It had been a quiet night in Gotham.
All the top tire psychopaths were safely locked away in Arkham Asylum, and the gangs were in a rare unspoken truce for the time being. Batman made his way back to the ally where he'd parked the Batmobile.
He was about to unlock it when he realized his wheels were gone. The most high-tech vehicle in Gotham was sitting on four cinderblocks.
Batman looked down the ally and spotted a boy with a tire iron in one hand. With his other hand, he was rolling the last tire of the Batmobile towards where he'd presumably stacked the others. "Hey!" Batman yelled. The boy dropped everything and booked it to the nearest fire escape.
The Dark Knight stopped for a second. Was it is really worth it to chase down this kid? He could easily reattach his tires and go home. No. Anyone smart enough to de-wheel the Batmobile was too smart to be left unsupervised
Lucky the boy hadn't made it too far, and soon Batman had him cornered at the edge of a building. "Don't even think about it." Batman growled at the boy, who looked as if he was calculating his odds of making the jump to the next building over without breaking his neck.
"Alright, you got me." The boy huffed and stuck out his hands. "Just take me to jail and be done with it." Batman raised a brow at this. He would have thought a kid this clever would be trying to talk his way out of the situation.
Regardless there was no way he was having a child arrested. Any kid this smart would not be let out of his sight until he had adequate intel. Plus, he was not in the mood for the humbling explanation that a street child had almost managed to carjacked him.
"You're coming with me." He growled and pointed in the direction they'd come from. The boy rolled his eyes but dragged himself back to the ally. As the two of them reattached the Batmobile's tires, The Dark Knight decided to ask the obvious question. "What's your name kid?"
The boy wiped his hand across his face, leaving a streak of grease on his already dirt-smudged face. "Jason Todd. Not that it's any of your business."
Batman looked the mouthy child over. He looked about eight, maybe nine. He had thick black hair and piercing blue eyes. His clothes were far too big for him and covered in grime and tears. Even with his small half-starved stature, he looked as though he was ready to fight men twice his size if need be.
"Get in," Batman ordered. The boy complied, and they sped off to the Batcave. Maybe Alfred could fix the boy's attitude.
"Welcome back Master Br-"Alfred stopped short at the sight of the small boy climbing out of the passenger side of the Batmobile.
"It seems you have a stowaway, sir." He mussed, looking at the boy up and down. Batman pulled Alfred aside and explained the events of patrol. "Well then," The old butler said once he had the whole story. "I suppose I should escort Master Jason upstairs and get him settled for the night."
As soon as they were gone, Bruce pulled back his cowl and sighed. After all his years of patrolling the city, he thought he'd seen it all, but a kid with the guts and brains to attempt what Jason had that night, that was new.
He turned to the Cave's computer and started imputing everything he knew about this boy. Admittedly he didn't know much at the moment, but he was the world's greatest detective. He'd figure it out. Despite his tough demeanor, Jason was a child. Someone had to be looking for him.
III
Bruce spent more time looking for any family Jason may have had than he meant to. The names Willis and Catherine Todd were listed on his birth certificate, but no known address was listed for either of them. Bruce stifled a yawn as he walked down the hallway towards his room.
"Bruce?" A small voice called from one of the slightly open bedroom doors. Bruce slipped into his son's room to find a 10-year-old Dick sitting up in bed. "What are you doing up?" He whispered, although he already knew the answer.
Dick always tried to wait up to make sure Batman got home from patrol, and while Bruce appreciated the gesture, it kinda defeated the point of Robin not being allowed to go on patrol on school nights.
"Who was that kid with Alfred?" Dick asked as he lay back down. "His name is Jason, and he's going to be staying with us for a few days while I look for his parents." Brice explained as he tucked his son back in. "We'll talk about this in the morning." Dick nodded and yawned as he got comfortable.
"Night Dad." He called as Bruce headed for the door. "Goodnight Dickie."
Bruce met Alfred closing the door to the room where Jason must have been sleeping. "How is he?"
"He insisted on doing everything himself and refused to get undressed with me present, but that is to be expected of a boy his age, especially in an unfamiliar environment." Both men nodded their goodnights and headed off in opposite directions down the hall.
Bruce cracked the door to Jason's room just a bit. The boy was fast asleep. The bed seemed to swallow him up, but he slept peacefully. Bruce closed the door and made his way to his own room.
Dick was eating his cereal when Jason made his way into the kitchen the following morning. "You must be Jason!" He said excitedly as he dropped his spoon in his bowl and bounded over to the younger boy. "My name's Richard, but you can call me Dick. Do you know why my dad brought you home last night?"
