At the dial tone, Jason pulled the phone away from his ear and grabbed a pot before starting to heat up the water. He tossed the peace of tech haphazardly on the counter. That thing had survived enough at this point that he didn't care if it hit the counter.
Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed the kid flinch at the noise and glance over at him. Jason decided to continue looking at the room-temperature water and not directly at the kid. He didn't want it to seem like Jason was always watching him.
He saw the kid's eyes slowly glance back and forth between Jason and the puzzle box still held in his hands before his eyes settled on the box. It was a gift Jason got from Roy last year. Jason barely used it after he solved it about three times, but it was fun to have around if you were bored. At least the kid was enjoying it.
The kid slid another piece of the wood forward with a light click before turning it over in his hands to look at the other side to see what he wanted to do next. The kid's brow knitted itself together as he tried to figure it out. His tongue sticking out slightly of the corner of his mouth as he tried to concentrate. It reminded Jason of Dick whenever he used to sit down and work on a particularly hard case.
Jason chuckled lightly, a smile at the edge of his lips as he turned his attention back to the water, which was just starting to have bubbles float to the top from the bottom of the saucepan.
When Jason looked back at him he noticed something that he hadn't earlier. Jason was sure the kid's eyes had been glowing green every time he saw him, every time the kid stared at him. When he woke up even. Bright, glowing, pit-green. But now they were as blue as the ocean.
Jason now fully turned his head practically openly staring. They were now a pale blue. Just a little more vivid than Jason's when he was a kid. But that didn't make sense now, did it? Or maybe it did.
Now Jason's eyes were a darker brownish color. Something that changed when he died and was resurrected. But whenever Jason was mad and went into a pit rage his eyes would turn fully green. Much like the kid's did.
Yet, the kid certainly didn't look like he was going into a mad pit rage. It was more like he was scared. Staring at Jason and analyzing him. But it didn't seem to affect the kid at all when the eyes changed. Now that he is slightly calmer, and has something to focus on, his eyes went back to their normal colour?
The similarities between the pit and this kid are starting to nip at Jason. He would almost think Ra's was behind something this kid has gone through. However, what happened to the kid seemed to be more the work of scientists than the demon head — No matter how messed up the man's morals may be.
Though there is a chance that the kid had been exposed to the Lazarus pit before he was experimented on. Or maybe even during? Could he have died and they needed him back so they decided to get their hands on something to resurrect him? Is there more than one Lazarus pit? Jason felt a shiver go down his spine.
All of these roads were not good, and he certainly can't just go and ask the kid. 'Hey, what exactly did the people who very obviously hurt you do? Can you explain in exact detail so I can go and chop all of their heads off and put them in a bag?' Jason sighed.
Would the kid even want Jason to avenge him and destroy all the people that did this to him? Jason picked up the packet of oatmeal and glanced back over at the kid, looking him up and down. He could see the kid's scars up his arms, and most notably, the markings around his wrists where he had obviously been strapped down.
There was barely any muscle or fat on his bones at all. He looked like he hadn't eaten properly in months. Around his neck sat the collar, the green light still blinking strongly. Yeah, he doesn't think the kid will mind if he gets rid of them. It might give him some closure at least. If this happened to Jason he would want someone to avenge him…
Though if the kid does mind, Jason doesn't know if he would be able to hold himself back from giving those monsters what they deserve. He might have to hide it from him. He was certain he could get Roy's help to go on a covert hunting mission.
Jason didn't even realize that the whole time he had been thinking, he had also been continuing to make the oatmeal in the bowl and slowly pouring the hot water in. He decided to split it into thirds and gave himself a small portion. He knows the kid was nervous about everything and he wants to eat some too, just to help the kid understand that Jason is only trying to help.
Jason sighed and pulled open a drawer, reaching in and grabbing two of the three spoons he owns, placing them in their respective bowls. Jason slowly walks over to the kid and puts the bowl of freshly made oatmeal on the table in front of him on the coffee table with a light clink of the ceramic. The kid jumps, his concentration on staring at the wooden puzzle broken. He looks up at Jason.
For a split second, Jason sees his eyes flicker with green before going back to their blue state. It seemed as though he calmed down once he noticed it was Jason that was next to him and had accidentally scared him. "I made you some oatmeal… you hopefully should be able to keep this down. S'posed to be light on your stomach, you know? You didn't get to eat much yesterday."
The kid slowly took one more once over of the puzzle box. It was surprising to Jason that the kid was willing to look away from Jason when he was so close to him. Once the kid's inspection of the half-completed cube was over he slowly reached forward and placed it on the coffee table in practically the exact same place it was in before he had grabbed it.
The kid glanced up at Jason once more as he reached forward to grab his bowl, again looking like he was asking for permission before he could touch it. Jason wasn't sure whether to give him permission so he would eat, or wait and let the kid try so he didn't always look to someone for permission when doing normal human things.
Instead, Jason settled for a light smile in recognition before holding his own bowl and sitting in a chair at about a ninety-degree angle away from where the kid was. He wanted to make sure he wasn't sitting directly in front of him or next to him so the kid didn't feel like was being watched.
