A/N:

Ages of Major Characters:

Dick Grayson (Nightwing): 17...Barbara Gordon (Batgirl): 17

Roy Harper (Red Arrow): 21...Donna Troy (Troia): 18

Koriand'r (Starfire): 17...Jade Nguyen (Cheshire): 22

Garth (Tempest): 19...Zatanna Zatara: 18

Raquel Ervin (Rocket): 19...Vic Stone (Cyborg): 17

Lilith (Omen): 16

Warning for Language

ooooooo

Are We Failing Our Heroes?

METROPOLIS-Just four years ago, the Invasion showed that the world is a much darker place without our heroes to protect us. But the question remains: does that very act of helping doom the protectors?

Earlier today, Jay Garrick-formerly the first Flash and the current leader of the newly formed advocacy group the Justice Society of America (JSA)-spoke at.a protest outside the headquarters of the United Nations. The message was simple.

"We want to protect our heroes," Garrick said in an interview. "Everyday those brave young men and women believe that grabbing a costume and stepping in front of a gun is the right thing to do. One day, the bad guy's going to get a lucky shot. We've seen it before and the JSA wants to make sure it never happens again. The Titans are young. They don't need to die that way. "

When asked about older Titans members, Garrick already had a response. "Twenty-one? Twenty-two? That's not old. That's the same age most kids are graduating college. We need to remember most of the Titans are teenagers. They don't need more trauma, they need normalcy. They're denying themselves any chance at a normal life. And we're letting them."

The new Justice Society of America so far remains small but active in pushing for widespread condemnation of teenage and young adult superheroes.

We here at the Daily Planet ask our readers does the JSA have a point? We love our heroes, but is it the best for them? Or are our heroes entitled to their own shot at a normal life? Contact the Daily Planet with your response.

"Dick, stop reading that crap."

"I have to," he says but allows Barbara to pull the paper away. "I need to know for when a reporter asks me about it."

"If a reporter asks you about it," she corrects, leaning at the desk, "then you can give the usual answer. Jay's undermining our decisions, the world needs the Titans, we're careful and well trained, and it's more dangerous for everyone without us. There's a reason the JSA's got a problem recruiting members, Dick. The public's still with us."

"Yeah, now."

"Not just now," Barbara says, "they know it's not the JSA that's saving them. It's us."

Dick allows a small smile. "Thanks, Babs."

"Anytime." She turns to grab her helmet. "Now, the real question: what are you going to do while I'm following the lead. And, hint, the answer is not come with me."

Dick tries very hard to hide his pout. Judging by Barbara's smirk, he's not succeeding.

"You know when you think about it, two heads are always better than one."

"Not on a one person job," she retorts unsympathetically. "My lead, my mission. Them the breaks, Boy Wonder."

"But what happened to partners, Babs," Dick insists, hand held dramatically to his chest "Nightwing and Batgirl. The Terrifying Twosome. The Daring Duet. The Pair of Punishment?"

"Three things." She's already double checking her utility belt "One, no one-not in the entire history of Gotham's trashy superhero websites-has ever called us the Pair of Punishment. That's horrible. Two, shouldn't it be Batgirl and Nightwing. I did come first."

"Only by like a week, I was first as Robin for years!"

She sticks out her tongue. "Still counts. Third and most important, it's a one person job and I'm the one that got the goon to tell us Black Mask's recruiting a meta from Central City." Dick does pout this time and she laughs. "Just go on patrol again. You're going to bore yourself to tears waiting in the cave."

He gives her a look.

She smiles innocently. "As someone wise once told me, there's no such thing as a useless task when it's done to protect people."

"Okay, Babs, I think we both know I said that so you'd help me search the sewers."

"So, you admit it," she accuses, finishing the last check on her motorcycle. "Hey, in seriousness, remember I can't use the comms with a possible technology manipulating meta."

"I know." He hesitates. "Just...just be careful, Babs. Without the comms, I won't know if you need backup so just...you know."

Barbara's smile goes soft and she walks forward, leaning down to tuck a strand of hair behind his ear. "I will. Trust me?"

"Always."

She leans back, still smiling and heads back to the Bat-cycle. "I wasn't kidding about finding something to do, Dick! Don't drive yourself crazy!"

"Yeah, yeah." He waves her off and watches her speed away, still feeling slightly antsy.

He makes it an entire five minutes of sitting in quiet stillness before getting up to pace the cave. He lasts another two minutes before his feet carry him to the old costume storage.

His Robin uniform's there-all of them, actually, the ones he'd outgrown or given up for new modifications all tucked carefully into drawers. It doesn't matter, anyway. It's not a Robin costume that stands displayed in front of him.

He reaches out to run his fingers over the sleek black fabric of the cape, looking up at the tips of the cowl that he remembers being so much taller back when there was the man who wore them.

It's all clean, carefully dusted in a way that means Alfred's been here recently, and Dick can almost pretend that the costume's still standing ready to be slung on for patrol. The thought hurts but it's an ache now rather than a biting sharpness.

He doesn't know why but he finds himself smiling.

Barbara probably has a point. He needs to get out of this cave.

Not that there's many options.

He could go see if Roy wants any help in Star City….but, that feeling of having an outside hero in your city is always awkward at best. Jade's on monitor duty tonight and, while definitely more open to conversation than two and a half years ago, she still might throw a knife at him if Dick showed up without anything important. Garth and Tula are out trying to have their first date since Tara's death five months ago so that's a definite no. Vic's busy, trying to have an awkward bridge-mending dinner with his dad. And Donna's having a girl's night at the Tower with Kory, Raquel, Lilith, and Zatanna.

In other words, his options are stay in the cave and go stir crazy doing research or patrol again. Never mind that he and Barbara just got back an hour ago.

Which is how he finds himself, hours later, flipping off rooftops in Crime Alley to finish another patrol.

It's the weird stretch of time that's not quite dawn yet but still too late for anyone sane to still be awake. Dick wonders what it says that he still feels wide awake.

There's nothing even slightly suspicious going on. Not even a small drug deal or a purse snatcher. Not even in Crime Alley.

It would definitely be un-heroic for Dick to be disappointed.

He sighs, grappling back in the direction of the Wing-cycle. Screw it, looking through old cases it is. Barbara can't be that much longer, right?

He lands lightly at the alley where his motorcycle's stashed when movement catches his eye.

Huh, so someone else is insane enough to be awake.

There's the sound of metal hitting metal and Dick notices that the Wing-cycle's been uncovered just at the same time as light reflects dully off an old wrench.

Dick grins. Oh, this is too good! Someone's not only crazy enough to be awake but, by the looks of it, trying to steal the tires off the Wing-cycle! Wait until he tells Donna.

He flips silently off the wall, landing on his toes right behind the dark shape, and clears his throat. "You know I'm pretty sure criminals should have better self-preservation!"

"Shit!"

The wrench is flung at him and he catches it easily before focusing on the wide-eyed figure in front of him.

Dick frowns. "You're a kid."

The kid's shock fades into a scowl, glaring at him from a worn out red hoodie. "I'm thirteen!"

"Yep." Dick nods. "Definitely too young to be out in Crime Alley this late. What's your name?"

"Yeah, right! Like I'm going to make it easier to book me!"

He rolls his eyes under the mask. "I'm not going to arrest you."

The kid scoffs.

"Look, I'm not going to arrest you. I promise." He points to his mask and the bright blue stylized bird on his suit, "I'm a hero. We help kids like you, not throw you in jail."

The kid looks at the Nightwing symbol like he knows what it means but isn't quite sure what it means for him. Finally, he mutters, "...Jason."

"Nice to meet you, Jason!" He grins in a way he hopes looks trustworthy. "Though not sure about the location. You know there's a lot better places to hang out than Crime Alley at night."

Jason shrugs. "Most everyone turned in like an hour ago. Safest time to be here."

So, he's been in the neighborhood long enough to know patterns. Probably lives here, then.

Dick cocks his head. "Then, why'd you decide to steal tires from the one guy you knew was still up?"

The kid flushes red, looking down at his beat up shoes. "Saw you on patrol here earlier. Thought you already finished and stashed the bike overnight." He huffs. "Look, I don't….I don't normally do the whole stealing tires thing, alright? I don't steal from anybody unless they're stupid mob guys that have it comin'. But, I...it's kind of an emergency, okay? And I figured at least you could afford it unlike most people around here."

"What's the emergency?"

Jason's jaw clenches briefly like he doesn't want to tell him. "Rent. They evicted me last night."

"Shouldn't your parents be helping with that," he asks without much hope. Parents don't bring kids to live in Crime Alley-not if there's another choice.

"Don't have any," Jason says flatly. "Dad's serving life in Blackgate, not that he ever did much before. Mom...she died. A year ago."

Dick lets out a slow breath, feeling his heart thump heavy in his chest. "You alone, then?"

Jason tenses. "I'm fine. You're not going to call the fricking CPS on me, are you?"

"No."

Dick doesn't trust Gotham's corrupt excuse for a social service program to take care of a used toothpick. Not if they're anything like they were when he went through them. The Wayne Enterprise sponsored children's shelters and foster program are a different story though. Jason certainly wouldn't be the first he'd dropped off there. Or the last.

Jason is still glaring mulishly down at the pavement, hoodie down to reveal dark black hair. As if sensing his stare, the kid looks up and the fierce unyielding tilt of his jaw catches against something in Dick's chest.

The words tumble out before he can stop them.

"Want to come with me?"

ooooooo

This...is probably a really bad idea.

By Alfred's deep silence over the cave communicator, he definitely thinks it is.

"It'll be fine, A," Dick whispers into the mic, careful to make sure Jason's too far away to hear. Luckily, the kid's still staring wide-eyed and frozen at the Batmobile in the storage hanger so Dick's probably safe. "We just need to keep the entrance to the manor sealed. I'll stay with him in the cave tonight."

The sigh he gets back is the closest Alfred's ever come to long-suffering. "The beds in the cave are meant for medical use. They are not a suitable sleeping arrangement for a thirteen year old boy."

"A, it's just for one night. I've slept in the med bay plenty of times."

There's another silence that Dick thinks is his only answer before Alfred clears his throat. "Just one night, young sir?"

"Just one night," Dick repeats. "Any more would risk our identities. It's too late tonight but I'll take him to one of the Wayne programs tomorrow."

Another beat of weighted quiet. "As you say, young sir."

Alfred signs off the communicator and Dick frowns, wondering exactly what that meant before starting over to Jason.

He has to admit it is slightly comforting to see Jason, in the span of a few hours, go from attempted theft of the Wing-Cycle's tires to obviously fanboying over the Batmobile. It almost makes him look like a normal thirteen year old.

"I didn't know you still had this," he breathes out in awe, hand just shy of reaching out to touch the black paint.

"Well, it's not like I was going to throw it away," Dick pats the bumper while Jason hesitantly touches it after him. "Just didn't feel quite right to use it."

Jason blinks, tearing bright blue-green eyes away from the car to stare up at Dick. "So, uh, was Batman like...was he like your dad or something?"

Dick tenses, but only for a moment.

"Or something," he answers. He turns away from the Batmobile and feels slightly warmed to see Jason follow. "He took me in after my parents died. He...he wasn't my father, not exactly. But he was...my partner, my mentor."

My family.

"Wait, so he took you in...and trained you to be Robin," Jason asks, slowly.

Dick nods. "He was a great man."

Jason doesn't say anything, looking busy with his thoughts, and Dick decides to leave him to it, leading him to one of the med bay beds-already cushioned with extra pillows and blankets Alfred had brought down earlier.

