"You know, I don't think even the crazes in Gotham would want to steal a piece of mummified fruit." Jason shifted his cellphone on his shoulder, he leaned back in the Bat computer's chair trying to make himself more comfortable for the long haul. On the monitor was the security footage of the interior of the Metropolis Museum of Nature History, "unusual finds", hall, from the evening before.
According to Supergirl, or according to the Metropolis PD Detective Sawyer, Kara hadn't gotten around to viewing the footage herself before of some massive alien invasion had been happening in downtown Metropolis, Jason glanced at the timestamp on the monitor in thirty minutes the security camera would cut out.
Thirty minutes wouldn't be the longest time he'd reviewed footage on a case where he wasn't actually going to see anything of relevance. Bruce had trained him to be meticulous in collecting information. He'd always say you never know what you're going to miss. Next there would checking the rest of the security footage and then combing the day's of footage for potential suspects.
If he had any actual clues to the identity of the thief, he could run the footage through the Batcomputer. However, there was that alien invasion that needed to be dealt with. Supergirl hadn't finished her interview with Detective Sawyer and Detective Sawyer hadn't gotten around to filing her police report.
Detective work never stopped being exactly as monotonous as Bruce described when Jason had ended up in this gig.
Not that there wasn't anything else for Jason to be doing for the moment, just like the last three months.
"Don't you humans consider dried fruit a treat?" Jason rolled his eyes at Kara's joke. If he could ignore the – he didn't actually know what the aliens were blasting at Kara. They didn't sound like any of the unconventional weapons he'd dealt with in Gotham. She was invulnerable most of the time so her little grunts of … exertion couldn't have been pain.
One time last year he'd called her during a solo stakeout mostly out of boredom, not loneliness, since then they'd shared a few stakeouts together. Kara like having an extra set of eyes, as much as she loved doing detective work. Jason was pretty sure it was as far from her calling in life as being an ax murderer was. Jason always liked the company when Bruce wasn't around.
Like now.
"Mummification isn't the same as dried fruit." Yeah, Jason didn't glance over at the Cave's comm when he thought about Bruce being out there without backup. Bruce had been on his own every evening for the three months Jason's team up with the Titans. Jason wasn't thinking about how long it would take to get to Metropolis. "Besides most normal humans don't consider it a treat, more of a snack."
There was a long pause where Kara didn't respond, which was normal, very normal, even super aliens couldn't keep up with a conversation while fighting off waves of invading aliens.
"Tell me about the apple...err." Jason glanced down at the notes he'd written on his arm when she'd unexpectedly called him a few hours ago. He and Bruce had been having a tense dinner which Jason had been saved from by the call and the case, "The Temptation of Flame-bird?"
All Jason heard on the phone was her breathing fast and heavy and Jason's attention wasn't entirely focused on the Robin Cycle now or trying to calculate how long it would take him to get down town Metropolis during an alien invasion. If Bruce were here, he'd probably know.
"Well, you know, this sort of reminds me of a Kryptonian fairy tale. Thara, one of my friends, loved that story."
Jason leaned back into the chair letting go of the phone, he'd somehow started clutching. "One of your Kryptonian friends, the religious one."
Kara made a sound of agreement, "I'm going to have to let you go." She must have heard him stop breathing because she quickly added,"Don't worry Kal's finished off their leader, looks like they're going to be surrendering. I'll drop by after things calm down here."
"Okay," Jason tried to keep his voice as light as hers was. "Tell the big man I said hi." Kara giggled as she hung up.
"That was a witty one there Robin," Jason told himself while trying to focus back on the footage. From the camera's angle Jason could see a lot in the hall that the more dramatic types of criminals would be interested in. He'd been listing them off to Kara. More feline themed memorable than even Selina would know what to do with (Jason hadn't considered sending her a few pamphlets about that particular exhibit, not at all), a centuries old riddle box that according to rumors had never been solved (if the Riddler wasn't enjoying his stay in Arkham he'd have probably already gone for that one), and the list got weirder as Jason had continued reading.
Kara had filled him in on a few of the Metropolis rogues tastes as he'd started randomly making commentary on the various exhibits that wouldn't have interested Gotham's rogues.
