Zales' request for Jason to get drunk. (Hope you like it, because I completely changed your idea, but I had a good reason for it.)

Jason's 21, Tim's 16, and Damian's 13.

Chapter 127: Whiskey Lullaby

Tim's POV

I briefly looked up from my English paper as my bedroom door opened. I briefly glanced over at Jason before returning my attention back to my computer.

"Hey, Babybird."

I ignored him and continued typing as he came to stand behind me and obnoxiously breathed down my neck.

After several minutes of pure silence, Jason finally sighed. "You're mad at me, aren't you?"

"You missed my birthday for one thing. The other was that none of us got a call or anything from you for nearly five weeks and you just show up out of the blue like you always do."

Jason sighed, "You keep acting like I'm not coming back every time I leave."

"That's because you make it seem that way... You promised you weren't going to miss the party."

"I'm sorry, okay?"

"You also promised you were going to call more often... Dick calls home every night. Half the time none of us even get any sleep because we keep expecting you to be dead or dying."

He groaned and ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry I'm not perfect like Golden Boy. You gonna forgive me or what?"

I didn't answer. Two seconds later, I was staring at a blank computer screen.

"Jason! I didn't save that! I've been-"

"Your computer has auto save. You'll be fine," he replied as I glared at him.

"Come on. It's Friday night. It's just you and me tonight and we're going to celebrate your sweet sixteen."

"I turned sixteen three weeks ago!" I yelled as he literally dragged me out of my chair.

I had to tilt my head back just to meet his gaze. He smirked down at me. Why does he have to be so freaking tall? He's nearly as tall and as big as Bruce. Damian's not far behind Jason either. Why do I have to be the shortest? It's so not fair!

"Aww Babybird. You got taller. You're like what… five foot tall now?"

"I'm 5'4". And I'm going to get bigger for your information," I growled as he rolled his eyes.

"Maybe by an inch or two at the most… Well, probably not but you can dream, right? Besides, you're always going to be the baby bird," he smirked before he dragged me over to my closet.

"Damian's the baby!"

"He's already taller than you, midget. Now, go put some jeans on. Khakis are for nerds and preps. And lose the sweater. What? Did you steal from Dick's closet again? I mean, he stopped wearing shit like that when he stopped saying holy everything. Seriously, you look like a dork-"

"I can dress myself, Jason!"

********Break********

"A bar! This is your idea of a birthday present?" I asked in disbelief as he shrugged.

"Pretty much. You don't like it?"

"Jason, you may not have noticed but I'm a minor."

Jason bluntly replied, "Tim, This is Gotham."

"I'm sixteen."

"They don't know that. I brought your fake id."

"Jason, I am Bruce Wayne's third son. You are his second son. We live in Gotham. This bar is located in Gotham. None of us can walk into a single store without seeing our family's faces on TV or a magazine… They're going to know it's fake!"

"Only if you keep shouting about it," he huffed.

"Can't you just take me to a museum or something? We can go back home and watch Netflix or-"

"We're not going somewhere lame or back home until later… I'll even let you drive my baby home."

"Wow," I sarcastically replied as he got out of his Hummer.

Jay practically dragged me out of the military grade vehicle and towards the entrance of the bar. He calmly explained to the bouncer that I was his designated driver while giving the overly large man a fifty before shoving me into the shabby bar in one of the worst sections of town. He steered me over to the counter and pushed me onto a stool at the bar. Jason ordered himself a beer and I got a coke. I took a sip of the drink and frowned. It tasted funny.

"Jay, something doesn't taste right," I said as he was too busy checking out some girl over on the far side of the bar to notice me. "Jason!"

"Hmm?"

"My. Drink. Tastes. Weird."

"Lemme see," he said before tasting it.

He set it down and his eyes narrowed. Jason hissed, "That jackass spiked your drink with rum."

He practically climbed over the counter before I grabbed his arm. I knew this was a bad idea. We should have just stayed home.

"Jay, stop. Please. Just forget it. Let's just go see a movie or something," I pleaded as he ignored me.

