CHAPTER 20
BATMAN'S JOURNAL
I've been watching Jason quietly. He's a very active boy, almost as active as Dick. Fortunately, Jason doesn't seem to be as attracted to chandeliers and high places as Dick was.
Alfred and Dick have shown Jason the in-house gym, the one not located in the cave. The other night, I was running through some katas when I turned and found Jason watching me intently.
"Is that martial arts? Like kung fu?" he asked. "I always wanted ta learn stuff like that. Dickie tol' me he knew martial arts."
"Really?" I responded. "I can show you if you'd like."
He immediately brightened. "Yeah! I'd like it if you would."
So I began to teach Jason the movements. He was a quick learner and seemed to enjoy the workout. Soon Jason was getting up early and joining Dick and me in our daily workouts. In addition to martial arts, I expanded my lessons to include boxing and street fighting, only to discover that Jason was already fairly skilled.
"Dad showed me how ta box and use a knife. On the streets, you gotta learn ta take care of yourself." He demonstrated his knife work with an escrima stick lying there and had clearly trained in boxing. I must admit that I was impressed with the boy's style. While he lacked Dick's natural athleticism, he was still very good on his feet.
PHOENIX'S JOURNAL
So, Bruce started working out with Jason and I wasn't jealous. Well, I tried not to be. Not much, anyway. Usually after his workout with Jay, Bruce would dim the lights to work out with me. Jason was surprised the first time we had a bout, and he wanted to know more about it. Pretty soon, Bruce had Jason in a blindfold working out with me too.
I think I surprised Jay the first time I threw him. He got mad the second time and tried to grab me, but I wasn't there for him to grab. Instead, I had anticipated his moves from the sheer amount of noise he made and was three feet away, laughing at him. He tried to rush me, but I evaded him easily and made him chase me around the workout area. Finally, he was so mad he was snorting and I could tell he wanted to pound me.
"Jason," Bruce called. "You can't fight effectively if you're angry." Jay stopped and panted. I could smell his sweat from the bars I was perched on, out of his reach.
"How is he keeping away from me?" Jay demanded angrily. "We're both blind!"
"Dick has had time to learn to adjust to blindness. He can hear you move," Bruce said patiently.
"Yeah, and I can smell you, too!" I laughed. I heard Jason roar just before he knocked me off my perch. My fault, I let my guard down. Soon we were wrestling on the mat and it finally broke down into a tickle match that left both of us out of breath and giggling. Bruce reached both arms down and pulled the two of us up, still laughing.
"Okay, you two, hit the showers and get ready for school," Bruce said. I could hear the smile in his voice. He was enjoying this, too. He seemed a lot more relaxed these days. Now that I thought about it, he was happier than he'd been since I had been blinded.
Jay and I both were going to Gotham Academy. Jason had problems with the academic part of it. They'd put him in the remedial classes in English and Math, but he was really good at sports so nobody teased him.
BATMAN'S JOURNAL
Since Jason's arrival, the household has lightened somehow. When Dick was blinded, he wasn't the only one plunged into darkness. I'd spent the time worrying about him. I'd spent time researching treatments and was depressed at functioning as Batman all alone; no resounding laugh overhead as Dick darted ahead of me. And Dick himself was different since Two-Face's initial attack. He had nightmares virtually every night and I wasn't doing much better.
With Jason in the house, we all had something to plan for. Dick had a friend near his own age to talk to and play with. Alfred had discovered that Jason had a half-starved appreciation for good food and resolved to fatten the boy up. I found that I enjoyed training Jason, teaching him all the self-defense skills that I'd gone over with Dick. In short, Jason was making a place for himself. I only had one concern, that Dick was picking up some of Jason's disdain for rules.
Alfred had pulled the Rolls around front, planning to drive me to a business meeting. I was wearing one of my most expensive bespoke designer suits, intending to impress. I sat in the rear seat of the car and felt something beneath me go *squish*.
I quickly rolled out of the seat and removed my jacket to find Alfred trying very hard to control a laugh. He covered it with a sneeze.
My jacket was covered with peanut butter and grape jelly contained in Wonder Bread. I carried it to the front door and opened it, leaning my head inside.
"Jason! Dick!" I roared and soon heard feet pelting down the hallway. Both boys arrived in record time, each with an innocent expression on his face.
"What is it, Bruce?" Dick asked. "Is there some emergency?"
"Peanut butter and jelly," I said, holding out my jacket. "No food in the Rolls, remember?"
Dick was the first to break, his composure descending into giggles. Jay followed.
"Well?" I demanded. "Did you leave this on purpose?"
"We were hungry," Jason said. "And I'd saved a sandwich from lunch; they served pb&j's in the cafeteria. I gave it to Dick."
"And I dropped it," Dick said. "Sorry, Bruce. We'll clean it up." Then he snorted and broke into giggles.
I threw up my hands and stormed up the flight of stairs to my room. I needed to change suits. Alfred followed me, closing the bedroom door quietly.
"While this is undoubtedly embarrassing for you, Master Bruce. You are missing a very important point," he said, brushing off a jacket and handing it to me.
"Which is?" I donned the jacket and checked the fit in the mirror.
"This is the first time that Master Dick has acted like the boy he is since he was first attacked by Two-Face. Master Jason is reminding him that he's still a child and not a small adult."