Disclaimer: I own nothing

Jason Todd had been looking forward to Friday all week.

After finishing up a big case he'd been working on for months he was going to treat himself. The night was supposed to begin at the manor for a meal with Alfred, then he would head back to his base to finish off the day with a movie. Artemis and Bizarro had never seen the Godfather and Jason had made it his mission to change that.

Unfortunately fate had other plan.

Receiving a distress signal from his younger brother was only the beginning of his problems. Next thing he knew he was being thrown into another dimension with no one else for company but his replacement and the demon (names which he insisted were terms of endearment).

This version of Gotham was darker than even the wasteland Jason called home. The brothers agreed that their first order of business would be to enlist the help of the bat in this dimension. After all if their Bruce had a protocol for dimensional mishaps they were sure this one would too.

Things were starting to look up when Tim discovered that the object that sent them there had a time limit. No matter where they went in this dimension they would be sent home within a couple hours. While Jason voted to use these few hours to relax, Damian and Tim outvoted him in favour of visiting the cave. The tech genius insisted it was for research purposes, but Jason had an hunch that Damian just wanted to see the alternate version of himself. Jason would be lying to say he wasn't curious himself.

This is when things really got out of hand…

They were intercepted near the secret entrance of the cave by two Talons, one older, one younger. Their uniforms were only slightly different than the one's Jason remembered from his own experience with them.

The fight took them all over Gotham. Before they had the assurance that no matter what they would be sent home, the problem now was staying alive. Despite the numbers being three to two, the Talons had the advantage due to their advanced healing. Jason wasn't sure how much longer he could keep up with this. He'd already exhausted himself with his previous mission and he was fighting on an empty stomach.

Damian and Tim were fighting the elder talon on the pier and Jason was pursuing the younger by the storage containers. He chased him all the way into one of the containers that was suspended above the bay by a metal chain. Jason realized too late that he was running into a trap. Talon held a knife up to his throat and was about to finish the job, but he hesitated.

Jason took this chance to flip him onto his back, just as he was joined by his two brothers.

"Hood are you okay?" Tim yelled.

"I'm fine! But where's-"

Before he could finish his sentence the chain holding the container snapped. The door swung shut as the container fell towards the sea. Damian lunged at it, trying to kick it open but cried out in frustration when it didn't budge.

"It's sealed shut! We're tra-"

The four of them jostled around in the container as it came into contact with the water.

"It's okay, the air in the container will keep us afloat." Jason reassured him.

As always, he spoke too soon.

They felt a heavy thud above them and Jason could feel them begin to sink.

For about a minute no one spoke. Although they couldn't see, they used their other senses to circle around the lone Talon who just a moment ago was trying to kill them.

Suddenly Tim cracked a few glow sticks he'd retrieved from his belt and threw them in the centre of the container. Talon was sitting cross legged with his head bowed, not the posture of the proud, confident killer Jason thought he had been facing before.

But he wasn't that confidant was he? After all he hesitated to take the killing blow, ultimately sparing Jason's life.

"Go on finish it then." The Talon spoke, his voice was chillingly familiar. "You outnumber me, and you've clearly faced Talons before, you know exactly where to strike me so I won't regenerate."

"A tempting offer." Damian sneered, yet he didn't move. Damian wore the same look of doubt Jason felt himself.

"We clearly can't get out of this ourselves, but you don't think your buddy will come to get you?" Tim asked, trying to fit the pieces together.

"Not likely." The Talon mumbled, almost sadly.

"Why did you hesitate?" Jason asked suddenly surprising everyone in the room.

Talon looked up at him with his lifeless bird mask, yet he still managed to look guilty. But guilty about what? Sparing him, or trying to kill him in the first place?

"I-", Talon struggled for words as the pieces clicked together for each of the brothers at once.

"What's your name?" Jason asked gently. He already knew, but he wanted to hear him say it.

He hesitated before replying, "Talon." He shifted his position uncomfortably and Jason realized they were all standing looking down at him. He knew he should be more cautious, that Bruce would reprimand him for compromising his control of the situation, but Jason knew the boy in front of him wouldn't hurt him.

Jason kneeled down in front of him and removed his helmet, leaving only his mask to cover his face. "What's your real name."

Talon hesitated uncertainly again before removing his own mask. Instead of the bright blue eyes Jason was used to, he was met with an unsettling gold, but that didn't change who he was.

"My name is Richard Grayson."

Tim and Damian had knelt beside him as well, sad expressions on their faces.

"None of you seem surprised." Dick pointed out in confusion, and a little in fear.

"Full disclosure, we're from another dimension and in around an hour we'll be gone." Tim said a little guiltily.

"So that's why you're so calm." Dick hang his head and took a deep breath. "I suppose my counterpart also assumed the role of Talon?" Dick said sadly.

