Yep, I'm back, always very consistent when I start a new story lol…and then I don't know what happens…* sweats*
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Bloodyloveless: Oh hello. What are you doing here?.? Lmaooo. XD Good to see you! I only discovered Jason last year to be honest and didn't see it at first but hey, like I said they're both my fav characters, so I fell in love with the idea fast. Haha. I'm really glad you see it that way and open to trying them out! We have hope~ Aw thank you for the great feedback, you give me life lol. (^ ^) \(T-T)/ Thanks for the review and checking out the story!
Disclaimer in first chapter.
Chapter 2:
"Is this how you intend to spend the rest of your life? On the streets?" Batman's voice rang in his ears loud and clear.
"Mh, maybe?"
"My offer still stands." Bats reminded.
"I thought that was a joke." Jason admitted with a weak laugh. A few steps later and Batman was practically standing over him and the ravenette could smell the cold cemented scent of a cave mixed with leather and metallic armor.
"Do I look like a joke to you."
"…I wish I could say yes." Jason was exhausted and couldn't really think straight.
"I can help you J—" Batman stopped himself before saying his name. He happened to see his name tag in the bar, but Bruce saw that not Batman. He was glad the teen wasn't as sharp today and didn't pick up on that.
"Hekh," The teen half coughed, half laughed. "I don't have time to play with you. I get nothing really in return…" He trailed off. His eyes were struggling to stay awake, and his lungs burned just to breathe. Jason questioned how despite that, he could feel so relaxed that his eyes were drifting close. He was out like a light in two minutes. Not the best master plan, he knew, but he couldn't control his central nervous system.
Jason woke up to a cold dark vast cave. 'Cave?' He snapped his eyes awake. It was a legit cave! He wasn't kidding. He glanced around and noticed that he was all bandaged up as well.
"You fell asleep." A voice reverberated in the massive space. Jason rotated his head to see Batman, unsurprisingly.
"Yeah I can tell…" He looked down at his phone and groaned when he saw it was 11 PM. While this situation sucked and all—on the flip side, Dick was gonna kill him. "I have to go." Jason pushed the covers aside and stood up from the couch he was laying on.
"Stay the night," Batman demanded, believing he was an orphan.
"No I have to go back or else—" The ravenette was about to mention his brothers but cut himself short when a thought crossed his mind. What was the reason Batman even offered to help him or take him under his wing? Had to be most likely because Batman was under the impression that he was an orphan and had nowhere to go. Maybe he should keep it that way while he still thought about the offer. "Why did you bring me here?" He abruptly asked instead. "Why me?"
"...why do you think?"
"How would I know? Pity? Orphan?"
Bats stared at him while he formulated a sentence. 'It wasn't pity. Empathy maybe, but not pity.' "…I know how you feel. I was once there myself."
"Hmph, I bet you weren't broke on the streets, though."
"All the more reason you should accept to be under my wing. I want to help you." 'I've seen how hard you work. And… the rage and vengeance you carry in your eyes...' Bruce thought. 'There's so much raw potential hiding there, I feel compelled to reach to you. Moreover… if I don't intervene, that hatred is going to turn you into something much more worse.' Gotham devours the best of them.
The elder couldn't say all that and also didn't realize his continuous stare was making Jason a tad fidgety.
"So?"
"I don't know. This still sounds ridiculous…" Jason felt on the spot.
"You're allowed to think. You're welcome to stay—"
"No, I have to go back."
"To sleep on the streets?" The teen hated how condescending it sounded.
"I have an apartment." The teen lied and Bats stared him down, eyes narrowing.
"How old are you?" The elder challenged because even he knew they didn't sell apartments to kids.
Jason dodged the question. "It's Gotham, some owners don't care as long you can pay them." Batman further studied him. "Geez come on, who'd be comfortable staying over at a stranger's house, no less a cave. Anyway, now take me home or show me the way, Bats."
Batman finally stood up and clicked a small remote button causing the batmobile to light up. Jason secretly admired how freakin' cool it was. He hoped in, feeling the precious leather, eyeing the high tech, LEDs—God it was epic. Not everyone got this opportunity, he betted. With that, Batman drove him home.
And the Batmobile was so lightning speed fast. He almost didn't want to unbuckle the seat belt and leave. The seats felt comfier than his bed. Jason made Batman stop a few blocks away from his actual place, because he wanted to save some of his privacy at least.
They weren't friends or acquaintances, so stepping out, the younger didn't know how exactly to say goodbye. It ended up just being an awkward opening the door and leaving for him but it didn't seem like Batman minded anyway.
