Hello people~

Replies to Reviews:

Bloodyloveless: haha thanksss XD, okay I'm glad you point that out, coz I was wondering if I was rushing but at the same time I know there's still a long way until we get anywhere so I also didn't want to drag for too long either. I love your feedbacks, they really hit the right spot, I enjoy reading them a lot I swear. Also I'm happy that you're liking the story~ Thanks as always for reviewing!

Disclaimer in first chapter.

Chapter 6:

The next morning when Jason casually walked into the apartment, he was bombarded by an angry, arms crossed Dick.

"Welcome back." His elder brother greeted with a huge, forced smile, rocking on his hip once. "Remind me again, where were you last night?"

"At Roy's, what's the problem?"

"Oh really? You have ten seconds to rethink that and answer honestly this time."

"What the fxck? I said it was Roy's place." Dick's smile vanished and replaced with a solid grimace, as he smacked the teen over the head. "What?!"

"I called Roy! Do you think I'm dumb?! Now where were you?!"

Jason froze for a moment. He was not expecting that. "Ugh fine! You got me! It was another friend. It's not like I only have one friend."

"Then why lie?" Dick was still pretty hurt. "What do you take me for? What are you planning—you're not doing anything you shouldn't are you? You know I really can't stop worrying when you hide things…"

"Look you're just over-reacting now, I only stayed over at his house and that's it. I'm sorry I lied…Roy's name just came to my mind first …'cause um, then you'd ask too many questions."

"You are so grounded."

"Oh for fxck's sake—just leave me alone already mom!" Jason stormed to the bedroom, done with this shit.

"Jason Todd get back here— we're not done with conversation! Ugh, well either way you can't go anywhere outside today. I have to leave for work and you have to stay at home to look after Tim! Do you hear me?!"

The shared bedroom door was closed shut but Dick's loud voice still reverberated through the walls. Jason rolled his eyes, hated being told what to do. He already got enough of that from Batman.

"Whatever."

"You're grounded." Tim reminded, as he was already in the room with his laptop.

"Thanks. I didn't know, genius." Jason was two seconds away from trampling the teen.

"Well at least you get to stay home for a change. You've been going out a lot lately…"

Jason's attitude shifted and he glanced over at the younger. "…hey… you missin' me?" The ravenette ended up ruffling the other's hair.

"Ew, no, get away now, you're gonna ruin my laptop." Tim played hard to get.

"Hey that's my laptop."

"I'm doing something right now, and for the record Dick said we're sharing it. So it's our laptop." Tim reminded.

When Dick left for his small work-related event that evening, he took Jason's phone and the small bat communicator with him, to avoid him from sneaking out. The elder turned it off completely and left it in his bag. Dick had no knowledge of the bat communicator and didn't pay much attention to it, seeing it as a small decorative attachment to Jason's phone since it was attached with the phone case.

On the flip side, that very evening, Batman repeatedly tried to get into contact with the teen but received no response. "He's not responding." He told Alfred.

"Maybe try again later? He could be busy."

"Yeah I'll do that…" Bruce didn't approve of Jason slacking off on his duties. Batman had no choice but to leave by himself, hopping in the batmobile. He tried ringing him once more as he arrived at the destination of interest. Still no response. Batman's eyes narrowed. The kid was usually very prompt with answering his calls. He couldn't tell at what point he should be concerned. Tracking the communicator also deemed to be an impossible task as it was turned off, the last location being Jason's apartment.

Batman proceeded with the investigation but was met with quite a challenge. Apparently, the enemy was anticipating his visit. Batman put up a great fight, all his gadgets and technology always coming through to him, but he was still severely outnumbered and at one point had to retreat due to his injuries. After collecting some data, at the next chance he got, Batman crawled back into the batmobile and set it on autopilot, straight to the Batcave.

The next morning when Jason finally received his phone back, he turned it one to find a million missed calls and texts from Alfred and Bruce. 'Ah shit. He was busted both ways it seems. From Dick and Bruce.' He gulped, as he fetched his hoodie and went over the Wayne Manor straight away.

