Part 16 – Alfred

Jason wished he could say that a weight had been lifted off his chest but all he felt was drained. He was well aware that this was only partlyover. Catching Catalina has been the easy part. The hard half was getting Dick to stop reacting to people with a facade. Jason knew that part of their lives was an act, which was part of being a vigilante. However, he also knew that Dick shouldn't be putting up an act with people he was close with like Roy and Tim.

And maybe him.

Jason might be a touch annoyed that Dick kept altering his behaviour to what he thought would make Jason happy.

He took the train back in civvies to make Roy happy. He bought tickets and they sat in the seats and everything. It was a waste of money when they could have ridden on top of the train.

Roy seemed pleased and full of energy as he bounded up the steps to the door of Jason's safe house. He opened it first and Jason ran right into him.

"What's going on?" Jason grumbled as he hadn't expected Roy to suddenly stop.

"Uh, is that who I think it is?"

Jason looked over Roy's shoulder to see Tim, Dick and Rose Wilson sitting at the table and sharing two pizzas between them. Rose wasn't wearing her headgear, her silver-white hair flowing down her back as she swallowed her slice of pizza in a few bites. Jason watched as she pulled a knife from her belt and used it to lift another slice from the box.

"Why is Ravager sitting at the table?" Jason asked Tim because he was supposed to be the sensible one.

"Congratulations, Jason!" Tim responded with a grin.

Jason was confused.

"What is going on?" Roy questioned.

"The Society is in inner turmoil," Rose announced, rubbing pizza sauce off her face with her arm. "Dad thought I would be safer away from him until he could secure his piece of whatever's left when the dust settles."

"And Dick convinced Rose to join the Teen Titans!"

"What?" Roy and Jason said in unison. Jason didn't think Rose would join the Teen Titans.

"Aren't they like a group of goody-two-shoes?" Jason questioned. He looked to Rose. "Good luck with them, I guess."

Rose shrugged. "Maybe I'll bring a few to the bad side."

"As long as you don't do anything that'll get anyone hurt or arrested," Dick said.

Jason couldn't believe what he was hearing. "And I guess there's something in it for you?" he said to Rose.

"I get to learn from Dick. Dad's pretty happy with that, although he's kind of annoyed that Tim convinced him that being with the Teen Titans was the safest place for me."

"Tim did a good job," Dick said, ruffling Tim's hair. The teenager grinned widely and Jason felt the urge to gag.

"Right. Anyone not legal, out," he said.

"Um, that covers you man," Roy pointed out.

"My safe house, my rules. I'm exempt."

"Point. I should head off and get Rose introduced to the Teen Titans," Tim mused. He slid off the chair and walked towards the window.

Rose groaned and frowned, not moving.

"I'll see you this weekend for our first training session," Dick said, although he shot a worried glance at Jason for a moment, "and, until then, you can get to know the team."

"It's kind of liked super powered high school," Jason informed her. "Except there's no teachers or lessons, unless you count yours with Dick, which makes it kind of lame. All that's left is dealing with teenagers."

Rose stuck her tongue out at him and he shrugged, not really caring. Tim had tensed when Jason spoke about the Teen Titans, probably remembering that one time he had attacked them in order to get to Tim.

Tim and Rose managed to leave without incident. Jason made himself a cup of tea and practically threw himself onto his couch. He switched on the TV, flicking through channels until he found some action move to watch.

Dick dropped down on the couch next to him.

"You're not mad?" he asked.

Jason shot a look at him. Dick's expression was flat. He turned back to the screen. It was better that he couldn't see the expression he suspected Catalina put on his brother's face. It was better if he just believed Dick was asking because Jason didn't like the Teen Titans; and Tim, rather than being worried that Jason would ask him to leave.

"Of course not."

"I'm going to be hanging out with the Teen Titans on the weekend."

"We don't have to be together all the time," Jason countered in frustration.

Dick didn't seem convinced. "I'll be with the Teen Titans as Renegade."

Jason paused for a moment as an idea occurred to him. "Then, just go as Nightwing." Maybe he could help Dick reclaim his costume, even if it's only behind the doors of wherever place the Teen Titans were living in.

Dick looked shocked for a moment before hiding it behind a question. "Really? I don't exactly have a Nightwing costume on me."

"We'll fix that tomorrow," Jason said, taking a sip of his tea. "Now, we're watching this movie."

Jason regretted saying that Dick could be Nightwing while training Rose. If he had known that it would mean going back to Gotham to see Alfred, he would have just let Renegade go.

"Why?" he questioned as they walked up the path towards Wayne Manner. Dick had been careful to pick a time Bruce was normally at work. Jason didn't need to check that, he knew. He found it a little disturbing that Dick kept track of Bruce like that, especially since Jason only did it because the man was Batman and a threat to his work.

"Because I might have uniforms in Bludhaven but I need Alfred to take a look at them and possibly make me a new one."

"A new one? Really? You have your old ones."

"I… don't want to wear them. They feel dirty."

"Clean freak," Jason grumbled, shooting his mouth off before the real reason for Dick's uncomfortable feeling in costume hit. Tarantula had forced him while in costume. "Good," he said to Dick's face. "You know what, let's just get Alfred to make you a new one and burn the old ones." Maybe this would give him the confidence to clean up after himself in their apartment. Or the confidence to burn things to the ground. Jason was fine with either but would prefer the cleaning up.

Dick took a deep breath as they stood before the main entrance to Wayne Manor. He turned back to Jason, as if to convince himself that his brother was still standing there. In truth, Jason was only still standing there because he had a feeling Dick would look back. He had promised to be there and he couldn't run away now, no matter how much his heart was pounding in his chest.

Dick raised his hand and knocked.

Alfred opened the door and paused when he saw Dick. "Master Dick, why didn't you let yourself in?"

"I didn't want to be a bother," Dick responded, glancing back once again to check that Jason was still there.

Alfred caught the look and spotted Jason. Jason tensed. There were new wrinkles on Alfred's face and he seemed so much smaller than he had back when Jason had been living here. Back then, Alfred had towered over him as they navigated places like the kitchen.

"Master Jason."

"Hey, Alf," Jason said with a small wave. His smile quivered on his face, a moment away from dropping. His mind reminded him of all the things he had done. Surely Alfred wouldn't let him into the house.

"Come in," Alfred said as a warm smile flickered onto his face. He opened the door wide. "Both of you boys. Come in."