce until he'd give him Kon's location, which wasn't a solution at all, because he wouldn't talk even if Clark punched him into a pulp.

Which wasn't going to stop him if he didn't get Kon back very, very soon.

Dick glared at his mentor.

"Stop pretending to be more obtuse than you really are, Bruce."

"I am not going to release Kon as long as Tim is still…"

"Yes, you are", Dick interrupted. "And you're going to apologize to Clark, too."

Hesitation was blatant on Bruce's face. Dick turned to Clark.

"You, now."

Clark blinked. Didn't Dick say he was right? And he was! His son had just been kidnapped, whatever the reasons, he had the right to have him back!

Dick still walked to him, ignoring Bruce's hand who tried to grab his arm. His face was hard, his beautiful features frozen in stone. That unsettled Clark even more than the contradiction.

"You will have Kon back and we will have to wait for a year or something, for Luthor to release Tim. Happy?"

"This is not how it's going to happen!" Clark protested.

"Isn't it? It took him eighteen months to release Jason. He is the most intelligent human being on Earth. He knows your powers, he knows how Bruce's mind works. Do you really think we will be able to find Tim? We've been working on this for months and we don't even have a lead."

Sometimes, it was easy to forget who Dick was. His easy, smiling nature hid skills that most humans wouldn't ever reach. He was the Titans' leader, he had been one of the very first superheroes, certainly one of the youngest, and he would always, always be a Bat.

"Thank you for trying to guilt-trip me into abandoning charges", Clark commented sarcastically.

Dick grinned.

"Did it work?"

If Clark said no, Bruce would nod and tell him where Kon was, he knew. They wouldn't hold a grudge. They wouldn't tell anyone what just happened.

But Tim would stay in Luthor's hands for a few months, at best.

Clark sighed. And here was why everyone liked Dick.

"Yes, as you knew it would. I'd still like to know where he is, though."

"In a place he can easily get out of", Bruce replied.

He wouldn't apologize. Not right now, anyway. In a few years, maybe he might imply that he hadn't been entirely right that day. Before that, he'd give some unrequested help, or anything else that Clark would be free to accept as an apology or not.

And Clark would.

"You're a really tiring friend."

Bruce nodded, not looking directly at him.

"I would have said yes, you moron", Clark specified.

Instead of answering, Bruce walked back to the console where he'd been sitting when Clark arrived. In his mind, the matter was closed.

Clark and Dick exchanged a knowing glance, which make the younger man grin.

Then it hit Clark. Those two weren't tensed anymore. On the contrary, they looked like they relaxed even more than usual in each other's presence.

"Wait a second. Did you two…?"

Dick grinned, sunnier than ever. Warmth spread in Clark's body at this good news. Finally! They both deserved to be happy. They deserved to be together.

Perhaps Dick was going to change Bruce, at least a bit.

"Are you aware", Dick suddenly said, "that to have Kon back sooner you have to talk Luthor into giving Tim back?"

Clark froze. Then glared at him and his damn grin. Always, always a Bat.

sososo

There was something satisfying in hitting a punching ball repeatedly. Primal, but satisfying. It was the first tool Bruce had thought Jason to use to control his anger and, in the end, it was always the one that worked. Some people meditate – but meditating only made him angrier.

Bruce would say it was because he didn't do it right, of course, but fuck Bruce.

So, Jason punched. At least he didn't hit actual people so, it was an improvement, wasn't it?

"This exercise is pointless."

See? Never happy. At least Bruce didn't start explaining how Jason had to improve his mind and how he shouldn't keep being so unbalanced and how spirituality wasn't entirely full of shit and so on.

So maybe he deserved an answer.

"It's not", Jason gritted. "Either I punch this, or I punch someone. Your choice."

"Then come and punch someone. Or try, anyway."

Jason blinked. He turned around to see Bruce smirking at him, taunting. Yet Dick was nowhere to be seen.