Afred greeted him at the door, beckoning him in. "Master Bruce is still resting. He went on patrol alone yesterday and it seems he wasn't met with the warmest welcome." Jason could feel the assertion in the elder's voice, making him feel even worse for bailing out last night. He clicked his tongue, refraining from cursing.

They opened the door to Bruce's bedroom to find no one, a completely empty room, with the bedsheets wrinkled. "Oh dear. Here we go again. How daring of me to think he would stay put in his room." The butler sighed and they automatically went down to the Batcave. Low and behold to find Bruce on his batchair in front of the computer, in nothing but bandages wrapped across his chest and sweatpants.

Waltzing closer, he noticed the bandages all across his chest, shoulder, with some stitches on his biceps. Jason was absolutely stunned to see Batman take that much damage. "Bruce!" Jason rushed over to him, grabbing his attention. "Are you okay?!"

Bruce rotated his chair slowly in his direction, without a change in expression, but the teen could already tell he was not pleased. "Where were you?" The inquiry came out in a deep low voice but felt equally intimidating that it made Jason stand straight on his feet.

"I-I was at home…Dick took my phone away…" Jason found himself oddly stuttering suddenly.

The elder frowned and closed his eyes, feeling the frustration rise. He averted his face away briefly. No, he didn't mean to scold the other, but he still did. And Jason stood there, still as statue as if he needed Bruce's permission to move a muscle. The teen imagined if he had a dad who suddenly got serious on his ass, this is what it would feel like. Even though he was quite rebellious most of the times, for some reason he couldn't retort to Bruce's sternness. Now he was convinced that arguing with Dick was like arguing with a mom.

"Master Bruce do I need to remind you that you should be resting." Thank Alfred for breaking the ice and saying something. "Now please allow us to aid you back to your room." Jason looked at Alfred as they quietly waited for a response.

All they heard was an annoyed huff in return. "Bruce…" The teen's voice was close to a plead now. The elder glanced his way, reading the subtle concern in his usually fierce turquoise eyes.

"Fine. I was able to get some research done at least." Bruce let out in a raspy voice as he slowly stood up from the chair, surrendering for a change. Both Alfred and Jason walked up to him in aid, one on each side of his arm but Jason instinctively waited for approval before he touched the other, still afraid he would get a sudden beating or something. When Bruce appeared to be okay with it, the teen held the other firmly but gently, not willing to apply any extra pressure anywhere despite the full view of nothing but rigid muscle.

'God, what would he have to do to get a body like that? And he was hot.' Jason mused. 'No literally, hot. Bruce felt super warm for some reason.'

"Splendid, it looks like research isn't the only thing you're working on. You seem to have also worked up a mild fever." Alfred answered his thoughts.

The two put Bruce back in his room, on his bed, but Alfred turned to head towards the kitchen and the last thing Jason wanted was to be alone with the other. "I'll help you." The teen hastily called out and followed the butler. Jason felt like a failure and he didn't want to be subjected to Bruce's disappointment any further. The younger did have a habit of being too harsh on himself. Bruce wasn't stupid either, he picked up on the other's fidgety elusive behavior almost immediately. And he knew he was the root cause of it.

Downstairs, the butler prepared some soup while Jason fetched the painkillers and a wash cloth bucket. He then watched Alfred set the lap table on the bed in front of Bruce, until it was his turn to come forward and wordlessly place the soup bowl down. The teen also rested the medicine and small bucket on the nightstand. "The medicine." He quietly said as he walked away.

"Well then, enjoy and do rest. Please don't make me lock your door." Alfred bowed and turned to the door. Jason also nodded once awkwardly, ready to follow the butler.

"Jason." But one word from Bruce halted him in his tracks again. Alfred didn't wait for them as he left and the teen turned to face the other. "I don't want you to think this was your fault."

"Yeah I know," The teen sounded far from convincing. 'But…he should've been there since he agreed to this.' "Look, Bruce…I don't know if I can be the sidekick you want me to be… I'm sure I can kick ass but… I can't keep it a secret forever and I can bet my entire fortune that Dick isn't gonna allow this when it's out." Why was he saying all this?