As soon his apartment door opened, Dick bombarded him with a million questions. "Jason! Do you realize what time it is?! It's almost midnight! Where have you been?! I was worried sick!" Dick hissed the last part recalling Tim was asleep in the bedroom.
"I know—"
"And I have work early tomorrow. You weren't answering your phone—wait are those bandages? What happened?!"
"Man, I'd say something if you give me the chance. Look I'm sorry, my er, battery ran out. I just got into a little bit of a fight after school and got dragged to the police station. But don't worry I took care of it all."
"You're unbelievable. I can't go a single day without worrying about you I swear to God. Jason…"
"…I'm sorry, okay." Jason felt a pang of guilt now. "I won't get into fights anymore…" He could tell Dick was just as exhausted as he was, and he didn't need the extra stress.
"Is this about not being able to find a job? That's why you're agitated? Look, it's not that bad, I can handle this on my own. I really want you to focus and finish school. You're too focused on the short term, on the money. School is an—"
"I know, I know. A fxckin' investment. I get it." Jason rolled his eyes.
"If you get it than act like it—" Dick pointed.
"But I'm not letting you work by yourself and pay for everything. That doesn't sit well with me."
"I understand but the least I can do is work, I only have to focus on that, I don't have homework like you."
"You take care of both of us."
"That's enough, I have work in the morning and I have to wake up to make breakfast too. Just, don't go too crazy over it." Dick sighed, putting a hand on his forehead as he walked away to shut the lights.
Jason simply stood there for a few seconds longer. 'It looks like he'll be accepting Bat's offer real soon.' He needed an outlet.
The next time Jason ran into Batman he straight up told him—the first thing out of his mouth was that he accepted the offer.
Batman's lips tugged upward ever so slightly victoriously. "Wise choice. I'll teach you everything you need to know before you're allowed on the streets."
"Dude, have you met me? I live on the streets."
"It's not the same." Batman grunted. "And the first and most important lesson you need to learn is that my word is the law."
The teen rolled his eyes but kept listening. He signed up for this now. Though he was getting tired of people always telling him what to do. Then again, all the more the reason he needed to gain this power from Bats now.
"Follow me, I'll show you around the cave and the bat computer." However, Batman didn't go easy on him even on the first day. "Take off your hoodie, we're going to train. I'd like to see what you carry so far."
Jason didn't hold back, he took pride in his quick reflexes and agility and was sure he would land a hit on the Bats. But boy was he in for a surprise. Three minutes. He only lasted three minutes in a match with Batman.
"Again!" Jason demanded a rematch. Three minutes tops again and his back was square against the hard ground. "What the…" the teen let out.
"Again." Batman ordered and Jason rolled his shoulders and neck, leaping back up. Once again, he only lasted less than five minutes. "You're a fast learner, and quick on your feet, but nowhere near ready." He deadpanned.
'Okay you don't have to rub it in.' Jason felt like saying.
"And you're too lean. I'll construct a workout routine for you that you'll follow daily—no excuses. I'll also have someone take care of your diet once you start living here—"
"Wait, who said anything about living here?" The younger panted, still catching his breath from the match. Batman stared at him with no change in expression. "I already said it, I'm not living here."
"Is this about the apartment?"
"Well yeah and also, I don't feel comfortable living here…"
"You do realize you won't be living in this cave, correct?"
"Of course I know that! Does this cave look inhabitable to you?" Batman almost took offense to that, twitching once.
"Don't worry about the apartment, its more convenient if you live here." The elder reassured.
"I already paid rent for this month, so I'd rather get my money's worth." Jason lied, also hoping to end the discussion right there. Eventually Batman accepted it and the teen sighed in relief. 'Good, at least that gave him a month to figure out his next excuse. After all, if Batman found out that he had a family and everything, that'd just complicate things.' Jason knew Batman wouldn't risk putting someone else's family member in danger like this, especially without their permission or approval. But knowing Dick, forget approval—he was already against a part time job.
Batman dropped Jason off again at the same location and the teen noted that he had his cowl on the entire time. So, he still wasn't aware of his true identity, meanwhile Batman knew a lot about him… he wondered if he would ever reveal himself… But Jason decided he'd worry about that later.
Jason exited the showers, rubbing a towel over his head, after another one of their training sessions. He saw Batman was still sitting in front of the large Bat computer. However, instead of typing, he was sitting, leaning all the back in his chair with his cowl and everything still on, making it difficult for Jason to tell if he was asleep or awake. Hence, the younger curiously stepped over, and waved a silent hand over the vigilante's face. No response. The teen even went as far as sticking out his tongue, just feeling goofy, to confirm he was asleep until he slowly reached for the mask.