I groaned as Jason practically dragged the bartender over the counter. Guess I better start getting his bail money together. He eventually released the bartender and reclaimed his seat beside me.

"Said it was an accident. He mixed up your drink with someone that asked for a rum coke," he grunted before returning his attention to his beer.

I asked, "Great… Can we go now?"

"No."

I groaned as he downed the last of his drink and asked for another along with a couple of shots. He slid one of the shot glasses over to me before nudging my shoulder.

"Don't tell anyone I gave you liquor."

"I don't want it! I don't drink. Sixteen, remember?" I said while sliding it back to him.

"Don't be a killjoy, Tim."

I sat there and watched as Jason downed drink after drink while trying to play pool with some biker gang. He was on his eighth beer before two hours had passed. I'd already lost count of the shots of whiskey and vodka he'd downed. I'd never seen him this way. Jay was either trying to pick a fight with anything that breathed or he was practically hitting every girl up for their number. He couldn't even walk straight at this point. Who was this man that was replacing my brother?

I'd finally had enough. I walked over to him and grabbed his arm, dragging him away from the pool table. "Can you please just take me home now?"

That was when he slammed me against the wall. His grip on my wrist was like solid iron.

"You're hurting me! Let go!" I yelped as his vice like grip increased.

Jason forcefully slammed me into the wall again. His arm pinned me to the wall as it was put pressure on my collarbone and chest. I was having difficulty breathing as I stared into his bloodshot eyes. I practically gagged on the rancid smell of the alcohol coming off his breath.

His teeth were pulled back in a snarl as his fist suddenly impacted my cheek. I slid to the ground and tried to keep my bottom lip from trembling.

For the first time in practically forever, I was somewhat scared of him. My big brother just hit me.

"You never stop bitching, do you! You're such an ungrateful little prick! What the hell were you trying to do in there! Get me killed? You're just so damn useless! You're nothing but a freaking replacement! It's no wonder why your parents didn't want you! I never understood why Bruce brought you home in the first place! Guess it doesn't matter; he replaced you with a better Robin!"

Forcing the tears back, I pulled myself up. Bloodshot eyes narrowed. I sidestepped his next punch and slammed him headfirst into the pool table. Jason dropped to the ground out cold. No one even batted an eye from inside the bar.

I whispered, "I wish you were wrong about what you said."

********Break********

Damian's POV

I groaned as I sat up in bed. What in hell is that noise? Alfred meowed drowsily before moving to curl up on my pillow. I gently pushed aside the other twelve cats before getting out of the bed. I stepped over Titus as I moved across the room and opened the door.

Looking out into the hall, I could see Todd hanging limply over Drake's shoulder as he struggled to carry him to his room. Why is Todd even home? When did he even get here? It's been five weeks.

"Drake, what are you doing?"

"Shut up and go back to bed!" he yelled as I noticed the hurt emotion in his voice.

I'm going to regret this. I groaned before falling in step behind him as he proceeded to drag Todd onto his bed… It smells like someone got lost in a brewery.

"What happened to Todd?"

"Nothing. Go away," he childishly sniffed as the moonlight caught his face.

I could see the beginning of a black eye beginning to form. I noticed a hand shaped bruise on his arm.

"You've been crying… Someone hurt you."

He didn't reply. He merely walked past me without looking at me.

I looked down at Todd. He reeked of cigarette smoke and alcohol… He wouldn't ever lay a hand on Drake… Would he?

I yelled, "Todd!" as I slapped him.

He groaned slightly as I continued trying to get him to wake up.

"I demand you-" I began before he harshly shoved me backwards.

"Shut the hell up Demon! And you wonder why your mother didn't want you!" he hissed before rolling over as my bottom lip trembled slightly.

I picked myself up and quietly left his room. I walked into Drake's and climbed into his bed. I jabbed my finger into his back.

"Ow! Damian!"

"Drake… do you want me here?" I asked quietly.

He sighed before muttering, "Yes. We all want you here… Now stop talking and go to sleep or go back to your own room."

