Jason loved his new life in Wayne Manor.

What kid wouldn't prefer a massive mansion to a ratty apartment? And while he did occasionally feel bad that his Mom was long gone, the thought was always quickly replaced by the awe of having Batman and Robin as his Dad and brother.

Jay had always thought Batman was cool, but Robin had been his hero from the moment the young vigilante had come on the scene.

III

"Jason! You're supposed to knock." Dick scolded as his younger brother barged into his, Wally, and Roy's self-proclaimed young heroes meeting. "What are guys even doing?" Jay asked, pretending not to be admiring their costumes.

Alfred had a rule that all hero gear stayed in The Cave, so whatever the boys were up to must have been important. "Closed meeting." Kid Flash told him shortly. "Secret crime-fighter stuff." Robin added.

"Cool. Can I play too?" Jason asked, not taking the hint. "We're not playing," Robin repeated. "We have missions and stuff, and you can't stay." Jason glared at the three of them before stopping at Roy, who hadn't exactly told him to leave.

Even though Roy was much older, he and Jason were best friends. Surly as the oldest of the boys, Roy would vouch for him to stay.

"Sorry Jay." Roy mumbled. Jason stormed out, yelling that he was gonna tell, and Robin locked the door behind him.

Jason went straight for The Cave. Bruce would make the older boys share. "Daddy! Dickie won't let me-"

Jason stopped short at the sight of the four other Leaguers standing around the Bat-computer. He'd met all the heroes that Batman normally worked with, but somehow they were all much more intimidating suited up.

Wonder Woman, Superman, and Green Arrow all gave him friendly smiles, and Flash winked at him as Batman excused himself to walk his son back to the manor. "Sorry Daddy." Jason whispered. "It's alright." Batman told him, kneeling to the boy's level. "Did you need something Jay?"

"Dick won't let me into their dumb sidekicks' meeting." Jason huffed. "Protégé." His Father corrected, remembering the young heroes' sudden disdain for the other word. "I'm sure they'll be happy to play with you as soon as they're done talking. And I'll be up soon too."

Jason nodded and went to play by himself for a while.


Unfortunately, the Wayne men all seemed to have different definitions of what soon meant. Robin, Kid Flash, and Speedy only finished when Flash and Green Arrow came to get their boys, and Batman was only up in time for bedtime.

"I wanna be a superhero Daddy." Jay announced as Bruce tucked him in. He had expected this request sooner or later. He had just been naively hoping that he'd be able to keep his youngest away from the horrors of Gotham until he was much older.

Bruce looked at Jason, who was staring back at him with wide excited eyes. He was going to pursue this with or without his Father's help. "Alright." Bruce relented. "After school tomorrow, we'll go down to The Cave, and you can start training with Dick and me."

Jason jumped from his bed and threw his arms around Bruce's neck. "Thank you Daddy!" He squealed. Bruce hugged him back before laying him back down. "Get some rest." He said, pushing Jason's hair away from his head to give the boy a kiss on the forehead. "You're going to need it."

III

Jason paid less attention in school than usual the next day, and as soon as he got home, he changed out of his uniform and raced down to The Cave.

After a long preemptive lecture about how weapons didn't leave The Cave and how the skills he would learn were not to be used for schoolyard fights, Jason's training began. Just the basics at first. Punches, kicks, and stance. Acrobatics, weapons, and escape. Everything a vigilante could need.

Even though he couldn't do everything on his first try (he was only eight), and he tended not to follow instructions (this was still Jason), it all seemed to come naturally. With every day of training, the youngest Wayne was well on his way to joining the family business.

III

Bruce and Dick found Jason practically bouncing off the walls when they came down to The Cave Friday night. "Let's go. Let's go." He fussed, pulling them toward the display cases where their costumes were kept.

"And where would you be going?" Bruce asked, holding Jason still for a minute. "On patrol." Jason answered simply as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "You're not going." Dick scoffed, not even bothering to hide his laughter. "You've only been training for a week."

"But you said I was doing good." Jay whimpered. "You did well this week, but you're still too young. You don't even have a suit." Bruce pointed out gently. "But I wanna help." The boy whined.

"Tell ya what." Bruce bargained. "You can stay down here and monitor patrol from the Bat-computer until bedtime. How's that sound?" Jason nodded. It was hardly what he'd been hoping for, but it was a start.