"This is where you'll be sleeping tonight if that's okay," he tells him, before gesturing to the regular cot on the other side of the room, "I'll just be over there. Agent A, one of the people I work with, already brought down sandwiches and water if you'd like some?"

Jason looks between the soft bed and sandwiches, hesitant but not wary. He seems to make a decision before turning up to Dick. "Um, thanks for doing all of this, er, Nightwing?"

"Of course." Dick smiles. "Hey, I told you, it's what heroes do."

And that gets him a definite look from Jason but Dick ignores it, watching as the younger teen carefully grabs a sandwich.

Looking down at the surprised but pleased expression on Jason's face, Dick can't help think that maybe he was wrong.

Maybe this had actually been a really good idea.

And then there's the beep of the cave's entrance opening followed by the crunching sound of tires and Dick only has time to think, Oh, crap, before a voice rings out.

"Dick! I'm back! Mission was a success so you better not just be sitting at that computer or-oh."

Barbara stops in front of them, cowl already pulled down, as she comes face to face with Dick's still masked face and a staring Jason.

Well, there goes the plan to keep secret identities out of it.

ooooooo

For better or worse, there's no real reason anymore not to take Jason up to the much comfier beds in the manor. Not after he's seen Barbara's face and heard Dick's name. Not when Dick Grayson's a household name in Gotham already.

So after explaining all that to Jason, stressing the secrecy part, showing him up to the manor, again stressing the secrecy, and finally practically shoving the incredibly shell-shocked teenager his room, Dick finally gets back to the manor's office and settles in for a very, very long night. He checks the window. Or, okay, a very long morning.

Barbara's arms are crossed. "So…."

"Um, surprise," he tries.

She looks at him incredulously. "When I told you to find something to do, I didn't mean adopt a kid! A little warning would've been nice!"

"I didn't adopt him," he insists. "And your comms were off, how was I supposed to warn you?"

She throws up her hands. "Yes, my comms were off. Because of my mission. My mission as Batgirl. You know the identity that's supposed to stay secret!"

Dick winces. "I'm sorry, Babs."

She sighs and some of the fire goes back down. "Look, Dick, you know I'm not mad at you for helping a kid, right? Granted, I'm more than a little annoyed at the lack of planning-"

"That's fair."

"-but I definitely understand wanting to help." She pauses. "What I don't get is why you didn't take him to the Wayne shelters like normal?"

He sighs. "It was late. I was going to take him tomorrow."

"Well, I guess we can't now," Barbara says. "Not until we're sure he won't tell our identities."

"I'm sorry," he says again.

She nods, accepting before frowning. "Why take him to the cave, Dick?"

"I…" He shrugs helplessly. "I don't know. I just….I don't know, it seemed right?"

There's silence and Dick can feel Barbara testing the next words in her mouth.

Finally, she speaks.

"He looks like you."

He frowns, honestly surprised. "He does?"

"You didn't notice?"

Dick shakes his head.

The surprise seems to answer Barbara more than the words and part of her tension smooths away. "Okay….okay, we'll figure out what to do later. Together. When it's not five in the morning and I have class in a few hours."

She leans forward and squeezes his shoulder, heading out of the office with a small yawn. "Don't stay up too late, Dick. Promise?"

Dick nods absently, still caught up.

He can see it now. Kind of. The black hair, same acrobatic build though that's probably more due to Jason's age, the blue-green eyes similar at a distance to his own. He can see how they look alike, definitely not identical even compared to him at thirteen, but they could probably be mistaken for brothers.

That's not what he first noticed though. No, their faces are similar but there's something more prominent, the glint in his eyes, the set of his jaw.

Jason may look like him but he reminds Dick of Bruce.

ooooooo

By the next morning-well, afternoon really-Jason seems to have shaken off most of the shock. Dick's still on the fence on whether that's a good thing.

"So, how does this work," Jason asks, pausing in between bites of egg.

"Well, it's breakfast. Which means generally it's a meal eaten before both lunch and dinner. Though I guess, if you include the previous day, it's really between the two."

Jason glares at him which Dick's beginning to think is a common expression.

"I mean the whole...you know," he waves a hand through the air, "secret double life thing. You're famous. I saw you on a frickin' tabloid cover last week. How do you keep the Nightwing stuff a secret?"

Dick chews through his last piece of bacon. "There's a legal agreement with the press for increased privacy until I'm eighteen-don't ask how Alfred got them to agree, it was right after the invasion. Other than that," he shrugs, "I'm careful. And Bruce was able to keep it up a lot longer than me, so there's that."

"Wait!" Jason pushes the plate away. "Wait, wait, are you-are you telling me that Bruce Wayne-the Bruce Wayne, playboy billionaire-was...was…"

"Batman?" Dick hides a smile because some things never get old.

Jason shakes his head. "No way. There's no way. That guy was an airh-"

He cuts off, obviously deciding halfway through it's probably a bad idea to insult his conversational partner's former guardian.

Dick just grins. "Bruce was a master of subterfuge."

And the thing in Dick's chest that's been there since last night aches again a little fondly.

The shell-shocked expression looks in danger of returning before Jason literally shakes it off and moves on to a new line of questioning.

"Huh, so you're not eighteen yet?"

Dick shakes his head. "Not until December."

"Then-hold on, it's the middle of March-why aren't you in school?"

"Why aren't you?"

Ah, there's that glare again.

Dick decides to take pity on him. "Babs and I graduated early. She's majoring in computer sciences at Gotham University. It's where she is now, actually. As for me," a slightly sheepish smile, "it was suggested-rather forcefully and by several of my friends-that it might be a good idea to take at least a year off as a 'break.'"

Jason eyes the air quotes suspiciously. "You're a workaholic, aren't you?"

"I've been called worse things," he doesn't disagree. Frankly, the Titans will be shocked enough he's taking a personal day today.

Especially since he didn't quite explain why.

Across the table, Jason is staring at him with a look that Dick recognizes, even if he's never understood it. It's not hostile. In fact, for the first time all morning, Jason's face looks scrubbed of even his trademark wariness. Instead, he's looking at Dick like he's trying to piece together a puzzle and a bit amazed at what he'll find.

It looks shockingly similar to how Bruce once looked at him. Right after he became Robin.

Seeing it again feels...it feels like Dick can't quite catch his breath.

He doesn't get longer before Jason speaks. "Okay, I know I saw it already. But, like you're really him, aren't you? Nightwing. Like the guy that beats up Killer Croc and Penguin on a monthly basis, former Robin, leader of the freaking Titans. That Nightwing."

Dick rubs the back of his neck. "It sounds a lot more impressive than it actually is if you say it like that. Trust me, I'm just...well, me."

There's a pause where Jason tilts his head, watching him. Immature as it is, Dick kind of wants to throw a grape or something at him to get him to stop.

"Yeah, I guess you're right," Jason says eventually before smirking slightly. "Honestly, you're kind of a dick if you know what I mean."

The surprised laugh that Dick finds slipping out is a welcome break. He hops off his seat to reach over and ruffle Jason's hair, only to have his hand slapped away with an exasperated huff. "Jay, you already found out my secret identity. No need rubbing it in. Now, come on, let me give you a tour of the manor."

Jason complies, letting himself be dragged into the hall.

Dick's just glad he doesn't ask what the larger plan is. He's still trying to figure that out himself.

ooooooo

Somewhat surprising, Jason's uncontested favorite part of the manor turns out to be the library. Dick thinks it might even beat the Batcave. Which is convenient because it means Jason's still upstairs, nose deep in classic literature, while Dick gets a chance to slip down to the cave for some much needed research.

Jason Peter Todd. Thirteen as of August 16th. Father: Willis Todd, currently serving a lifetime term without parole in Blackgate on multiple charges of armed robbery, attempted murder of police officers, and gang related activity. Mother: Catherine Todd, died a year ago of a drug overdose. Almost no other record of Jason, except for a shoddy school report cards with good grades but a number of absences.

Dick sighs. It's amazing Jason made it this long. Especially in Crime Alley.

If Dick's being completely honest, he's not sure what to do next. Bruce's training never covered what to do when an orphaned teenager finds out your secret identity. Probably, because Bruce would never be so careless except…

Well, unless you counted Dick himself. But that had been different. That had been….

Frankly, Dick has never really understood why Bruce took him in after his parents' deaths. Guilt? Fine, he was absolutely sure Bruce felt some responsibility-no matter how insane-from sitting in the crowd unable to stop it. But the sad fact is sometimes that's just life for a superhero. You don't get to save everyone. Bruce knew that, even then.

Guilt alone wasn't enough. Kinship, maybe? There was a connection there born of unique understanding even from that first night. But, while a bond may have started then, the true partnership and ease of company didn't come until later-not until Dick became Robin.

And if it wasn't guilt or kinship, what was it that made Bruce Wayne-probably the most secretive, reclusive man on Earth-think that taking in an orphaned nine year old to live in his home was a good idea?

Dick still doesn't know. And it's been four years too late since he could ask

Jason is different though. He has to be. He can't stay here. Dick's entire life is too dangerous for someone without training. Even with his past, Jason still has a chance for a normal life and Dick's going to do everything he can to make sure he gets it. He promises.

The sound of the cave door creaks open and Dick quickly clicks open a different search tab.

"Hey, Dick?" A voice drifts down. "Is there a light for the stairs? Alfred just showed me how to open the door."

"There's a switch between the rocks," Dick calls back. "Shoulder height."

Light comes from above, illuminating Jason as he makes his way down the stairs.

"Geeze, how did we even get up here last night without this."

Dick snorts. "You get used to doing it in the dark."

Jason's eyes narrow. "So, do you try to make innuendos or does it just come with the name?"

"Bit of both. Personally, I prefer puns."

"Ugh, that's even worse."

Dick shrugs unrepentant as Jason finally makes his way over.

"Huh," Jason looks at the screen where Dick's finished reviewing Barbara's new notes. "This about Black Mask's new drug thing?"

Dick turns his chair to him. "You know about that?"

"Not much." Jason crosses his arms. "Like I said, I try to stay out of gang stuff. But, I still hear things. Plus, some of his guys were doing, um, 'recruiting' off my old neighborhood."

"Any details," he presses.

Jason thinks for a second. "I don't know, maybe? I know a few guys talked about a warehouse. Over in the Bowery-here." He grabs a notepad from the desk and scrawls down an address, and hands it to Dick.

Dick pulls up the site on the computer, scanning quickly over its history. "Jay, this could be his new base we've been looking for. With this, we could stop the shipments before he starts distributing." He turns to meet Jason's eyes. "Thank you."

Jason blushes, putting his hands in his pockets. "Well, you know, glad I could be useful."

And despite the fact that he still looks much more interested in his shoes than looking back up, Dick can't help but think he seems pleased.

ooooooo

Really, Dick should have seen this coming.

"You called in for a personal day twice," Donna says, hands on her hips. "The entire team was worried. What else were we supposed to think but brainwashing, kidnapping, or horrible grievous injury?"

"Maybe that I took a vacation?"

She snorts. "Oh, please."

Dick resolves here and now that he's going to take a vacation one day just to spite them. Working vacations are definitely a thing.

Oblivious to his decision-or more likely aware and amused-Donna smirks, throwing him a wave and heading over to Kory and to save Jason.

The alien princess is currently speaking cheerfully and exuberantly to the thirteen year old, while wearing a tight tank top and a pair of very small shorts. Dick's fairly certain that Jason hasn't been able to meet her eyes once, instead focusing on the wall behind her and trying not to spontaneously combust by blushing.

Roy elbows Dick in the ribs, breaking his thoughts.

"Dick, what are you doing," he asks, too low to be overheard.