The one item in the hall that didn't fit the list was the Flame-bird's Temptation.
Jason had been surprised to see a mummified apple encased in, according to the museum's website and an on-line journal, a paper thin layer of pure gold. Jason wondered why the object had interested the archaeological community.
The workmanship wasn't impressive. He'd seen better covered candied apples.
There was an archaic Germanic phase etched into the gold the researchers couldn't identify the origin of or a translation for. From what Jason had read, his guess was as good as the professionals.
According to the journals the artifact had been been found in a part of eastern Europe where the locals believed in a legend about a magical apple (golden if Jason couldn't have guessed) that granted the eater of the apple the knowledge of – this was where the various stories all started breaking down. Was it knowledge of the past and the future, good and evil, there were about a dozen different version of all the standard cliches. Tagged along with the knowledge was the also standard curse about being consumed by that knowledge.
There was one aspect of the duality of the knowledge the apple granted that had caught Jason's attention. The terminology in every single one of the stories (as translation in the archaeological journals) understanding of the self. Jason had found the distinction interesting even if the stories didn't portray how the hero learning his light and darkness or his past and future was the key to: saving his father in one, saving/winning the princess in over half, and saving the entire kingdom, (well, in the versions he wasn't damning them all with his new terrible perspectives of himself).
To finish it all off there was a dragon tied to every single one of the stories, the Flame-Bird. Guardian, thief, or tempter, except in one of the stories, the story Kara had found intriguing. In that story the Flame-Bird had been all three. Kara had told him that's how the Kryptoian version of the Flame-Bird's Lament was told.
So far Jason hadn't done more than a quick glance over that aspect of the case. Fairy tale centered villains weren't the standard fair for Metropolis. Gotham's people had particular stories or collections they were obsessed with. Generic fairy tales had never been Jason's thing. The Flame-Bird's Lament was possibly the biggest collection of fairy tales. He wasn't looking forward to going combing through all those stories looking for clues to the thief.
If things went well, Jason wouldn't have to bother too much with the fairy tales. He was planning on having Kara take point on the mythological side of the case. Bruce wouldn't approve of leaving a potential critical aspect of an investigation in the hands of one of the Supers. Or of Superman, Jason had to amend. He wasn't entirely sure if Bruce's bias against Superman was shared with Supergirl.
Other than Jason's distaste for fairy tales he had other reasons for Kara handling that aspect of the case. While the Kryptoian's version of the story didn't perfectly match any of the earth versions, it was entirely possible the interpretation of the stories would be similar. Seeing how Kara was already invested in the stories behind the Flame-Bird's Lament that knowledge would give her a head start over Jason.
There was the unlikely possibly Kara was a potential target of the thief. It seemed oddly coincidental an artifact with the same name and story to one of Kara's home world favorites had been stolen from Kara's city. If that unlikely possibility was true then Kara looking over the stories and the history of the Flame-Bird's Lament would be even more significant.
According to Supergirl's interrupted interview with Detective Sawyer, the Metropolis PD was positive once they'd figured out how the crime was committed they'd have their culprit. That's how crimes were solved in Metropolis. Follow the pulsing negative-space trail of the culprit. Jason would have never believed there was a police department more incompetent than the GCPD. At least, the GCPD would laugh in your face if they weren't going to bother with an investigation. The Metropolis PD lied about how an investigation was impossible because some of the video footage was edited.
Jason could be judging the Metropolis PD a little harshly. Ever since Superman showed up, the majority of their crimes were caused by obvious meta humans who kicked in, ripped off or incinerated the front door of their target. The Metropolis PD just wasn't prepared to deal with a more subtle theft. Still it showed they were incompetent and corrupt. It wasn't like the Metropolis PD wasn't against their super heroes dealing with the crime as opposed to doing it themselves.
In the case of this theft there hadn't been any indication of meta human activity. Even if for some bizarre reason there was the possibility of mind control being involved, Detective Sawyer hadn't mentioned the meta angle to Kara. There would also have been some mention on social media. So far most of the posts about the museum reflected Jason's thoughts on the subject, if a bit more colorfully.
