A Fair Price
by TwinEnigma
Warnings for chapter: slight references to A Death In the Family and Under the Red Hood.
9.
For a time, things were as they once were and the boy was happy with his new brother. And such a strange new boy he was!
The Little Yew Boy was tough and strong and unfailingly kind, but he was also terribly innocent and fell into all sorts of mischief without meaning to. And so it was that he was always being rescued from some adventure or another.
"You should be more careful, my brother," the boy told him, "Or the prince shall be mad and return you to kindling before you can become real."
"Fiddlesticks!" the Little Yew Boy said. "I am as real as you or he."
And the Little Yew Boy went out to play.
Days passed and he did not return. The boy searched high and low, but none had seen him, and so, with a heart heavy in dread, he returned to the prince and told him everything.
Jason comes into their lives unexpectedly, just as Dick's cutting his teeth on the new Nightwing identity. He's a street kid, full of spunk, and, arguably, has more guts than sense.
Bruce first spots him tailing them a few weeks before Dick makes the switch. It's a shadow, gangly and more burglar than martial artist, that hangs a little too long in their six and slowly inches up on them. Then, after Dick switches to his new suit and it's clear to the media that Robin is not returning, he starts getting reports of a boy dressed as Robin, stopping petty crimes in the Crime Alley area.
It doesn't take long to find the kid. He's not exactly shy and he's even less shy about voicing his opinions. He also kicks like a mule.
Dick immediately takes a shine to him.
Bruce wants to say no, he does, but Dick is happy and engaging with the younger boy and Jason needs guidance and looks so happy in the Robin suit, like he's finally found where he belongs. He's a good kid, too, and honest to god trying to help others, even if he hits a little too hard.
How can Bruce refuse?
But, when all is said and done, Jason is not Dick and it's not easy, not in the least. Things that worked with Dick don't with Jason and some nights it feels like Bruce can do nothing right between the pair of them. Other times, the world just seems to slide into place and Bruce doesn't know what to do because he's never felt happier.
Then, one night, while he is away on League business, Jason goes off on his own and he doesn't come home.
"You need to come back," Dick says. "It's the Joker. He has Jason."
The world shatters.