EVENT: Talking to Bruce about the family business.
JASON: Fourteen Years Old.
When Dick suggests that Jason spend the night with his grandparents…he automatically agrees.
He recognizes the furious glint in his Pop's eyes and knew for a fact that when his Dad got home, there'd be yelling and screaming for sure.
Jason had only seem his parents fight once.
It ended with fists flying and nasty words soaring.
At the time, Jason didn't understand. He thought that his parents being able to fight so well was normal. Now he knows that it's abnormal. That it's not natural for his Dad to be able to take so many blows to the stomach without passing out.
He'd been ten. Neither one of his parents had noticed he was watching until the very end, when Jason ran forward crying, screaming for them to stop.
That was the first and only day he was actually afraid to let Dick or Conner touch him.
He flinched away from them for an entire week before Jason let Dick hug him again.
Conner wasn't so lucky though.
Sure Jason would allow slight showing of affection here and there but Conner never got the exclusive attention that Dick received. Maybe it was because he was rarely ever home, or maybe it was because Dick was there for more of Jason's life anyway.
Either way, Conner wasn't used to Jason's touch. And Jason wasn't used to Conner's.
Anyway, when Jason arrives at Wayne Manor, he doesn't pay attention to the large house. He doesn't pay any mind to the large space around the mansion, he only smiles and runs over to his grandparents.
Clark and Bruce had always been two of Jason's favorite people.
Not because they were his grandparents, rather because Jason felt that he could tell either man anything and neither would judge him for what he's said.
Clark is the first to receive a hug, Jason wraps his arms around the man tightly and sighs as he breathes in the familiar scent of Dolce and Cabana along with an undertone of something woodsy.
Bruce is the next to receive his smile and embrace.
Unlike Clark though, Bruce actually hugs back with force.
For an old man, Bruce sure could deliver.
Jason chuckles and pulls back, the smell of the expensive colognes of his grandparents stick to him as he follows them through the large home and into the living room.
"I hear your parents have gotten themselves into a problem." Clark mumbles after he starts a fire in the fire place to Jason's left.
"Something like that. Dad hasn't been home much…maybe that's why." Jason lies, not knowing if his grandparents knew about his Dad's second job.
"Relax son, your father told us you found out about the family business." Bruce signs as Ace walks into the room and lies down at Jason's feet.
" How did you guys know?" Jason asks as he bends to pet the now very old dog.
"Who do you think trained those two?" Clark asks with a raised eyebrow.
"You guys were heroes too?" Jason sits up suddenly and looks at the two men in shock.
"Jason…you're looking at the original Superman and Batman." Bruce chuckles and shakes his head.
"But…but Batman died when I was three. And Superman…no one's seen him in over seven years!"
"Conner took over metropolis so I retired." Clark explains with a shrug.
"And since he lives here, Conner took Gotham under his patrol route as well." Bruce sighs.
"That's insane! Who would have thought that my grandparents and my parents were so unbelievably Crash?" Jason laughs happily.
"We used to be a lot better kid. Back when I still could use a grappling hook without dislocating my shoulder." Bruce grumbles under his breath.
"Can you guys teach me?" Jason asks slowly.
"No." Clark deadpans with a stiff shake of his head.
"What? Why?" Jason asks with a frown.
"Dick made it very clear he doesn't want you out on the field. Besides Jason, you;ve got a perfectly okay life!" Clark says calmly.
"What's that supposed to mean?" Jason asks.
"Dick went into the business because of his past. Conner went in because he had to. You're okay. You're happy."
"but I want to help Dad!"
"Jason…no." Clark says and stands. "It's late. I'm going to bed." Clark mumbles before walking out of the room with a frown.
Bruce doesn't say anything for a few minutes and sighs.
"Grandpa Bruce, please-"
Bruce holds up a finger to his lips and sends Jason a warning glance.
He stands carefully and motions for Jason to follow him.
Jason complies with a frown.
They reach the library and Jason huffs in annoyance.
