Collision Pt4

Ancestors (Ki-Chan Riker)

So Jason couldn't trace his ancestry back to Gotham's founding or to Royalty or something. Few people aside from the rich and privileged of Gotham could. They didn't have the time or need to look back and see whether they were related to so-and-so who created whatever.

He didn't have a hard time in college because of that. A lot of people in his classes were there because they worked for Wayne Enterprises, which offered to pay college fees for any employees looking to further their education.

Being a part of one of the first families of Gotham by adoption was annoying at times. He hated how the papers were all labelling him the 'eldest Wayne child' in the wake of Dick's disappearance, like Dick didn't count anymore.

Neither of those things stopped him from getting to know people. Neither of those were reasons for him to 'drop out' of college; as Bruce liked to claim they were. At the time he had been mad at Bruce, Tim needed help adjusting to being a teenage vigilante and Steph was starting to appear on the scene. Plus, he had just broken up with his high school sweetheart and seeing her all the time was painful.

He didn't drop out because of a bad break up, another of Bruce's accusations, because he didn't really drop out. He just switched his courses to online so he could have more time for their night work. Bruce only thought he dropped out because he stopped going to campus and stopped talking about his classes.

Jason might admit that he wanted Bruce to think he dropped out. He was still mad at him for giving up on Dick.

"No, he totally left because of a bad break up," Steph was saying to the other world's Tim.

They were marvelling at how Wayne boys never seemed to finish college. Apparently, the other world's Dick hadn't stayed in college because he found it too boring.

"I did not!" Jason felt the need to inform everyone present.

Steph was smiling and nodding in a 'you did' way. His Tim looked at the floor as he probably knew Jason hadn't really dropped out. The other world's Tim had his thinking face on while the other world's Jason didn't really look surprised. The other world's Damian looked smug while his Damian looked curious in a way which meant trouble.

"Then, what's with all the textbooks in your room?" his Damian questioned.

Jason dropped his head to the table. Why did Dick have to train the kid to be a detective?

Now all was needed was for Alfred;

"Personally, I believe the question should be whether Master Jason has truly ever left college," Alfred commented as he brought out snacks. "And if he is just going to continue enrolling in subject after subject."

Jason really wished a hole would appear and swallow him up.

Gallery (Ki-Chan Riker)

This world's Dick suited up. An alarm had gone off in an art gallery and Batman was needed.

"Crime doesn't stop just because there's an interdimensional incident," his Bruce informed him while he grumbled about maybe having one night off while they dealt with their visitors.

"I'll go," the other world's Bruce said. He was ready to storm away when this world's Dick grabbed his arm.

"No way," Dick said in what his Jason referred to as his 'cop voice'. "In this world, I'm Batman. I answer the calls and alarms, you sit there and make sure my Bruce gets everyone from your world home safe."

The other world's Bruce glared down at him for a few moments before relenting by taking a step back.

"Fine."

"Be safe," this world's Bruce called after him. A few moments later, the other world's Dick came down. This world's Bruce had to wonder if he had planned that.

"How much longer?" the other world's Dick asked his Bruce.

This world's Bruce watched and listened to their interactions.

"A few hours, possibly less," the other world's Bruce responded. His Dick didn't seem pleased about that. "Something wrong? Are the others not behaving?"

The other world's Dick shook his head.

"It's just I'd rather be home. I mean, we left Alfred without warning so he must be worried by now."

Both Bruces raised eyebrows and the other world's Dick glared back at them both before storming over to the training mats.

Friends (Jaytodd2012)

Cassandra Cain was thought of as the quiet one in the Wayne Family. She was a picture of beauty and composure.

"Ha hahahaha ha!" she howled with laughs and giggles. Bent over at the waist, she was displaying her amusement for all to see.

"Really?" this world's Jason droned, trying to look disapproving when really he was amused that she was amused.

"It's funny," she responded. Because it was. The group of alternates all said they weren't family but she could see it in their interactions. They would die for each other, even the alternate Jason. The way their bodies all shifted to 'protect' and subtly indicated to the others of their universe was adorable to see.

