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CHAPTER 3

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END FLASHBACK

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Terry was absolutely stunned. Jason Todd had to have been either one of the most obnoxious, egotistical men he had ever heard of, or one of the smartest. He couldn't quite tell which it was yet.

"Are you serious? There's actually somebody out there with the balls to say that?"

"Jason was one of a kind. And I mean one of a kind. Try talking like that to me now, and you're hanging up the cape and cowl for good. Clear?"

"Clear."

"Great. Glad we're clear."

Awkward silence. This was getting weird. Terry knew Bruce didn't want him blabbing his secret life to his parents, but why would he bring up the past like this to get him to stop? It didn't seem Bruce's style. Bruce would rather bite off his left arm than reminisce for more than ten minutes. He still was curious why he had not even heard Jason mentioned before, even by the much more open-book former Batgirl, Barbara Gordon.

Terry scratched his head. "So I don't get it. Why haven't I heard of this lost Boy Wonder before today? Just waiting for the right time to give me knightmares? Heh. Get it, 'knightmares?'"

Bruce's eyes narrowed. He hated stupid questions. "You haven't heard of Jason because I didn't feel it was the right time to bring up the past. I hate the past. The past hurts. The present is much less painful. And no, I don't get it."

"Figures."

'Same old Bruce,' Terry said to himself. He was getting a story, but that was it. There would be no exposition, no unveiling of emotions until Bruce felt it was right.

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FLASHBACK: JANUARY 15TH, 2013 12:35 AM

He couldn't believe what he was hearing. No one talks to Batman this way. Especially not some punk kid. Especially not some UNINVITED punk kid.

"How did you get in here?" Bruce asked, grumbling his voice to try and sound as angry as possible. He was angry. He was also quite confused. And it takes a lot to confuse a master detective.

Jason rolled his eyes as if Bruce had just asked him when he was going to take out the trash. Doesn't anyone know what timing is?

"The back door. Everything has a back door Batts! All you have to do is find it. I, being the super smart laddy that I am, found that back door. It took me a few years, but now I'm here. So where's my costume?"

"Costume?"

"You know, like the one you're wearing. Come on, give me something in a red and green, minus the short shorts, and I'm ready to rock and roll Brucey!"

That was the last straw. No one came into Batman's house and told him what to do. In one swift motion, and a reach into his utility belt, Jason went from leaning a hand on the penny to lying on the floor, tied up in a neat little package.

"Does that answer your question? I don't like strangers."

"Now that so was not necessary. What threat could I possibly hold to the all-mighty Bat? And besides Bruce, aren't strangers just kid sidekicks you haven't met yet?"

"Stop calling me that. I'm not Bruce Wayne."

Jason chuckled. "Of, excuuuuse me! Would you prefer Mr. Wayne? Or how about the heir to the Thomas Wayne fortune?"

This was getting serious. So was Batman. He didn't need some know-it-all in his life. Even if he was feeling quite alone, this was not the way to solve such feelings. He put on his scariest face. His most stone cold stare. His whispering, rock solid tone. No one has ever seen through this voice. And few have lasted more than ten seconds when he got this way.

"Let me say this one last time. You will listen. You will agree. You will leave. I. AM. NOT. BRUCE. WAYNE. Bruce Wayne is nothing more than a money grubbing fool who has never fought a battle by himself in his life. If I were Bruce Wayne, I would have ended it all years ago. I'm still here. I'm not Bruce Wayne. Are we clear?"

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Silence filled the cave. Jason was impressed. This guy was good! Still, how good could he possibly be if he allowed himself to be traced? He knew he was getting to the Bat. He liked this feeling. Working with Bruce would be fun.

"Then how come you live underneath his glorious fancy shmancy abode, and have bank accounts which trace back to the billionaire playboy? You've been sloppy Bruce. If a 13 year old whiz kid could find out your secret like this, don't you think some lunatic might be able to do it some day?"

"No."

Jason couldn't help but chuckle. Getting this man to admit he was wrong was like telling Albert Einstein to use a comb. It wasn't going to happen anytime soon. "Wrong answer buddy. Face it Bruce, you're nothing without company. One man can't be a perfect army. At least with two, things are a little bit easier to handle. I've seen what you and Dick did. You guys were great! It sucks what happened to Tim, but isn't that part of the job? Part of the risk?"

One thought ran through Batman's mind: "Damn it. This kid knows too much."

"Well, isn't it? Hey, look if you want to honor the memory of Tim or something I could become some other Bat related thing. How about Batboy? Maybe Winged Rat? Yankee Boy?"

Bruce was trying not to smile. He didn't want to.

"You're about to ruin your life. Just promise to keep things a secret, and back away."

Batman pressed a button on his utility belt and a gate went up. He walked over to Jason, untied him, and grabbed his collar.

"HEY, HEY! Let go of me damn it, this shirt is new, I just bought it from the Lex Outlet last week!"

He reached the exit, threw Jason out the door, and started to walk away.

"Wait! Bruce..."

He kept walking.

"Never again. Never again."

And with that, the door closed.

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