Author's Note: Thank you to soccernin19 (Jason has a really interesting perspective on all this! And I'm glad you like seeing the three of them interact!), Guest 1 (Beware! The fluff is to prepare you for the troubles to come), Guest (Occasionally he can be adorable), Guest 1 (It was definitely fun writing them all interacting in this chapter), and Guest (Sadly we don't get to see him like that much!) for reviewing the last chapter! Also, this is the last chapter of Part One so be prepared for more action coming in Part Two. I own nothing.
It was too early in the morning to think properly. Roy Harper cradled the cup of coffee Alfred had handed him between his hands and breathed in the steam, rolling his eyes when Oliver took a gulp of his despite the temperature. Perched on the two bar stools on one side of the counter were Cass and Tim, the pair sitting in contented silence. They'd come in a few minutes earlier, Alfred replacing Cass's cup of cold tea with a fresh one that the young woman held delicately between two pale palms. Tim had a glass of orange juice that he was sipping from almost absently, simply staring out the window behind Roy's head. The young archer was simply glad the shouting of the previous day was gone.
Heavy footsteps approached and Roy turned, anticipating Dick's arrival, only to freeze. Jason Todd was dragging a grumbling Damian down the stairs. Damian was squirming and jabbing his elbow into Jason's ribcage to no avail. The elusive member of the Wayne family smirked at Roy, who was sure he was sporting a completely bemused look on his face, and shoved Damian towards Cass and Tim. The kid huffed, scowled at Jason, and then stalked into the kitchen. Alfred wordlessly handed the boy a steaming cup of tea and Damian headed for the dining room, only pausing to glance curiously at Cass.
"You came home." Roy couldn't keep the complete disbelief out of his voice.
"I came to check on big brother," Jason corrected, smirk widening. "And found a miniature ninja in his bedroom."
"I am surprised anyone slept through the confrontation between Master Jason and Master Damian," Alfred added, mild disapproval in his tone. Jason's smirk never faded and they could all hear Damian make a disapproving noise from the next room. At the same time, Cass abandoned her tea and stepped around the counter to place a slender hand on Jason's shoulder. Roy fully expected the anti-hero to shrug his sister's hand off but instead Jason remained perfectly still. After a long moment, Cass grinned at him and reached up to tug on his white fringe before returning to her tea.
"Hello to you too," Jason said with a dry smile. Tim snorted and the older boy flipped the younger one off before searching for a coffee cup.
"Second cabinet to your left Jay," Dick's voice called from the staircase. "And you really shouldn't be making rude gestures around Alfred. He sees all." Jason didn't flush but Roy was suddenly very certain that it was a near thing.
"Indeed I do Master Dick," Alfred agreed. "Now if you would not mind exiting my kitchen, breakfast will be finished shortly." Dick grinned widely, the smile not quite meeting his eyes, and Roy slipped around Jason to nudge Dick with his shoulder. Dick gave his friend a worn smile and led the way into the dining room where Damian was already settled. Green eyes observed them for a moment before the boy decided they were harmless and went back to his tea.
Breakfast was, for the most part, a silent affair. The only real conversation was when Jason snapped, "Can somebody explain to me why there are no knives at the table?" Tim and Stephanie Brown, who had joined them moments after they'd begun eating, both turned to look pointedly at Damian.
"I refuse to apologize for that," was the small boy's only reply to which Stephanie snorted, Tim pressed a hand against his forehead, and Jason rolled his eyes muttering about small ninjas. Once they'd finished eating Alfred efficiently cleaned the table, leaving them all sitting in awkward silence. Dick had his head down, staring at the table as if he wished he could become it. Alfred paused near the Wayne heir, resting a gentle hand on his shoulder.
"I know you probably do not wish to do this but Bruce left a will on the computer downstairs in case something like this happened," the old butler informed Dick. The young man nodded, standing and glancing uncertainly around his family before heading for the study. Jason and Roy exchanged worried glances and after a moment Jason followed his older brother out of the room.
Seeing the Batcave for the first time since that night hurt. Dick descended into the dimly lit cave, flipping the lights on to the discomfort of the bats squeaking on the ceiling. The computer came to life, spreading a blue glow across Dick's face and the Wayne heir hesitantly tapped the correct keys to log on to the system. Quite honestly, the acrobat wasn't certain he wanted to know what Bruce had to say. He'd loved the man like a father but Bruce had been terrible with expressing his emotions even at the best of times. This will could be a train wreck.