Two hours later, Jason was nodding off in front of the screen. Batman and Robin would check in every now and then, but for the most part, nothing was happening. He was just about ready to call it a night when an alert flashed across the screen.

A jewelry store was being robbed, and whoever it was had tripped the silent alarm. Jason was just about to inform the Dynamic Duo when the perfect idea crossed his mind.

Batman and Robin were on the other side of the city. By the time they got there, the crook would be long gone. This was his chance to prove himself! It was just a little robbery. Probably just some guys looking for a get-rich-quick scheme. He could handle this, and once he did, Bruce would have to let him on patrol.


While Dick's spare Robin costume was a bit big on him, Jason soldiered on, grappling across the Gotham skyline. He crouched above the store's skylight, surveying the scene below.

Just one bad guy, and they weren't even armed. This was too good to be true! The pseudo boy wonder eased the glass open and attempted to slip inside, but his too-long cape caught on the latch, snagging him for a split second before he hit the ground with a thud.

The vigilante in training groaned as he began to prop himself up, only to find a pigtailed shadow looming over him. "Well, well, kid. Ya off ya game tonight?" Harley Quinn smirked down at him. "I thought Bats taught you better."

Not-Robin sprang to his feet, dropping smoke pellets to cover him as he got some distance. "Put back the stuff, and I won't tell." He called into the smog. The sound of a bubble gum popping and psychotic laugher was the only response. "Aw, snookums, you were always cute, but this is too much." Harley snickered.

The masked boy pulled out a few batarangs as the smoke cleared. His eyes darted around, looking for where his target possibly could have gone. "Peek-a-boo!" Harley screamed, jumping out of her hiding place and shoving the little boy to the wall.

He squeezed his eyes shut. How could this have gone so wrong so fast? After a few seconds, Jason dared to peak and practically melted with relief when he saw the real Robin pinning Harley to the ground. "That's no fair." She was gripping. "Since when does Bats have two of ya?"

"I don't." A low and menacing voice growled. Jason wished for all the world he could disappear into the shadows, but of course, that was one of the things they hadn't covered in his first week of training.

III

Neither Batman nor Robin said a single word on the ride in the Batmobile. Still, Jason could feel the intensity radiating off them. Alfred had the same furious look on his face when they got home.

Jason didn't have to be told to go straight to his room and get ready for bed. Some deeper instinct even told him to sit quietly on his bed and wait for sentencing. Bruce was still frowning when he came in, and the boy literally shivered under his Bat-glare.

"I'm sorry Daddy." Jason whispered, a couple of tears already rolling down his cheeks. "You're sorry?" Bruce echoed. "After you stole equipment, snuck out against my explicit orders, and almost got yourself killed, all you have to say is 'I'm sorry'?!"

Bruce stalked over to the wall and rammed his fist right through, leaving a large dent. "I never should have let you in The Cave in the first place." Bruce grunted, still facing away from his son. "I should have listened to my instincts and kept you as far away from it all as possible. This isn't game for children."

"Does this mean I don't get to train anymore?" Jason whispered, the tears flowing freely now. Bruce finally turned around, but his stare was not nearly as intense.

"You're not getting off that easy." He said, moving to stand in front of the boy. "You will keep training, every day, harder than your brother did until you learn discipline and how to follow orders. Then if, and this is a big if, if I decide that you are ready, you will join us on patrol."

Jason nodded as his Father finally sat down beside him. "You scared us all to death tonight." Bruce told him softly, and somehow these soft words finally brought the sob to Jason's lips.

"My first concern, before the city, even before myself, is protecting you boys." He stopped and wrapped an arm around Jason's shoulders, just needing to know that his baby was there next to him. "Don't cry anymore." He whispered, wiping the tears from Jason's face.

"I'm gonna do better, Daddy." Jason promised, finally leaning into the half hug. "I know you will." Bruce finally smiled and stood up to go. He leaned down and planted a kiss on the top of his little boy's head. "Get some rest." He whispered as he flipped the light switch. "You're going to need it."


A/N Hey guys! just wanted to say a quick thank you to those of you who've left requests. I just finished writing one the other day and I had so much fun with it. It'll be up soon. Thanks again!