"No Richard." Damian stated proudly. "You became a hero. One of the best, although I am loath to admit it in front of these idiots."

Of course Damian would add an insult to save his pride, the little softy.

"We only know about Talon because in our dimension William Cobb has tried to recruit you on more than one occasion." Tim reassured.

"It's not too late for you." Jason told him. "In your dimension you're our brother, and as much as you annoy me Golden boy, I don't like seeing my family get hurt, no matter the dimension." For a second hope flickered in Dick's golden eyes.

Tim raised an eyebrow at Jason and smirked.

"Not a word." He mumbled.

As soon as that hope came, it vanished leaving Dick with a somber expression. "Even if we could get out of here, I'm a dead man. Who do you think shut the doors? The court wants me dead." Tears were beginning to well in his eyes, although he tried to hide it.

Jason internally wondered why the court would want him dead if he were fighting for them just moments ago.

Tim hesitantly placed a hand on his shoulder. Dick flinched at first before accepting the comfort. "In our dimension you were taken in by a good man when you were alone, he gave you a home, he's part of the reason you became a hero. He can still protect you. I'm sure if we could somehow contact Batman-"

Dick jerked back suddenly out of Tim's reach. "Batman? Define hero!" Fear was evident on his face.

Jason should have expected that if Dick wasn't Nightwing, there was a chance that batman wasn't who they thought either.

"Batman." Dick shuddered. "Bruce Wayne, did take me in that night." His voice was pained. "He took me in and led me straight to William Cobb. After all, he is the leader of the court, and every member needs their Talon. Why do you think we were guarding the bat cave?" He asked grimly.

Jason swore under his breath, Tim looked down sadly, Damian looked mortified and unsure, as though he wanted to comfort the broken man in front of him but didn't know how. It was hard to picture their Bruce, who hated the court and everything it stood for, leading it. Sure he still thought that Bruce Wayne was a bastard, but a villain?

Then again, how many evil Batmen had visited them in the past few years from other dimensions? Owlman, the Batman who laughs, he shivered. Really he should have expected this.

"If I'm going to die here, I want to talk about something else." Dick said suddenly. "You know who I am, who are you?" He turned to Damian first. "Maybe I know the other you's." He gave a faint smile.

Damian grimaced. "After what you told me, I sincerely hope not." He mumbled.

The three brothers looked at each other uncertainly.

"Come on," Dick tried for a lighthearted tone. "Who am I gonna tell?"

Silence.

"Even in this dimension your jokes fall flat Dick." Jason deadpanned.

Damian sat up straight beside Jason and took a deep breath. "After all you have been through Richard I suppose it's the least we can do." Removing his mask, he tried to send Dick a reassuring smile, although it looked more like a frightened grimace. "My name is Damian Al-Ghul." Jason noticed how he omitted the 'Wayne' portion of his name which he usually threw around with superiority.

"In our dimension I am the favoured of your brothers." This received a protest from Tim and a snort from Jason. "Although Batman is a villain in this world we're I'm from he's a hero, I was the robin to your Batman and we made the best team." He smiled with pride.

Jason had never seen Damian this animated, and realized at that moment that he saw Dick as more than a brother, but a mentor, and maybe even-

"Its nice to meet you Damian." Dick scooted a little closer to him to shake his hand, Damian glowed at having been the first to put a real smile on his face. "We sound like we make an awesome team! I've heard of the Al Ghul's and their league of light, they're our equivalent to the heroes you were talking about before. The court hates them."

This was extremely surprising news to Jason, however, it was clear that Damian was relieved. At least in this world his parents weren't both atrocious human beings.

"Too bad I'll never meet you in this world, you seem nice." The realization that he was going to die was beginning to set in again.

Thankfully, Tim spoke up before he could dwell on it. Removing his mask he smiled. "My name is Tim Drake, unlike what the demon thinks you love all your brothers equally. You've been my inspiration for as long as I can remember." He admitted bashfully, suddenly aware of the company he was in.

Dick gave a nervous smile. "Nice to meet you Tim." He said, but he didn't shake his hand.

Tim sighed sadly. "You've met me haven't you."

"Not met, per-say, but I've heard of you." Dick rubbed the back of his neck nervously, a habit Jason recognized from his own brother. "You're one of the youngest members of the court. A technological genius. You were just recently initiated but your reputation-err-the other you's reputation proceeds you." Dick grimaced at his own words.

"I'm sorry." Tim said sadly.

"No need to be!" Dick said reassuringly. "You're not responsible for the actions of your counterpart!"

Were't we supposed to be the ones cheering him up?

"It's comforting to know that at least in another world, I'm surrounding by such a caring family." He spoke softly with a bit of envy, no doubt wondering how he ended up with the short end of the stick. He turned to Jason expectantly.

