Chapter 29: Back to the roots
It was a beautiful sunny day in Metropolis when Lex Luthor was sitting in his office working out Campania for the next elections. If he won, it would increase his political influence enormously. Therefore, it was of utmost importance for him that his program was absolutely free of any mistakes and that no one disturbed him in his work.
But he had made the calculation without an old acquaintance.
Luthor was just about to start revising another document when the door to his office was blown open with an explosion, and a certain clown with a joyful: "Surprise! Hahahaha..." stepped out of the smoke.
"Laxy baby! Is it a pleasure to see you again! Hehehehe..."
Luthor's brow furrows deepened as he saw the self-proclaimed Clown Prince of Crime standing in his ruined doorway. Not exactly amused, he therefore replied cynically:
"Joker ...how...pleasant."
Prancing, the clown entered the office, dressed in a white suit with hat and walking stick, his left arm fixed to his body due to an injury. Just like a bad imitation of a mafia boss:
"Your hairstyle looks dazzling once again. What's your secret? A special shampoo or an old home remedy from Granny-Lex?"
Luthor sighed in annoyance and rubbed his temples with his fingers as a quick call-through came from his secretary:
"Sir Luthor, there's been an attack! The Special Forces are about to take you to the bunker."
"It's all right Miranda. False alarm. It's just an old acquaintance of mine."
His attention now returned to the grinning clown:
"What do you want Joker?"
"Oh that's what I like about you Lax. You always get to the heart of things quickly."
Joker stepped closer and, under the less than amused gaze of Luther, sat down as a matter of course on the latter's large massive desk, propping his feet up on the guest chair:
"You know Lexy, it's been sooooo long since we've done anything together and I figured it was time to set the mood again. I'm worried that you've stopped having fun because of all the work you've been doing."
"How thoughtful of you, but I'll pass. I've got important things to do at the moment and being seen with you would massively damage my career. So have a nice day, there's my former door. I'll send you the bill for the damage." Lax replied disinterestedly and turned back to his documents.
The corners of Joker's mouth moved sadly downward:
"Oh, Laxy, don't be so dismissive of me. Is that any way to welcome an old friend?"
"A means to an end would more accurately describe it."
Playing theatrically, the clown grabbed his chest:
"Ouch my poor little joker heart. Anyway, instead of throwing some paperwork at me right away, let me tell you something very interesting. You see, I ran across an exceedingly pretty little bird."
Luthor's eyes wandered first to the clown and then to the walking stick, at the tip of which a silver snake with green rubys for eyes was devouring a golden tortured-looking bird. Joker caught this immediately and held the prop melancholically in front of him:
"Pretty isn't it? I had this made a few years ago. A kind of small trophy, if you will. Special events require..."
"Get to the point or get out again." gruffly Luther interrupted the clown, whose expression clearly distorted for a moment and then purred again with a smile on his lips:
"You're really no fun Laxy, but well..."
Joker placed a glass jar on the table, which the politician looked at critically. Its contents showed a blood-soaked feather.
"What kind of garbage is this?"
Dismayed, the clown whooped:
"What kind of garbage is this?! What-?! I can't believe you actually call something so numinous garbage!"
"It rather amazes me that your vocabulary includes the word numinous."
Playfully, the clown twirled his walking stick in his hand as he narrated:
"Let me elaborate a little. Remember how a year ago the news of Nightwing's death went around?"
Of course Luthor knew about it. After all, Batman had sought his help back then in desperation only to conclude that the Bat's #1 couldn't be saved. He was the first who had known:
"I'm well-informed about it, but what's that got to do with it?"
The clown's smile took on a joyfully sinister tone:
"Well what if I told you that Boywonder survived?"
Luthor's eyes snapped open:
"That's impossible!"
"But Lex, I beg you. The word impossible is something that does not exist for people like us. Yes, our little Birdie is alive and he looks better than ever."
The clown pushed the glass with its bloody contents a little closer to his shocked counterpart as he continued:
"This is one of his feathers, as well as some of his blood, to which I added a preservative. You should see him. He looks like half a bird and acts like a wild animal. But what's really special are his new abilities."
The politician raised his hands in front of him, interrupting:
"Wait a minute. You're telling me he survived all this time in this other dimension?!" and Joker only shrug his shoulders:
"Well as for the more specific circumstances, I have no idea. He stood in front of me in this new form and I thought someone with your skills in the field of genetics would surely be interested in something like that. After all, our nice little Connor was proof enough of that fact. Wasn't he? So I'm offering you the bridge between our dimension and another. And who knows what else. Think of it as a grab bag." *1
Luthor thought hard, but when he didn't say anything. After a few moments, Joker kept talking and put a regular Joker card, labeled with a number on the jar:
"Anyway, I'll leave you this little souvenir. Call me Honey when you find anything interesting. I'm dying to know what happened to him."