"Helping," he answers because that's a much better one than, I don't know.

By the look he gets back, Roy seems to hear the second answer anyway.

"We can't take him to the foster system," Dick says. "Not until we're absolutely sure he won't tell our secret identities."

"So, what? You're just going to keep him here?"

"Got a better idea," Dick retorts.

"Dick, you're Nightwing," Roy reminds him. "You have the Titans to worry about along with the entire corrupted population of Gotham. And you're seventeen, you can't take care of a teenager like this. This isn't-"

Roy cuts off.

"What," he presses. "This isn't what?"

Roy sighs. "This isn't you and Bruce."

Oh, so that's what Barbara had been worried about.

"I know. I'm not trying to be Bruce," Dick says quietly. "He's...that would never work anyway. You can't just replace people like that. And I'm definitely not trying to make Jason the next me. "

That's definitely not what he wants. If anything, he wants the opposite.

He looks down. "I just wanted to help him, okay? Make sure he gets out of this alright."

Roy stares at him, measuring the words.

"Okay," he says finally. "But, Dick, be careful. This is a thing that can go bad quick if you handle it wrong. And you're not the only one that's going to be caught in the crossfire."

"Then, I won't handle it wrong," Dick mutters, mustering up a smile that Roy rolls his eyes at.

"Guess I better go introduce myself then," Roy says instead. "Since, he might be here for awhile."

Roy heads in the direction of the teenager and Dick almost follows before Kory takes the chance to break away and grab his arm, keeping Dick and her out of hearing range.

"I am happy for you," she whispers, leaning close so her hair tickles his cheek in a way that feels warm.

"You like him, then?"

"I do," she agrees, "but that is not what I mean. He is good for you, and you him."

Her tone of voice hints at more than just giving Jason a temporary place to stay.

"I'm just trying to help him, Kory," Dick tells her, feeling like a refrain. "It's only for a bit. Then, I'll take him to the foster programs."

Kory's frowns briefly before sighing. "I do not understand your Earth ways sometimes. So closed off, so reserved."

"How so?"

"He looks up to you," She gestures to where Jason's nodding enthusiastically at something Roy's telling him. "I only spoke to him briefly and I can tell. He….cares, he turns to you even when speaking to others."

"Kory, it's because I'm the only one here he knows," Dick insists.

She shakes her head. "No, it is because you were the one who first extended a hand. That matters. That gives hope." Kory turns and smiles at him. "And you, Dick, I have known you for many months. You care about him as well."

"Of course, I do. He's a kid." He sighs. "But, he can't stay here forever, Kory. It's dangerous, he deserves something better."

"Love must always be answered with love," she replies simply. "You reminded me of that."

Dick reaches down and squeezes her hand. "This isn't the same. And Jason doesn't love me, he doesn't even know me."

"Not yet."

"Not ever."

She sighs again, a hand coming up to run gently along his cheek. "My dear friend, I hope your decision will not cause you pain. Nor Jason."

And it's so similar to what Roy had told him, even though for an entirely different reason, that Dick pauses just for a moment.

"I hope so, too."

Kory smiles, her hand sliding down and the moment fades around them.

"We will tell the team you are unharmed," she announces, back at a normal volume.

"Thanks" Dick says, watching as the rest of the group straightens at the cue.

She waves to Jason. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance!"

Jason blushes. "Y-yeah, you, too, Starfire."

Kory beams at him and Roy pats him on the back. "Catch you later, kid."

Donna winks. "Thanks for dealing with Dick for us!"

"Excuse you," Dick protests, "I'm a joy to deal with!"

Donna gives Jason a look and the teenager huffs out a laugh.

The Titans depart amazingly without Dick also getting a talk from Donna about his decisions on Jason. Instead, she gives him a grin on her way to the zeta, eyes flickering briefly to Jason, which Dick translates to mean, I don't know if it's a good idea or bad but neither do you; so, I'm going to sit back until it works or blows up in your face. Call me if you need help.

Of course, Roy would say that there's no way he can possibly interpret that from an expression but since neither Dick nor Donna have been wrong yet, Dick's inclined to disagree.

After they leave, Jason wanders up to him. "Hey, question?"

"Hmm?"

"So, what's your thing with Starfire," Jason asks. "'Cause I thought you were dating Batgirl, but..."

"There isn't a thing with me and Kory," Dick denies with long practice before the rest of the sentence processes and he chokes. "Wait, why did you think I'm dating Babs?"

Jason looks at him like he's an idiot. "You're not dating either of them?! Are you crazy? What about Donna?"

Dick shakes his head, still feeling dazed. "I can have female friends without dating them."

"Yeah," Jason agrees, sounding skeptical, "but I've met Barbara and she's awesome and Starfire's um…"

"Starfire's what," he teases, moving to a safe topic.

"Like you don't know," Jason mutters under his breath.

Dick bumps into his shoulder. "Hmm, what was that, Jay? Don't know what?"

Jason groans. "Ugh, you're such a dork. How did you get such cool friends?"

"Oh, so you think my friends are cool?"

"Cooler than you!"

"Rude," Dick accuses, walking backward to the stairs. "And, here, I was going to ask if you wanted to help pick out new books for the library. Guess you wouldn't want to be around someone so uncool though?"

"I'll manage," Jason's already heading up beside him. "Uncool isn't even a word!"

"Anything's a word!"

Jason shoves him as they walk and Dick watches as the boy races up to the library.

He's not going to get hurt, Dick thinks. I can do this right.

ooooooo

"We've got movement," Barbara reports, zooming in with the lenses of her mask.

Dick watches beside her. "Look at the size of those crates, this is has to be the main delivery."

"Which explains the crowds," she agrees. "Ship it in through the river, get the technology meta to bury the ship's existence, and give it straight to the suppliers right out of the warehouse. With what looks like half of Black Mask's enforcers there as a threat."

"I've already sent an alert to Gordon," he says, checking his display. "Gotham PD en route."

"Then, let's make sure this party doesn't end early."

Dick nods, letting out a low whistle as they unload another shipment. "Black Mask must've spent a fortune. With the size of those crates, we'd be clearing that stuff off the street for years."

She tracks from above as the first police cruisers start circling the warehouse-still far enough away that they're out of sight. "Lucky the tip was good."

"Yeah," Dick says, smiling slightly.

Babs glances over. "Yeah, yeah, you don't have to say it. He's growing on me, too."

"He'll be glad to hear about the bust," he says. "He's been down in the cave reading about Black Mask for the past week. More than even me."

Barbara hums, standing at the edge. "That's….odd."

"They did get kids from his old neighborhood." Dick shrugs, joining her. "I think it's a good thing. It'll show him how important keeping our identities secret is."

"Maybe…" Their wrists beep. "Gotham PD's in place. Let's go!"

Dick and Barbara jump in tandem, swinging through the windows of the warehouse at the same moment the police sirens go off.

Caught in the confusion, Black Mask's enforcers are almost too easy to disarm and everything goes down quick without any of the cops getting so much as a bruise. After the last crook is arrested and the drugs are tagged for the police high security storage, they survey the damage.

Twenty-five arrests. Over one-hundred and fifty pounds of drugs set to be sold across the county. Five of Black Mask's top enforcers taken in.

….And no sign of Black Mask. Or the new meta.

ooooooo

When Dick finally makes it back to the cave, the sun has risen enough to turn the smog of Gotham a warm orange.

He's not alone. "You haven't been down here all night, have you?"

Jason jerks up in the chair, rubbing his eyes. "Dick?"

"The one and only," he replies. "If you really want to sleep down here, the med bay's a much better choice."

"I wasn't sleeping," Jason lies before frowning, looking behind Dick. "Where's Barbara?"

"Her apartment." He snorts. "Some crazy person thought signing up for morning classes was a good idea."

"She has morning classes," he asks with the same tone most reserve for crimes against nature.

Dick shrugs. "Well, ten a.m. Morning for us. Speaking of which, shouldn't you be upstairs asleep in the very warm manor instead of down here developing back issues in a cold cave?"

"It's not that cold," he mutters. "And I wanted to hear how the mission went."

"Aww, were you worried about us?"

"What? No! Of course not," Jason denies vehemently, the tips of his ears turning red. "I just, you know, wanted to see if my tip panned out! It was my civic duty to stay up!"

"Civic duty, huh," he asks, leaning back against the desk. "Your tip was great, Jason. Some of Black Mask's top guys are off the streets and the drugs never even left the warehouse."

Jason looks down, fiddling with the arm rest. "So...I helped?"

"A lot." Dick squeezes his shoulder. "We couldn't have done it without you."

With that, Jason lets Dick lead him to the stairs and up to the manor. Remarkably, Jason goes without any protest. In fact, the only thing he does is offer a slight smile right before heading in and a quiet, "Hey, Dick. Thanks for….well, you know."

Dick doesn't think he does but Jason shuts the door on him before he can ask.

He supposes he doesn't need to know the details, it's enough that Jason's happy.

ooooooo

Three weeks pass quicker than Dick realizes.

Jason's still living in the manor and Dick's not any closer to figuring out the next step.

It's not like he thinks Jason's going to run to the nearest tabloid shouting out Dick and Bab's identities. No, scratch that, Jason wouldn't reveal their identities for anything. Dick can feel it. Jason's stubborn, determined, and more loyal than is probably wise. He won't tell.

But, it never hurts to be certain, right? There's no rush, after all. And Dick…

Okay, fine, Dick's kind of gotten used to having Jason around-hanging about the manor, asking him questions, debating with him about stupid stuff. It's...it's nice and familiar in a way that Dick doesn't allow himself to think about for too long.

The point is he likes having Jason around.

He's pretty sure it's not just him. Barbara's starting to teach him the beginnings of computer coding and, more than once, Dick's come back from a Titan's mission to find Jason in the cave, chatting idly over the comms as Batgirl finishes her latest patrol.

Alfred likes him. It shows in the way he's started incorporating more of Jason's favorite meals. Or how he lets the younger teen hang around the kitchen. Dick's not allowed to cook anything more complicated than scrambled eggs after the Thanksgiving Incident of seven years ago. Jason, though, seems to share the old butler's love of cooking and actually gets to help Alfred prepare the meals.

As for Jason, the teenager seems...content. There's a slow growing comfort ease around the edges that Dick would've thought impossible a few weeks ago.

It's good. It's all amazingly actually going good. Which is why the conversation with Alfred hits so hard.

"Master Dick?"

"Yeah?"

Dick's down in the cave, scanning through another few security files to try to find any hint of Black Mask. It's been weeks since the drug bust and Black Mask's gang should be folding like a house of cards without its main source of income. It should make finding the actual man behind it easy. It should be an easy capture and finally a clean close to the biggest drug arrest of the last five years.

All of which make it especially annoying that neither Barbara or Dick can find him. Or the technology meta.

Not even a hint and Dick is almost ready to tear his hair out in frustration.

There's a pointed cough behind him.

"Sorry, Alfred." He looks up sheepishly before frowning. "Where's Jason? I thought he was with you?"

"Master Jason has decided to avail himself of the library's latest acquisitions," Alfred answers. "I believe he was quite pleased with them."

Dick snorts. "He should be, he chose them. He's been in there more in the last month than I've been in a year."

"Which bring us to the matter I wished to address," Alfred continues smoothly. "Master Jason it seems has an exceptional thirst for knowledge, especially given his age. I've wondered what his school records are?"

"Good with understandably spotty attendance." He thinks a second longer. "I think his highest was English which I guess makes the library more obvious. Why?"

"I wished to ask your thoughts on enrolling him for next year," the butler says. "It would require some evaluation tests but I have every reason to believe he'd still at least place within his age group."