It was incredible how good that felt.

"Prepare to be crushed, old man!"

Jason went straight at him, then deflected at the last moment to take a hit on his shoulder. Bruce had seen it coming, of course, and dodged easily while kicking him in the gut. Or trying to. Jason was already moving, his elbow at Bruce's waist – but he twisted away, trying to sweep him down in the same movement.

Jason jumped away, grinning. God, he had missed that.

"I might be old, but you are rusty", Bruce commented.

"The hell I am!"

"Prove it."

Jason smirked. He had anger management problems alright, but he wasn't stupid! He came at Bruce carefully, his guard high – then, at the last minute, kicked him in three different places. Bruce deflected the first, took the second without a blink and dodged the last, catching Jason's ankle.

Jason let his upper body fall, catching himself on the hands, and contorted to do a scissor kick which took Bruce at the neck. That made him grunt, but it was too late: he had Jason on the ground. Instead of using his massive weight advantage right away, he twisted Jason's leg.

"Fuck you, sonofabitch!" Jason cursed.

Bruce twisted it more.

"What did you just say?"

"Nothing, you damn… ow, ow!"

Jason tapped the mat to surrender, eyes watery. Damn, that hurt!

Sometimes, Bruce wouldn't allow him to. He'd keep pushing and fighting until Jason had to hurt himself to break free. It was a lesson: in real life, you didn't get to surrender.

Thankfully, he didn't start that game this time and just let go.

"Rusty."

Jason glared. He didn't hope to be taken seriously since he was grinning at the same time but hell. He got up, dusting his pants with a movement of the hand – then attacked. Bruce was waiting for him, the jerk. He was always ready.

Unfortunately for him, so was Jason.

They fought for a solid hour without being interrupted. Bruce kept winning most of the time but Jason was satisfied he'd managed to hit him meanly a few times, even getting him on the ground. The man was a damn machine, though, and kept going even longer than he'd seen any android to.

Perhaps androids should be programmed with a reason to go on. That would made them much more determined to win.

Not that Jason was going to be near an android anytime soon, even less programming one.

"You're thinking."

Bruce didn't sound surprised but Jason knew he was nevertheless. Usually, when they fought like this, his mind emptied. He'd concentrate on the fight and the world became blissfully simple. Afterwards, lying on the mat, he would be too tired to be angry at anyone – or to think about anything.

But not this time.

"I was wondering what made you so much stronger than anyone", Jason said after a moment of silence. "And I guessed it was your determination. Someday, because of grief, caring and tons of other things, you made a decision."

Bruce didn't answer anything. His silence invited Jason to elaborate, so he did.

"So I thought, that's what make people strong. They care about something, or someone. That's why those who don't have anything to loose don't last long, and why androids are labeled soulless. They don't care. I thought they would be stronger if they were programmed to care."

That got him an incredulous stare. Jason snorted.

"I told you I had had some robotic lessons while I was away, didn't I?"

"Not programming lessons."

"I wouldn't be able to program an AI to save my life", Jason laughed. "That doesn't mean I can't have ideas about them. Someone else can take care of the programming."

"Development", Bruce corrected absentmindedly.

"Huh?"

"Not programming. Development. It's… never mind."

Jason sat down.

"Now you're the one thinking."

"It's the first time I hear you say you would rely willingly on someone to do something for you."

Jason blinked. Actually, Bruce was right: usually he would cringe if he had to rely on anyone. Even Batman. He had had to learn to work with him and not just next to him.

He frowned. What had changed?

"I guess I don't consider Luthor to be an idiot", he said at last. "I mean, he can do most things better than anyone. Not everything, I mean, developing and engineering, and all. And yet, he has people to do that. He still takes a look at it and improves it from time to time but… It's impossible for someone to do everything himself, isn't it?"

Bruce didn't look happy. Jason smirked.

