Flashback Chapter 21 Spot the Birdie

The Batmobile prowled the streets. Batman had some surveillance bugs to check before starting his patrol, and parked the car several blocks away. Between checking his little electronic spies and the usual diversions of three muggings and a house-breaking, it took nearly twenty minutes before he was done. It only took half the time when he had Robin. Nightwing. His son.

He pushed the thought away. Dick was doing quite well in his new identity.

Batman jumped onto the roof next to where he left the Batmobile, and froze in shock. Some little street rat had removed two of his tires, and was working on a third.

He blinked. He was sure he'd switched the security system on, and he knew how hard it was to tamper with the wheels even without the circuits attempting to electrocute anyone who came too close. Not to mention the fact that some kid in the roughest part of Gotham had found the guts to raid Batman's car.

He dropped, whisper-silent, behind the boy. He was scrawny, with messy black hair and slightly tatty clothes. His hunched, wary posture indicated how alert he was – not quite enough.

"Interesting line in theft," Batman commented. The boy started, whirling and coming out of his crouch. He threw a monkey wrench directly at Batman's head – he deflected it easily – and bolted around the 'mobile. Batman vaulted over the hood and blocked him. The boy aimed a kick at his crotch (it landed, but was muted by groin protection) and tried to twist away. Basic but well executed moves.

Batman grabbed the boy. "That's enough," he growled. "Stay put."

The boy scowled, and relaxed in the vigilante's grip. Batman released him, ready to chase if necessary, and opened the car door. The security system was indeed on, so replacing the tires would take some time. He gestured the kid into the passenger seat, deactivated the controls, and locked the doors.

Fifteen minutes later, he slid into the driver's seat and returned the boy's tools. "Which way to your home?" he asked.

"I don't want-"

"Your place or Juvie."

The kid scowled again. "That way, right, second left, straight ahead, and…right."

The engine purred as it moved off. "What's your name?" Batman asked.

"Jason." Batman shot him a sideways glare, asking for more. "Jason Peter Todd."

"Parents?"

"Ain't seen Dad for a while. Mom died two months back."

"Condolences. Who's looking after you?"

"I take care of myself. Right here…stop now."

Batman opened the door, and Jason led the way to a blocked-off old apartment building. The ground floor apartment had a few dozen tires, a worn mattress and a few scattered items of clothing and personal possessions.

"I know a guy who'll buy the tires," Jason explained. "That gets me food."

Batman frowned. "Pack your things," he ordered. "You're going to a clinic and I'll arrange for someone to take you in in the morning." Good job Leslie worked late half the time.

"Master Bruce, I fail to see the reason why you thought it was a good idea," Alfred said chidingly.

"Do you have a better idea?" Bruce asked. He stared at the Batcave computer's screen, watching Nightwing direct the Titans in action. He seemed to be settling into his new role nicely. If only he'd stayed long enough to get all the news before taking off.

"You have already ruined your relationship with one boy," Alfred said. "Why are you taking another one?"

"He'll never cope in the welfare system, and I'm not about to leave him on the streets," Bruce growled. "Look at the results for the academic placement tests we gave him. He's nearly as smart as Dick, and he knows how to handle himself in a fight."

"You're not thinking of taking him with you at night?" Alfred said, aghast.

Bruce shrugged. "What did Dick do?"

Alfred stared. "You are going to deliberately let him work out your secret? How easy will you make it for him?"

"If he's as good as he needs to be, he won't need it to be made easy."

"Woah," Jason said, spinning slightly on the spot as he examined the cave he'd entered. After a few weeks of living the high life, being given the cold shoulder by his patron and wondering just where Bruce kept vanishing off to, he'd finally discovered the secret.

"I wondered if you'd find out," came Bruce's voice. Jason turned, and saw his new guardian standing next to a massive computer, wearing Batman's suit, with the cowl around his neck.

"You're Batman?" Jason whispered. "So cool!" Everything was snapping into place. The fact that Bruce Wayne was the guardian Batman picked, the mysterious disappearing acts, even the fact that Bruce got the same wistful look when Nightwing made the headlines that he got when someone mentioned Dick, the older son who couldn't bear to stick around.

"You could say that," Bruce said wryly, dragging Jason back to reality. "It's more hard work and little reward but serving justice."

"Justice?" Jason thought of the gangs that controlled his part of Gotham, the drug pushers wrecking lives every day, including his mom's. He thought of finally giving them what they deserved. He thought of the boy in red and green, now in black and blue, and the girl in black and yellow. "I can do justice," he decided. "Teach me."

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Bruce said. "Every night, whatever is needed?"

"I'm sure," Jason said confidently. Batman, taking him on! Well, with Robin graduating to Nightwing, it made sense that Batman needed a new Robin.

"Okay," Bruce nodded. "We need to make you a suit."

"This one," Jason said instantly, pointing at the Robin costume on display. "The real one."

Something flashed across Bruce's face before he smiled. "Suit up, then."

AN: Apologies for lateness. I got hit by writer's block last week, and it took a while to shake it. I'll try to be on time next week.

To answer Gus's question from chapter 3, Tim wasn't two, he was three, and his parents were more than a little demanding.

Also this week, in LBV Red Robin and Spiderman have a case to work, and the thrilling prologue to a Harry Potter/Doctor Who crossover, Time, Space, Magic.

Next week: The next installments of Flashback and Black and Red, and the first chapter of the exciting Avengers/Star Trek TOS crossover Trek of the Avengers

Love all you wonderful readers, so will you please review?

Until next time,

Katara