Tense silence expanded between them, engulfing the entire room. "No. Like I mentioned before, it has to be you, Jason. I've observed you during our patrol and how riveted you are during training. I also know you hold an unquenchable amount of bitterness and hatred towards the world around you, for putting you in this position and taking away the rights you should've had as a child." Bruce explained. "I understand your pain very well. But in your case, If I let you be, you're going to channel that energy in a negative way. In terms of your family…"

"You worried I might kill someone if you let me go rampage? 'Cause I sure feel like it everyday."

"That's exactly why I need you to do this. I need you to settle your dispute. To use that passion and fury for something better, for saving people, and use that to heal. That's what worked for me. All these years as batman. It helped me get over my parent's murder. And I want to do this for you, to help you get over yours. You have to understand, no one else can do this job but you."

Jason would lie if he said he didn't feel touched by that. He felt so damn special to the world all of a sudden. Being told by Batman, that no one could do this job but him. It was uplifting.

"But if you still want to quit, I won't force you to stay." Bruce added a disclaimer.

'It was just like Bruce to say that. He always wanted you on your own terms.' "Okay…I'll think about it. Now get some rest already, you're making me feel bad as it is." He brushed off, the mood feeling much lighter in the room then ten minutes ago. Bruce scoffed at his response and Jason left him alone to rest, with a smirk.

He traveled to the living room and settled on one of the couches with a book. Bruce had quite an interesting collection to help pass the time. There were so many books that Jason even wondered if Bruce read them all. The coolest part of it all was that he had unlimited free access.

After finishing half a book, the teen decided to check up on the elder who should have long finished his soup by now. He tiptoed to the other's door and peeked through it to find Bruce fast asleep. Jason exhaled a breath of relief and very gingerly entered. The ravenette dug his hands in the water bucket to grab the washcloth and wring it once before patting the sweat off the elder's forehead. He was still running a mild fever. He rewashed it and placed a new one over his forehead. The teen lounged on the sofa in the room incase Bruce woke up or began sweating profusely…or worse, tried to sneak out again.

Eventually Jason had to leave. He already skipped school to be here so he was hoping he could make it for the afternoon classes at least. Additionally, he didn't need Dick asking anymore questions and taking rights away. Jason quietly walked out and went to Alfred. "Hey Alf, I have to leave, tell Bruce I said get well soon."

"Will do, thank you for your help. Master Bruce appreciates it even if he poorly shows it."

"You're telling me." Jason snorted.

Bruce woke up feeling much better than when he went to sleep. As he sat up, he noticed the dry washcloth fall off his forehead.

Alfred entered the room at the right time. He was only checking in but wasn't expecting to see the other awake. "Master Bruce, glad to see you're awake. How are you feeling?"

"Much better, but was this necessary?" Bruce held up the washcloth.

"Pardon? I didn't place that." The ravenette then recalled Jason bringing in the bucket of water, which was still on his nightstand. "It must have been Master Jason."

Bruce sat in silence, in deep thought, hesitant to voice his opinion. Alfred patiently waited for him to speak up whenever he felt ready. He could tell the other was contemplating something important and thinking twice before saying anything.

"Alfred…I'm thinking about adopting that boy…I want him to live here." Bruce said after a long pause, eyes narrowing at the ground. "I've been contemplating for a while now. Not just for the sake of being Robin but for himself as well. I don't mind if he brings his brothers—you and I can both agree we have ample room for that."

"Certainly sir, if that's what you deem right. However, do you believe they'll willingly live in a stranger's house rent free—and at Bruce Wayne's no less."

"You're right. I should introduce myself at least, before I even bring it up with Jason." Bruce placed a finger on his chin.

"Don't mind my curiosity but do you feel sorry for him? Perhaps see yourself in him and hence this self-righteous desire to save him?"

"I wish that was all there was. But it's not. I do want him here. He brings a different energy to the manor. These past eight, nine months I've learned so many things from him that being alone hasn't taught me and unexpectedly enjoyed his company. It's odd, but he's felt everything like a son or younger brother to me."

"Well sir if you feel that deeply and if master Jaster is willing to allow you to do this for him, then I stand behind you." The butler smiled with approval.

"Thanks Alfred." Bruce smiled warmly.

To Be continued…

Sorry, slightly shorter chapter than usual but a lot of feels in it lol. The next chapter will be out soon anyways. Thanks for reading~