"Or even to take a whole city back. Would you have managed without people like Jim Gordon? It's impossible to save people from themselves. And it's impossible to run a company if you only let people do what you don't like, you only have so many hours in a day. Moreover, they don't learn if they don't do it themselves, right?"

Bruce got up. He looked pissed, now. Not hard to guess why.

"It doesn't mean that I like him", Jason pointed out.

"But you do."

If even Bruce could see as much, how far down was he?

"Alright, I do. But I know he's to be stopped."

The doubtfulness he could see in Bruce's eyes hurt. Yet Jason should have been used to it by now. He'd never been good enough.

He got up. All the benefits from the fight had evaporated. Now, he was just feeling tired and sore.

"Jason…"

Perhaps it would be better for him to take his shower upstairs. At least, that way, he might manage to avoid Bruce for the rest of the day.

"Jason."

A hand grabbed his shoulder. He tried to get free, but Bruce's grip was strong as iron.

"You didn't fail me. Or anyone."

"Of course not. You only think I am stupid enough to take Luthor's side!"

"I don't. I merely know how fascinating he can be."

Jason glared. Bruce sighed.

"I start to understand why Clark finds me so tiring."

Alright, that one was entirely justified.

"I guess everyone think you deserved a guy like me in your life."

"Possibly."

Jason shrugged. Bruce let his shoulder go. That would have been the right opportunity to get away but the tiredness was even worse, now. He just felt… empty.

"I never considered you useless, Jason."

Jason snorted.

"Really, now?"

"Maybe, in the first few days, I tried to see Dick in you", Bruce admitted easily. "But I assure you, you did more than enough of a job to remind me you weren't. And neither then nor now did I mistake you for him."

Words, words. Jason had seen too many times Bruce's disappointment toward him.

"How can I make you see?" Bruce shook his head. Well. At least he admitted it was hard to believe. "You do have your own qualities, your own merits."

"Like being able to be a perfect jackass 100% of the time, yeah, I know that."

The frustrated look on Bruce's face was almost worth it.

"You are a gothamite", he tried to say. "You are strong, you were even when I picked you up. And you are a protector, Jason. Even then, you'd taken kids under your wings, when you had nothing."

"They deserved someone to take care of them.

"Exactly. And how many other people do that?"

Jason shrugged.

"No one. That's why I had to do it."

Bruce smiled.

"That's the point, Jason. You didn't have to. And yet you did."

Hell. He was almost feeling embarrassed, now. This was stupid: of course he helped the kids. Little street rats like him, but younger, more innocent, who still had something to be preserved from. Who would leave them by themselves?

Well. Gothamites authorities for one but hey, it was Gotham, after all.

"I don't need to compare you to anyone to see your qualities. You have your own."

"Yeah obviously you love me very much", Jason started, sarcastic. "That's why our bonding moments always end up in tears."

"I would not have made you Robin if I didn't think you were up to the task", Bruce insisted. "I would not have put you in danger if I wasn't sure you'd protect people. You have a biggest heart than you think."

Jason looked away.

"Apparently, it's not enough. You still think I would go for Luthor."

"I'm worried. Because I care."

"I'm able to make my own decisions!"

Bruce sighed.

"Which doesn't make me less worried. It's a parent thing."

Jason shuddered. He always felt so many complex feeling at the same time whenever Bruce called him his son. Back when he'd been adopted, he'd thought that was it, he'd found the one place he'd always be welcomed to, the one he could call home.

Which only made it worst when they'd start clashing.

Probably it didn't make them less of a family, though. Families clashed as well. God knew his did.

"I guess not liking that is a child thing", Jason reluctantly admitted.

Bruce's smile was thin, but worth all the pride in the world. Then he did something unbelievable: he closed the gap between them and put his arms around Jason, hugging him.

Jason blinked, shocked.

"That makes twice in only a few months. You're spending way too much time with Dick", he commented.