Jason inched along the wall to try and get past him. This kid was way too happy, especially for this time of day. "Dick, stop interrogating the boy and grab your backpack before we're both late." Bruce called as he poured himself a cup of coffee. "But you said I could talk to him in the morning." Dick whined as he went to get his bag.
"I'll find your parents and take you home as soon as I can." Bruce promised, getting down to the boy's level. "Take your time." Jason huffed. He was in no hurry to leave this place any time soon, even with the overly happy kid and nosy grown-ups.
III
Jason spent the day exploring the mansion. He couldn't believe only three people lived here. The walk-in pantry was bigger than his whole apartment! Alfred was nice enough, although it made Jason jump when he seemed to materialize out of nowhere. By the time Dick got home from school, Jason had only really explored the first floor.
Once he was done with his homework, Dick invited Jason to play video games till dinner. Jason accepted but regretted it a little when Dick began peppering him with questions again.
Jason ignored most of them and pretended to be annoyed when he said he was trying to focus, but really he didn't mind Dick's constant chatter as much as he thought he would. It was nice to have someone to play with.
Jason was pleased when three days had passed, and there was still no sign of his parents. Bruce, however, was more than a bit annoyed. He'd found psychotic murderers in hours. Why were these two civilians so hard to locate?! He was so engrossed in his search that he barely heard Dick and Jason come down to the Batcave.
"Jason and I are gonna spar a bit." The older boy called as they passed. "Does Jason know how to do that?" Bruce asked, glancing in their direction for a second. "I can take him." Jason smirked. "Alright, but hand-to-hand only." Bruce warned and got back to work.
Even with Dick's training, Jason held his own. Dick was faster and had smoother movements, but Jason learned to read him quickly. They were play fighting more than anything else, and whenever Dick would land a hit on his opponent, he would critique and tell him how to do better.
Bruce stood at the edge of the ring and watched the boys. Dick and Jason were pretty different in personality, and it showed in the way they fought, but still, they worked well together.
"This is sad." Jason teased as he dodged an attack. "The Boy Wonder is getting his ass kicked by a street rat."
"Language." Dick scolded. "And you are not winning. I'm going easy on you."
"Oh yeah? Gimme your best shot." Jason taunted, charging his opponent. "Ok. You asked for this." Dick grinned as he nailed Jason square in the chest with a flying kick. Jason flew back and hit the railing of the ring with a thud. When he didn't spring back up, Bruce and Dick ran over to check on him.
"You ok Jay?" Dick asked frantically. He hadn't meant to hit him that hard. "'M fine." The smaller boy groaned and sat up. "Just got the wind knocked out of me. That hurt."
"Let me take a look." Bruce said, helping him pull his shirt over his head. If Jason hadn't still been half-dazed, he would have fought to keep himself covered. Bruce and Dick both winced at the bruises and scars covering the boy's chest. Jason hugged his arms and bowed his head as if he was trying to fold in on himself.
"Jason?" Bruce asked softly, "Who did this to you?"
"Guys on the street." He whispered. "But it was my fault. I was picking pockets on their turf."
"That doesn't give them the right to do this!" Dick growled, wishing he could find these punks and show them what it felt like. "They won't do this again. I promise you." Bruce assured him. He took Jason in his arms and carried him to the MedBay.
He had Alfred tend to the boy's wounds, but nothing else was said on the matter.
Dick sat up in bed. He could've sworn he'd heard the floor creak. It was too early for Bruce to be home from patrol, and Alfred would be down in The Cave. He peaked into the hallway and saw a small hand reaching for Bruce's bedroom door.
"Jay?" He whispered. The younger boy jumped at the sound. "Oh, it's just you." He breathed. "What are you doing up?" Dick asked, wiping some sleep from his eyes. Jason looked away sheepishly. "Did you have a nightmare? It's ok if you did. Bruce won't mind if-"
"It's not that." Jason cut him off. "I was just wondering why he hasn't, ya know, come into my room yet."
"What do you mean?" Dick asked, raising an eyebrow. He knew Jason was hinting at something, but he couldn't figure it out.
"Doesn't he ever..." Jason whispered the rest of his question in the older boy's ear. Dick jump back as he finished. The thing Jason was describing was absolutely disgusting and horrific!
"Bruce would never!" Dick snapped. Jason shrank back. He hadn't meant to make Dick angry. Dick took a deep breath and wrapped an arm around the little black-haired boy. "Bruce loves us, ok Jay? He would never hurt us or let anyone else hurt us. Let's go back to bed." Jason nodded and followed Dick to his room.
