Prompt: A look at Kaden's life as Robin, Boy Wonder
Robin, Boy Wonder
"Robin, go around back and cut off their escape," Batman ordered as he grappled to the building across the way. Robin gave a curt nod and raced across the roof before grappling around and racing toward the back. Batman crashed through the roof, terrifying the thugs inside. They scattered, guns firing at him while the 'leaders' made a break for it. Unfortunately for them, Robin was waiting.
"Aw, going so soon? But we just got here! You're such poor hosts!" Robin grinned as one of them pulled out a gun. He quickly drew a wingding and threw it, knocking the gun out of his hand, then the others moved in to take him down. Robin laughed as he leapt over their heads, using one of them as a stepping stone. Spinning in the air, he threw a bolas, nailing one of the men as it wrapped around his legs and he fell, taking another with him. The third tried to make a break for it, but Robin drew an escrima stick and threw it, nailing him in the back of the head.
He was joined by Batman moments later who gave an approving nod toward the teen.
"Good job, kid," he complimented, giving the teen a smirk before going about gathering the men and tying them up. He turned to Robin, giving the teen a pat on the back and then leading him out of the building "the GCPD will be here shortly. Let's go, we've got a patrol to finish." He typed a few commands into his gauntlet and the batmobile pulled up beside them.
"Awesome, maybe we'll find some more bad guys to terrorize," Robin said gleefully, hopping into the batmobile beside Batman. Batman gave a smirk before pulling away from the building at full speed.
Kaden sighed deeply, tiredly, as he popped through the zeta tube from the batcave and climbed back up into his apartment building, slipping in through his bedroom window. He yawned and stretched as he peeled off his mask, half temped to sleep in costume. He peeled himself out of it and pulled on his dorm pants and then flopping into bed, heaving another sigh. A knock came at his door, and he just grunted in response. His dad popped his head into the room, still garbed in his Arkham Knight gear, sans the helmet.
"Heh, tired?" the man asked with a smirk. Kaden looked up at him and grunted in response.
"Late night. Two drug busts," he muttered, followed by another yawn.
"Sounds exciting. Well, good night kiddo," Jason replied, closing the door behind him. He made his way back to the bedroom, stripping out of his gear and stashing it away safely in the closet. Moments later, Dick came into and wrapped his arms around him from behind.
"Hey beautiful," Dick purred, kissing the man;s neck. Jason snorted in response and gently shoved the man off him.
"Not tonight Dickie-bird, I'm exhausted," Jason replied, flopping down onto the bed. Dick chuckled in amusement and began stripping down for bed, purposely giving Jason a perfect view of his ass. Jason groaned and scrubbed his face with his hands.
"You're not playing fair, Dick. I ever tell you, you have the nicest ass in Gotham?" Jason purred, propping himself up on an elbow. Dick looked back at him over his shoulder as he pulled on a pair of pajama bottoms, joining his husband in bed.
"May have mentioned it a few times," he purred, pressing a kiss to Jason's lips. He sighed and laid back, wrapping his arms around Jason and scooting closer.
"So how's baby bird doing? Been three weeks. Have any regrets?" Dick asked. Jason heaved a sigh and wrapped an arm around Dick, kissing his head.
"Every time that kid goes out the window, I have regrets," Jason muttered. He wasn't going to tell Kaden to stop being Robin, after all, he's the one who gave him the costume. But that didn't mean he couldn't worry. Though Damian would protect him, Gotham was still dangerous. He felt better when Kaden opted to play that part of Ghost instead, however. At least he was safe in the tower with Barbara.
"I know," was all Dick said, nuzzling his face against the man's neck.
"Night Dickie-bird."
Morning came and Kaden was still dead asleep on his bed alarm clock blaring. Jason pushed the door to his room over and shook the teen awake.
"Kaden, wake up! You're gonna be late for school, champ," Jason called. Kaden grunted and buried his face in the pillow. Jason snorted and tore the blanket off the teen, then yanked the pillow out from under his head.
"C'mon kid, time to get up!"
"Just five more minutes," Kaden groaned, rolling over. Jason rolled his eyes and retreated from the room, returning moments later with a can of frozen juice. He placed it against Kaden's bare back, and the teen yelped at the contact, jumping up in his bed. Jason snickered as Kaden glared at him. The teen grumbled under his breath and finally pulled himself out of bed.
"Rise and shine, princess. You gotta be out the door in ten minutes," Jason said to him, slipping back out into the kitchen. Kaden grunted, pulling on a pair of jeans and a black t-shirt, then kicking his shoes on and dragging himself out to the kitchen.
"Where's papa?" Kaden muttered, flopping down at the kitchen table. Jason poured his coffee and then moved over to the toaster, grabbing a couple of pop tarts and setting them down in front of Kaden.
"Had to go to work, kiddo. You woke up really late this morning," he answered, moving into the living room and reclining on the couch. Kaden yawned and rubbed the sleep from his eyes, munching away at his pop tarts in silence. Frankly, he was glad his father hadn't tried to cook. Last time he'd tried that, that man nearly set the entire counter on fire.
"Sure you can handle being boy wonder?" Jason suddenly called from the living room. Kaden looked up finishing his breakfast and nodding eagerly.
"Yeah, I can handle it!" he replied. Jason gave him a smirk and a nod in response.
"Well, if you say so. Just remember out agreement-"
"I know, I know. Keep my grades up, or no patrol," Kaden replied, rolling his eyes. He hopped up and grabbed up his bag and made for the door "see you later. Love you dad."