I didn't move or even bother to respond. Why did everything have to change? Why did everything seem like it was falling apart?

I mumbled, "I miss Grayson."

"I do too… But, he's married. He's not coming back. Things are different now."

"Why did he have to leave us?"

"He grew up... sorta. Jason grew up. We all grow up. We all move on. Only two more years and I'm out of here."

I frowned at his response. Drake is insufferable… but I don't wish for him to leave. I already miss Grayson and Todd. Why can't we all just stay together?

********Break*********

Jason's POV

I woke up to an entire gallon of water being dumped on me by Damian.

"Damian! What the hell!"

He hissed, "Glad to see you're awake, you imbecile. How's the hangover?"

I glared at him before hissing, "What's your problem?"

Damian crossed his arms before bluntly stating, "You hurt Drake."

"I-"

"Todd, if you're going to be like this, you need to leave," he hissed before stomping out the door.

I frowned as he left. The little demon's right. The feeling of guilt wouldn't leave me alone as I slipped into a dry pair of sweat pants and a tshirt. This is why I don't drink. Every time I'm drunk, I turn into my father. I choked down a couple of Advil with an entire bottle of water before heading to Tim's room. His room was short one dork. Yet, his window was open. I slipped out the window and hoisted myself onto the roof. He had his back turned towards me. I sighed before sitting down beside him.

"Hey, Babybird."

He never even looked at me.

"The silent treatment?" I asked as he didn't respond. "Alright. I guess I deserve it… I'm sorry, okay?"

He said nothing and made no movement.

"Tim, I had too much to drink and I-"

"Why are you still here?" he spat.

"What?"

"Just go on ahead and leave."

"I can't just leave without-"

"My parents always left me alone when they weren't beating the shit out of me or berating me… Dick left. You left… Dick took Robin away from me and Bruce let Damian keep what was mine. Everyone leaves. Everyone I care about hurts me… I guess I should be used to it by now."

Shocked, I reached out to him only to have him shrug my hand off his shoulder. I said, "Tim, I'm-"

"Just leave, Jason."

I sighed and moved to put my arm around him before he growled, "Touch me again and I'll throw your hungover ass off this roof and into Alfred's rosebushes."

Risking it, I draped my arm over his thin shoulders and dragged his small frame into my lap before he could protest. He tried to escape but he definitely wasn't going anywhere.

"I'm sorry… You know that I love you, right?"

"I'd love for you to buy a toothbrush. I'd also love for you to let go of me. I'm sixteen. Sixteen year olds do not sit in their jackass big brothers' laps."

"You still fit though," I pointed out.

"Don't make fun of my size."

"I wasn't. I promise."

He growled, "Let me go, Jason."

"Accept my apology and I will."

"No."

I sighed, "Look, I've had a shitty week."

He pulled himself away, crossed his arms, and turned to glare a me before saying, "So you chose to take it out on me and Damian? You're pathetic"

"You're right… About three weeks ago, I caught Donna in bed with Kyle. My girlfriend was sleeping with my best friend. I was a little messed up and I went after these human traffickers. I wasn't careful and they killed all the hostages… They burned them alive including a three year old girl, who died in my arms begging me to save her. After drowning myself in alcohol, I went after Professor Pig and found this girl… Long story short, I figured I'd train her but she lied to me about her age. She's fifteen but she told me she was nineteen. That's basically rape. I couldn't deal with it so I left her to deal with the world alone… It's just been a rough couple of weeks."

"I'm sorry, Jay but that's no excuse."

I hung my head in shame before mumbling, "You're right. All I can say is that I'm sorry."

Tim put his hand on my shoulder before mumbling, "You're a jackass but we're still brothers… When something goes wrong, you have me, Bruce, Alfred, Dick, and Damian. We're your family… You need to talk to Damian though. I think you hurt his feelings. Apologize to him. He'll understand."

"Considering he's been watching us this whole time, I hope he does," I replied before turning to where Damian was standing in the shadows.

"Sorry, Mini Bat."

He crossed his arms before mumbling, "You can make it up to me on our way to the pet store."