Sorry for the delay. This chapter is extra long, like extra long to make up for that ;) Next chapter will probably be late too.
There is a reference to one of the episodes of Gotham (I wonder if you'll get it;)) and some spoiler notes at the end of this chapter, if you're not watching this show.
DISCLAIMER: I don't own Batman/Nightwing/Red Hood/Gotham and it's characters.
"Please, try to stay out of sight," Red Hood requested. He was being paranoid and overprotective, he knew. But he couldn't help it, especially because Dick became very clingy since this morning.
Jay was woken up just a couple of hours after he went to sleep by Dick's quiet whimpering and restless moving next to him. Concerned, he checked the boy over. He didn't find anything wrong with him, besides the fact he was crying in his sleep. Jason frowned and shook Dick lightly to wake him up. Dick remained asleep, just cried out Jay's name with fresh wave of tears following. Apparently the kid was too exhausted to even woke up from a nightmare. Jason winced in sympathy and curled around Dick protectively.
"Shh, it's okay," he murmured soothingly. He kissed Dick's sweaty forehead, reaching for discarded stuffed elephant. He tucked it next to Dick and the boy immediately latched onto it with a death grip. Jason shifted to a more comfortable position and gathered Dick closer. He rubbed his back and kept whispering reassurances into his ear until Dick settled down. He checked on the kid once more and went back to sleep.
When Jason woke up around noon, Dick was still asleep. He carefully extracted himself from the bed and after borrowing some clothes from the drawer, went to take a shower in the adjacent bathroom. Done with showering and dressing, Jason walked back to the room to find Dick sitting on the bed. He was looking around blearily, clearly still half asleep, clutching the toy to his chest. His eyes shined with unshed tears, corners of his mouth were turned down and his chin trembled. Shit, did the kid have another nightmare while he was in the bathroom?
"Hey," Jason called softly, walking closer.
Dick immediately zeroed in on him and with an incoherent noise scrambled across the bed to him.
Jason sat down on the edge of the bed and allowed Dick to wrap himself around him.
"Hey, it's okay," Jason comforted just as he had done earlier. "It was just a dream."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Jason asked after Dick calmed down. A lot quicker this time. Dick shook his head. "Do you want to go back to sleep?" Another head shake. "Alright. Go take a shower, then-" Jason almost choked as Dick tightened his hold around his neck at that. "Jesus! Easy. I'm not going anywhere. I promise. I'll just sit here, while you shower and then we'll go find something for breakfast. Yeah?" He jostled the limpet a few times. "C'mon," he encouraged.
Dick pulled away with great reluctance, throwing him a skeptical look. Jason refrained from rolling his eyes, just barely. Instead he got up and walked to the bag he packed before their trip to the manor, which appeared mysteriously by the now closed door.
"Take your pick," Jason invited, setting Dick down on his feet.
Dick pulled out the clothes he wanted and handed them to Jason, then he grabbed his leg and dragged them both to the bathroom. Jason sighed and went obediently.
"Do you need any help?" Red Hood asked as he put the bundle of clothes on the small counter.
Dick surveyed the bathing room and shook his head. Still, he made a distressed sound and frantically grabbed at Jason when he moved to leave the room.
"Dick?" Red Hood crouched down, worried. "What's wrong?"
His only response was the kid latching onto his neck again.
Jason sighed. He wasn't sure what to do now. The only thing clear was, that Dick didn't want him to leave and wanted to have him within his line of sight at least. Cuddling was apparently the thing Dick wanted the most, but there was no way Jason was taking another shower with the kid.
"You know," Jay mused, trying not to shudder at the thought of what he was about to propose. "The sooner you get cleaned up, the sooner we can eat breakfast and spend time watching some movies with everyone else."
Dick heaved a sigh and nodded, slowly pulling away. Because movie time was basically a cuddle feast for the acrobat, and they all knew it.
"Get to it," Jason ordered lightly. "I'll wait for you here."
Dick nodded again and pushed at Jason to get him out of the bathroom, closing the door after him. Jason chuckled and went to sprawl himself on the chair to wait. A minute later Dick peeked out.