Jason removed his mask but before he could say anything, Dick flung his arms around him crying, "Jason!"

Jason glanced at his brothers who were staring at them with both confusion and envy.

"Umm, hi, I guess you already know me. I'm Jason Todd, your younger brother."

Dick pulled away, there were tears in his eyes. "I know." He whispered. "You're so much older now." He reached out as though to touch his cheek then pulled his hand away. "This must be confusing."

The three brothers nodded dumbly.

"I guess I owe you an explanation, someone may as well know before I take my secrets to the grave." He said quietly. "It was a few years after I became Talon. Bruce had picked up another orphan off the street to be his Talon and had assigned me and my great grandfather to train him." Dick smiled, eyes foggy as he recalled his memories of the event. "Jason was so eager to please, he had a lot of pent up anger he needed to vent. He didn't realize what we were at first, or maybe he didn't care, I used to think he treated everything like a game. Still, he was practically my little brother and I couldn't help but worry."

Jason shifted uncomfortably, although he knew this wasn't his universe he'd always wondered what his older brother's first impressions of him was.

"Back then we were only sent to collect or deliver information. We would also steal on occasion but as soon as it came down to killing, his-" Dick paused, pained by the memory. "Our true nature shone through. We weren't killers. We couldn't do what was necessary."

Jason stiffened, he had an idea of what was coming next. "I was Cobb's great grandson, he protected me from the court, but Jason-" his voice caught in his throat. Jason felt like he was on the verge of tears himself, but willed himself to keep a stoic face. He reached for Dicks hand and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Dick gave a smile small, but couldn't help his face from ultimately crumpling. "Since then the court had given me so many chances, they'd been following me, but me sparing you was the last straw." Dick looked up and smiled at Jason through his tears "I suppose it's only fitting that I end up dying for the brother I couldn't save."

That was it, Jason couldn't take this! He turned away from the group, hoping they wouldn't notice the tears threatening to fall from his eyes.

"I never wanted to be a Talon, I just wanted my family back." Dick shuddered he was full on crying now. Damian wrapped Dick in a hug, burying his face in his chest, followed by Tim who also couldn't seem to contain his tears.

"You may have worn their uniform but you were never a Talon Dick Grayson." Jason locked eyes with Dick, and knew his brother was still unsure. "Trust me, I've met Talons, they're ruthless, cold, and soulless. Even in this dimension you are the kindest, warmest, most loving person I've ever met. Don't live your last moments believing a lie."

As Dick began to sob harder Jason wrapped the three of them tightly into his arms.

Everything here was wrong, someone like Dick shouldn't have had to go through all this! He couldn't fathom that in a universe as messed up as this one his golden boy of a brother was almost identical to the one who was waiting for them back home.

"Whoa what happened?" Dick said suddenly pulling away. He wiped his tear stained cheeks, uncertainty replacing sadness.

"It's happening." Tim said solemnly looking down.

Suddenly Jason realized what he meant, they were fading away.

"We'll never forget you." Jason said sadly.

Damian's head was still hanging low when suddenly the container trembled violently.

"We're-we're rising!" Tim said incredulously. Whatever was weighing them down had been removed, which meant-

"They've come for me." Dick said resigned. "I suppose they couldn't ensure that I'd stay dead without proof of a body."

"No!" Damian cried. "We won't let them take you!"

But it was as though he couldn't hear them. Dick looked around and stood up sadly. "I'll never forget you either." He whispered.

"Drake! Either bring us back or hurry this up! I can't-" Damians voice broke. Jason placed a hand on his shoulder. "I can't watch him die."

Tim was still sitting down, resigned, he was staring straight through Jason.

"Then don't." He replied softly. Wrapping his arms around both of his brothers he held them tightly in a hug, their faces pressed against chest.

Jason watched as Dick stoically stood his ground, prepared to fight till his last breath.

Jason couldn't look away.

Finally they felt the container break the surface, and light footsteps sounded above them. The Talons had arrived.

The doors were ripped off their hinges.

Damian and Tim tensed next to him, preparing for the worst.

As the salty wind blew into the crate the lithe figure of-

A little girl?

"What the-" at Jasons remark, both Damian and Tim snuck a peak at was happening.

The girl had tan skin, dark hair, and emerald green eyes. She almost looked like-

" I am Durriyah Al Ghul, daughter of Talia Al Ghul and Lex Luthor!" She declared proudly.

Now wasn't that familiar.

Both Tim and Jason stared at Damian, who was staring slack jawed at the sight before them. A relieved smile began to form on his face until he noticed his brothers looking at him. Pushing them away he scowled ferociously. "Clearly my mother has poor taste in men in this dimension." He crossed his arms over his chest, yet Jason could still see the relief on his face. What had Dick said about the Al Ghul's and heroes?