Dick opens his mouth, closes it, and then tries again. "I thought the foster program handled things like that?"

He was pretty sure he never had to do any of those tests until after he officially became Bruce's ward, the snooty test administrator looking down her nose at him the entire time.

"Indeed, they would," Alfred agrees. "However, the proper paperwork must be filed an appropriate amount of time before the new school year-especially for the more prestigious programs like Gotham Academy. Given that young Master Jason would undoubtedly prefer time to prepare, I believe we should address this earlier rather than later."

"Alfred," Dick frowns, "the new school year isn't until next fall. He won't even be living with us by then."

A heavy moment of silence falls between Dick and his guardian.

Eventually, Alfred speaks. "Even so, Master Dick, it would still be unwise to allow Master Jason to fall behind."

Dick nods because, really, Alfred already decided before he came down. The only reason he's telling Dick now, framing it this way, is because…

Is because it's something he believes Dick needs to hear.

The question is why.

Alfred's already heading up the stairs, leaving Dick to his thoughts and he almost wants to call the man back to ask more but Dick thinks he understands.

Alfred's planning for Jason's future. Alfred's thinking about Jason's best interests, beyond just the days he's here at the manor. Alfred's giving Jason...he's getting him ready for school. Perfectly normal, routine school, just like other kids go to.

What is Dick doing?

ooooooo

Standing in front of the cave's zeta beam, Jason isn't quite bouncing on his toes but it's a near thing.

"So, this is like a secret Titans' meeting?"

Dick hesitates. "...sure, let's go with that."

Jason narrows his eyes.

He ignores it, finishing typing in the final key code. "Done! Let's get going."

"Wait, Dick!" Jason catches his arm.. "No, seriously, tell me. You said we were going to Titans Tower?"

"Which is definitely true!"

"For like superhero stuff, right?"

"Er, not exactly."

Jason crosses his arms. "Then, why are we going?"

"Weeelllll," Dick drawls, "sometimes, the team, um, can get really, really fixated on certain ideas and then get really stubborn to argue with, even for me. Especially when they all corner you after meetings and Vic pulls out some really impressive puppy dog eyes for a guy with a laser eye."

"Dick, what's this about?"

He bites the bullet. "A few weeks ago, Donna, Roy, and Kory told them about you and they've been bugging me to bring you ever since. So, sorry, less superhero stuff and more overzealous teammates."

Jason's staring at him with an expression of utter bewilderment. "The Titans want to meet me?"

"Yep," he answers. "And I really wasn't kidding about overzealous. Just trust me when I say the weirdness is just their way of showing they care. Okay?"

"Dick, the freaking Titans want to meet me!" Jason nearly shouts, eyes widening to the size of saucers. "I think this might be like the second coolest thing to ever happen to me!"

"Oh." Dick blinks in surprise before smiling, "Wait, does that mean meeting me was the coolest?"

That at least breaks through Jason's short venture into a hero-worship coma, turning around to stick his tongue out at Dick. "What, no! Coolest thing's meeting Alfred. Duh!"

Dick shakes his head, powering up the zeta beam again. "The sad thing is I can't even argue. You ready then?"

"Born ready."

And with that they step through.

"Recognized: B-01 Nightwing and guest."

Dick barely has time to blink the light out of his eyes.

"Finally!" Raquel pops up in front of them. "Is this him? I'm Rocket, you can call me Raquel though since you already know Dick."

Her hand sticks out, Zatanna and Lilith close behind.

He rolls his eyes. "Geeze, guys, at least let him get out of the zeta entrance." He shoos the others back slightly while Jason comes forward, earlier bravado wiped away a little bit in the face of the crowd. "Yes, this is him. Guys, meet Jason. Jason, meet your overly excited doom."

"Nice introduction." Jade says,standing by the doorway in a more relaxed posture.

"Jason," Kory flies over. "It is fortunate to see you once again."

Dick's somewhat amused to see Jason only blushes slightly this time. "You, too."

And then, the rest of the introductions begin. Once Dick is reasonably sure that Jason's not going to be swallowed up in a mound of Titans, he steps back-far enough to give the team an actual chance to meet him but close enough that he's there if needed.

Besides, there's someone Dick wants to talk to.

She finds him first.

"He really does look like you," Donna says, leaning on the wall next to him. "In the kind of adorable way, not like the creepy you-need-help sort. You look like family."

He takes a breath and tries to laugh it off. "Well, you know, I am starting to suspect black hair and blue eyes means a genetic predisposition for crime fighting. Seems to be a lot of us."

She raises an eyebrow. "Didn't know Jason was going into crime fighting?"

"He's not," Dick says immediately. "No, sorry, that's not what I meant."

"You okay," she asks. "Not that I'm not thrilled you finally gave in to bringing Jason to meet the team."

He rolls his eyes. "I don't even know why they were so interested."

"Our fearless leader takes in a kid." She grins. "And let's him in on the famed secret identity. Are you kidding? That's the most interesting gossip we've had in months."

"He's a good kid," Dick says. "I'm glad they got to meet him,"

Donna pauses. "See, now when you say it like that, it sounds like they won't get another chance."

"They might not," he admits quietly. "...Do you think it's time I let him go? Let him get away from all of this."

"Why now," she asks instead of answering.

He shrugs. "Something Alfred said made me wonder if I'm being selfish."

Donna smiles, shaking her head almost wistfully. "You don't have a selfish bone in your body."

She's wrong but Dick doesn't particularly want to start that argument when there's more important things to be asked.

"Don', you ever think about a normal life?"

She frowns. "I'm not even sure what that would be?"

"Something not this." He waves a hand, gesturing at their costumes. "Not superhero stuff. Just whatever most people do. I don't know. Normal."

Donna regards him seriously. "Dick Grayson, you would absolutely hate a normal life."

"I'm not talking about me." Dick would never have a normal life. He knows that. He accepts it. This is more important than him.

"Is this about the JSA," she asks. "What Jay Garrick said about the Titans?"

"Kind of." He shakes his head. "I'm not sure. Is he right, Donna?"

She sighs. "Dick, I'm an Amazonian. I learned battle formations with the alphabet. That's normal for me. Vic's half-robot. Zatanna grew up levitating her building blocks. Jade's an ex-assassin. There's no such thing as a standard normal. There's just life."

Dick slumps on the wall. "But, is there a better life for Jason?"

Donna gestures to where Jason's talking to Lilith. "He's happy. Isn't that better than where he was?"

Maybe, but is it enough, he thinks but refuses to say.

Donna lets him think for a minute more before she apparently decides he's getting too close to brooding.

"Though, if you really wanted to try for more normal," she teases, "you could stop getting kidnapped by Deathstroke every few months."

Dick rolls his eyes. "It's not kidnapping. Last time, he just dropped me off alone in the arctic. You guys picked me up the next day."

"If that's not kidnapping, what would you call it?"

"No clue." He shrugs. "Nonvoluntary training via deadly mercenary, maybe?"

He's given up understanding it. It didn't look like Deathstroke had a contract, so whatever he's doing it's by choice. And if he wanted Dick dead, he'd have killed him.

Donna snorts. "Why do you always have to collect the crazy villains?"

"Gotham tradition," Dick says innocently.

And then, because it's Dick's life, the tower alarms go on and the power goes off.

."Oh, look, our normalcy Yay." Donna says, impressively deadpanned as the emergency power kicks in.

Dick sighs, already pulling up the wrist computer. "And I really wanted Jason to have a good visit."

"At least it's accurate," she says.

"Nightwing, what's going on," Roy's the first one to make it to him, already swapping to codenames with a wide-eyed Jason at his side.

"Everyone get ready!" Dick calls out. "Looks like Tartarus teamed up with the H.I.V.E. leftovers."

Vic groans. "I hate Tartarus."

"Better than Mad Mod." Zatanna shrugs, snapping as her clothes change to her uniform.

"Ick, no," Donna holds up a warning finger, "we don't talk about Mad Mod. Ever."

Jade turns to Dick. "Plan?"

Dick swaps the footage to the monitors. "First hit, put us on auxiliary power. They're trying to break through the tower barrier now but not having much luck. Four metas-Siren, Gorilla Grodd, Lady Vic, and Red Panzer-with around fifty armed soldiers split up to attack from four direction. Good, that means they're split up."

"Teams," Roy suggests.

"Yep, divide and conquer," Dick answers, gesturing to the the team "Rocket, Tempest, you've got Siren-Rocket's force fields should block out the songs. Cyborg, Omen, Zatanna you three are on Gorilla Grodd. Omen handles the mental attacks, Cyborg and Zatanna on the physical. Cheshire and Red Arrow, you've got Lady Vic. Donna and I will handle Red Panzer. Everyone, use the underground exits and try to use the tower shield to block against the soldiers. Good?"

Nods all around and the teams already on the move.

Dick turns to Jason. "Stay here. The zeta's down but the power on the shield should still hold." The teenager's eyes are still wide and Dick grabs something out of his utility belt. "Here, take this. It's one of my old spare ones. They always make me feel better."

Jason looks down at the small domino mask like he's been given something incredibly fragile. "Dick...I don't...I don't know what to do."

Dick smiles, trying to put all the comfort he possibly can behind it. "Hey, that's okay. You don't have to do anything here. We got this! Trust me. Tartarus is far from the worst we've handled. Just watch from the monitors. It's going to be fine."

Jason looks at him with dark eyes. "Come back, okay?"

Dick can't imagine how terrifying this would be for an untrained thirteen year old. Even one as brave as Jason.

"I will," he promises.

With a sigh, Jason puts the mask on and offers him a small shaky smile. "Okay."

Dick smiles back, giving him a small wave before running to meet Donna.

"Ready," he asks.

She grins. "Just waiting for you. This is going to be fun!"

"Strange reaction to a home break in by super villains," he responds, punching in the code for the west underground tunnel.

"Pft, like you weren't thinking it."

And then, the tunnel's opening on the other side and two batarangs are flying through the sky, slashing through the wiring of three highly advanced soldier suits.

"Ha, three for two," Dick says, ducking behind Donna's shield as she blocks the gunshots from the rest.

"Show off," she says as the two move forward in step.

An exploding batarang takes out two more-leaving eight soldiers remaining. "That's the thing about super advanced technological armor. They don't work that well once you turn off the power."

"Incoming!"

A concussive blast shoots through the air, causing Dick and Donna to dive to either sides.

Donna swears, already up with her lasso ready. "I think it's safe to say he got the new and improved version."

Red Panzer scowls under his mask, shooting another blasts from his arm cannon.

Dick jumps to avoid, flipping through and kicking down another suited soldier as he went.

"Meh." He slams an electrified escrima into the downed soldier. "Improved or not, Cyborg does it better."

Donna's lasso swings one soldier hard into another. "That's because Cyborg's got style."

Dick would respond but one of the soldiers fancy blasters fires a little too close to comfort. He spins, kicking the gun out of the way and follows with a batarang.

Nine down. Four left.

Red Panzer's next blast singes the ground a second behind him.

Okay, four left and one pissed off meta.

Dick's comm beeps as Donna takes out another soldier.

He clicks it. "Yeah?"

"Lady Vic and her crew's down," Roy reports.

Zatanna's voice answers, breathing heavy but sounding uninjured. "Still finishing off Grodd here. If you want another workout?"

Another blast means Dick has to move.

"-shire's on her way," Roy says. "Anyone else?"

Garth's comm comes in. "Siren's down, still working on soldiers but should be fine. Nightwing? Troia?"

Dick's escrima stick hits into one of the soldiers, electricity frying the circuitry.