"Still here," Jason assured.
Little Nightwing went red with embarrassment and slammed the door shut.
About ten minutes later Dick emerged from the bathroom. He seemed more composed, clad in jeans and black shirt with Red Hood's logo. His wet hair dripped onto the towel he had wrapped around his neck as he walked up to Jason.
"Maybe we should get your hair cut," Jason grinned, as he tugged the towel free and proceeded to rub Dick's head dry. The kid leant into it eagerly.
"There," Jay declared after he deemed the hair dry enough and wrestled it into some sort of order. He got up and chucked the towel into the bathroom without even looking. He didn't want to see what mess Dick managed to create in there. Not before breakfast at least.
"Up," Dick demanded, throwing his arms up, looking at Jason expectantly.
"Oh, he speaks!" Red Hood exclaimed, picking the kid up. Predictably, Dick wrapped himself around him tightly. "Seriously, Dickie-Bird, tell me what's wrong, because I have no idea what to do."
"Joker killed you," Dick sniffed. "And I couldn't do anything to stop him."
Jason froze momentary. Yeah, he had an idea it was about him, but he wasn't expecting it to be that.
"Been there, done that," Jason said. "I'm here and fine now."
"But Joker is still out there," Dick pointed out.
Yeah, well…
"He's laying low for now," Red Hood comforted. "Besides the entire Batclan has my back this time around." As much as he didn't want to admit it.
"Of course," Dick affirmed.
"So don't worry too much," Jason started to the exit from the room. "And I'll be extra careful, okay?"
"Okay," the kid echoed.
Jason paused at the entrance.
"You're not bringing your elephant?" he asked.
Dick shook his head violently and buried deeper into Jason's shoulder. Ah, the embarrassment.
"That's a shame," Jason teased. "It was so cute."
"Shut up," Dick grumbled.
They were the last ones to make it to the dining room. Alfred shooed them away from the kitchen, stating, that there was too many of them to fit comfortably around the table there, so the breakfast was served in the other room. Others were already there in various stages of getting breakfast.
"Finally!" Stephanie exclaimed as she spotted them. "I was about to go to wake you up." She smiled slyly, "And maybe get some more cute pictures of you sleeping and cuddling."
Dick looked at him questioningly. Jason just shook his head, sorely regretting not closing and locking the door to Dick's room as soon as he got there. He put the kid down and made his way to sit on one of the two free seats between Damian and Tim. Dick on the other hand made a point to great each of them with a hug. Jason didn't pay attention to that, because he was too busy staring at Bruce.
Bruce, whom choked a little in surprise as he saw the red bat on Dick's shirt. And then honest to God pouted. Just for a moment, before he caught himself and schooled his expression back into calm indifference. Then he shifted his eyes to Jason.
"I didn't know they make those," he said carefully.
"I didn't either," Jay shrugged.
"Of course they do," Dick stated, scrambling up into Jason's lap and stealing food from his plate.
"Why wouldn't they?" Tim commented. "Red Hood is as much of Blüdhaven's hero as Nightwing is."
"Really?" Jason questioned curiously.
Yeah, he maybe wandered into Blüdhaven and helped a bunch of people there. He didn't even kill anyone then. But the incidents were few and far between, so he didn't think he made a difference. Apparently he was wrong.
Everyone paused to stare at him incredulously.
"You didn't know?" Dick sounded so distressed by that, that Jason instantly moved to sooth him.
"I know now," Jason shrugged indifferently, though the knowledge blew his mind. And Dick was okay with it despite Blüdhaven being his city. "So everything is alright in the world. Let's eat, you little thief. I'm starving."
They went back to eating and then relocated to the living room to watch a movie.
Jason sat on the couch, Dick immediately was back on his lap, snuggling up to all of his heart's content. Tim soon followed, cuddling into Jason's left side and reluctant Damian into right a minute later. Huh, apparently the stern talking to Red Hood dished out to them between one bad guy and the next had worked. He'll just wait and see for how long it would last.