But he still put his head against Bruce's shoulder and enjoyed his warmth.

sososo

Clark thought he would wait for a few weeks then go to Lex's to talk. He hadn't decided if he'd be in full costume or not. In favor, he didn't want to blow his cover in the marginal possibility of Lex not knowing already. Against, Lex seemed not to take blue-and-red thigh very seriously, superpowers be damned.

In the end, he didn't get to make that decision because on the third evening, when he went back home, Lex Luthor was sitting on his couch.

"What the hell…"

"I left Mercy downstairs so pray do not start throwing things at me. She would be very mad at you if I get out of here showing bruises."

"How did you get in!?"

Lex rolled his eyes.

"Irrelevant. Where is Kon?"

Now, didn't that sound familiar? Clark smiled politely.

"I wish I knew. And I think you know exactly how to make sure he's back."

Lex got up, green eyes snake-cold.

"Very well. Sorry for wasting your time."

"Oh no, you don't", Clark said, standing between him and the door. "You're not leaving as long as you don't tell me you're going to release Tim so I can have Kon back."

"I took no children", Lex said, looking offended enough to be convincing on camera. "And I resent that accusation. You have no proof."

Not that Clark wanted to say Jason was ever right about anything, but sometimes, he got why the little brat jumped at people's face whenever angry. That must feel so good to be able to punch people with all one's rage without actually killing them on the spot.

Clark couldn't enjoy such a simple pleasure, so he smiled instead.

"Of course you didn't. Jason invented everything and is only alive and kicking because of some other supervillain."

"Now why would I go around kidnapping teenagers when I know Batman's real identity? I could just have a bullet put straight in his head while he plays his playboy persona."

And how should Clark know why Lex ever did anything? It was like the jerk enjoyed them not managing to pinpoint his motivations sometimes.

So that was his line, actually.

"Why do you go around breaking the law when you could make money and get power by following it?" he pointed out. "Actually, don't answer that. I don't even care. This stops, and it stops now. Go free Tim. Go!"

Lex's face went from denying to murderous in half a second.

"Not until you tell me my son is safe!"

He just called Kon his son. He hadn't ever talked to him – a fact Clark was thankful of, since Lex had allowed his creation just to play God again – and he dared to call him his son.

"Kon is in this situation because you fucked up!"

Lex didn't even glare. Clark could hear his heart pounding but he was merely waiting for him to allow him to get out. That meant he was past being reasonable. Clark had to calm the game down.

"Bruce would never hurt Kon. Who went willingly."

"You let him? Here I thought you would be a decent parent."

"I didn't!" Clark protested. "They arranged that together!"

"Which is even worse. Considering how many enemies you have, you might have wanted to put a more sophisticated surveillance system in place, in order to be able to find him at any time."

"They don't know who I am."

Lex snorted.

"Oh, please. Don't flatter yourself. Glasses? Really?"

Clark raised his eyebrows.

"How long did it take you to figure it out?"

Lex pursed his lips, which was an answer all of its own.

When people look at Clark Kent, they dismissed him as part of the background. He had everything necessary to cause such a reaction: the glasses, the unfit clothes just a little too big, the naïve smile. Anyone who tried to dig deeper would be facing his clumsiness and desperately optimistic temper – but very few went even that far.

Kon still had to master anything like a persona. He was a bad liar, which was quite ironic considering his donors.

Clark hoped Kon would never have to lie half as much as himself, while growing.

"Alright. We have barked at each other, made threats, and glared. Shall we start negotiating?"

Lex smirked.

"There is no negotiating. Bruce is going to release Kon, or else…"

"Or nothing. You aren't going to hurt Tim."

As Clark said it, he knew it was true. Not because Lex wouldn't dare – if only – or because he'd have scruples – if only bis repetitas – but because he was found of the kid. Of course he would be: Tim was nearly as intelligent as Lex himself.

Moreover, that would destroy any good impression Lex would have made on Jason.