"We're good," he answers, clicking off the comm and turning to Donna. "Hey, Troia, you hear that? We're going to be last!"

Donna grins, a blast hitting off her shield. "Yeah, well, they had a head start. Ready?"

"Just waiting for you," Dick says, landing behind one of the remaining two soldiers and grabbing their arm before they can move. On the other side, Donna's got the last soldier. "Now!"

From opposite sides, Dick and Donna aim and fire the soldiers' blasters with Red Panzer right in the middle.

He goes down, smoking, latest armor firing one last blast aimlessly at the tower's shield. The two soldiers are on the ground seconds after.

Dick taps the comm. "Red Panzer team's handled. Everyone else?"

"Grodd and the soldiers are down," Zatanna says, sounding much more relaxed.

"Same for Siren's," Raquel answers.

"Good." Dick turns back to Donna and gives her a thumbs up.

She grins, finishes securing the last soldier, and points to the tower. "Not a completely casualty-less fight. Look, Panzer's blast destroyed our camera."

"The tragedy," he says, "and to think I'd raised it since it was just a microfilm."

Donna laughs. "Dork. That is not at all how cameras work."

Dick opens his mouth to retort just as the way too familiar sound of news vans pulls up.

"Wow, an entire ten minutes after an attack. They're late." Donna leans down to whisper. "And now, the true battle begins."

He elbows her. "Oh, please, reporters are so much worse."

"Nightwing! Troia!" A reporter shouts. "Any comment on the latest Titans headquarters attack?"

Dick slips into the role as calm, in control Titans leader. "The tower was attacked by members of the meta-terrorist group Tartarus and who we believe are former soldiers of the H.I.V.E organization. The situation was handled quickly and without injuries." He smiles in a way he knows is camera friendly. "Well, no injuries for us at least."

Another reporter pushes forward. "Nightwing, any response to yesterday's JSA protest?"

He sighs, taking an easy step back towards the tower entrance. "It's unfortunate that the JSA is choosing to minimize all the good the Titans have done and continue to strive towards. No further comments today. We've gotta get these guys into custody."

"Nightwing, one more-"

"-another minute-"

"Sorry, everyone," he waves, almost to the tower barrier.

"Who's that?!"

Dick freezes, turning in what seems like slow motion.

Jason's standing, almost hidden by the tower entrance.

He's still wearing the domino mask.

In other words, a black haired thirteen year old boy is wearing a Robin mask and standing in the Titan's tower.

Behind Dick, he can hear the clicks of cameras going off.

Well, shit.

ooooooo

"-getting younger and younger kids involved." Jay Garrick frowns, sitting next to the interviewer. "Where will it stop? Bringing in this child-whoever he is-proves that the Titans aren't taking the risks seriously, even after the invasion. They're too young, this is still fun to them, a real life cops and robbers game. Only now they're not just risking their own lives, they're bringing in younger kids."

Dick comes up behind Jason and clicks the television off. "As a wise woman once told me, stop watching that crap."

Jason flinches at the sound of his voice. "I'm sorry."

"It's not your fault."

"It is," Jason insists. "I was stupid. The camera on the monitors went out and I wanted to see if you and Donna were alright. And then those reporters saw me. Ugh, I was so stupid and now you've got the JSA, who won't shut up about it!"

"Hey, Jason," Dick grabs his shoulders, turning him to face him, "listen, it's okay. It's not your fault. You weren't being stupid. It was all just bad timing, okay?"

He huffs. "Tell that to the freakin' JSA?"

"I might not use those exact words," Dick admits. "But, don't worry about the JSA. I can handle them. They're loud but they're still a small group without much support. Yeah, this got them some more air time for now; but, it'll take second seat the moment something newer comes around. And if not that, it'll die down on its own. Alright?"

He's sure it won't take long. After all, it's not like they'd see Jason in a mask again.

Jason looks down. "You're really not mad?"

"I'm not mad," he repeats. "I'm just glad you're okay."

Jason blushes but Dick's pretty sure he sees a slight smile in there.

"...so, hey," Jason begins awkwardly, obviously uncomfortable, "did you see that they're calling me your protegee?"

Dick obligingly takes the conversational shift and grins. "How presumptuous! For all they know, Omen could love domino masks. You could be her protegee."

Jason rolls his eyes.

"They already give you a name," he asks even though he's already fairly sure of the answer.

Jason nods, mumbling the answer. "Most of them are just going with 'Robin.'"

Dick ignores the way his heart beats a little bit faster at the word. "Ah, the classic! Again, so presumptuous. You could be a play off Nightwing. Smallwing? No, Tykewing?"

"Ugh, those are awful!" Jason scrunches up his face. "I'll stick with Robin."

Dick snaps his fingers. "I got it! Littlewing! You are here by Littlewing from now on."

Jason moans, face in his hands. "Bleh, please, don't."

"Nope, it's decided! Come forth, Littlewing! To the dining room! Agent A has prepared us a lunch!"

"I hate you."

ooooooo

Whatever Jason says, there are definitely worse names than Littlewing.

"Nigh'!"

Said names are forgiven when they come from two year olds.

"Hey!" Dick reaches down to meet the grabbing hands, asking to be picked up. "Wow, you've gotten bigger!"

Mera smiles. "Well, it has been two months."

"Nigh'" Artur shouts again, squirming in Dick's arms and almost hitting him in the face. With his father's bright blond hair and his mother's bone structure, the toddler really is way too adorable for the Heir of the Seven Seas.

"Busy couple of months," Dick explains.

"Aren't they always," she agrees, raising an eyebrow. "Though I did hear from Tula, yours may have been busier than usual."

He glances to check the nursery's security spells. "She told you about Jason?"

"More than that, she brought me a newspaper." She hums. "I didn't know you were looking for a protegee."

"I wasn't. I'm not," he corrects. "I'm just giving him a temporary place to stay. Then, of course, the reporters saw him at the tower and everything got messier."

"The JSA?"

"Handling them," he answers. "We've already released a statement saying the details have been heavily exaggerated and pointing out Jason never took part in any of the fight or any of the Titans' battles." Dick frowns. "It's kind of weird, actually. A lot of the younger supporters actually seem in favor of a new Robin. Batgirl told me there's already fan pages."

"Not that surprising," she says. "Robin's always been a favorite for children. It's easier to relate to someone closer to their age, I suppose."

"I guess…" He smirks. "Wait, are you calling me old?"

Mera laughs and Artur grins, without knowing the context, tapping Dick's chest in the universal sign of put me down.

He complies, watching him toddle back, giggling all the way, to his mother,.

"I think you have a few more decades before that's a real worry," she says, running a hand through Artur's hair. She pauses. "You said he was only staying temporarily. Why?"

He sighs. "It's not safe. I think the attack at the Tower made that clear enough."

"Have you asked him what he wants?"

"I assume he wants to be safe and have a more normal life than superheroing," he says, tone carefully blank. "It's my job to make sure he gets that."

Mera watches him. "Funny. You know I had a very similar thought a few years ago."

"Then you were probably right." Dick says with a shrug.

She shakes her head. "Oh, no. I was decidedly wrong. And it took a reckless fourteen year old invading my palace to offer an ultimatum to show me that."

Dick understands her implication.

"Things were different then," he argues. "The world was falling. There wasn't a choice but to fight. Jason has a choice."

"He does," Mera says. "Maybe you should ask him what it is."

ooooooo

Dick is still thinking when he zetas back to the cave.

Jason's waiting for him. "How was Atlantis?"

"Interesting," he says. "Still sure you didn't want to come with? I do have a pretty good relationship with their royalty."

"Let me think, thousands of feet underwater with only magic holding it back from killing me," Jason asks. "Yeah, I think I'll pass."

He shrugs. "You get used to it."

"I'll stick to Gotham Harbor."

"You know I've been told by literally every Atlantean I know that Gotham Harbor is one of the worst-"

The cave intercom beeps.

"Master Dick, Master Jason," Alfred's voice rings out, "I believe it's imperative you come up to the manor. A package has just arrived on the front porch."

Dick frowns. "Um, Alfred, a package doesn't sound that imperative."

"It's addressed to Master Jason."

Dick turns to Jason, who shakes his head, looking just as lost as Dick.

The news that Jason Todd was at Wayne Manor had never been made public. No one knows he's here. Or, at least, they shouldn't.

They hit the stairs together, heading to the manor. Alfred greets them at the top, gesturing to the dining table.

The brown paper envelope lays there, looking entirely inconspicuous except for the words carefully printed on top. Jason Peter Todd, Wayne Manor.

"Should I open it?" Jason looks to Dick.

Alfred clears his throat. "I took the liberty to run it through the normal Wayne security measures. It should be safe."

Dick nods, turning back to Jason. "Only one way to tell what's inside."

Jason nods back, stepping carefully to the envelope as if it contained a bomb. Slowly, he breaks the seal. "It's just a piece of paper."

"What does it say?"

Jason frowns. "It's a birth certificate. Wait, it's my birth certificate."

"Why would someone send us your birth certificate?" Dick steps closer beside him, scanning the paper along with Jason.

It's water stained, parts obviously smeared, but the name at the top is obviously Jason's.

Jason notices it first, hands clenching around the paper.

"Dick…" His voice sounding small and confused. "Dick, that's not my Mom."

And then, Dick sees it. Down on the bottom line, right next to a water stain, a few lines from the bottom. A name. And not the one Dick found in his earlier search.

Not Catherine Mary Todd. But, Sheila Haywood.

ooooooo

Hours later, Jason sitting in the back of the cave and abnormally quiet.

Dick's still reading Barbara's report when the computer pings.

He turns to Jason. "No traces of forgery. The ink, the paper, even down to the water stains."

The only sign Jason hears him is a nod.

"Babs finished checking the hospital records. Your birth certificate was lost in the last flood. Water on this one matches the Gotham River."

Another nod.

"Zatanna didn't find any traces either so not a magic fake either."

Silence.

Dick steps in front of him, leaning down to eye level. "Jay, give me something. What are you thinking?"

Jason swallows, finally turning to meet Dick's eyes. "So...it's real?"

Dick breathes. "As far as we can tell, yes."

"Mom…" He pauses, lips pressing together. "Catherine Todd wasn't my mother."

"She wasn't your birth mother," Dick corrects gently. "I'm sure she loved you like one."

"She did," Jason says immediately before stopping and saying the words with more certainty. "She did. She always told me that, even during the bad times, she always said it. Shit, she tried to quit so many times before-" He takes a ragged breath. "So, who's this Sheila lady exactly?"

"Ex-Gothamite," Dick tells him. "According to her travel visa, currently working in a refugee camp in Ethiopia."

He hands him a file and Jason takes it, brushing a hand over it but not opening it.

"Relief worker, huh," he huffs out something that could be a laugh. "Is it bad that I expected some kind of petty criminal?"

"Do you want to meet her? We can arrange a plane, even zeta there if you want?"

A full five minutes pass in silence before Jason shakes his head.

"No." He lays the file down. "So, I'm adopted. So what? Whoever Sheila is she obviously didn't want to be a mother. She's got her own life."

"Just because she gave you up, doesn't mean she wanted to," Dick says.

Jason shrugs jerkily. "Or it does. Whatever. The point is...look, I had a mom. I didn't even know Sheila existed until a few hours ago. I don't know her. And...and I've got a life. Here. In Gotham. I'm not giving that up for someone I don't even know."

"Jason, are you sure?"

"Yes," Jason says firmly before hesitating. "I mean unless...unless you want me to go with her?"

"I'm not trying to say anything. It's your decision, Jay. Don't think about what I want, think about you." He sighs. "Look, if I had a chance to see any of my family again, I'd take it. Heck, sometimes, I still miss the circus so much I can't breathe."