"It is interesting," the alternate Tim commented, "our Cass lives overseas so we don't see her much."

"There's an idea," this world's Jason teased with a side-glance at her. Watchfulness was in that gaze as he didn't want to hurt her feelings, it was just a joke.

"I live here," she informed them. She glanced at her Jason. "My friends are here."

"Oh!" Steph suddenly gasped and then started shovelling food into her mouth. "I almost forgot!" she claimed in-between mouthfuls.

"More like, you actually forgot," this world's Tim sighed, to the confusion of everyone except Cass. He glanced at Cass who nodded.

"We're meeting friends," she informed them.

"You can't blame me for forgetting," Steph protested, "there are two of the boys! That's crazier than normal!"

Cass scanned the room.

"What," she questioned, "makes this 'crazi-er' than normal?" Everyone in the room paused. Thankfully, Cass wasn't done or there would have been a long silence. "And where is Dick?"

"Probably down in the cave," the other world's Tim suggested.

"Both of them?" this world's Jason questioned.

"Obviously," the other world's Jason snorted.

"Is Babs coming? I didn't hear from her?" Steph asked, ignoring the boys and asking Cass the question most important to her at this time.

Cass shook her head.

"She said she had something on."

Witness (Sapphire Roz)

"Babs, I'm so, so, so very sorry. But something's come up and I won't be able to make it to today's date. Blame Jason. And Tim. I promise I will make it up to you as soon as we fix what's gone wrong. I'm thinking Chinese? Let me know if you're craving something else."

That just wouldn't do, Barbara decided. It was a hard thing to clear her schedule for a few hours so she could go out and spend some time with her boyfriend.

So, whatever disaster had befallen the Wayne manor, she was going to join in. No force other than Alfred would stop her.

She timed her arrival just right. As she reached the few steps up to the door, Steph and Cass were coming out.

"Did you change your mind?" Steph asked excitedly.

"No," Barbara responded with a smile. It felt slightly vicious on her face and she wondered just how she was going to react when she finally saw Dick. "I've come to see Dick. There's something I need to speak to him about."

Steph's face was excited as she nodded and helped Babs get up the steps and into the manor.

"Babs!" Jason and Tim greeted in pleasant surprise. "You've left your Oracle post," Jason commented, "that usually means trouble for a Bat. Or a Bat's in trouble."

"Oh, quiet you," she responded automatically. It was a responsive habit she gained back when Jason was Robin and insisted on complementing and flirting with her.

She was a little sad when that stopped around the time Dick disappeared. It had been something which made Jason, Jason.

"So, who's in trouble? I'd think they were crazy but," he paused and smirked. "It was Dick, wasn't it?"

And there's the teasing. It had slowly been coming back with Dick's return. She found herself smiling.

"There's the Jason Todd I know and tolerate."

"…It's love, Babs, the phrase ends with love."

"Not for family, it doesn't," she responded, pulling him down to ruffle his hair. "So, what's going on?"

"Ow!" sounded from nearby.

"Uh…" Jason turned to Tim. Tim looked helplessly at Jason.

"Okay," Babs sighed. She turned her chair towards where the sound came from. "Come out!" she ordered.

Damian walked out, rubbing his arm. Babs found her parting in surprise as another Jason and Tim followed him out, the Jason carrying his own Damian. She looked them up and down quickly.

"Not time travel," she muttered to herself. This Jason didn't moved in the pained way her Jason did at times, especially when carrying heavy things. "Visitors from another dimension?" she asked them.

"Barbara, always the smart one," the other Jason commented. The other world's Tim frowned at his Jason.

"They're annoying," this world's Damian declared.

"Alright," Barbara decreed, holding up a hand to silence the other Jason. "I'm going to talk to Bruce and Batman." With that said, she wheeled off in the direction of the elevator to the Batcave.

"We're going to watch, aren't we?" the other world's Damian suggested in a tone which implied they were stupid if they disagreed.

"Oh yes," both Tim's responded at once.