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Chapter 4:

It wasn't until two months— of incessant exhorting—later that Jason was finally allowed to venture outside, i.e. join batman in his patrol.

While Jason still had many things to learn, Bruce saw that he was a quick learner and knew he'd pick up the rest on the way by being in the field. He was still skinny but had gained a significant amount of muscle mass during his new routine.

The teen got dressed in his new outfit, made sure his utility belt was packed and added the domino mask to the addition. He looked badass, he thought. Though, the ravenette would lie if he said he wasn't a tad nervous. He also had this pressure to impress Batman and not fall back no matter what.

The pair patrolled the area for a bit until they ran across a rookie robbery. Jason charged forward first before Batman and kicked the guy straight in the face. He dodged a bullet and grabbed hold of the nearest trashcan swinging it right at the other man. Batman jumped in and trampled both robbers in his feet, ultimately tying them to a lamp post. Jason let out a breath he didn't even know he was holding.

'Not bad…that was actually a piece a cake.' He felt himself getting cocky, for good reason. However, Batman didn't acknowledge anything or verbalize any words of praise yet. They weren't done for the night as they roamed around the city some more.

Batman didn't admit it, but thought Jason handled it nicely. The teen had good reflexes, agility and enough ruthlessness to expert fear in his opponents. Secretly, he was proud. He drove them back to the cave and had Alfred inspect any minor injuries.

"Okay, I'm out. I told you it wasn't too bad—you didn't have to bring me all the way back here." Jason told and Bruce nodded.

"Still not trusting enough to stay?"

"Uh that's—"

"By now your rent should be long over due."

The younger racked his brain but couldn't think of an excuse. Should he just spill already? Well he was already robin and learned so much, so even if Bats did kick him out he could probably still get by…Plus it's not like he was expecting for this –whatever this was—apprenticeship (?) to last forever.

" Jason?"

"Actually, um, Bruce, I lied okay."

"Hn?"

" I don't live alone, I do have a family. Two brothers. The part about being an orphan was still true though." He quickly added the last part. He was on edge to hear Bruce's reaction but he certainly wasn't expecting an amused scoff.

"I know."

"What?"

"I've known for a few weeks now."

"W-what? How?"

"Background search. It wasn't all that difficult. Of course I trust your word, but I needed to know more about you."

"You know normally ya just ask right?"

"I don't expect anyone to spill their guts to a stranger, especially you."

Jason averted his eyes, guilty as charged. But still a whole background check on him, really? Shady—or should he say, controlling much? "Then why didn't you say anything?"

"You didn't either. Why lie?"

"Ugh…I don't know…I thought you only offered to take me in was cause I had nothing, no parents, no family, on my own on the streets…either that or you were just looking for a sidekick. Except that second part doesn't make sense since you picked up a rookie teenager." He scratched his head. "Anyways, I thought if you found out than being the righteous person you are, you'd dismiss me, cause you wouldn't want to impose this risky responsibility on someone else's loved one."

"It was indeed a surprise to find I was wrong and jumped into asking you, but because I was so quick to make such an offer for the first time ever, I knew you were different." Bruce elaborated after a moment of silence. "I saw potential in you, and at the same time I saw so much of myself in you. All the raw bitter emotions, the vengeance, the burden, the pain— I knew it all too well of being on your own. When I contemplated about it, and saw how hard you'd been working, I knew it had to be you… And now at this point it can really only be you."

Jason quietly listened, not daring to interrupt . He always wondered what Bruce was thinking, and it was nice to hear his mind once in a while. That, and he also didn't know what to say in return. He …felt kind of flattered in reality.

"But you're correct. I do feel responsible to your family for putting you in harm's way."

"That, don't …worry about it too much." The teen hastily cut him off. "I mean, I know I just started but I feel like I'm getting better at this. And besides, if you're there, the batman himself, then what's the problem?"

Bruce only half agreed with that statement. "It's late, I'll take you home." He concluded with that. Jason nodded and walked to the batmobile, hopping in.