In the spur of the moment, a firm grip on his wrist stopped him in mid-air. "What are you doing?"
"So, you were awake?" The teen asked sheepishly.
"I was just resting my eyes for a bit." The elder calmly stated. "Either way, sneaking around isn't a good thing. Trust is very important between partners."
"Che. You're the one who left himself vulnerable. I don't really care who you are behind there anyway." Jason shrugged, acting indifferent.
The elder raised a brow. Batman knew he could trust the kid with his identity but…the time just wasn't right.
Three weeks Later:
Jason was doing random errand jobs and making momentary money like that. He wasn't complaining. Some money was better than no money. His next job was to deliver some catering goods and supplies to an outdoor gathering. Some of the Gotham's biggest names were attending and Jason curiously gave the list of names a quick scan. A name automatically caught his eyes: Bruce Wayne, but he pushed it aside— they meant nothing to each other after all.
The teen made it to the hotel and instantly noted how decorated the outside lounge was, with lights, tables, glamorous people chatting, drinking and laughing away. Jason was in a delivery uniform and wearing cap, carrying a box from the side lines into the hotel, eyes glued to the party the entire time. 'Was it even safe for them to be gathered like this? If he was a criminal, this would be the perfect opportunity to knock out so many big names with one shot.' He wondered.
And he jinxed it, because when he was finally done transferring the boxes, he heard commotion and gun shots outside. The teen immediately whipped his head to the door and ran outside to the party. Not long after, the ground shook and an explosive went off. Men and women screamed as they ran for their lives, as far away from the hotel as possible. Jason saw a women trip and automatically pushed against the people, rushing towards her to help her up.
"Thank you!" She cried.
"Just get outta here, its not safe." For once, he felt reliable in his life. He glanced around, thinking he saw Bruce Wayne somewhere among the crowd as well but was interrupted when a pole came shifted in his vision right on top of him. He could see the thin metallic pole projecting downward and getting closer and closer to him. He mentally prepared himself to either catch it or step aside. Although, before he could do either a tall broad figure blocked his vision and caught the pole for him, throwing it aside. The teen waited for the figure to turn his head and cringed when he found Bruce Wayne, the billionaire himself at his rescue—once again.
"Everyone! Evacuate! Right now!" The GCPD raided them before he could respond appropriately. The people around them forced them to evacuate the area and gather around the streets. Jason caught his breath and turned to his side to thank Wayne.
"Um, than—huh?" the teen was amazed to find the other missing from his side. He glanced around and found the man nowhere to be. 'That's odd, he was pretty sure they were all together when they left the place…' The younger also realized he never thanked him despite the many times he kept miraculously helping him.
'Wait, he didn't get stuck inside, did he?' Jason was now worried that since the billionaire was probably extra sheltered, he wouldn't have the best survival skills. The teen felt obliged to return the favor now.
That's when he spotted a bat shadow fly over them in the sky, going straight towards the hotel and explosives. Jason was relieved to see Batman finally making an entrance. The younger was inclined to jump in as well, since he was now Batman's partner-ish, but he had a feeling Batman wouldn't appreciate him getting in the way since he hadn't received the OK yet.
'I'll let Batman take care of the villains and look for Wayne in the meantime.' The ravenette settled with that, guiding people away from the area.
In the end, Jason never found the billionaire. 'Maybe he managed to escape?' The teen thought. He was rich after all, he could afford proficient secret security...
That evening, he met up to train with Batman. He had training sessions every day so today was no exception.
"Good help earlier." Batman uttered, grateful that Jason didn't join him earlier today and took the executive decision to help in his own way, keeping the crowd away.
"Yeah…no problem…" Jason replied, half-zoned out. "Hey, when you were fighting those villains, did you happen to see Bruce Wayne anywhere around there?" The vigilante was silent to that. "It's just that we were both in the same spot but then after exiting I lost track of him... and let's just say I owe him… maybe more than once."
The elder held back a smirk, thinking this was a new side of Jason he didn't expect. It was rather adorable, should he dare say, for someone always acting very tough and older than their age. Bruce didn't know how to break it to him now that he was Batman.
"Whatever, just forget it." The teen turned away and Bruce heard shuffling of clothes in the background.
To Be Continued…
Jason needs to give himself more credit. My angel. LOL. Yes I'm gonna be totally biased when it comes to him. Please like and review~