Chapter fourteen
Jason sleepily looked up from the desk where he was manning the computers that evening, watching as Bruce and Tim exited the Batmobile. There was that upward lift to Bruce's lips that wouldn't be a grin on anyone else and Tim was smiling widely. Robin did three handsprings in a row across the floor towards the stairs leading to the computer bank.
"That good of a night?" Jason yawned. He had been dozing the last hour so he wasn't sure what made them smile.
"Only thing we saw was a cat. A real cat." Tim peeled Robin's mask off and set it in the proper bin. Jason glared at him good naturedly as the boy proceeded to do the same with gauntlets and boots.
"Do he and Selina still play roof top tag?" Jason inquired. The black cape with the golden lining slid off Tim's strong shoulders.
"Yeah. I got some good pictures of Bruce getting his butt handed to him by her whip the other night." Tim answered. The red breasted armor came off as the Bat stalked into the changing rooms with a little sniff that wasn't as annoyed as it would sound. Dressed only in the green armored pants and the sleeveless undershirt Tim grinned and pointed towards his computer station. "He's been trying to break my newest firewall for the past two days to delete the pictures."
"You haven't broken into mine yet either." Bruce called. Jason, who had never been the exceptional computer person Bruce and Babs were, raised an eyebrow. He hadn't realized that Tim was also a nerd.
"I did this morning. You were in bed still I assume." Tim answered, opening his locker to look for his change of clothes.
"You got past it?" Bruce emerged in a pair of blue sweatpants, dragging his robe around him. His face immediately grew grim. "Tim." The name was said in a low warning noise.
Tim straightened and turned to face his mentor, confused by the obvious rebuke. Jason glanced from one to the other, uncertain why Bruce had suddenly changed from surprised pride to frustration. "What?" Tim asked uncertainly.
"Your shoulder." Bruce said, crossing his arms. "We've been over this."
Jason turned to see that a dark bruise covered Tim's right shoulder. He reviewed the early portion of the night when Batman and Robin had a few muggings and a break in to stop. Tim had never reported an injury.
Tim glanced at his shoulder and then ducked his head, his lips going thin. "It doesn't hurt. I forgot about it." He said in a quiet voice.
"How did you get it?"
"I don't know. It only hurt for a bit…"
Bruce sighed. "Jason, take him to the medic room and look him over. Sometimes he 'forgets' he's been bruised."
Tim's face was white as he obediently headed for the medical bay. Jason, feeling that he was missing something, looked to where Bruce was standing by the computer, frustration evident in his face. The kid didn't seem like the kind to pass over injuries on bravado. But this had all the markings of a long evident occurrence.
"He's a bit overprotective." Jason offered as he began a careful examination of Tim's body to be sure no other injury was over looked.
"He doesn't get looked at after every patrol and I know he's got to have a bruise or two himself after tonight." Tim said, his voice fighting to be light, but the tightness of his jaw betraying his anger. "He doesn't know…" Tim's voice trailed off.
After Jason had verified that Tim's shoulder was the only place really needed any care at all the boy skittered into the changing room. Bruce was seated at the computer, staring at the screen.
"He do that often?" Jason asked.
"I'm not sure. We catch it every once in a while. He has never concealed a major injury, but I don't want it to get to that point. He's not very good at taking care of himself." Bruce sighed.
Tim emerged, looking half ashamed and half defiant, dressed in his street clothes. "Tim, anything else I should know?" Bruce asked.
"Um. Well… my parents are going out of town in a couple days… I'm not really sure how long this time… but you don't need me around and I am old enough to stay at home by myself and you need time with Jason." Tim sighed.
"If that's you saying you want to stay with us but think Bruce and I spend our free time crying to each other, I think you don't know us very well." Jason laughed.
"Frankly Tim, you'd actually be more likely to get me alone time to talk to Jason. Dick would have someone else to latch onto. Even Alfred can only do so much." Bruce said. Tim looked surprised. "Tim you have a place with us."
There was a moment of unmasked longing on the boy's face, before he smiled and nodded. "Alright. I'll be good and come over Friday when they leave."
He waved to them as he headed upstairs to sneak back to his house. Jason frowned, but waited until he was certain the boy had made it out of the cave. Bruce was focused on the computer, ignoring Jason.
"Bruce. How often are his parents gone?"
"Often." Bruce replied.