"You are not", Clark repeated. "And Bruce is not going to hurt Kon. And neither of you will release any of them. Sounds like we've reached a deadlock."

The eyes stayed cold, though Lex was listening. He was waiting Clark to propose something. And who was he not to live up Lex's expectations?

"Do you want to see him?"

Lex stared.

"See him. Kon?"

"Who else? I guess you have more ways than I do to reach Tim. Though I would be very glad to talk to him: it's been a while, the poor kid must be bored as hell…"

"You mean Kon is here?"

"Of course not." Clark smiled. "I have a live feed, though."

He saw anger and need fight on Lex's face. The purpose wasn't to hurt his pride, so Clark didn't wait for him to confirm: he just turned on the TV and set the correct channel.

Kon was sleeping.

He wasn't in a bed, though the room had one. He'd fallen asleep on the couch, reading some comic book. The magazine had fallen from his chest to the floor. He had some saliva on the corner of his mouth. Clark could imagine his snoring just by looking at him.

"He usually is a bit hyperactive. But he's fine, as you can see."

Lex didn't answer, watching the screen with a blank face. Clark didn't need him to say anything to know how much he longed to be near the boy. His need was as palpable as it was unexpected.

It was easy to forget the supervillain was unscrupulous, not sociopathic.

"Red lamps", Lex noted. "They might lights hinder his muscular development."

"Under a red sun, kryptonians developed like average humans", Clark reminded him. "He won't be hurt."

Lex dismissed that with a movement of the hand.

"Because you don't like being special doesn't mean he shouldn't be."

"He already is special", Clark said softly.

To his surprise, he didn't get a protestation at that. After so many years at fighting, he knew exactly how demanding Lex was – to others, to himself, even to his damn nemesis. He once had blamed Clark for not being good enough.

So maybe, maybe he really did care about Kon.

Clark wasn't sure what to think about that. It wasn't exactly good news. The idea of a supervillain intervening in his son's life… And he would. Because Clark was going to drag him in as soon as Kon was out – Kon didn't deserve less than having both his parents around.

Let's hope Lex wouldn't ruin it.

"I didn't capture Drake because of Bruce but because he was actually threatening by himself", Lex suddenly admitted. "He was getting close to break the protections on my data and I'm not available 24/7 to stop him."

That was an opening. Clark smiled.

"He is a very bright kid."

"Bruce seems good at finding those. I should monitor him more closely."

Clark winced.

"Let's not start a spying war. Please?"

Lex smirked. The jerk.

"When are you going to release Tim?"

"When Kon is safe."

"He is. And you have my word that he will be released as soon as Tim is back home."

"You can't give your word one something you don't control."

Clark removed his glasses. He usually did that as soon as he got back from work but finding a supervillain in his living room could be unsettling.

"Bruce abducted my son without warning me first." He smiled politely, his eyes inhumanly blue without the tinted glass to lessen their intensity. "I assure you I do control the situation."

"I'm still not releasing Drake first", Lex said stubbornly.

"Then bring him here and you have my word Bruce will neither see him nor talk to him as long as I don't have Kon back."

Lex looked at the screen. Kon had moved on the flank, unaware of what he was causing.

Clark felt a surge of fondness for the dramatic teenager who turned his life upside down – on a monthly basis. Apparently, that was what it meant, to be a parent.

"Follow me."

Lex went past him while Clark was busy blinking his surprise away.

"Wait a minute, where are we going?"

Of course, that didn't get him an answer. Since Lex didn't seem belligerent anymore, he decided to shut up and follow before he changed his mind.

They walked down the stairs. Mercy was waiting for them in a Mercedes across the street. She glared at Clark. He smiled at her. That seemed to piss her off even more – which, admittedly, had been the point.

She drove them to LexCorp tower without needing any directive. Sometimes, Clark was abashed by how everyone around him looked like they could read each other mind. That had to be a human thing. Or just a billionaire thing, since that only ever happened to Lex and Bruce.