Jason was back to the real question of the investigation: Why would anyone have bothered stealing a gold plated mummified piece of fruit?
Motive was how they were going to solve the case.
Starting with the most common of motives: a disenfranchised professional. In Gotham this was the leading cause of super villainy. Usually they'd take it a little further than a simple theft and flaunt their displeasure more publicly. Since the theft was last night, there was time for all of that. Except from what Jason had been able to find so far, everyone involved in the dig was credited for the discovery. The other researchers and scholars involved in the processing of the apple were also credited.
The apple itself wasn't breaking news in the archaeological community at present. According to the journals there were five other archaeological finds of a similar nature. Jason didn't even want to know what were currently capturing the attention of the community at present.
There was the possibility the discovery's lead, Eve Gardener, wanted more publicity over another researcher who'd taken a shine to the apple. Everyone involved in the initial discovery were currently spread across Europe and involved in other major digs.
Not that the option wasn't impossible and not that Jason wasn't going to have to look into each researcher. Right now it the most unlikely motive.
Now to the most popular of motives: money. Jason was pretty sure the tour guide's earrings were worth more than five Flame-Bird's Laments. If that somehow wasn't the case and the apple was worth a fortune, a thief would have to go through five floors of priceless artifacts several of which would be significantly easier to fence. All Flame-Bird's Lament had going for it was it's size and a penny's worth of gold.
A contract for a personal collector was one option. The option was highly likely. Now that he was thinking about it, Jason couldn't believe he hadn't had the Bat computer running a search for local and international thieves in the security footage. Amateur mistake.
Jason pulled up the search engine on the Bat computer. Keeping half his attention on the security footage, he still had twenty-five minutes till the anti-climatic ending. He put in his search parameters. With the information he had known thieves seemed to be the best bet. Tomorrow he'd have more information to add.
Of course, as he finished his task turning, Jason considered his attention back to the monitor. There was the distinct possibility that instead of a collector, the hypothetical thief was hired by someone who wanted to use the mystical 'powers' of the Flame-Bird's Lament. Weirder motives existed.
Jason drummed his fingers on the keyboard.
While Jason hadn't seen much in the way of magic as Robin, he did know when Bruce had enough evidence to be persuaded magic was involved Bruce contacted Zatanna. So far nothing in the case pointed to there actually being any magic. None of the journals mentioned the researchers taking a bit out of the apple to see if the stories were true. Zatanna would know the people who would be interested in potential mystical relics and how to find them.
A loud roar of a motorcycle filled the Cave. Jason tensed. Bruce had taken the Batmobile this evening, like every other evening. Jason hadn't been informed anyone else was going to show up. A motorcycle would mean Black Canary or Green Arrow. Bruce would have mentioned either of them stopping by. Jason was pretty sure Green Arrow wasn't allowed in the Cave unless he was supervised.
Half a second later the security alert flashed on the lower screen indicating Nightwing was in the tunnel.
"Thanks for the heads up," Jason leaned back in the chair trying not to be relieved. Because, of course, Nightwing couldn't be bothered with contacting anyone before he decided to show up. Dick had promised he'd talk to Bruce for Jason about the Titans three months ago. So far that hadn't happened or if it did Jason seriously misinterpreted Dick's intentions.
Why was Dick even here?
Given the timing of his visit, Dick might be trying to sneak into the Cave without running into Bruce. For what Jason had no idea. All of Dick's belongs were in New York now. After the big blow out with Bruce over – Kara had pointed out Jason didn't actual know exactly what the fight had been about. Sure Dick had given Jason his spare Robin suit and a phone number "to talk about Bruce". That seemed all legit but Jason could always tell when people didn't think he was good enough. Dick wasn't even pretending he thought Jason was good enough to be Robin.
Dick's opinions weren't important because Jason was Robin or would be once Bruce started letting him out of the Cave again.
Really, Jason didn't even care why Dick was here. That wasn't entirely true Dick could be mind controlled again. Even if being mind controlled was a reoccurring problem in their line of work, it happened enough to Bruce, Dick couldn't have gotten mind controlled that often.