After the movie they dispersed. Bruce went to the office to get some of his work done. Damian seemed to use all of his reserves for being in their presence for the moment, because he went down to the Cave to train. Barbara went home. Cassandra got called back to China and had a plane to catch soon. Stephanie decided to accompany her, so the two of them went to prepare for the trip. Jason offered to give them a lift to the airport. And where Jason went, Dick of course followed. Tim invited himself along.
While they were waiting for the girls to come back down, Dick amused himself with playing on the chandelier and banister. Jason and Tim watched him closely, ready to catch him if he happened to fall. He didn't, but he took to just flinging himself at them expecting them to catch him anyway.
Finally the girls were ready and they bundled into the car. At the airport Dick hugged the life out of Cass and Steph, sniffing all the while and made them promise to come back soon. After they watched the take off, the boys made their way back to the car.
"So," Tim stuck his hands into the pockets and shuffled his feet as Jason unlocked the car. "You have something to tell me?"
"Nope," Red Hood stated, and sat in the driver's seat.
"Huh?" Dick looked at him questioningly.
Tim shook his head with a smile and held the door open for him to get in the back and then got in himself. He shifted to look behind him from the passenger seat at Dick, who struggled with straps on the car seat with more expertize than before.
"Last night," Tim prompted. "You told me you have to tell me something when I carried you upstairs. You were out of it though, so you may not remember."
"It was you?" Dick asked in surprise. He was sure it was Alfred, since only he and Barbara were in the manor at the time.
"How do we know it was really you?" Jason chimed in protectively.
Tim huffed in amusement.
"I went back to the Cave to pick up more of the antitoxin," he explained. "Dick was asleep and Alfred wanted to take him to his room. I volunteered instead. He even let me go in the costume." He looked at Dick, "You said to remind you to tell me something."
Dick bit his lip and glanced at Jason.
"He did went to the Cave for something," Red Hood confirmed.
Oh. So it was Tim, then. But. He couldn't do it. Jason knowing was bad enough and Dick still was waiting for him to just up and leave.
"I just wanted to tell you I love you," Dick said instead going into details of his wish.
Jason snorted.
"I love you too, Dick," Tim replied easily.
"Alright, enough of this crap," Jason protested, starting the car. "We gotta prepare for patrol."
Dick lit up instantly.
"I'm ready!" the kid shared excitedly. "Alfred made me a new costume! It has everything my old one has."
"What?" Jason choked out.
"You're going on patrol?" Tim asked, horrified.
"You weren't supposed to say anything!" Jason exclaimed.
"It slipped out," Dick shrugged.
"Jason!" Tim scolded.
"Hey!" Red Hood defended. "You would rather Dick sneak out on his own?"
Tim shuddered at the thought.
"Yeah, didn't think so," Jason commented.
"I'm not a child!" Dick cried indignantly. "I'm perfectly capable-"
"We had a deal?" Jason interrupted.
Dick pouted and crossed his arms angrily.
"We had a deal," he gritted out.
"End of discussion then," Jay settled.
The rest of the ride passed in silence. Once they were in the manor, Tim went to check on his Titans team. Dick used his puppy dog eyes to coerce Jason into watching another movie with him, practically purring as he cuddled some more with his little brother.
Jason used that time to plan their patrol route. First, they would go earlier than usual, because Jason didn't want to drag a tired child around the city if he didn't really had to. Second, he wanted to go into more safe areas, so they had better chance at not getting into something way over their heads.
After the movie they ate some dinner and loitered around until Jason announced it was time for them to head out.
Dick skipped happily next to him on the way to the Batcave and then hid himself, while he dressed into his uniform. Jason waited patiently, going through the checkup on his gear.
"Well? What do you think?" Dick asked, twirling around once he popped back up next to Red Hood, startling him a little.
Jason looked down at him and smiled.
Dick was dressed similar to his Nightwing outfit. All black with a blue V covering his chest and back. However he didn't have strips down his arms and fingertips and weirdly enough Jason missed those.
"Perfect, Tiny Nightwing," Red Hood praised.
"You are not calling me that," Dick huffed.
"Uhuh," Jason shrugged, picking up his helmet. "Let's go."