Jason looks at him. "Then, what makes you stay?"

Dick shrugs. "Everyone here. My life. The Titans. Because as much as I love the circus, the people here are the ones I can't give up. This is my home."

"Yeah," Jason nods, still meeting his eyes. "Yeah, I get it. Mom, my real mom not Sheila, she always said that the best families were the ones you made for yourself. That's why I want to stay here."

Then, Jason hugs him.

Dick's arms come around fairly automatically. Which is good because his brain's still processing through that last sentence.

Because it kind of sounded like Jason…

Oh.

ooooooo

"Babs, I think Jason wants to stay here."

Barbara shoots him a look like he's gone crazy. They're in the office again, Dick left Jason in the cave at the monitors, which is hopefully a decent enough distraction.

"No, really, I'm serious," Dick says. "I think he wants to stay here. With me and Alfred. Like in the manor."

"Dick, did you hit your head recently," Barbara asks. "Of course, he wants to stay. He helps out Alfred in the kitchen, he picked books for the library. What part of that made you think he didn't want to stay?"

"But, why?"

"Oh, geeze, let me think. Why would a recently orphaned street kid want to stay in a literal mansion surrounded by people who obviously care about him? Why do you think we kept pushing you to take him the foster program weeks ago before everyone got attached?"

Okay, put like that, Dick kind of feels like an idiot.

"I didn't think he'd want to stay," he says softly.

Barbara sighs. "You've been in his shoes, Dick. How did you feel when you were taken in?"

He doesn't meet her eyes. "I wanted to stay for Bruce. Bruce isn't here."

"You're here."

"I'm not Bruce."

"No," Barbara's quiet. "But, being Dick Grayson might be enough for Jason."

Dick doesn't respond.

"Dick, whether he wants to stay isn't really a question anymore. The question is do you want him to and if not, you need to tell him. Now. Before it can hurt him anymore."

Of course, Dick wants him to stay. Jason's...Jason's family. Dick's not stupid, he can at least understand his own thoughts. But, that doesn't make anything easier. Dick knows. He's already lost a family twice. This can't be about him. What he wants is...

"I want what's best for him," he says.

Barbara regards him steadily. "Is it really so hard to believe that's here?"

Yes.

He doesn't say it because the sound of the door opening cuts him off before he can.

"There you are!" Jason shouts, breathing heavily. "Black Mask! On the monitors!"

Barbara and Dick move before he's even finished. There in the cave seconds later, looking at the monitors.

"That's the surveillance camera off the Robert Kane Bridge," Barbara says, strapping on her utility belt. "We need to go now."

"We're undermanned," Dick responds, already starting the cycle. "That looks like all of what's left of the Black Mask gang. We can't take down thirty armed guys just the two of us."

"If we wait, he escapes," she says back.

Dick bites his lip. "Jason, use the computer system to type a message to Gordon directly. Set it to 'Urgent.'" He looks back at Babs. "We wait until we have word they're close then move."

Barbara nods. "Got it."

"Wait!" Jason catches his arm before he can get on the cycle. "What else can I do?"

"Just contact Gordon," Dick says, trying to be comforting. "Don't worry, you can still see us a bit from the monitors."

Jason bit his lip. "Waiting by the monitors is what I did at the Tower."

"We'll try to avoid knocking out a camera this time," he reassures quickly.

Jason shakes his head. "That's not what I meant."

"Jason," Dick gives another quick look at the monitor. "We need to go."

Jason nods and his grip falls away.

Dick throws him one last look. "We'll be alright. Okay?"

And then, Dick's speeding out of the cave with Barbara right behind him.

Even breaking practically a quarter of the traffic laws on book, it still takes a precious seven minutes to get to the old storefront they saw Black Mask walk in. Seconds longer to get on the roof.

The building's old, no security system to hack into.

Instead, they go old fashion. Dick uses the glass cutters, making a small hole at the top of the window barely enough Barbara to stick a mirror through.

She checks before reporting with slightly vicious satisfaction. "We got him. Black Mask is still there. Plus his men. Crap, it looks like they're setting up another deal."

"It has to be a last shot at recouping funds. They don't have much left to lose." Dick doesn't allow himself to untense. "The meta?"

Another second. "Found him, right behind Black Mask. The intel was right, it's Clifford DeVoe." She frowns. "N, they're packing up the briefcases. They're getting ready to leave."

He checks the wrist computer. "Gotham PD's still five minutes out."

"They'll be gone by then. Along with the next deal."

Dick makes a decision. "Let's go. Aim for the lights first. Delay and distract until backup. Try not to directly engage."

They move together. There's the sound of windows breaking followed by a quick batarang that slices at the wires, slightly short of severing. The power blinks in and out around them.

Gunshots ring out immediately almost drowning out the sound of Black Mask's orders.

"KILL THEM!"

Dick would quip back if it wouldn't give away his position. He settles for a laugh, echoing against the metal in a way harder to pin.

Four minutes until Gotham PD arrives.

A ricochet bullet nearly catches Dick in the leg. He throws a batarang, knocking away two guns, before jumping to use the support beams of the roof as cover. Across the room, he sees Barbara weaving between shadows almost too quick for him to see, much less for the gunmen to catch.

In the flickering lights, Dick sees Black Mask shove Clifford DeVoe closer to the wall, four armed men around them. They're trying to escape.

Three minutes left. They will escape if Dick doesn't move.

He swings in their direction, just in time to see Black Mask pry open a back door.

Dick swears, giving up the support beams as a shield, to jump to the windows. A hale of unaimed bullets hammer around him, waiting to hit him the second he miscalculates.

He slips open the window, unheard in the chaos, to find Black Mask and his group heading to an alley.

Dick narrows his eyes. Not this time.

Two minutes left.

He flips over to kick off a wall, one batarang landing on a gunman's shoulder and sending him down with an electric pulse.

Unfortunately, it doesn't seem Black Mask's guys are a commiserating lot. The others don't waste time to see if their fallen member's alright before turning and firing in Dick's direction.

It's a lot harder to disarm without the flickering lights and in the tight space of the alley. He takes down two more, before the fourth one gets a lucky shot.

The bullet grazes his arm, not even enough to break through the protection of the suit, but enough of an impact to throw off his landing. He hits against the fire escape hard, barely able to turn it into a controlled fall before he lands in a crouch against the pavement.

When he looks up, the final gunman has a gun aimed straight at him and Black Mask standing right behind.

Black Mask looks down at him. "Bye bye, you little shit."

There's barely anywhere to move.

The gunman gets ready to fire. Dick gets ready to evade.

A blur of red and black slams into the gunman before either can do anything.

The gunman goes down hard, slamming against the wall, as the gun skids down the alley.

That's not what matters right now.

Robin is standing over the downed gunman.

No, not Robin, Dick thinks numbly.

Jason stands in the alley with a domino mask, a red hoodie, and a familiar old uniform with a bright yellow R.

Everything freezes for the span of one long moment.

And then, there's the sound of sirens, announcing the Gotham PD, and everything moves very quickly.

Black Mask pulls out a handgun, aims at Jason, and pulls the trigger.

Dick's faster, knocking Jason to the ground while the bullet embeds in stone an inch above.

By the time Dick turns back, Black Mask and DeVoe have disappeared in the darkness.

And Jason's staring up at him from behind white lenses.

ooooooo

There's a ringing silence in the cave, daring someone to break it.

Their masks are gone. Barbara's eyes keep flickering between the two of them in the same way she looks at a complicated piece of code.

Jason speaks first. "I'm sorry about Black Mask. I should've-"

"I don't care about Black Mask," Dick interrupts sharply.

Jason winces. "Is it about the hoodie? I'm sorry I changed it, I just thought it would work better for me than the cape. I can-"

"Jason, it's not about the hoodie! Why were you even there? I told you to stay in the cave! Why are you wearing that!" Dick points to the costume like a garish stain because that's about what it feels like, looking at it now. Like this.

"I know." Jason's stepping toward him. "Look, I know you told me to stay in the cave. Just like you told me to stay in the Tower. But, I can't keep doing that. I can't keep waiting where it's safe. Not if you want me to be Robin!"

Dick explodes. "Why would I want that?! Jason, why would you ever think I wanted you to be Robin?!"

What Dick wants is Jason to be safe. What Dick wants is for Jason to be happy. What Dick wants is for Jason to have every chance at a normal, good life that Dick will never get to have.

He never wanted this.

"I don't...I don't understand." Jason's stopped, color draining out of his face.

Dick scrubs a hand over his face. "Why did you think this is what I wanted?"

"B-because you said," Jason's breathing heavily and the words are coming quicker. "You said that Batman took you in and trained you to be Robin! And...and you took me to the cave and you told me about Batgirl and Alfred and you let me go to the Tower and the Titans wanted to meet me and you told me not to worry about the JSA and….and you said I was being useful!" He rubs roughly at his cheek and there's tears there now. "You said my tip helped with the Black Mask bust. You said I helped! I thought you wanted me to be Robin."

"Oh, shit," Barbara breathes softly.

Dick feels like he's been hit in the chest.

"Jay," He moves to Jason but Jason steps back, maintaining the distance. "No, Jay. I'm sorry. It was a misunderstanding. That's not what I want at all. I want-"

"Then, why did you even bring me here?" Now, Jason's shouting, too. Glaring up even through tears. "Why did you let me stay?"

"Jason," Barbara tries but Jason shakes his head at her

"No, Dick, tell me! Why did you let me stay?"

"I wanted to help you, Jason," Dick insists. "I still do. I just...look, I just didn't know what to do. Especially after you found out our identities. I didn't-"

"So, what," Jason yells, "you were going to just what? Make sure I didn't blab and drop me off at a foster program?"

Dick hesitates a second too long.

"Shit," Jason curses but he looks too hurt for it to still be anger. "That's...that's really what you were going to do, isn't it? Just drop me there like you take out the trash."

"Jason, no," Dick tries again, "come on, it wasn't like that at all. I just wanted what's best for you. Okay? Believe me. I care about you."

Jason laughs like it hurts him "Yeah, well, fool me once, am I right?"

Jason stops, looking at Dick with the same defiant expression he had when they first met. "Don't worry about your secrets, Dick. I'm not a snitch. You guys don't have to pretend to worry about me anymore."

And then, he's turning, faster than Dick can catch him, and running up the stairs and disappearing up to the manor.

Barbara lays a hand on Dick's shoulder. "Well, that could have gone better."

And isn't that the understatement of a century.

ooooooo

Jason doesn't come down to breakfast the next day. By lunchtime, Dick goes up to check his room.

There's nothing. Bed perfectly made. Floor completely clean. Books neatly stacked. Empty. The only thing marking Jason's stay in the place is a folded Robin costume laying on the dresser.

Jason's gone.

"We'll find him," Barbara says. "It's Jason. Even mad, he's got a good head on his shoulders and he can't have gone far. He'll be okay."

Dick sighs. "I'm an idiot."

Barbara shakes his head. "You're not. And you care. I'll keep an eye on the monitors. Just give him a chance to calm down and we'll go find him tonight."

"And then what? He probably hates me."

"He doesn't hate you. If he did, he wouldn't be this mad," she says. "Look, just go to the Tower or something so you're not moping all day in his room when we go find him. You need to clear your head too."

Dick doesn't want to leave which probably means Babs has a point. "And if you find him on the monitors?"

"I'll comm you immediately."

"And Black Mask?"

"I'll monitor for him, too," Barbara says but the doubt is evident in her tone.