"So you like the puzzle box?" The kid's eyes scanned over Jason. "Once you finish that one I have a few more I can grab at some of my other safe houses. My friend likes to get a bunch of them and then when he gets bored with them he gives them to me. He says it helps him concentrate." Jason chuckles lightly.
The kid smiles very slightly before glancing at the puzzle on the table, pieces of wood sticking out of the perfect cube, holes in other parts where the wooden slots are supposed to fit in to finish opening the box.
Jason reached over, and grabbed a book he was reading the other night, and put it in his lap. Jason wasn't sure how long they sat there in silence, but the sun started to go down and the shadows stretched across the living room floor.
Jason had made it through about four chapters of his book, every once and a while looking up at the kid to see if he was still going through the puzzle box. The kid started to seem more comfortable now. His back was against the back of the couch instead of leaning forward ready to jump away if need be.
The kid also managed to eat about half a bowl of oatmeal. Jason wasn't sure if he should tell him to eat more or if he should let the kid eat at his own pace. He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.
Tonight he is going to have to make a call. He needs someone to help him get off that collar so the kid can start doing some normal human things and maybe even heal up from what has happened to him. Jason started raking his mind for someone who was tech-savvy enough to help.
Suddenly, there was a light knock at the front door. It was directly behind Jason. He sat up and looked directly at it. He glanced over to the kid who was also staring at the door, immediately having tensed and curled in on himself on the couch. His eyes were glued to the door as he remained frozen, waiting for Jason to do something.
Jason glanced around the apartment. He had a few guns hidden, but he didn't want to scare the kid. Though, there was one in the drawer right next to the door. He could grab it if he needed to. He stood up slowly, putting his book on the coffee table after he memorized his page number.
He nodded to the kid, trying to reassure him. "Just stay there, It'll be fine. I'll go check it out."
The kid nodded before watching Jason go to the door. Jason had his hand hovered over his drawer with the concealed gun as he looked through the peephole. It took a second for his eyes to focus. He immediately let out a sigh of relief. It was Alfred standing outside the door. Waiting patiently.
Jason completely forgot he was coming. He immediately straightened himself up before turning to look back at the kid, who was still staring, wide-eyed. "Don't worry, it's just a friend of mine. I'm just going to talk with him outside, alright?"
The kid looked like he wanted to say something about Jason's suggestion to leave, or the fact that someone came over. But said nothing and stayed on the couch. Jason nodded and opened the door slowly. He smiled at the man on the other side before walking into the hall and closing the door behind him with a soft click.
"Hey, Alfred. Thanks so much for coming. I hope it wasn't too much of a hassle to get the stuff down here."
Alfred smiled back at Jason. "Nonsense. When one of my charges needs help I will be there in an instant." He chuckles lightly. "Part of the job description, you know?"
Jason smiles again. "It is, huh, not that I'm part of that house anymore."
Alfred put one of the bags down and held up his hand. "Once you are under my care, you always will be." Alfred sighed and then tilted his head slightly at Jason. "How is the young one you took under your wing?"
Jason sighs. "Not well, he has a problem with people. He was hurt real bad by someone, and flinches at every sudden noise or if you get too close."
Alfred nods understandingly. "Did you get him to eat something?"
"Yeah, he ate half a bowl of the oatmeal you recommended. But he seemed more interested in the puzzle box I gave him than really eating."
Alfred tilted his head. "Puzzle box, you say?"
Jason nods. "He has been trying to solve it for a few hours. Ever since I called you. It seems it's something to take his mind off of what has happened. He was doing it so long that when I gave him the food he got a fright when he noticed I was suddenly right in front of him."
"Good, he has found something then." Alfred smiled. "I also brought some items for his diet. Even though I have not been able to look at him, from your description, I have been able to make quite the meal plan, at least for the next two weeks. As well as some instructions I have written up for you."
"Thank you, Alfred. I'll try and put all of this away." He smiled.
The older man nodded. "Should I come in and help, maybe explain how it should work, or meet the young boy to further assess the situation?"
Jason glanced off to the side. "I'm not sure, Alfie." He doesn't want the kid to be any more scared. He was only just starting to trust Jason, and that was the bare minimum.
"If you think it is best I stay away for now, then I will do so." Alfred nodded before handing off the bags to Jason.
Jason watched as Alfred started walking down the hall. He started thinking of his experiences of coming into the manor after Bruce snatched him. He remembered being scared out of his mind and not trusting anyone. Anyone except for Alfred. Alfred was there the whole time and showed he was trustworthy from the start. Jason sighed. "Wait, Alfred." He called out.
The man turned around and looked at Jason. "Maybe you should come in just for a few minutes. It might help if you know what is going on in case something happens to me, or you might spot something I don't."
Alfred nodded and walked back over to Jason and grabbed one of the bags from the man's hands. Jason paused for a second, making sure this is a good idea, before reaching out and grabbing the doorknob.
Authors notes:
Beta Read: Minty (discord server)
Alfred to the rescue! I was debating long and hard whether or not Alfred should come in and meet Danny, I'm still not sure about it now. But I will see what the comments have to say :p
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter the comments help keep me going! I love you all have a good easter!
Please let me know what you thought of this chapter