"Grandpa Bruce seriously?I'm so not feeling the Mode right now, I mean-
again, Jason's cut off by Bruce holding up a finger.
He moves over to the piano and sighs.
His fingers hit three keys and Jason watches in amazement as one of the shelves moves to reveal a staircase.
Bruce takes Jason's arm and pulls hm down into the stair well.
The door shuts behind them softly and bruce sighs loudly.
"Seriously Kid, you're more stubborn than your Dad sometimes!" Bruce grumbles before he claps his hands together twice.
Light flicker for a second or two before they snap on.
Jason watches in amazement as a whole cave is revealed.
"Whoa…what is this pace?" Jason whispers on awe.
"Welcome to the batcave Jason." Bruce says with a roud smile. he walks over to a large screen and pushes a few keys on a huge keyboard.
More lights turn on and Jason turns when he hears a soft hum to find large display cases coming forth from inside a cave wall.
"This place is amazing!" Jason laughs and makes his way over to the display cases. "What's this?" he asks and moves to the first in the long row.
"Former costumes. They belong to…former heroes, current heroes, retired heroes…fallen heroes." Bruce xplains after walking over to stand beside Jason.
"Who's the dork that wore this?" Jason asks and points to the scaly underwear and pointy boots long with the bright yellow tights and ridiculously girly gloves.
"You're father." Bruce says with a smirk.
Jason sputters for a second before turning to his grandfather rin horror.
"Pop? You've got to be kidding."
"I'm very much serious." Bruce chuckles and shakes his head.
"what about that one?" It's more practical at least." Jason asks as he moves towards the next costume.
"You uncle Tim."
"Uncle Tim was a hero too?" Jason turns to Bruce in shock.
"Yes."
Jason turns back to the Red, Yellow and Black costume with a small smile.
"I like this one better." Jason says as they move on.
"Your Uncle Damian's costume." Bruce says when they reach the next one.
"Looks like he just grabbed dad's gloves and Uncle Tim's costume." Jason mumbles and keeps walking.
"What is this?" Jason asks with a frown as he looks at the blue and black costume.
"Your Father." Bruce states.
"Geez. I'm traumatized."
The next looks better, Bruce revieles that it's Uncle Tim's first version of the Red Hood costume.
"Uncle Tim is Red Hood? As in The Red Hood?" Jason asks with wide eyes.
"The very one."
In the next cases, there are multiple versions of the batman costume.
Bruce explains the differences and they range from bigger utility belt to no cape.
Then they reach the last case.
It's bigger than all of the thers and there's a small plaque at the very top.
"Come on." Bruce says stiffly.
"Grandpa Bruce? Who's Jason Todd?" Jason asks with a small frown.
"No one you need to worry about Jason, come on."
"He was one of my uncles wasn't he." Jason states as he looks at the Robin costume and then at a worn out leather jacket. There's a tattered mask along with a newer one right beside it. Next to that, there's a red helmet. It's cracked at the side but polished to perfection.
Jason looks up at reads the plaque aloud.
"Jason Todd. Beloved Son, Brother, and Partner. A legend best remembered rather than forgotten. Once a Robin, Always a flyer."
"Jason please."
"He died. How?"
"Jason…he's the reason You parents don't want you out on the field. Jason Todd was your uncle. He died while on the job. He…hever met Tim or Damian but he did meet Dick. Jason, you were named after him, but you are not to be a reincarnation do you understand?"
"Train me."
"What?"
"You don't want me to be like him? Train me."
"That will make you more like him Jason."
"No it won't. It'll make me stronger. I'll be able to protect myself. I won't diue because I won't get involved! I promise Grandpa. Just train me? please?"
Bruce looks into the case with a pained frown before sighing and moving towards the computer.
"Get some rest. You want to be trained? Fine but you'll be treated like a Robin in training. That means you're to be in the library before five AM tomorrow. Get back upstairs and get to bed."
Jason only smiles widely before running back up the stairs.
"What have I gotten myself into?" Bruce asks once he hears the doors to the Cave shut.