There hasn't been any sign of him since last night. Or DeVoe. If Dick had a guess, he'd say they've finally gone to ground. As far away from Gotham as they can possibly manage and as fast as they could.

He should; but, Dick can't say he particularly gives a shit about the Black Mask bust right now. Not with Jason missing.

"Okay...okay," He breathes and gives her a lopsided smile. "Thanks, Babs."

"Anytime." She shoves him to the zeta. "Now, go."

Of course, because apparently it's that kind of day, this is one of the few times the Tower's not filled with people to distract him. There's still a couple, though. And luckily, one's incredibly distracting.

"Hey," Dick drops heavily into the couch next to Kory. "Where is everyone?"

She smiles. "The Watchtower. Roy thought today would be a good a day as any to do a quick maintenance check. They just left."

For half a second, Dick considers leaving and following them. But, it already feels uncomfortable enough waiting for news as far away as the Tower, he's not willing to test his nerves on not even being on the planet.

"I'm surprised," Dick teases, trying to sound normal. "An alien princess turning down a space mission. Even if it's just a satellite."

She laughs, swatting at his arm. "I believe I have spent time enough in space that I can choose now to enjoy a day on Earth. Besides, I wanted to keep company with Lilith today."

"I'm still feeling a little astraphobic." Lilith says, looking up from her book and shifting uncomfortably. "Space is….a little bit weird on telepaths. Lack of noise, I think."

"And why are you here?" Kory turns to Dick. "As much as I adore the company, I thought you were staying with Jason today?"

Dick freezes.

Lilith and Kory are both still looking at him.

Slowly, Liltih's eyes widen, sensing….whatever emotions Dick is giving off, he doesn't even know.

She sits her book on the table, speaking quietly. "I think I'm going to get some water from the kitchen. Would you like any?"

Kory shakes her head for both of them, mouth turning down in a small frown as Dick still doesn't move to speak.

She waits until they're alone. "Dick, what is wrong?"

"I...I messed up. Bad."

Just like everyone warned him about.

Kory lays a hand on his. "What happened?"

"He left. He ran away. We're still trying to find him. He thought I wanted him to be Robin, Kory," Dick says in a rush. "He thought I was training him to be Robin. As if...as if I would ever force someone into that. Let alone Jason. Why would...Why?"

She sighs. "He probably did not see it as force. Not if he already made the choice on his own."

"Why did he decide that though?" His hand clenches on the couch. "Did he think he had to? Did he think that was the only reason I let him stay? How could he think I would do that to him? Make him be Robin? What kind of person makes someone think that the only way they'll be accepted in a house is to be forced into vigilantism?"

How did I mess up this bad?

"Oh, my friend," Kory shakes her head. "You overthink it. You are seeing darkness when there was only love. I told you. He looks to you. He cares. Robin is not a burden to him, not something forced upon him. It is an honor." She squeezes his hand. "It is always an honor to fight for the ones we love. It is what makes a hero."

"I just wanted him to be safe, Kory," Dick says. "I just wanted him to get to have a normal life."

Kory tilts her head. "And if you only allow him to have this 'normal life' instead of doing what he wishes isn't that not forcing him in the same way you wish to avoid?"

Dick doesn't answer and Kory doesn't seem to expect him to, just patting his arm gently and standing to put one of the movies from Dick's collection that he leaves at the Tower. It's an old black and white Sherlock Holmes movie, the same kind found late at night on classic movie channels.

It's one that he used to watch with Bruce after patrol.

Dick looks down at his hands, smiling wryly. "I'm an idiot, aren't I?"

"Never." Kory laces her fingers through his. "Just sometimes blind to your own heart."

He needs to talk to Jason.

As if an answer to his thoughts, his comm buzzes.

He clicks it. "Babs, did you-"

"Dick, he hacked the zeta beam!"

Dick stands. "What? How? When?"

Across the line, Barbara's voice sounds harried. "I've been teaching him coding. The zeta records show it was accessed this early this morning. No immediate alert, Jason tried to hide it in between the maintenance codes." And despite the situation, Dick could hear a touch of pride in her voice. "Not quite hidden enough, though, when you know what you're looking for. I'm trying to access the location now."

The sound of typing echoes in his ear. Beside him, Kory's still sitting at the couch, looking worried.

"Got him!" A pause and then more urgent. "Dick, the zeta was to Ethiopia!"

He swears. "He's going to see Sheila Haywood."

"His mother," Barbara breathes before she's back to business. "What's the plan?"

"I'm going after him," Dick says, already heading to the zeta. "He...he doesn't even know Ethiopia. I've gotta make sure he's okay."

Even if he doesn't want to see me. Even if would rather be with his mother.

Dick can't let it end without talking to him first.

Barbara understands. "Alright. I'm coming with you, okay, Dick?"

It's not a question.

"I'll meet you at the zeta point in Mekelle," Dick promises.

He's almost to the Tower zeta when Kory grabs his arm, Lilith behind her.

"May we help you," Kory asks.

And Dick nods because, frankly….he can't help but feel he'll need all the help he can get.

ooooooo

According to her file, Sheila Haywood-former Gotham city doctor-is stationed right outside the village of Koraro in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. The closest zeta is in Mekelle.

Jason should have beaten them there by hours.

When they get there, Jason's not there.

Dr. Haywood is standing alone in the tent, a clipboard held so tightly in her hands that her knuckles have gone white.

She looks up when they walk in, surprise flashing briefly before it's tucked away.

"Can I help you?" She smiles and it's fake, fake, fake.

Alarm bells start to go off in Dick's mind.

He smiles back. They're all in civilian clothes. Kory's waiting for them just outside of camp.

"Where looking for a boy," he tells her. "Thirteen years old. Black hair. Blue eyes. Named Jason. We think he came here earlier today."

There's a well concealed panic behind her eyes as she laughs pleasantly. "I'm sorry, I haven't seen anyone today but my patients."

Lilith steps forward. "She's lying."

"Where is he," Dick says and this time, it's a lot less friendly.

Dr. Haywood's breathing quickens. "I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know about a boy."

"Look, we're trying to see if he's okay," Barbara says. "Just tell us what happened."

"You need to leave. Now." She shouts, eyes flickering around the room. "I didn't do anything wrong!"

She steps back and Dick can sees a flash of red, barely sticking out of a medical box.

He leans down to pull it out. Jason's hoodie. Dirt scraped against it as if it had been thrown to the floor.

He straightens and turns to Sheila, teeth clenched tightly. "Where. Is. He?"

Sheila backs to the very edge of the tent with wide panicked eyes.

"I'm sorry," she says. "I didn't have a choice."

"Lilith," Dick orders.

Lilith nods, hand going to her head and eyes falling closed.

There's a quick intake of breath from Sheila. "What are you doing?"

"Jason was here," Lilith reports, eyes still shut. "She saw him. Earlier today. She….she knew he was coming. Someone...a letter told her he might be coming weeks ago. It said...it said if he did, she needed to…." Lilith's eyes pop open. "She sold him out to Black Mask."

Dick goes entirely cold.

"What," Barbara hisses.

"I didn't have a choice!" Sheila shouts, tears streaming down her face. "They were going to ruin me! Everything I worked so hard to build back here after the malpractice suit!"

Lilith shakes her head, hands balled up into fists. "Lying. They blackmailed her because she's embezzling from the relief care."

"You heartless bitch!" Barbara curses, inches away from Shelia's face. "Where did they take him?"

"I don't know!' She launches forward, hands closing around Dick's collar where he's still frozen solid. "Please, please, you have to believe me! They didn't tell me! I thought he was just some rich kid Black Mask wanted to ransom. I didn't know they would hurt him!"

That breaks through.

He shoves her off of him. "He's your son!"

"My s-son? I don't...I don't have a…." Her eyes widen, the first hint of true horror behind them. "Oh. Oh. You said his name was Jason?" She shakes her head. "I never….I never found out his name."

She sinks to the ground of the tent, tears still falling down her shocked face.

"We don't have time for this," Barbara snaps. "Do you know where he is or not?"

Sheila shakes her head. "They didn't tell me….but…." She looks up. "They were in a black car, heading west. The only...the only thing over there is an old military outpost."

They don't wait around for more, turning immediately and leaving one sad woman with dirt stained tear tracks sitting alone on the floor.

She grabs Dick hand before he can leave. "Tell him….tell my son I'm sorry."

"You don't deserve him." Dick pulls his hand away for more important things.

ooooooo

The ten minute drive feels like it takes hours and every second is terrible.

It feels like….it feels like waking up after the invasion. The handful of seconds before he remembered when he just knew everything was wrong.

Kory and Barbara are with him, Barbara at the wheel while Kory flies above scanning for any signs. Lilith's back in Mekelle, trying to get in contact with the rest of the team.

Babs glances over at him. "We'll find him, Dick."

Dick nods, wanting so bad to say something reassuring back to her like a good partner would but the words keep drying out in his throat.

It's not finding him that he's worried about. It's what they'll find.

Kory lands behind them in the jeep. "I found the outpost. Right over this hill."

"Any sign of Jason," Dick asks. "Or Black Mask?"

She frowns. "I did not see Jason. But, the man with the odd face got in a car."

"Where was it heading?" Barbara's hands are tight on the wheel.

"Further west. I can follow it?"

Dick tries to breathe. "Jason wasn't with him?"

"Not that I saw."

Okay, Dick just needs to think. Think and make the right decision. If Kory doesn't follow now, there's a good chance they lose Black Mask. But…

"If Jason wasn't with him, then he left him at the outpost," he says. "Jason's the priority. Not catching Black Mask. Kory, stay with us for now."

Black Mask isn't they type who just leaves people he's kidnapped. If…no, Dick's not going to think it. If Jason needs medical help, Kory's the one that can get him there fastest.

Barbara tops the hill and the outpost comes into sight. Dick prays.

The car barely stops before he's running, Kory and Barbara behind him.

The door's locked for all of a second before Kory's melting the lock.

"Jason!" Dick shouts.

There's no answer and for a second, Dick thinks he was wrong. That he made the wrong decision and Jason's still stuck in a car with Black Mask, getting further away.

And then he sees the figure laying in the corner, next to a crowbar.

Jason.

Dick's there, beside him and leaning in to check for a pulse, to see if there's breath, to find if…

It's there. Jason's alive and Dick can breathe.

There's a groan and he carefully pulls Jason's over, careful about the arm that he's fairly sure is broken. Jason's face isn't much better, heavily bruised with a split lip and a definitely broken nose

"...D-Dick?" a voice rasps out unsteadily.

"Yeah, yeah, don't worry, It's me" Dick runs a hand through his hair. "Shit, shit...Hey, I'm sorry but everything's going to be alright, okay? We're going to get you out of here."

The fog from Jason's eyes clears slightly. "Leave….Dick, you need to get out….Now."

Dick's chest tightens. "Jay, we're not going anywhere. I promise."

Jason tries to shake his head. "No. Bomb!"

"DICK!" Barbara yells and Dick turns.

Strapped to the crumbling support structure is enough explosives to level the entire building, counting down with a simple little timer.

Seven seconds.

Dick almost wants to laugh.

Time is kind of a funny thing. Because seven seconds? There's not much that can be done in seven seconds. Not much at all. It's not enough time to escape an exploding building, certainly not while carrying an injured teenager.

And that means that they need another solution. Because Dick might be able to die here. But, he's not letting Babs, Kory, or Jason die, too.

Five seconds.

He turns to Kory. "Can you absorb the explosion?"

"I," Her eyes widen. "I don't know."

He smiles like it's the last thing he's ever going to do. "Just try, okay?"

Two seconds.