The patrol was going fine. They stopped a few muggings. Dick delighted in jumping on perpetrators out of nowhere, dancing around them and laughing when they couldn't catch him. It was quite fun. Until they came across a few members of a gang with guns, readying to rob a jewel store.
So now Jason was fretting about the possibility of Dick being hurt. But true to Red Hood's request, little Nightwing remained hidden while he dealt with the gang. In fact Jason was worried he got caught, when he didn't join in. But a quick checkup between securing the thugs and police arrival revealed perfectly content to watch Dick perched on the fire escape.
Red Hood stood back while the officers took care of the gang members, alert for any troubles that might come up.
Another police car pulled up and Commissioner himself exited it. He exchanged a few words with the policemen already on the scene and walked to Jason.
Jason raised an eyebrow, surprised at his presence.
"To what do I owe the pleasure of having you at this petty crime scene, Commissioner?" he drawled, smirking under his helmet.
"Heard you were involved," Gordon shrugged. "Haven't see you in a while and wanted to check up on you."
Red Hood's smirk turned into a genuine smile and he took his helmet off, leaving him in red domino.
"I'm alright," he replied. "I'll be better when we'll put Joker away."
They both knew Jason didn't mean the prison.
"We're doing what we can," Commissioner replied. "But he disappeared."
"Yeah, I know," Red Hood sighed. "We couldn't find him either."
They stood for a moment, watching as the officers bundled the last thug into the police van and prepared to leave.
"So," Commissioner said, "Oracle told me what happened. Is he really…?" he waved his hand a little.
"Oh, you mean little Gordon?" Jason grinned. "Want to see for yourself?" Without waiting for a reply he whistled. A moment later a small figure clad in black dropped down next to them.
"Hi, Uncle Jim!" Dick smiled brightly up at the Commissioner.
Gordon for his part, didn't even look too surprised. Probably Barbara showed him the pictures already.
"Hi," he just replied. "How do I call you?"
"Tiny Nightwing," Jason promptly answered.
"Hood!" Dick protested for the up-tenth time this evening.
Gordon leaned down and picked him up, tucking him half under his arm.
"Red Hood is right," he declared. "You are tiny. And you shouldn't be on patrols at all," he scolded.
Dick looked chastised for a few seconds, but then he light up again, but with a much softer smile, that Jason recognized. Another score on an account of the wish.
"You know him," Jason shrugged. "There is no way to keep him away."
"I suppose," Gordon agreed and fixed Red Hood with a hard stare, "You better watch him."
"When do I not?" Red Hood questioned, putting his helmet back on. "Just one hour more and we'll call it a night. Other Bats can take over."
Gordon nodded and turned his serious stare at Dick, "Stay out of trouble."
"As always, Uncle Jim," mini Nightwing declared happily.
Commissioner groaned, because Dick always went looking for trouble rather than stay out of it, and put him down.
"Speaking of trouble," Jason smiled when Dick leapt onto his back. "Do you have some case for us?"
Gordon sighed and without a word pulled a folder from inner pocket of his coat.
"Thanks!" Dick took it before Jason even managed to raise his hand. Instead he shrugged, prompting Nightwing to shift his position into something more secure. Sure now that he wouldn't fall off, Red Hood fired his grappling gun.
"See you around, Uncle Jim," Jason saluted sloppily, letting the line pull them up.
"Bye!" Dick waved.
"Be safe!" Gordon called after them.
Not even an hour later, Jason lugged an exhausted Dick back to the manor.
WARNING! SPOILERS FOR GOTHAM AHEAD!
The scene in Gotham season 1 episode 16 when John Grayson declared they will name their son Gordon after Jim was epic.
It's totally my headcanon, that Dick and Jason traveled back in time, met Gordon, were forced to tell him a few things about the future and helped him, while figuring their way home. So Dick and Jason totally were around for this scene. Gordon was all horrified, because who would want to name their child Gordon and said child was standing right there going by totally different name. Jason was dying from laughter and he brought it up whenever he could. All the other Bats thought he was referring to Dick being married to Barbara, so they were confused by Dick's reactions to Red Hood calling him Gordon.