Tim POV

Tim was sitting in his office. Separated from Bruce's office by a glass wall with a dim function. Tam had taken over half of his space. Completely with a level of tyranny enforced the prohibition of coffee consumption. 'Coffee, beautiful coffee. I'm not even allowed other forms of caffeine. Tam seemed to think a hand holding an energy drink would not be missed. As she tried to snap it to prevent any repeat offense.' Tam choose this moment to grin causing Tim to Rub his wrist absentmindedly. He was hungry, tired, and overworked.

'Everyone is plotting against me. My abandonment of sleep in favour of work fuelled by coffee. Leading to restrictions, which Tam now enforces. All the while Damian gets to mock my current state and undermine my efficiency. If that's not bad enough that little ball of sunshine got to continue his abuse during the car journey that morning. The Demon spawn is usually difficult but, as he was in the passenger seat not behind the wheel, with me driving he was even more obnoxious than usual. Alfred may have requested it but Bruce definitively had a hand behind it. Some kind of punishment for what, I don't know. Or who it is aimed at. Perhaps the Demon brat did something. The other explanation is too horrid for thought, and not Bruce at all. Bonding with Damian.'

"Ugh" Tim made a verbal disgust sound. Attracting the attention of Tam. He shook his head at her enquiring eyebrow, turning back to his work.

'Forced Brotherly Bonding is more Dicks endeavour. Such as his failed movie nights or the rare case when they succeeded turning into a glaring match. Though in the infrequent circumstances me a Damian have worked together and the even scarce times we cooperated. The mission was completed swiftly. In Bruce's mindset that must be a valuable resource. To be able to pair Jason with Dick would also create less friction, if Nightwing could be put on more dangerous mission as Damian would be absent. He would then leave the smaller threats to me and the brat. This can't happen. His first actions were to kill me as soon as possible. He hates my existence, and the feeling is mutual. I imagine he's figured this out as well. Might be why he put in the extra effort in his digs on the car ride. Yet he still left the dangerous territories alone. I didn't know he had the social skills for that.'

"Tim"

'If we show deterioration in the relationship, he might rethink this unfortunate arrangement. Being counterproductive could prevent future working arrangements-'

"Tim"

'But at the same time the consequences could be severe. It depends on how spiteful Bruce is about his plans being foiled.'

"Tim"

'Alternatively, we could just remove the chances of partnership. Dick would be useful. If he thinks Damian wants to work with him he can whine at Bruce to keep his little D in his clutches. Or I could work the Red Hood has limited gun use since his partnership with me. This would likely reverse if working more dangerous cases with Nightwing. Hood being more inclined towards the fatal violence when against worse criminals'

"TIM!" sharply called. He had acknowledged his name being called but had decided not to respond, but to continue thoughts in his head.

"Yeah?"

"I've been calling your name for the last five minutes."

"Sorry Tam. I've been distracted."

"Well concentrate you've got two piles of forms to sign, a meeting and Alfred just called. You have 10 Minutes till I'm dragging you to the meeting room myself. Understand."

Tim smirked. "Yeah Tam I understand."

She humped and left his office finally. He picked up his phone with dread. 'there can be no good reason to call, and I've got a feeling I'm not going to like this.' Alfred picked up on the first ring tone. 'I'm so not going to like this.'

"Master Timothy"

"Hi Alfred, sorry I didn't answer your call I was working."

"I wouldn't expect any less. Considering you're at work."

Somehow it sounded more like a dig than a compliment.

"I'm sorry to disturb you but, the school called requesting for Master Damian to be collected, and I am unavailable."

Groaning Tim replied, "what did he do now?"

"I believe he exchanged blows with an older student."

Signing resenting his fate "Can't Bruce or Jason go get him?"

"Master Bruce is in an important meeting and your Brother is not answering his phone."

Desperately clutching at straws "What about Dick?"

"On enforced bed rest, healing from last night escapades."

"Steph?"

"In an exam"

"Cass"

"I'm afraid everyone is indisposed at the moment."

In defeat "Ok Alfred, I'll go get the little gremlin, I mean Brat."

"Very well Master Timothy I expect you both back shortly."

Alfred ended the call allowing Tim to hunch over his desk and sign with exasperation. Muttering "so, no meeting then."

A determined Tam storms into the room, looking her target, Tim, in the eyes.

"Times up"

"Sorry Tam but I need to go get the demon spawn from school, he got suspended."

'She glares at me for a few seconds as if this is my fault. Then swiftly turns and strides out the door all the while muttering violence against any Wayne to cross her path. Hopefully Damian. As annoying as this is at least it falls under the misbehaviour plan. We might be on the same page for once. I would have preferred the second option using Dick, but that would mean Damian would have to endure spending time with Dick. And hugs, lots of hugs.'

His stomach grumbled, already forgone lunch to work the day was lagging. 'I doubt I'll come back in. I can work from home after dropping Damian off at the manor.'

He dejectedly walked out of his office holding the forms to sign and any document he intended to finish that afternoon and most likely evening. He took the lift down to the garage any drove towards Damián's school. When he arrived, he walked towards the office to find Damian sitting outside.

"What are you doing here Drake?"

"No one else could come get you so Alfred called me."

The brat only tutted as a response and turned away. 'Alfred wouldn't lie but this could be an underhand tactic to get me to work less and get me to the manor.'

"Well played Alfred, well played." Tim muttered

With spite "What are you babbling now Drake? Have you lost all of your limited brain function without coffee?"

"I can think just fine. Its apparently, you who can't have logical thoughts. Fighting with an older student."

Venomously "I defeated the Imbecile"

In an angry whisper "That's not the point. The point is that Damian Wayne! Doesn't know how to fight and should not be displaying certain fighting techniques."