He was probably here to ambush Bruce about the Justice League being involved in Titan business. Jason had overheard Superman talking to Bruce about the whole Brother Blood mess a few weeks ago. The League may have disavowed the Titans or something. Jason was hoping that wasn't the case because Donna had implied she'd considered him for another team up.
The motorcycle turned off. Jason focused back on his case. Because he really didn't care.
Still nothing happening on the security footage. Jason wished Kara would get to the Cave soon, not because he was hearing footsteps approaching him and he needed a buffer between him and Dick. Jason wanted her here because watching security footage was boring. They needed to go over the case too. Waiting for nothing to happen was the ideal time for shop talk.
Jason could call Zatanna now. Her show was starting in an hour. While she couldn't give him any information on the apple, Jason could set up an appointment with her, probably after her show. If they did get the after show meeting, there wasn't a reason Jason couldn't take Kara to the show. Kara was fascinated by Earth's illusionary arts. Krypton wasn't big on magic shows. Jason had been meaning to take her to see Zatanna when the show had was in town. This was the perfect opportunity to-
"What are we looking for?" Jason was out of the chair before the intruder finished speaking. All he had on him was his old switch blade, which couldn't be that useful against someone who'd gotten past the batcave's security, Jason still pulled it out as he faced the intruder.
Standing in front of him, with a thousand watt smile, was Robin.
Robin from ten years ago.
"I like what you've done with the costume," Robin chirped pointing towards the display case past Jason's shoulder.
Jason tried to think of a response. His mind was blanking on witty comebacks with what was even happening. The Robin couldn't be Clayface, for a number of reason that started with Clayface didn't know where the batcave was and ended with Clayface was currently a mud puddle in Arkham.
The obvious answer was toxins. Except Jason hadn't been anywhere other than school for three months. It was entirely possible for Jason to have been infected at school or even from Bruce returning from patrol. It just didn't seem likely even with a time delay. Jason didn't have any hang ups over baby-bird Dick Grayson. Even if he was gassed with fear toxin he shouldn't be seeing anything like this.
Maybe the Mad Hatter was involved.
"Speedy's been telling me I've needed pants since we meet," Robin said as he turned from Jason to examine Jason's notes around the Bat-computer. Showing his back to someone with a knife. Playing at being non-hostile. Seemed like a Dick thing to do. Jason watch the kid shifting the notes around. Bruce would have done that. Not Dick.
"Did Batman come up with the design?" Robin plopped down in the chair as he spoke with a few of Jason's notes in his hands and his eyes on the monitor. Jason felt himself involuntary twitch. Yelling at the hallucination about how it should mess with his case would be playing into whatever delusion was going on here. If it wasn't a delusion then Jason shouldn't be yelling at a nine year old.
"It took me forever to make him see how I could fight crime in my old costume." Robin put a lot of enthusiasm on the last part because not many people knew the Robin costume was based off of the Flying Grayson uniform. If he wanted to prove who he was that would be a good starting point. Jason sighed.
"Robin spun around on the chair, Jason could practically hear Bruce's response to that maneuver. Looking up at Jason with the eagerness as he spoke, "The yellow is still there. I know Bruce hated it. Did you come up with the change? Did I come up with the change? Did pants start being that important to me?"
"Dick." Jason put the knife up. Baby-bird Dick showing up was more plausible than any of the other options Jason could come up with for what was happening.
Robin's smile went up a few more watts, "You do know who I am. At first I thought I was in another dimension. Except all my codes worked. They couldn't work in another dimension could they."
Jason could see some hesitation growing behind Robin – Dick's smile, like he was looking to Jason for conformation.
Was that even weird? Sure Dick now looking to Jason for guidance would have been more bizarre than seeing Baby-bird Dick; however, a nine year old out of time wanting conformation from Jason should have been expected. Jason could handle this. He'd spent months trying to prove to Bruce he could handle things. Jason wasn't going to mess up an opportunity when it showed itself.
"Hate to tell you. Bruce probably has the same codes across the multiverse. It isn't like he bothered changing them when you left." Jason considered what he was saying for a moment, "that's all the spoilers you're going to get out of me."