Barbara is crouched down beside him. Kory is standing, looking at the bomb. Jason is in his arms, looking at him like he's crazy.

Dick meets his eyes. "I'm sorry."

The bomb explodes.

ooooooo

The beep of the medical equipment and the soft even pace of breathing are the only sounds in the Tower medical bay.

Dick waits in the visitor chair while Barbara's folded up on the other, just given in to the exhaustion to fall into a light sleep.

Jason lays between them, unmoving and hooked up to wires.

And alive, Dick reminds himself. We're all still alive.

The med bay door slides open and Dick spares the newcomer a brief glance.

"How is he," Roy asks.

"Better," Dick says, careful to keep his voice quiet. "Jade's finished her medical check and Garth did what he could for the bruises. Still has a broken arm, sore ribs, and a concussion."

"Has he woken up yet?"

Dick shakes his head, not looking away. "Not since the outpost. Jade says it's good, it means he's healing."

"She would know best." Roy takes the third chair. "I've got news. We got DeVoe...and Black Mask. He's in a holding cell downstairs."

"Keep him away from me," Dick orders, tone going sharp and dangerous.

Roy nods, not even trying to argue. He's always been one of the more in-tune with just how fine the line was between vigilantism and the much darker shade of revenge.

"We barely stopped Donna from giving him some broken bones to match," he admits and Dick tries not to feel pleased because that leads down a bad road he can't afford.

Looking at Jason, he's not sure he succeeds completely.

"Lilith handled the interrogation," Roy says and then he shifts, tensing in a way that says he's holding something back.

"Tell me."

Roy sighs. "He didn't even know Jason's name. Just got a briefcase of money and a note that the kid who tipped off his drug bust would be in Ethiopia with the address of Sheila Haywood. He headed there straight from Gotham with DeVoe keeping the flight off scanners."

"Anything else from Sheila?"

"Not that you didn't already tell us. She's being brought up on embezzlement charges, by the way."

Dick feels tired. "It was all planned. Everything. Sending Jason the birth certificate. Blackmailing Sheila. Making sure Black Mask was there with a motive. Somebody wanted Jason to die."

"And who do we know with deep pockets and a track record of using other guys to do their dirty work," Roy asks.

"It's the Light again." He grinds his teeth. "And we're still no closer to finding them."

And this time, they were using Jason to hurt Dick. It all started after Jason appeared on the newscast. They targeted Jason specifically almost immediately after, even while he was wearing a mask. Which also means...

Someone knew their identities.

He doesn't say it aloud as if giving it voice will make it true. He needs to tell Barbara. Alfred. He needs to figure out how far this goes before he's ready to lay it out to the team.

Luckily, Roy doesn't comment. Instead, he looks to Jason. "So, what's your plan here?"

"I don't know." Dick's so tired. "It depends on what he chooses when he wakes up. Every time I try to make a choice for him it ends up being the wrong one."

Roy huffs "Maybe not every time. He did seem happy."

Dick doesn't answer and luckily he doesn't have to before Jason shifts slightly in the bed, letting out a small groan.

"Guess that's now." Roy stands up. "Seems like a private discussion."

Dick barely pauses to give him a nod, eyes focused on Jason as the sound of the med bay door sliding shut echoes in the room.

Jason's waking up.

It's not all at once. It's slow like something fragile unfolding as Dick watches. First, there's movement beneath the lids. Then lashes begin to move, getting faster, getting closer. Until, finally…

Jason open his eyes.

"Hey," Dick says softly and the eyes turn to him. "Welcome back."

Jason open his mouth to speak and coughs. Dick hands him some water to hold in his good arm.

"Where am I," Jason manages after the first sip.

"Tower med bay," he answers. "Do you remember why?"

Jason nods and then his eyes go wide, almost shooting up in the bed before Dick's hand is there holding him back.

"The bomb!" Jason shouts. "Barbara? Starfire? You-what?"

Dick hand goes to his shoulder, trying to calm him. "They're fine. We're all fine. Barbara's right there."

He points to the chair, where Barbara's still asleep though he has a growing suspicion she's feigning it to give him a chance to talk to Jason alone.

Jason doesn't calm but he stops shooting out of the bed. "Starfire?"

"She's fine, too. She's still trying to work through the energy of absorbing the bomb blast. I'm sure she'll be around to see you soon."

Jason takes a shuddering breath. "I...I thought you were going to die. I thought all of you were going to die. All because I…" He curls into himself. "I didn't think you'd come. I didn't think you'd even look for me."

"Jay…we were looking for you the second we realized you were gone." He tries to meet Jason's eyes but the teenager looks down. "We...I was always going to come to find you. Jason, I'm so sorry. This is my fault, this should never have-"

"So, what happens to me now," Jason cuts him off, still looking down. "I guess I can't just go to the Gotham foster program, not with Black Mask knowing my face."

Dick sighs and supposes this is a good a time as any. "You can, actually. If you want. Lilith suppressed your identity while she was interrogating him, he shouldn't remember you exactly even if he did think you survived. You can go to the Gotham foster programs. Or Central City if you wanted. Metropolis. Or…" Dick breathes and tries to remember that this won't fix anything. That it might even make it worse. But, he can't quite stop himself from wishing.

"Or you can just stay at the manor with us."

Jason jerks his head, something hopeful there for a second there before it's smothered beneath suspicion.

He folds into himself even further like protecting against a blow. "This is about what happened in Ethiopia, isn't it?"

Dick shakes his head immediately. "No."

"Yeah, right," Jason scoffs.

"Well, okay," he admits. "Yeah, maybe a little, but it's not what you think."

Jason rolls his eyes. "If you're letting me stay just because of some warped kind of guilt, don't bother. I'm not five. I'm not going to run into traffic the second you turn your back"

"No, just Ethiopia," Dick mutters before he can stop himself.

Jason glares. "The point is I'm not anyone's fucked up responsibility, Dick."

"Remember, how I told you it's not what you think?"

"Well, what else am I supposed to think," Jason yells. "You told me you didn't want me! My own mother sold me out to be murdered! Sorry if I don't believe anyone's lining up at the door to take me in!"

"I am," Dick insists.

"I don't believe you!"

"You almost died, Jason," Dick finally snaps. "When I heard that Black Mask was leaving, I thought you were dead! I thought I was never going to see you again!"

Jason flinches.

"Thought that's what you wanted," he says, but the tone's not combative anymore. It's gone sullen, wary.

Dick tries to meet his eyes but Jason looks down again. "

"Jason," he says gently, "The reason I didn't want you to be Robin, the reason I didn't think you should stay in the manor, isn't because I didn't want you there. It was never about you not being good enough, it's because I'm not. This life's not. You deserve better."

Jason finally looks up, even if it's through narrowed eyes "What are you talking about, Dick? You're Nightwing. You stopped the invasion. You're leader of the Titans. You're everyone's freaking golden boy. You're practically perfect."

Dick laughs, short and slightly bitter. "I'm not. Trust me, I'm really, really not." He holds up a hand when Jason tries to interrupt again. "Jay, I'm seventeen years old and I've already lost pretty much every family I've had twice. I became Robin when I had practically nothing left. I became Nightwing when it happened again. And, don't get me wrong, I never regret those choices. I love what I do, I love Barbara, I love the team. But, that doesn't mean there's not things I've had to give up for this." He shakes his head. "I didn't want that life for you, too. I didn't want you to have to give up anything. I wanted you to have a choice."

When Dick finally stops, Jason's finally looking at him and there's something there as fragile as spun glass.

"What if...what if my choice was to stay with you?"

Dick smiles. "Then, I'd say I'm pretty lucky, huh."

Jason hitches on a breath like he's trying very, very hard to swallow down an emotion. Dick understands the feeling.

"You really want me there," Jason asks.

Dick nods. "As long as you want to be there."

And then, Jason's hugging him and Dick just barely has warning enough to protect the broken arm.

Dick holds him and something in his chest finally settles.

"Hey, Dick," Jason mutters into his shoulder. "What if I chose to be a hero, too? Like you do?"

Dick sighs, pulling Jason a bit closer. "You know you don't have to, right? It's not like a requirement to stay in the manor or anything. Believe me, Alfred would be thrilled to have at least one of us not go into vigilantism."

Jason leans back, regarding him seriously. "I can't just stay at the monitors forever. I want to help."

Dick really wishes he didn't understand.

"It's your choice, Jason." He pauses and laugh suddenly. "Plus, if you're anything like literally every single person I know, it's not something people can really stop you from. Even Batman couldn't. And, trust me, he tried."

"Really?"

"I'll tell you about it one day," Dick promises.

And he will. They have time.

ooooooo

A week and one heavily edited version of a first meeting later, Jason Todd is officially declared second ward of Alfred Pennyworth and adopted brother of Dick Grayson. They celebrate with Alfred's prized cake recipe and cheerfully ignoring the increasingly insistent calls for interviews.

That night, as a usual night in Wayne Manor, is spent in the cave.

"This is terrible and I hate it," Jason mutters.

Dick grins. "Tell that to Alfred."

Unfortunately for Jason, the elder butler also has taken said adoption as the final push to insist Jason begin studying for the school placement exams.

Dick leans over Jason's shoulder to check the book. "I thought you liked English?"

"Not with the shitty books they choose," he argues, somehow using a batarang to scratch under his arm cast. "Ugh, there's a reason people thought this was crap when it came out."

"You tell them." Dick plucks the batarang out of his hands. "And, no, there's no way we're explaining that to a doctor if that gets stuck under there."

Jason grumbles but doesn't try to reach for it again so Dick's counting that as a win.

"With Garth's healing, it should only be a couple more weeks anyway," he adds in consolation.

Jason looks up, book momentarily forgotten. "And then...and then, you'll start training me? Like for real this time?"

Dick smiles. "Oh, don't worry, I'm going to give you sooooo much training. And first aid. Like the most training possible, Jason, before we even consider going for a grappling gun."

By the way Jason's grin goes wide, he assumes this didn't have quite the grueling implication Dick intended. Ah, well.

"Bring it!"

Dick grins back. "Ha, just wait until Babs tells you about endurance training."

Jason rolls his eyes and turns back to his book.

A few moments pass before, "Hey, Dick?"

"Yeah?"

Jason scratches the back of his neck. "About Robin. I don't have to be Robin...I mean if that was your thing, that's fine. I can find a different name."

Dick squeezes his shoulder. "Is that your way of saying you've finally come around to Littlewing?"

Jason's face scrunches. "Bleh, no, that's still terrible!"

"Whatever you say, Littlewing." He laughs lightly before swapping his tone to something more genuine. "But, no, actually, I think Robin would be a great name for you. If you want it. Fits kind of perfect, actually."

"Why?"

"Robin was my mother's name for me," Dick shrugs, trying to aim for casual. "It's why I chose the colors. They're what my family's used to perform in."

Jason winces. "Shit, I didn't know. I'm sorry about changing out the cape, I can-"

"No," He shakes his head. "No, that's fine. It's your costume now. You don't have to do what I did. You shouldn't, it's yours. Do what you want with it. What I'm saying is," Dick takes a breath, "Robin's a family name. That's why I think you should have it."

Jason's staring at him with big open eyes. "Really?"

"No one better," Dick says.

And then, Jason smiles. Bright and beautiful and alive.

Robin returns to Gotham.

ooooooo

A/N: Whew, guys, I hope you enjoyed this one. I decided to post this one all as one instead of breaking it up into two parts so please let me know you're thoughts on which method you preferred. Also, I'm admittedly a bit nervous about this chapter so any comments are definitely appreciated. As always, thank you for reading and hope you enjoyed. Next Chapter: Year 5: A Not So Lonely Place