Damian growled prepared to retort but cut off by the door opening.

'Walking with Damian through the school halls. In the presence of his school peers, the brat was doing all his best to seem dignified, as if I was below him such as his servant. considering he spends plenty of his time moaning about his fellow student's incompetence or immaturity he seems to want approval just like any kid.' They were getting side glances and the topic of whispers from all directions. Securely in the limelight. This was probably the only reason Damian didn't have a full-on tantrum.

"This is your fault Drake"

"My fault! You're the one who got in a fight, so you've got to live with the consequences."

"No matter a week apart from that school is more an award rather than punishment."

"The real punishment will be whatever Bruce or Alfred decides, and your already benched for bad behaviour."

Damian moved to attack Tim, but noticed his surroundings with students moving towards afternoon classes. Vehemently glaring at Tim, Damian knocks his shoulder pushing past and walks out of the school. He then proceeded to the passenger seat. Tim followed sighing and got into the car.

"So, what's it going to be sullen silence or mean comment?"

Damian all but growled at his comment his whole-body brisling. But the only verbal response was his signature tut.

"Sullen silence it is"

By the time, he gets back home its late in the afternoon and as if the universe was only waiting for him to get through the door.

"Jason"

The man was sprawled out on his sofa reading one of his books.

"Hey Replacement, Nice books you've got here. Ever read any of them?"

Tim looked at him funny. 'He was being civil. Why?'

"What do you want?"

"There's a new kid at my apartments, young early teen. I want info on his background, how long he's been on the streets, Juvie records, ya know the whole shebang. I'm not even sure if he's from our earth. He's at least new to Gotham."

Tim turns towards his kitchen to find the caffeine missing. 'Damn'

"Oh, I relieved you of all your coffee."

Tim glared at Jason with a burning hot hatred.

"What! Alfred offered me cookies for my services. It's not like he wouldn't have sent someone else. Our motives just happened to coincide."

"Motives?"

"Yeah Alfred making sure you don't drop dead and me pissing you off."

Jason Grinned to Tim's deadpan expression.

"Why would I help you?"

"Don't be like that Replacement. letting go is your thing. What other reason would there be for B keeping you around."

'The comment internally stung, and he hoped he was wrong. But the bats only kept him around while he's useful.' Jason seemed to cringe only visible by his eyes crinkling like he saw Tim's thoughts, and changed the subject. 'is that? Does he feel guilty?'

"Anyway, since you've become like a Babs for me I decided to skip the interrogation and ask you."

"I'll look into it."

"By the way your apartments a mess. Alfred would be horrified especially with the takeout boxes."

Jason then leapt out the balcony firing a grapple line off the building. I choose this apartment for that purpose due to its hidden location. The style straight out of an interior design magazine. Jason had left a file on top of one of my piles on the coffee table. 'He's not wrong about the mess. The bin piled with takeout boxes with papers haphazardly filed everywhere. It's got a chaotic order to it. 'I know where everything is, just no one else does. The bedrooms not much better, littered with strewn clothes in piles of clean and dirty. Luckily no damming pieces of uniform left in sight.'

Tim retrieved some left-over takeout from the fridge and heat it up in the microwave. Then taking it to his computer set up in the spare room. He checked the camera feed from Spiders place then proceeded to start searching. When no information was found other than a birth certificate He had to start hacking into some locked files.

"Who are you Peter Parker?"

Jason POV

"So, who are you Peter Parker?"

"So-o-ory"

Jason had acquisitioned Peter in the hallway between their apartments. He blocked the kid's doorway to prevent escape. 'At first it looked like he was going to run. His body tensed as if responding to muscle memory. The kid had training, he has the lean look. He's got muscle he's too thin to realistically have. He reminds me of Tim in the way he built but at the same time Dick from his movements. Could have a background in gymnastics or dance.'

"Who are you? Where do you come from, because that accent sure aint local? And most importantly WTF are you doing in Gotham?"

"Well I'm here coz I'm finishing school while-"

"Not the cover story."

The kid blanched at this. Had a look in his eye like he was evaluating me. Like a primitive version of Cass's stare. Seeming to find my intentions ok he answers.

"I ain't got anywhere else. I'm on my own and there's too much heat at home. I needed out. I can hide in Gotham. No one blinks an eye at a new homeless teen. Less likely to be ratted out to child protective services. I'm almost out of the age range, just under t-a year"

Jason hummed at this. The best lies held truth. Its apart of it but not the whole story there's more to another orphan avoiding the foster system. Going to say 15 at that slip up. It doesn't seem planted but it suits his baby face.

"Alright Bambi but I think you mean three years till your 18."

"Bambi!" He said indignantly. Then as he processed the whole sentence. "What, wait I'm 17 I've said before."

"Yeah, no. You're not seventeen. But now you've all but confirmed it."

Peter groaned in frustration.

"You're not going to tell on me, are you?"

"Nah Kid your good. Just wanted to be sure."

With that Jason turned around and strode out of the hallway towards the stairs. He called over his shoulder.

"See you later Kid I've got places to be."

Peter mumbled a goodbye before dashing back into his apartment as if Jason was going to suddenly turn around and trap him again. Jason chuckled to himself. 'A paradox that kid. His body says in control, confident yet his speech and mannerisms say otherwise. Real interesting.' Instead of taking the stairs down he goes up and out through the roof access. Changing into Red Hood gear, he runs off to start his patrol.

Comment:

Hey guys. I'm really sorry it took me so long to update. Had coursework to finish e.c.t. Thanks for reading I really apricate it.

P.s. Did you see my Deadpool reference. :)