Dick nervously searched for the correct file and opened it. There were four video clips inside the folder, each one neatly labeled. Richard Grayson, Cassandra Cain, Timothy Drake, Damian al'Ghul Wayne. Nothing for Jason. It was surprisingly painful to see that Bruce had completely abandoned Jason, especially after all the work Dick had done to slowly guide the pair towards reconciliation. With a heavy heart he clicked on the video link with his name on it and found himself face to face with Bruce. The man was dressed in the Batman costume with the cowl down so Dick could see his face. What worried the acrobat the most was the fact that Bruce's face was completely blank.
"Dick, if you are watching this then someone has finally gotten the best of me and I am dead," Bruce said, piercing gaze fixed directly on his oldest son. "I have left behind messages for each of my children aside from Jason, who would never consent to listen to anything I have to say regardless of whether or not I am gone." For a moment a melancholy smile crossed Bruce's face before the impassiveness returned. "I know I have no right to ask anything of you at such a time as this but I must. Gotham needs the security of Batman to remain stable and only you are capable of taking up the mantle. Jason is too unpredictable, Tim not trained enough, and despite his ability Damian is far too young. The fate of Gotham, as well as the safety of your siblings, rests on your shoulders my son. I wish you only the best." The recording stopped and Dick heard a strange rushing sound in his ears. He was trembling as if he'd been standing outside in Gotham during a fierce blizzard.
"That bastard." Jason's snarl barely reached Dick through the tornado whirling about in his brain. "That absolute bastard. He had no right. No right!"
"It's okay," Dick replied hollowly, feeling as if the ground had dropped out from underneath him. "He's right. Gotham needs Batman and there's no other choice. It has to be me."
"No." Jason's voice was uncompromising as he tugged Dick around to look at him. And when had Jason ended up taller than his older brother? "I'll do it. I'll take the cowl."
"Jason-," Dick began but the younger man waved him off.
"No protests. I'm perfectly capable of scaring people half to death without shooting them. I'll ditch the guns and become Batman, you'll stick around as Nightwing, and everything will be fine. Got it?"
"Got it." Dick managed a watery smile in response, fighting to hold it all together, and for the first time since the younger boy had been Robin, Jason was actually the one who initiated the hug.
Jason and Dick emerged from the cave looking worn thin. They waved their younger siblings back towards the study so they could enter one by one and hear what Bruce had to say before sinking down in the living room, neither one speaking. Alfred Pennyworth was worried. He knew every single member of the Wayne family perhaps better than anyone alive so he could tell that whatever Bruce had recorded had greatly upset Dick. The Wayne heir was trembling slightly and Jason's eyes were narrowed in silent fury. Oliver Queen and Roy Harper settled cautiously in empty chairs as Cassandra silently entered the room, settling on the floor in front of Jason and rest her head against his knees. Her brother ran gentle fingers through her hair as Cass stared blankly at the wall.
"Master Bruce what have you done," the old butler whispered mournfully. After the tragic deaths of Martha and Thomas Wayne, Alfred had practically raised a young Bruce Wayne. He was, for the most part, proud of the man Bruce had been but he also knew the man struggled with emotions. Too often he said the wrong thing and people Bruce cared about where hurt. This time, if Bruce had said the wrong thing the memories and love his children held for him could be tainted forever.
Tim returned with Stephanie by his side, the blonde's face flushed with indignation. Tim was silently and stony but Alfred could tell that whatever Bruce had told him had hurt. The young man stood in the door way for a moment, clutching Stephanie's hand. Dick turned tired blue eyes towards Tim. "You can't do it," Tim said after a moment. "It'll eat you alive."
"Can't do what?" Roy asked. Alfred saw the exact moment that the archer realized exactly what Tim was talking about. The old butler knew Dick and Roy had discussed their feelings on taking up their mentors' mantles a long time ago. He also knew that Dick hadn't wanted to become Batman but would if the situation required him too. That worried Alfred. He didn't want Dick to become Bruce, to sacrifice himself, for a city that would gladly swallow him whole.
"He's not going to," Jason cut in as Oliver Queen glanced between the three Batclan members in confusion. "I'm going to." Tim considered that silently for a moment and then nodded once in acceptance. Then he turned to Cass, the pair of them having a silent conversation.
"I'm leaving," he said at last. "Cass, uh, Cass agrees that there is a possibility Bruce may still be alive. When she returns to Hong Kong I'm going with her to investigate."
"Okay." Dick gave Tim a pained smile. "Just stay safe."
"I will." Tim left the room to back and Stephanie lurked awkwardly in the doorway until Damian almost crashed into her. The boy was shaking green eyes wide with barely contained emotions, and when Stephanie pulled him close he didn't protest. Alfred looked at the shattered remains of the Wayne family and felt nothing but pain.
End Part One