Part 17 – Costumes

Alfred made things simple. He invited them in and gave them tea and biscuits. He smiled slightly as he checked how many sugar to put in. The smells and his unchanging demeanour were relaxing.

"Alfred, I can do it," Jason said, reaching forward.

"Don't deprive me of my usefulness, Master Jason," Alfred responded firmly. "Now, one sugar as always? And two for you, Master Dick?"

"Yes, please," Dick said, moving his cup closer to Alfred so he didn't have to reach for it.

As he stirred in the sugar, Alfred asked mildly, "so, is there a reason you are gracing me with your presences or should I consider myself lucky that two boys I consider like my own grandchildren have decided to pay dear old me a visit."

It was amazing how guilty Alfred could make them feel even while being polite and welcoming.

"Dick needs a new Nightwing costume," Jason informed him. "He'll be visiting the Teen Titans this weekend but his old costumes... aren't suitable."

Alfred raise an eyebrow but held back whatever comment was rolling around in his mind.

"I see. Same as before or are we making changes to the design?"

"What do you think? Same as before?" Jason asked Dick, curious. He didn't think there were any changes that needed to be made. "I'm fine as long as you don't go back to whatever you call what you were wearing while I was Robin."

"I concur with Master Jason's comments. I refuse to see you in such an outfit while fighting crime again."

Dick frowned, although there was a playful sparkle in his eyes and voice. "What are you talking about? That costume was hip for the time."

Jason rolled his eyes. "No one says 'hip' anymore old man."

"They did during that time," Dick countered.

"Which is not now," Alfred pointed out. "I'll make the same as before and it'll be ready in two days."

Jason had a horrible thought. "You won't tell B about our visit, will you?"

"Master Bruce has privy to knowledge of all visitors to his manor while he is not present," Alfred pointed out.

Dick placed his tea cup on the table, hands shaking enough that they could hear the clatter as he placed it.

Alfred gave Jason a look which Jason returned, along with a small shake of his head to hopefully keep the old butler from making a comment.

"Whatever. Not like he cares to ask," Jason snorted, hoping to calm Dick down with the knowledge that Bruce won't know if he doesn't ask.

"Master Jason, could you help me take these to the kitchen to be cleaned?" Alfred said as he picked up their empty cups and placed them on a tray.

Jason could see that the butler had it all in hand and was slightly confused as to why Alfred was asking him for help. There was only one way to find out though.

"Of course," he responded, standing up and picking up the sugar container.

"Master Dick, could I trouble you to go and collect my measuring tape? I would like to re-take your measurements and see if you have grown since I last made you a costume."

"I'm an adult now, Alfred," Dick said, "and finished growing. But if you're sure-"

"Well, if you haven't been eating well in Bludhaven then you may have lost a few inches," Alfred mused.

Dick snorted a laugh. "No way. I'm as tall as I ever was."

"That is to say, short," Jason shot in since he was taller than Dick. Even Alfred was slightly taller than the acrobat.

Dick glared at Jason but rushed off to do the job Alfred asked of him.

"Just trying to keep him busy," Alfred hummed as they walked to the kitchen. "So we can have a moment alone." Jason swallowed. That didn't sound good. "I would have to be blind to not notice how Master Dick has changed. And I do not need my measuring tape to know that he has lost weight."

Jason sighed. He could have guessed that without Alfred telling him. Dick ate like a bird and excised enough for both of them. He was pushing himself and Jason wondered if it had to do with pleasing the people around him or trying to forget what Catalina did to him.

"He's been... hurt." Jason's stomach dropped just thinking about taking about it. His trigger finger itched. "It's not my story to tell but it was bad. The person behind it is in prison so don't worry about her."

"I will worry if it is prudent of me to do so," Alfred said. "How secure is this woman?"

"Commissioner Gordon will make sure she stays there and Babs is backing him up as Oracle, without his knowledge."

"Should I question the exact nature of what she did to hurt him?"

"Probably best not to," Jason responded. He placed the items he had been carrying next to the coffee machine. "I'm trying to build up his confidence again."

Jason waited for the scolding. The questioning of why he was doing this when he was Red Hood, the murderer in Batman's eyes. He was not, and never would be, a part of the Bat Clan.

"Good," Alfred stated. Jason waited for more but Alfred just continued soaking the cups.

"Well?" Jason asked.

Alfred raised an eyebrow. "I believe you are doing what you believe to be the right thing by Dick and I agree with the action you are taking. It's more than Master Bruce has done the past few months."

Jason grumbled a little under his breath about what he thought about B and his habit of not looking after the strays he took in.

Dick did as Alfred asked, moving around as instructed and letting the measuring tape be tightened around his body. Jason got stuck with writing down Goldie's measurements as Alfred read them out.

"Hmm, best to add an inch to that measurement," Alfred said every now and then. "I do expect you to add that lost weight back, Master Dick."

"Y-Yeah," Dick stammered. "As long as Jason keeps cooking the way he is, then I should have them back."

Jason bit back a comment about how it would help if Dick actually ate more than a few bites to be polite when offered food. Maybe he could bring this up the next time Dick pushes away a partly filled plate and guilt him into eating the rest.

"Excellent," Alfred said. He took the last few measurements and took the clipboard from Jason. "I will give you boys a call when I am finished."

"Thanks, Alfred," Dick sighed happily as he gave his stiff body a shake. Being still while being measured was difficult for him. Even so, there was a small smile on his face and the tightness around his shoulders was gone. He was almost completely comfortable and Jason didn't see that often.

Jason nodded his thanks to Alfred.

Dick left the night before to make sure he reached the Teen Titans by the time he had told Tim. Without access to the Batjet, Dick had to leave earlier than usual on a regular flight. Since Alfred had surprisingly and personally delivered Dick's uniform the day before that, as promised, Jason had a fridge full of the butlers delicious cooking.

All. To. Him.

Jason was reminded of the freedoms of living for just himself and determined to enjoy these few days without his big brother around, making little comments on his life here and there.

Then there was a knock at the door. He groaned while going over all the people who could be on the other side.

Figuring that Roy Harper was the most likely culprit, somewhere in town and knew where Jason's safe house was, he opened the door.

The scowl on his face intensified as his eyes focused on the person on the other side.

"Bruce?" Kind of. He wasn't dressed as Batman but he wasn't in a suit either. Just jeans and a black shirt.

"Jason. May I come in?"

Thoughts rang with clamour in Jason's head, each demanding to be voiced. The regular thoughts about why the Joker was still alive after killing Jason, the anger of his death meaning nothing to B, and the rightness of his version of vigilantism and the need to make them understand why he did what he did. But, there were also thoughts on why B was here, did he know about what happened to Dick, why didn't he notice sooner, and why was it Jason's job to put Dick back on track when he didn't even follow the same track?

The conflicting rage and desire to sit down and talk warred against each other.

Jason slowly moved out of the way to let Bruce in.