"Love you too champ. Have a good day," Jason called back.
School couldn't come to an end soon enough. Kaden had nearly fallen asleep in class twice today, and his friends were pestering him about hanging out. It was true, he'd been hanging out with them less since he became Robin, but he was protecting the city! Though frankly, he did kind of miss them.
But that wasn't even the worst of it; if he missed another practice at school with his gymnastics team, he'd be cut from the team and would have to sign up again next season. And then there was Zachary...
"Kaden, hey," Zach called, coming up to walk beside the teen. Kaden flashed a smile and leaned up to press a kiss to the older teen's lips.
"Hey Zach," Kaden replied. Zach smiled, a smile that faltered moments later.
"Look, Kaden, we need to talk-"
"If this is about me missing our date the other night, I told you, I'm sorry, but-"
"No. This is about...us," Zach replied. Kaden stopped in his tracks and looked at the other teen; were they about to...break up? Zach turned and looked at him, giving a shrug.
"I don't mean to sound clingy or anything but...I don't get to see you much anymore. It's like, suddenly you're too busy for me and-"
"Zach, I'm busy, but I still like you. A lot."
"Then why do you feel so distant lately?" Zach countered. Kaden sighed and raked a hand through his hair, trying to find a response, something to say to put Zach's doubts to rest, but he couldn't think of anything.
"Zach," Kaden began, licking his lips. He enlaced his fingers with Zachary's and said to him "I want to be with you, really. It's just...there's some shit going on in my life right now that's keeping me busy. I mean, you know me." Kaden looked up at Zach, their eyes meeting. He pressed a tender kiss to the older boy's lips, which he gladly returned. When he parted, he gave a smirk and said "besides, you know me. If I didn't want to be your boyfriend, I'd've broken up with you by now."
"True," Zach replied with a grin. He licked his lips and said "but seriously Kaden. I think...maybe we should take a break, y'know? Until life settles down a bit. I like spending time with you, but it's like you're never free anymore." Kaden sighed deeply, because he really liked Zachary, but he couldn't see a time when he would be more free, what with the Gymnastics team, school, homework, his friends and his night life as Robin, he was hard pressed to find any free time. He'd already given up some of his other extra curricular activities to make some room, what else could he give up.
"Are you...sure?" Kaden asked, sounding slightly upset. Zach bit his lip and nodded.
"Yeah." Kaden nodded in response and pressed a kiss to the teen's lips once more.
"Okay. I guess a break might not be such a bad idea."
"I'm not breaking up with you, don't get the wrong idea," Zach said with a laugh, his arms snaking around the teen's waist and pulling him closer "because I like you too, a lot. But I guess you know that already since we...well, y'know."
"Ugh, you're so lame. Since we had sex, Zachary. Sex is the word you're looking for," Kaden teased, making Zach blush.
"Okay, shameless. Since we had sex. I just think we need some time apart, y'know? Figure things out." Kaden nodded.
"Alright. I'll see you later then," Kaden said to him before parting from him and making his way home. He sighed and raked a hand through his hair, which was streak-less now, unfortunately. Damian made him get rid of it, and frankly, it was easier than hiding it, every night.
Kaden came home and trudged up the stairs to his apartment, digging through his pocket for his key and then pushed the door open, closing it with his foot and dropped his bag by the door. His father was sitting on the couch, watching UFC as per the norm and he retreated to his bedroom. Or he would have, except-
"Hey champ. How was school? Everything okay, you look a little upset," Jason called. Kaden huffed and made for the living room, brushing the hair out of his eyes.
"It was alright."
"And?"
"And...Zach wants to take a break. He thinks I'm not interested."
"Oh?"
"How do you and papa do it?" Kaden finally asked with an exasperated sight, flopping down on the couch beside his father. Jason shut the tv off and looked over at his son, wrapping an arm around his shoulders.
"You mean juggling vigilante life with civilian life? Oh, it's not as easy as it appears," Jason replied with a grin. Kaden huffed in annoyance.
"So I've figured out," Kaden replied with a huff. Jason shifted on the couch a bit so he could look at Kaden.
"Look, I know it's hard, but this is what you wanted, wasn't it? Being a vigilante isn't all fun times and ass kicking. You gotta make sacrifices, tough choices, shit like that. I know it sucks, but it is what it is," Jason explained to him. Kaden looked up at the man and gave a curt nod.
"Yeah, I guess."
"So tell me, Kaden. Is it worth it? Do you enjoy being Robin?" Jason asked. Kaden thought about it for a few moments, and he did indeed being Robin. But was it worth all the trouble he was going through, with Gymnastics, with his friends, with his boyfriend? On one hand, it was a pain in the ass, and he really missed hanging out with his friends, and of course, Zach. On the other, he was helping to make a different in Gotham, helping and protecting people.
"Yeah. I think it is," Kaden replied. Jason gave the teen a smile and playfully backhanded his shoulder.
"Well there you go, you have your answer." Kaden hugged his father before pushing himself up off the couch and making for his bedroom.
"Just do me one favor tonight, Kade" Jason called after him. The teen turned around and waited for his father to continue "take a break. From being Robin. You've been at it every night for three weeks now. Everyone needs a break and I don't want to see you burn out, okay?" Kaden nodded in response.
"Okay. If you and papa do so as well. Maybe we can hang out like we used to?" Kaden suggested, smile tugging at his lips. Jason gave a smile and a nod in reply.
"Sure thing champ."