The return of Jason! Plus a light touch on something I will explain my views on later in another chapter. Enjoy!


8

Oh Gotham, the city that never failed to disappoint. Jason hated the fact he was just shot by some guy in a Mickey Mouse shirt, but even more hated that he was drunk at the time. The shooter, not him. Jason was going to leave Gotham for good that night and nothing would stop him. Even a lucky drunk who happened to be stupidly firing off shots because he heard others shots going off. The scrape on his leg wasn't near as annoying as the fact he liked those pants. Good pants were hard to come by, and now he'd have to get new ones. Stupid drunk.

He was nearly done packing his bags, looking around the crusty apartment he used lately. The next one would be better. It'd have to be. This one was sad, but it did the job. He learned a lot about the local cartels because he lived there. Everyone else in the complex apparently was an addict. Well, at least if he blew the place up it wouldn't take a lot of fire power.

Joking, totally joking. The cops were going to do a raid on the place in a couple days. That was why he was leaving now. And while he was gone, he was going to take out the cartel overseas. FUN!

"Well," he started, "looks like that's everything. Bu-bye Gotham. Hello Haiti."

Before he could pick up his junk, a sharp, rapid knocking struck his door. Glaring at it slightly, Jason took out one of his guns and carefully went to it. Who was knocking like that at this hour? No one good, he could count on that. He peaked through the peephole for a moment and blinked. Growling, he unlocked the bolt on the door and opened it a fraction so he could talk to the visitor.

"What do you want replacement?"

"Your help." Tim looked like he just spent the entire day and night running from a business meeting. Knowing how the kid had been doing a lot of them lately, he probably had. Haggard and tired was one thing, but a look in his eyes said quite a bit more had happened than a meeting gone wrong. It was a look he couldn't ignore.

"Why don't you ask your boyfriend?" The incredulous glare he received for that comment was worth the implications. "Superboy's more than happy to satisfy your needs."

The business man huffed and looked away, internally groaning. "Forgot you thought I was gay at this point..." Running a hand through his hair, he rethought something then looked back at him. "Look, can I just come in and explain things? I really don't want Bruce or anyone else to get involved."

Jason eyed him for a moment, then pulled the chain off the wall to let him in. The younger bird was impressed to say the least. "Thanks."

"So," he started, shutting the door firmly closed behind him, "what brings the Wayne family poster boy to my humble abode? Want me to kill someone?"

"Not unless it's necessary."

That made him blink. The baby bird was actually approving of something? He turned to look straight at him, not a hint of remorse on his face. "Look, what I have to say is going to sound crazy, but I'll prove it's true as soon as I'm done. But the first thing I have to ask is, how would you like to save the world?"

Jason's eyes popped at the implications. "And you don't want Bats in on it... why?"

"Complicated." Seeing as his attention was fully grasped, Tim sat on the edge of the bed in the tiny apartment and sighed heavily. "Best I start at the beginning, and it's a long story. Want to order in? I don't see a fridge around here."

"Cut the crap birdboy," the older man demanded. "Just tell me why you're here or I'll pop you one."

Leaning on his knees a bit, Tim started, gaze boring straight into Jason's eyes. "I'm from the future. Or more accurately, my consciousness is."

He blinked at the nut. "The future."

"I'll prove it." The genius pointed to his left arm. "This morning you gave yourself a red bat tattoo on your left shoulder. In four months, if we fail to change things, you'll put a blue bird one on your right. In honor of Dick."

How did he... "And why would I honor him?"

"Why do you think?" The gravity in his voice put a sinkhole inside Jason as the possibilities crossed his mind. "If we don't stop a chain of events, Dick will die in little over three months."

The idea was too much for Jason to accept. A bit dizzy, he murmured, "Bull."

"We made an alliance at his grave site a week after his death," Tim further stated. "One that I'm honoring even now. If we can stop one, huge event, then we can prevent his death and billions more."

"Billions?" Where did that number come from? It was as impossible as Dick dying.

"Over the course of five years." He looked away a bit before admitting, "It took me that long to do this. To send my consciousness back here to try and prevent it."

A heavy silence filled the room, one Jason didn't know how to deal with. He didn't want to believe what Tim said was true, but he was right about the tattoo. He put it there himself and no one else knew about it. No one could know about it. If Dick did die, he'd probably honor him that way too. After a few minutes, he swallowed, and nodded.

"So, where do we start?


A/N: YAY! THey're working together! And even better, they aren't trying to kill each other! we're gonna mostly ignore lobdell's stuff here so their relationship isn't the best, but they're capable of getting along now. It doesn't take much for Jay to believe the crazy things that happen in their lives. So with the simple pointing out of something no one else can know, Tim's got Jason under control. Now how to use him... *evil laugh*

Again, still have a poll on my profile. Started up 'Where's Robin' again for those not paying attention. I will finish everything! one day... .