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Upon hearing that Tim would be staying with the Wayne's Cass decided to come spend time with her adopted family, probably to Barbara's relief. Bruce had been mistaken in his thoughts that Tim wouldn't bring much change to the manor. Once the youngest member of the family was there Cass, Babs, and even Stephanie were in and out. Stephanie confided in Jason that the only time she really got to see Tim as Tim and not Robin was when he was with the Wayne's since his parents did not approve of the friendship/interest the two had in each other. Bruce, despite the fact that it was evident he didn't think Stephanie should be in this fight, grudgingly admitted that she did a lot for Cass and even that Tim always looked happier when she was around. Dick, who was half trying to keep himself as a separate man from Bruce but who loved having younger siblings, was soon staying with them every night.
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"Last day of school!" Stephanie crowed as the bat family – minus Bruce- gathered around the breakfast table. Tim was the only other bat in school and he grinned. Summer would be good. A break from school would give him more time to research a possible permanent solution to Jason's struggle with the Lazarus pit. He had been talking to Jason about it each evening,
Not that Bruce and Dick and even Cass, Barbara and Stephanie weren't doing anything to help, but Tim had the firmest grasp on what was physically wrong with Jason.
In spite of the fact that Tim had replaced Jason, even if it was because Bruce had thought Jason was dead and even had a body to prove it, Jason felt both proud of his replacement and sometimes a little jealous. Tim had a great friendship with Dick, who had resented Jason, and with Bruce, who relied on Tim the most out of his partners. It was Tim who made Bruce go to the Justice League meetings, who convinced him to use less brute force and more deduction, and who could rebuke Bruce without gaining a glare. Jason was afraid that Bruce did not want him back in the field, even as his own man.
"My parents are coming back on Monday, so this will be my last weekend here." Tim spoke up.
"Until next time." Dick mumbled, louder than he intended. Tim stiffened slightly, but no one else made a comment. Their youngest family member was touchy about the subject of his parents. He refused to think of them as neglectful, though Jason had received an earful from Dick and Alfred on the subject, and concerns from Bruce and all three girls about it. Jason felt he probably had the clearest opinion on the matter, and he wasn't sure what he thought was happening.
Stephanie was neglected (Jason had heard her whole story and thought for being a b level villain's daughter she had turned out A plus okay.) Stephanie was thrilled with attention and begged for it, especially from Bruce, who she had latched onto as a replacement father figure. Bruce's disapproval hurt her, though she was determined to make him see her as equal any of the others.
Stephanie's emotional tells were different and much less hidden than Tim's. Stephanie was needy. Tim was careful and quiet and only intrusive when he thought it was the best thing for a person. He was careful to show no needs and even stricter on giving up his wants.
Bruce entered the kitchen as the two school age kids headed out for school, Dick offering to drive them. Stephanie had crashed with them after a long night. Her mother was an alcoholic and never knew where her daughter was.
Cass slipped away to work with Alfred on her speaking, leaving Bruce and Jason alone in the dining room.
"Do you want to get your high school diploma?" Bruce asked two cups of coffee later.
"Not really. I'd really stand out in school as the nineteen year old who died and came back to life."
"We could do an online course." Bruce suggested.
"Don't need it or want it. I've already beat the odds for a street kid." Jason muttered.
Bruce fell silent and looked cautiously at his son. Jason was surprised by the emotion welling up in his breast.
"Hey Dad, I'm really glad I'm back. You know that, right?"
The two rather emotionally stunted men stared at each other, both thinking they were really glad that Dick was gone or they might have had to hug and ruin their manly images. Bruce swallowed and gave Jason a fatherly look before getting up and leaving the table, stopping only to slap Jason on the shoulder. His son was home and every day he was getting mentally and emotionally healthier.
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Since Sunday night was Tim's last night in the manor Bruce yielded to Dick's requests to let the Birds of Prey patrol Gotham while the Bat family, consisting of Alfred, Bruce, Dick, Barbara, Jason, Cass, Stephanie and Tim had a family night. Tim tried to protest, but when Dick had created a nest of blankets and food in the theater room he asked if normal families did things like that. Bruce refused to allow Tim to talk him into patrolling after that. Therefore, after an afternoon of playing tag, football and eating ice-cream, and after a dinner made of Tim's favorite meal (the strange kid liked chicken enchiladas with steamed vegetables), the family was ushered into the room where Dick had everything set up for the movie.
Cass was being introduced to the wonderful world of Star Trek. Apparently they had rebooted the original series with two new movies. Jason had always enjoyed thrillers like the Mission Impossible series, and had not been a science fiction fan before. However, certain movies came too close to reality nowadays, so escaping into the futuristic, cheesy world Tim liked suited everyone. Bruce and Dick egged Tim on during the movies to tell everyone what was physically possible and what was not.