Batman drove him back to the same block as usual and when the teen slammed the door shut, he let out a gruff "Good work. " And sped off. Jason looked back after him, momentarily stunned then shook his head. Typical Batman. However, he felt touched by the small praise, not really anticipating it. It felt like a pat on the back. It was different from when Dick ever said that. The teen flexed his shoulders once and walked to the apartment complex with a smile tugging his lips.

"Ow! Come on Alf."

"I'm already doing this as gently as I can Master Jason. If you had the guts to get the injury then you should follow through with the treatment as well."

"Ugh…" the teen rolled his eyes, like he didn't know that already.

"Don't encourage him." Bruce flatly stated. "That aside, that was too rash Jason."

"Psshh. I knew I could make it. It was worth catching his ass though."

"No. There's no point if you debilitate yourself."

"I didn't see it as a huge problem…" Jason thought back to the incident. The pair was chasing a criminal earlier that night and in desperation, the criminal jumped into a glass window, breaking it and leaping out the building. However, before he could fully free fall, Jason paced up and caught him from behind, nearly falling as well, but stabilizing himself by holding on to the window sill. Some of the glass shards certainly did cut his own skin though in the process. The convict tried to jab the teen off but Jason refused to let go until they both fell out the window on to a car roof. Unfortunately for the younger, that sure did a number on his back as he landed right on it. Nevertheless, Jason brushed the pain aside and overpowered the other man, keeping him down until Batman caught up to him and apprehended him.

"Whatever, this'll heal." Jason waved away as he stood up after being bandaged. He hissed once at the movement.

"Should I perform a scan of your back?" Alfred suggested.

"Nah it's ok. I just fell on it so it's probably a little sore."

"You should have it looked at, those were a few floors that you jumped from."

"I'm fine really. Anyways I gotta go, or else Dick is gonna chew my eat out."

"You know you have the option to stay?"

"Yeah yeah, I know. I haven't forgotten, but I gotta wake up early tomorrow." The teen was already wearing his shoes and jogging towards the car.

"That one, always in a hurry. Never willing to stay." Alfred voiced. "Is he so unamused by two elder folks?" Bruce gave him an incredulous look, from being grouped in with Alfred when he was only thirty-five.

"He's hiding something." Bruce stared after the teen.

"Yet you seem to trust him anyhow." The butler added. "I should go drop him off before he gets anymore restless. I do wish he would allow me to take a look at his back at least once though."

"You know him, won't ask for help." Bruce partially sighed.

"Doesn't that remind you of someone?"

'Was Alfred talking about him?' Bruce pondered at the obvious.

"Since he didn't have dinner with us, I'll just pack some for him."

"Sounds great, I'm sure he'll love that." Bruce smiled at his butler.

The next day Roy was hanging out at Jason's apartment, playing video games. The redhead elbowed the other in the back playfully when the round was over.

"Ow! What the fxck! Why'd you hit so hard?"

"What?! I didn't even hit you that hard! You not eating enough or something? How're you so weak?"

"I'm not, just don't hit me."

"What's with all the yelling Jason?" Dick walked into the room to check up on them.

"He's whining like a girl." Roy taunted.

"Shut up," Jason punched him back.

"Does something hurt? Were you in another fight?" His elder brother asked.

"No, I wasn't. I was just working last night—I even brought you the leftovers. How'd I get those if I was in a fight?" The teen debated. He had managed to convince Dick to get a small part time job at a restaurant as long as it didn't interfere with his studies. However, the truth was, he had no job. "I'm fine, just some soreness." Currently, he was wearing a long-sleeved hoodie to hide all the bandages on his arms and wrist.

"Fine...if u say so...but speaking of which that food was quite good. Was it a slow day? Those were a lot of leftovers."

Jason averted his eyes. "Yeah, something like that." Working in a restaurant was the most plausible cover up to all the food Alfred gave him. He was simply glad he was able to share it with his family. Seeing them happy made him happy, despite having nothing. And that's all that mattered right now—until he was at the stage of his life where he could turn their life around.

