Happy New Year!
The streets were fairy quiet, so Jason felt justified in ending his patrol earlier. Though his main reason was that he didn't want to make the kid wait more than was absolutely necessary. Assuming Dick was waiting for him and wanted to come. Jason saw a lot groveling on his side in his near future, so he didn't want to add more to already impressive list of reasons. On that note, he was curious how the Brats managed through the day with little Dick.
He cut through the city in the straightest and fastest route to the Batcave. He saw Robin on the way, swinging from one rooftop to the other, clearly trying out some new move and failing miserably. Jason chuckled at that and for a moment considered to join him to give Demon a few pointers, but then he saw Batman near Robin's location. No. Just no. He decided to continue his trek, but before he could move Batman looked straight at him, freezing him in place. Jason calculated quickly his chances of escape in case Bruce decided that no, Red Hood wasn't allowed near his Golden Boy after all. Tim was such a liar! He was so going to kill him after he shook off the Bat.
However Batman just gave him a slight nod and then turned around and vanished into the night, Robin dutifully following in his wake.
Jason picked up his jaw from the floor and headed to the manor, worried now. How bad things were, since Bruce gave in without even a word?
"Good evening, Mater Jason," Alfred greeted him as soon as he entered the Cave.
"Hi, Alfred," Jason greeted back. "What's up?"
"Oh, the usual," the butler replied wryly, gesturing at the computers where he monitored Batman's and Robin's progress. "Master Dick was quite distressed at not finding you here in the morning."
"Yeah, well," Jason shuffled his feet guiltily. "I'm here to pick him up actually. Where is he now?"
"I believe Master Timothy took him to his room."
"Thanks, Alfie," Jason nodded and walked to the stairs. "Good night."
"Do step into the kitchen on your way out," Alfred called after him. "I took liberty to prepare some food for you and Master Dick to take. Good night."
"Sure thing, Alfie!" Red Hood replied.
Jason took two steps at a time until he found himself before door to Dick's room. It was halfway open so Jason just went in. And stopped.
"What the hell is that?!" he cried incredulously, pointing at the toy Dick was strangling to death in his sleep.
"That," Tim grinned and shut the book he was reading. "Is a Red Hood plushie."
"Oh my God, they make plushies?!"
"Among many other things," Tim confirmed. "Damian got it for him."
"Damian?" Jason repeated in disbelief.
"Yeah," Red Robin answered with glee. "You should see Bruce. Dick didn't let it go even for a second and he was so jealous I'm surprised it didn't turn into ashes from the power of his glare."
"Any footage?" Jason smirked, very carefully stowing away the warm feeling at Dick carrying plushie of him around to think about later.
"I'm sure some videos can be found," Tim promised, then turned serious. "He missed you."
"So I keep hearing," Red Hood walked closer to the bed and looked down at his brothers.
"You were right," Tim muttered, staring at sleeping child next to him. "We really are terrible brothers to him."
Jason nodded.
"We can only hope he'll learn to trust us again," he stated.
"Speaking of which," Red Robin latched onto the opening. "Why won't any of you tell us what happened to turn him into a child?"
Jason sighed, carding hand through his hair.
"Us being a terrible family to him, that's what happened," he said carefully. "It's complicated. He'll remain a child, if a person, which didn't fulfill certain conditions will learn about them."
"You obviously did," Tim considered. "Who else?"
"I can't be certain," Jason shrugged. "I haven't really talked to him about it, but you, Babs, Cass, Steph. Commissioner."
"And the conditions?"
"Nice try, Baby Bird," Red Hood smirked. "You should talk with Dick about that. I already told you more than he would have liked."
"Alright," Tim conceded. "Are you staying here tonight?"
"Hell no," Jason denied vehemently. "I'm getting out of here as fast as I can. I'm just thinking if I should wake him or let him sleep."
Tim opened his mouth to make a suggestion, but any further conversation was cut off by Dick's sudden whimper, causing his two little brothers to immediately look at him in concern.