Bruce found the two boys curled into one another when he got home. He sighed. Tomorrow was going to be hard.
Both boys' faces fell when Bruce told them he'd found Jason's mother the following day. His father seemed to have fallen off the face of the earth, but his mother was living in a small apartment near Crime Ally.
Everyone was quiet on the drive over. They wanted Jason to stay. But legally, they couldn't just keep him from his mother. "This is it." Jay sighed as they pulled up to the run-down building. "This sucks." Dick huffed, folding his arms.
Bruce took out a card and wrote something on the back. "This is the number for the house. Call whenever you need anything, even if it's just to come for a visit." Jason nodded as he got out of the car. He didn't dare look back. He couldn't.
He dragged himself up the stairs and turned the door to the apartment. "And where have you been?" His mother asked. Jason glared as he watched her stick a needle in her arm. "Out." He grumbled. His mom didn't even seem to hear him. He flopped on their ratty old couch and curled up. He'd forgotten how much he hated this place.
III
"I can't believe you just left him there!" Dick yelled for the thousandth time since dropping Jason off. "Contrary to popular opinion, we are not above the law, Dick. That woman is his mother, and she has a legal right to her son." Bruce explained for the thousandth time. "What if some long-lost relative showed up and tried to claim me?" Dick snapped.
Bruce bristled at that. "That," He growled, "Is different. I adopted you. You are my son."
"Jason could be too." The boy said softly. Bruce crouched down to look his son in the eye. "How about tonight we swing by the apartment after patrol. Just to make sure he's alright." Dick nodded and went to go suit up.
III
Jason awoke to someone shaking his shoulder. "Dick?" He asked sleepily. The sting of a hard slap woke him up the rest of the way in an instant. "Watch who you're talking to boy!" His mother growled. "Now get up! We have work to do." Jason stumbled along behind her as she dragged him out of the building and down the street. He didn't like how this was looking.
III
"How do we know which window is his?" Robin asked as he gazed at the building across from them. Batman motioned for him to stay quiet and get down as someone burst through the front doors. A disheveled woman walked swiftly down the street, dragging a little black-haired boy behind her. Batman motioned for Robin to stay low, and they took off following the mother and son from above.
III
Jason shivered as he leaned against the ally wall. He watched his mom pacing in front of him. Her head snapped up at the slightest sound. She was muttering to herself. She was high now, but she was coming down fast. She stopped pacing and stood beside him as two muscle bond thugs entered the ally.
"You got the money?" One of them growled. Jason watched his mother pull out a few crinkled bills. "This ain't enough for squat." The other thug grunted. "Well, that's what I got." The woman huffed. "What else do you want?" The men glanced at each other for a moment before the first one turned to eye Jason hungrily.
"Deal." The woman said too quickly, shoving her son towards them. "Mom, no!" Jason cried as one of the men grabbed his arm. Before anyone else in the ally could move, Batman and Robin descended from the roof and landed on the drug dealers' shoulders.
The vigilantes made short work of them before turning to the scared little boy and his mother. "Let's go Jason." she said curtly, only to find her path blocked. "You're not going anywhere." The Dark Knight growled.
Batman had called the Gotham City Police as soon as he'd spotted the drug dealers, and while it took a bit of an explanation, the officers arrested Jason's mother as well for neglect and child endangerment.
"What are ya gonna do with him?" Commissioner Gordon asked, motioning to where Jason was peaking out for behind the Caped Crusaders. "I'll take him home to his father." Batman replied and led the two boys back to the Batmobile.
"You can't be serious!" Robin exclaimed as soon as they started driving. "I haven't seen my dad in years, and from what I remember, he was worse than mom ever was!" Jason argued angrily.
Batman ignored their protests. The boys were yelling so much that neither of them realized where they were when they stopped.
"Welcome home son." Batman said, and you could almost hear the smug grin forming on his face. The boys looked out the window. They were parked in front of Wayne manor. "Are you serious?" Jason breathed.
"Go inside and have Alfred clean you up. Your brother and I will be in soon." Was all Batman said. Jason beamed as he leaped out of the car and practically tripped over himself, running for the door. Robin smiled at his mentor. "Don't look so surprised." Batman said as they head for the Batcave.
Jason was beyond happy. He'd been adopted by Bruce Wayne and was living at Wayne manor. While he wasn't thrilled at the idea of starting school at Gotham Prep, he was at least glad he'd have Dick around to keep him company. Even better, he had a new family who loved him and would protect him.
All this from stealing a few tires.