Well. In Bruce's case, it was kind of amazing to see him sometimes talk without a word with people, then create a totally awkward situation because of some stupid misunderstanding with the exact same people.

Clark put his glasses back on before getting out of the car. He followed Lex to what appeared to be his private elevator, Mercy on their heels. She was still glaring. Or maybe she wasn't and that was how she looked like all of the time. Clark didn't remember ever seeing her with a different expression on the face when he was around.

Several corridors and security checks later, they arrived in what appeared to be a very private, probably very illegal laboratory. Clark tried not to look too hard at the sketches and half started technology – or, at least, not to react straight ahead. For once, he wasn't there to stop one of Lex's projects.

He could still come back later.

They arrived to a room where a full wall had been replaced with unbreakable glass. On the other side, Tim was playing chess against himself.

"Finally! I was really starting to be… Clark!" Tim jumped on his feet. "What are you doing here?"

Clark felt his heart rate increase. Tim. It was Tim, and he was alive, and he was fine.

He hadn't realized how much his brain didn't want to believe that was true as long as he hadn't seen the child. Now, finally, he felt relieved, grieve evaporating to leave only pure joy.

"Tim!" he exclaimed. "Lex, please, allow me…"

Lex snorted.

"I was going to wait for Kon to be released to let you out, but since you're begging."

Clark didn't roll his eyes. Even though he really, really wanted to. Better get Tim out of there first.

Lex pressed a button and a door appeared in the glass. Of course, all this might have been a very elaborated trap. Clark didn't care. He opened the door, grabbed the kid and hugged him.

"It's so good to see you!" Alive, he didn't add.

"I'm glad to see you too", Tim laughed. "Does that mean I'm getting out?"

"Of course you are!"

"Kent…" Lex started warningly.

This time, Clark did roll his eyes.

"Get me a phone and I'll tell Bruce. Or you could wait for me to go to Gotham first, it's won't take more than…"

"Mercy. A phone."

She handed one to him. Lex dialed Bruce's private number himself then handed him the receiver.

"Bruce Wayne speaking?"

"I'm with Tim right now", Clark said, and gave the phone directly to the kid.

"Bruce? I'm alright!"

"Tim, is that really you?" Clark could hear Bruce's answer clearly. Sometimes, superpowers came in handy. "And he is with you? Is he insane to go there alone or…"

"Yes, it is. And, err, he's Superman, you know?" Tim protested.

Clark winced at that, though it was not as if Lex didn't know already. Lex was smirking, the ass.

Tim saw the exchange and raised his eyebrows.

"It's not like this line wasn't secure, Clark. I mean, if it wasn't, someone might be listening to me reassuring my neighbor about how I'm alright even though Lex Luthor kidnapped me."

Point taken. … God, he had been reacting like Bruce would have! That was it, he was being contaminated by bats. He had a bat infestation. In his brain.

Or he was drunk, somehow.

"Bruce, I have to leave you now. Could you please release Kon to whom I understand you have asked to stay as long as I wasn't back?"

"I'm not releasing anyone as long as you're not here."

"Just go to him alright? I'm calling you again when we're on our way."

And he hung up. On Bruce. Clark almost wanted to laugh. Bruce sure chose himself sidekicks that could stand up to him.

Tim smiled politely at Lex.

"May I go now?"

"I would ask your word to come back if Kon isn't released", Lex said, "but I doubt you're as good at it as our national boy scout here."

Tim raised his eyebrows.

"There is no need for that. You are aware Kon is one of my best friends, aren't you? How do you think I would react if I find him still detained when I'm free?"

Lex smiled, apparently satisfied.

Clark felt very lucky that Bruce had found Tim before Lex ever did. Not that Tim would ever do anything evil, he was a nice kid.

"Alright, let's go then."

"Kent. I'm giving you three hours."