"Jason speaks highly of you." She said snootily. "Although why my mother went through the trouble of reviving him, I will never know."

"Jason." Dick whispered in disbelief.

Jason couldn't help but smile, it seemed that in this dimension he had gotten the Lazarus treatment as well.

"Come Talon, we have work to be done." A boat appeared behind the girl, and a boy of maybe seventeen hopped out into the crate.

"This is Timothy Drake, he has been acting as our spy under cover for the last few months, infiltrating the court of owls."

"Tim?" Dick whispered.

Jason glanced at Tim who was grinning from ear to ear. "Never should've doubted myself." He mumbled.

"Do I know you?" The other Tim asked.

"Not yet, but I have a feeling that by the end of this, we'll all feel just like family." Dick smiled slinging his arms around both Tim and Durriyah.

Tim although bewildered, did not reject the arm, Durriyah however flung it off with distaste.

"Oh great, a Talon who's sentimental." She scowled.

"My name isn't Talon." Dick huffed.

"Than what is it?" Tim asked.

"Richard Grayson."

That was the last thing the brothers saw before they were teleported into the bay of the Gotham City they called home.

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"So let me get this straight, the alien technology you discovered last night sent you all to a parallel dimension where Bruce is a member of the court, The league of assassins is the league of light, Lex Luthor and Talia had a daughter, Tim was a spy and me and Jason were Talons?"

Dick looked incredulously at his brothers from his position on the couch at the manor.

After their return to their own dimension, they regrouped at the cave to be debriefed and were now preparing for some quality bonding time with their overbearing older brother. Bruce was still in the cave sulking. The news of his counterparts treatment of Dick and Jason, as well as his position with the court of owls had left him feeling sour, despite Dick and Alfreds assurances that he shouldn't blame himself.

"Yes, as we previously explained Grayson, the dimension we visited was filled with heathens. I don't even exist there, instead the spawn of Lex Luthor is running around with the Al Ghul name!"

"And yet the similarities between the two of you were uncanny." Tim teased, only to be met with a pillow to the face.

Damian had refused to leave Dick's side and was currently glued to him on the couch as Jason scrolled through movie options on Netflix.

"It's good to hear that even though Batman wasn't there to introduce us all we still managed to find each other." Dick smiled swinging an arm over his younger brother.

"Yes well, I suppose you can thank my counterpart for that. The Al Ghul's not only revived Jason but saved you and Tim from death at the hands of the court." Damian said with pride.

"Your counterpart?" Tim questioned. "First, you refused to associate yourself with her. Second, it was clearly my counterpart that alerted the league of light about the court. There's no way my counterpart was operating as a spy because of yours! And guess what it was Jasons counterpart who saved Dick not yours!"

As the two began to bicker Dick excused himself to find snacks for the movie.

After a few more minutes of arguing Jason was beginning to get a headache and decided to go give his elder brother a hand.

"Hey." Jason said, as he entered the kitchen.

Dick was microwaving popcorn and was pulling out some bags of chips. "Oh, hey Jay!" Dick said with a smile.

Jason couldn't help but remember the defeated look and the dull golden eyes that had been staring at him just hours before.

They stood together in silence for a few moments before Jason asked. "Do you ever wonder what might have happened if you hadn't been taken in by Bruce? If the court had gotten to you first?"

Dick looked at him thoughtfully as though he were expecting the question. "A couple times. I like to think that I would have found a way out. After all if my counterpart could do it, why not me?"

Jason nodded solemnly, he was starting to ask himself what he would have become if not for Bruce Wayne.

Dick almost seeming to read his mind spoke. "I used to think that without Batman, I could have become a killer. I could have killed Tony Zucco and gotten revenge for my parents." Jason looked at him quizzically. "But now I'm not so sure. Of course, Bruce gave us the means to fight for justice. The training, the tools. But he isn't what made us heroes."

Jason sighed and crossed his arms. "Yeah, I guess."

Dick pulled the popcorn out and poured it into a bowl, handing the chips to Jason, he smiled. "With or without Bruce we're still heroes, and we'll always be brothers." Jason smiled back.

When they walked back into the living room they found Tim and Damian sitting on opposite sides of the room with Alfred between them.

Busted, Jason smirked.

Dick sat down beside Damian and Alfred sat beside Tim. Jason started the movie and tore open his bag of chips when he felt someone sit down beside him. He turned his head to find Bruce, still looking a bit guilty sitting beside him.

Sure Jason thought Bruce Wayne was a bastard, but in his dimension he brought them all together. He trained them, took care of them. He helped them to become a family. Although Jason hated to admit it, he was glad to have Bruce Wayne as a father.

"Chips?" He offered, holding out the bag.

Bruce gave a small smile. "Thank you."