Jason was crammed onto one of the three long couches. Everyone had wanted to sit on this couch, despite the fact that it meant Cass ended up on Bruce's lap, while Stephanie and Tim shared Jason and Dick's laps. Barbara and Alfred sat properly at the other end of the couch. Jason could get used to this. He greatly wished Tim would stay. In the last month he had discovered that Dick had rubbed off on him and he enjoyed being a big brother.
Tim belonged to the fake society leaders Jack and Janet Drake however and tomorrow would go back to them.
For now Jason leaned his bulkier body on Dick's arm and kept one hand free to poke Tim in the ribs.
It was a good night.
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It was two am when Batman and Robin raced into the cave. Both were looking a bit on the worse for wear side after a massive gang shootout triggered by a misunderstanding of language. Twenty three gang members from three gangs were dead before Robin traced the reason for the shootouts. Gotham's emergency personnel would be busy the rest of the night and well into the next day.
Jason had yet to go out into the field, although he was close to being back to his peak. He had been working on his armor and trying to determine his name. He had assisted Oracle by keeping track of Batman, Robin, Nightwing, and the girls so she could focus her attention on information.
"Jason, look Tim over." Bruce growled, painfully removing his cape and cowl. Neither had gotten hit with a straight shot, but had enough bruises from ricochets and debris.
Tim didn't argue when Jason led him to the examination table and began removing his armor. Alfred had appeared and was assisting Bruce. "So I think I'm gonna call myself Phoenix." Jason told Tim as he eased the Kevlar shirt off the boy's torso. "Keep with the bird theme, and follow Dick's steps about naming myself after a legend. And it makes sense."
"I like it." Tim agreed. "Will your armor be red and orange?"
"I like Dick's current Nightwing get up. I am gonna use the same idea, but with red and orange flames on my shoulders and arms and chest. I want a red bat on my chest, flying out of the flames."
Tim had a number of red marks on his back which would turn into bruises tomorrow. Strangely he already had two dark bruises on his shoulders, which had not been there Wednesday night when Jason had looked Tim over. Tim hadn't been out since Wednesday, two nights ago. Jason frowned and touched the bruises.
"These look like they are from earlier. How'd you get them?"
"Shoulders?" Tim asked. "I think I went into a stack of boxes backwards, early on in the night."
Jason went to call his bluff, when he saw the tension rising in Robin's back. He bit his tongue and pretended to take the explanation at face value. He knew the bruises were at least a day old. Which meant that Tim had not gotten them from being Robin. Which led Jason to a train of thought that he thought he better not board right then and there.
He tended to Tim's aches and cuts while continuing to lay out his plans for Phoenix. Jason positioned Tim so that the watching cameras would clearly see the bruises for later evidence. When Tim was changed into street clothes Dick came racing in, looking like he had had the time of his life. He had fared better overall. Once the oldest bat boy knew everyone was ok he gloated over his success.
"Come on. Let's leave Big Bird to his desserts. I take you home. Faster on my bike." Jason wrapped an arm around Tim's neck. They got halfway towards the vehicle bay before Dick came running up.
"Hey Timmy. You have a birthday in a couple weeks! Jay and I are gonna take you out that night. If you don't already have plans." Dick laughed.
Tim blushed and looked so delighted at the thought that Jason didn't bother to point out that Dick hadn't asked Jay if he had any plans yet. He probably didn't and he'd move the couple things possibly scheduled on the kids birthday. Once he knew which day that was, of course. "Cass and Steph, and Babs will come too. We can go bowling, or we could head out of the city for some fun things… unless your parents have plans."
"Um, no. They have that charity function Ms. Grimbald is hosting, the one for the Children's Hospital."
"Yeah, Bruce has to go to that too. He's already jealous that we can get out of it and he can't." Dick laughed.
That was thirteen days out, on Friday June 19th. Jason had nothing going on.
He'd keep it open for Tim.
Jason wanted to tell Bruce about what he had seen on Tim, but he wasn't sure how the bat would take it. So he kept quiet. After a day of wondering he thought of the medical records Bruce kept on each of them. During the day, while Bruce was at Wayne Enterprises, Dick was at college, and Alfred was busy doing Alfred things, Jason snuck down to the cave.
As he suspected Bruce's details included days that Tim had hidden bruises. It was a matter of three or four hours to discover that the boy's parents were home each time. He created a report of this fact, but did not send it to Bruce. He wasn't sure how Bruce couldn't know. Yet Bruce would never let Tim stay in that situation if he knew. Surely he wouldn't, even if it meant he would lose his Robin.
Besides, Bruce could be a foster parent. He could take Tim in…
Jason knows. Hurray! Jason will save you Timmy. Write a review to tell me what you think!