Dick gave Jason the most pathetic pout Jason had ever seen. Why was he doing that? Pouts couldn't possibly work on Bruce. Why would Dick think they were going to work on Jason? "You have to give me a clue so I'll know if I'm in my future or in alternative me's future?", Robin whined up at Jason.
"Would there even be a difference?" Jason had read enough of Bruce's notes on Flash's mishaps with the time-stream to have an understanding of how malleable the future was.
Maybe Dick was too young to have read the notes or too young for the notes to have existed. Jason reminded himself there was nothing weird about that. Jason had heard enough about how intelligent Dick had been at nine for him to be tricked into thinking Dick didn't have an idea that he could be changing his own future.
"Yes!" Dick threw his arms open at his exclamation sending Jason's notes everywhere.
"Really." Jason challenged Dick. "Because you knowing the type of future you're in isn't going to help you get back where you belong." If Dick was from the future there was the possibility he was de-aged. There was a thing that apparently happened to superheroes. "You can trust me when I say there isn't anything here for you to change when you get back." That was the truth. Even if there was Jason didn't think he wanted his fate in the hands of a nine year old's.
"Please. You have to know something that will let me know without changing the future." Dick pleaded. Jason hadn't known how the Robin mask could make your eyes look so much bigger and more pathetic. Dick was right, there were probably a few things Jason could tell him that wouldn't alter the future, if the kid was even from the past.
"Alfred has a daughter." Jason smiled. His reveal had Dick gasping with shock. Finding out about Alfred's daughter had left Jason in a similar state.
"Remember you can't tell anyone." Jason said once Dick seemed over his shock.
Dick nodded solemnly, "I won't tell anyone."
Kids like Dick liked to keep secrets. Even if he didn't keep this one all that would happen was that Dick would find out about Julia a little sooner.
"Okay. Now that we've gotten that out of the way. You need to pick up my notes." Jason said as he pointed to the notes scattered around the Cave floor. He was surprised to see Dick duck his head and...was he blushing. "After that you're going to tell me everything that happened to you before and after you ended up here."
Dick gave Jason a sharp nod and started picking up the notes. Given how chatty Dick had been, Jason had expected more than a nod. Not back talk exactly. Not that it mattered Jason guessed. Turning away from Dick towards the Bat-computer and the security footage Jason returned to his case.
When Kara got here she'd tell him the situation with Dick was more urgent than the case she'd brought him. She'd want to help. Given her contacts with several scientists nontraditional research and her own knowledge she'd probably be more helpful with Dick's situation than her own case. Jason bit his lip. He didn't know why he couldn't do both cases. Bruce did multiple cases all the time. It wasn't like Jason was going to be the lead on this one when Bruce got back.
If he got enough of the groundwork done before Bruce got back from patrol, then Bruce would have to keep him on the case. This was his opportunity to get back to being Robin.
"Are we going to call Bruce?" Dick asked at Jason elbow while offering Jason his notes back. Jason accepted the notes while trying to figure out Dick's tone. Now that Dick wasn't as animated as earlier Jason was having trouble reading him.
"Thanks. Not unless you want me too. He should be back in a few hours. I wanted to make as much headway as we can before he gets here." Jason should have considered Dick wanting to talk to Bruce.
"We're going to be working together.", Dick beamed up at Jason as he spoke, vibrating with excitement. "Do you think we're going to be able to solve my case before Bruce gets back?"
That was a change of mood Jason hadn't been expecting. Mark another one for the weirdness side of this. Jason was pretty sure Dick had wanted to be joined at the hip with Bruce when he'd started as Robin. Jason had. Even now, even after working with the Titans and Kara, he preferred working with Bruce.
Jason was saved from crushing Dick's hopes by the warning system going off for the second time this evening. Not even a record, Jason thought distantly as he saw Supergirl flashing across the screen.
"Superman has a sidekick." Dick tugged on Jason's hand attempting to drag Jason towards the Batcave's entrance, to go see Kara, speaking of spoilers about the future. Dick had moved from vibrating with excitement to bouncing with it. Jason could handle this. Jason was going to show Bruce he could handle Robin.