That afternoon Jason went to the batcave to train without fail. It's not as if he had a choice to slack off anyways, not that he wanted to either. Bruce and the teen sparred for a bit until the elder picked him up and threw him on the floor, back first. Jason let out the loudest groan at that, startling the other.

The teen ended up curling on his side with his face contorting in pain. "What's the matter?" Bruce was taken aback and the words were out of his mouth before he knew it. Jason didn't respond and only grunted. The elder clicked his tongue, already suspecting the reason. It wasn't too hard to figure out after all. Bruce grabbed his arm and lifted him up, hooking another hand under his knees and carrying him to the examining bench.

"My bad…eh—" the younger felt humiliated but trailed off when the other pulled his shirt off. And there it was, a nasty bruise forming on his back near his lower ribs.

"You should have gotten it examined. I'll get Alfred and some ice."

Jason sighed, fearing how bad the old man's criticism would be.

"That's quite something you're brewing there, Master Jason." Alfred remarked when he saw the verdict.

"Do you have to point out the obvious?"

"I think I have the right to after someone so politely refused my services."

"Let's focus you two." Bruce reminded. "And Jason you're taking a break for the next two days."

"Ughh…no way…"

"If you keep acting without self-regard like this then you leave me no choice. I need a walking moving vigilante, not a crippled one."

The teen rolled his eyes. "I get the message." Bruce was stern when he needed to be.

"And you're staying here tonight."

"What?"

"That's an order." Bruce told and exited the training arena to hit the showers.

"What the hell?! Why is he so bossy! Being rich doesn't mean everything!" The teen complained out loud after he was an earshot away. 'Of course, he knew it did.'

"I think you'll find that it does… sometimes." Was all Alfred could say as he rubbed ointment on the teen's back.

"Thanks Alfred." He sarcastically spat.

"Don't mention it." Unfortunately for him, Alfred wasn't picking up on any of the cues. "I've applied some analgesic cream. Now then, I suppose I should prepare your room and necessities." The old man gathered the materials and went his way. Jason exhaled. He needed to make up an excuse to tell Dick… Well, it was a Friday, he could say he's staying over at a friend's.

The room he was staying in was probably bigger than their whole apartment. There was a TV, double bed, even a couch on the side and then just some extra empty space with a rug in front of the bed. He glanced out the window, seeing open land, clear skies, and the garden underneath—everything from the high second floor. It was like being a part of a fairytale. The fairytale of Gotham, or Batman. The younger chuckled at that, turning back to the bed and dropping on it.

'It was so comfy…'

He soon changed into a set of pajamas that Alfred prepared for him and checked himself to make sure he didn't look like an idiot. He wasn't surprised the butler had gotten his size right, more so that he was bale to produce them so fast. The teen went downstairs to see what the elder was up to, because it was pretty quiet in the manor and frankly he was getting bored. Guess he was so used to teasing little Timmy at home. Jason passed Alfred in the hall.

"Is there something you need Master Jason?"

"Nah, I'm good. Um, where's B?" The younger glanced around.

"Ah, he's likely in the library at this time. If not, then his study."

"Library?" Jason repeated with a stupefied expression. 'Oh that's right, they had their own freakin library…' He recalled from the house tour months ago.

"Master Bruce enjoys reading in the evenings as a relaxing hobby—if he isn't patrolling the night."

A that the ravenette went straight to the library, finding Bruce in a large armchair with a book in his lap. The elder automatically looked up at him.

"Something the matter Jason?"

"No…just, checking." The teen pathetically let out, figuring Bruce was in his own world and didn't want to be disturbed. "Sorry I didn't mean to both—"

"It's alright, you can come in." And with that, the teen did, eyes trailing the many books on the shelves. He himself, enjoyed reading now and then when he wasn't plagued with other stressful emotions. But as of late, he hadn't been finding the time to sit down and relax at all. Jason stepped closer to the armchair.

"I'm sure you see this as a waste of time." Bruce commented, grabbing the teen's attention.

To Be Continued…

And another chapter out, these two are slowly getting comfortable with each other, eh.

Thanks for reading and plz review~