Lex didn't bother to make threats. He didn't have to: Clark wanted to have Kon back as soon as possible. He nodded in answer, then lifted Tim in his arms.

"My apologies, but I think people are waiting for us."

Tim grinned.

"I'm always glad to be treated like a princess by Superman."

Clark laughed and started to blur away. He didn't want to make Bruce wait.

sososo

Jason tried very hard not to pace around the Cave like a nervous child. Dick was sitting on the arm of Bruce's master's chair, in front of the computer. Alfred had warned them that Bruce had had contact with Tim by phone less than five minutes ago and they'd got down without having to concert.

Apparently, non-verbal communication also worked among ex-Robins, to some extent.

Bruce himself was pretending to be busy but Jason doubted any of the work is was doing right now would be of use. His fingers might even be trembling – or it was just Jason's imagination playing with the Cave's shadows.

Then, finally, a white blur entered the place with a windy noise, and Clark and Tim were suddenly standing in the middle of them.

Dick was hugging him before anyone else could react.

"Tim! Oh God you have no idea, we've been so worried, and grieving before that, and…"

He kept going for some time while Bruce got up and nodded at Clark.

"49.495784, 6.086571", he said.

"I'm not a damn GSP, Bruce", Clark answered annoyed.

"Just go toward Europe, I'll guide you."

"Can't you just open the door?"

"If he could been freed manually from here, it would have been all too easy for Luthor to do exactly as much."

All three Robin joined Clark into glaring at Bruce at those words. Breaking in the Cave, accessing the computer and finding the correct file was not easy. Jason thought he might have managed the first one but would have been lost at the second; and he was damn sure even Dick wouldn't have been able to crack Bruce's code without knowing it first. As for Tim, he sure would have been able to access the computer and crack the code, but he didn't have the ability to break in the Cave in the first place.

Clark sighed heavily.

"Just give me a damn map."

"Will you bring him here when you've got him?" Tim asked. "I have to thank him for what he just did."

Jason felt almost physically the cold fall on his shoulders at that. Tim blinked, realizing something was wrong.

"I'd rather have him back home", Clark answered kindly. "I also have to assure Luthor that he's been released before he decides to strike Gotham with something."

Tim nodded, still frowning. He obviously wasn't fooled: if anything, Clark's reassuring tone had confirmed something was amiss.

"Which is also why I won't stay any longer. Bruce, any defenses I should know about before arriving on site…?"

"Use your codes from the JLA. First entrance has been locked on your retinal data."

Clark nodded then Jason blinked, and he was gone.

Now what the difficult moment.

"So. What happened?" Tim asked.

Dick hugged him closer for a few seconds, then let him go, leaving his place to Bruce, who stood silently in front of the teenager. Jason wished he could look away. But he couldn't; he wanted to be there for the kid. They were family.

The only family he had left.

Tim looked up at Bruce and blanched. Something in the man's stance told him the degree of the bad news he was going to hear. The kid tried to put on a brave face. Then asked:

"My father?"

How horrible was it that he asked about him like that? That he knew as a fact that something could have happened to his only parent left?

How horrible was it that he was right, that something had?

"Yes", Bruce said.

Tim chocked a sob.

"Was it painful?"

His voice barely trembled at that. Jason's vision was blurry with tears, and how stupid was that? He didn't cried when his father had died. Hell, he'd barely refrained from celebrating.

"No", Bruce answered. "It was instantaneous."

Tim nodded – and that's when his knees gave away. Bruce caught him, pulling him against his chest, protective.

"I've got you", he whispered. "I've got you."

Tim nodded, crying silently.

Jason felt like they should be left alone – he really wasn't needed here. Dick put a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it. They walked together to Bruce and Tim. Tim looked at them and tried to smile of all the fucking things in the world.

Jason joined the hug at the same time than Dick, pride be damned. A kid was hurt – his little brother, or soon to be, if he knew Bruce at all – needed comfort. So he was going to give some to him, goddamnit.