Luthor's eyes narrowed to slits:
"What are you up to? Someone like you, who only wants to cause chaos, doesn't just give such things into other hands out of pure research urge."
Joker already stood up and turned around grinning and playfully caught:
"Och you sly fox, you've got me figured out. I figured you might be able to use it to positively influence your elections. I don't know what the blood can do, but maybe you can make little miracle cures with it. I've seen Nightwing's wounds heal quickly. Health is very important to many people and wouldn't that be something? Miracle healer Lex Luthor? Such a person would certainly win these bumbling elections. You would be a more powerful man than Superman, because unlike him, you could save people from their own bodies, and that's who people are crying out for. If someone were to do something to you then, he would have drawn the hatred of the entire population. I would then simply like to profit from your position at that point. I'd like to do some business in Metropolis, and having a big shot covering for me would be just the thing."
Luthor didn't believe a word he said and Joker could see that from his stiffened face. He knew very well that this clown was not as simple-minded as he always presented himself.
With a dull clack the walking stick hit the ground and its owner purred one last time:
"Now don't look at me so seriously Laxy-baby. After all, I have just given you an extremely wonderful gift. I'm sure you understand that I can no longer grace you with my presence, as your big blue sweetheart will surely be here soon to check up on you. I am, however, eagerly looking forward to your call. Don't forget your old friend Joker. See you soon, Laxy. Hehehe..."
With that, the clown disappeared from the office, chuckling, and Lax didn't say a word. He just thought. If what Joker said was really true and the Boy Wonder was indeed alive, he might really be an extremely interesting research subject.
But how could that be? How could Nightwing have survived there? All the possibilities he had gone through at that time ended in a quick death. So how? How could this kid do the impossible?
The politician took the glass with the feather in his hand and looked at the contents more closely.
He could not deny how curiosity got the better of him. Even though he didn't trust this clown one bit, the desire for answers burned inside him.
Luthor put the glass back on the table with a sigh and pressed the button to contact his secretary:
"Miranda, inform my lab that I will be coming in after work today and they should have everything ready for extensive genetic analysis. Oh and...fire the current head of security. He's doing a lousy job."
"Very well sir."
Annoyed, Tim's fingers tightened around the steering wheel of Dick's car just as he was heading to the current Haly's Circus location. Or rather, he and Damian were. That Brat had insisted on going with him, and now they were just silent towards each other while the traffic news played on the radio. Why had he agreed in the first place?
1 day earlier:
"You want to go to Haly's circus? But surely not with the turkey!" snorted Jason, aghast.
"Great Drake, and I thought Todd was the one with the stupid ideas," Damian now also gave his opinion on this idea and earned an annoyed "Hey!" from the Outlaw.
Tim could only rub his temples at these two. Such a complicated situation and he had to work with the two family members who were at the top of his personal list of people who would cause him the most headaches:
"Of course Dick's not coming. There's no way that would work out. I just want to ask Mr. Haly and the artists for more info on Dick that might help restore his memory. I did an internship there once, so I know most of the circus staff. I'm sure Mr. Haly won't mind if I explain to him that Dick has amnesia."
"Wait, you interned there? When was that?" Jason interrupted him skeptically before Tim continued:
"A few months after I became Robin and worked a case there with Dick and Bruce. This was back in his ponytail days. I just wanted to know where he was coming from and then he got me an internship there. But I didn't know then that it would mainly consist of cleaning out animal cages. But anyway. I'll contact Mr. Haly in the morning and ask for help." *2
But Tim had done his sums without a certain Satanic brat:
"I'll go with you."
"Please what?!"
Both Tim and Jason were now looking askance at Damian, and the smallest of them just snorted snidely:
"I don't assume that Drake will note all the relevant information. Therefore, it's better if I go along to avoid any possible misidentifications."
Tim just slapped his hand over his face in exasperation. He and Mister 'you're all cockroaches under my feet?´ The idea of taking Dick along seemed rather attractive now. This will end with a knife in his throat!
Therefore Tim answered only somewhat stressed of it:
"It's better if two of us take care of Dick, in case something changes with him. At the moment he's literally full of surprises because of this whole demon mutation thing and should therefore be under special observation. He's most comfortable with you guys. So it's only logical that I go alone since you two are his comfort zone.
"Tim, could I talk to you for a minute?"
Jason approached Timothy and turned him amicably in the opposite direction of Damian to have a private whispered conversation with him, which the latter was so not in the mood for:
"Hey Timmy, don't you think it'd be a good opportunity to have a word with the gremlin?"
Damian didn't like this behind-the-back whispering at all:
"What are you up to Todd?"
But he didn't get more than a: "The adults are having a conversation right now." from the Outlaw, which made the little guy hiss in obvious annoyance.
He was weighing whether or not to stick a knife in this street rat's back. After all, he turned this one toward him just so invitingly. If he didn't need him, he might even have done it already. But just let this bungler gossip with his wife over there. At least then he would have his peace.
Meanwhile, Tim shared his opinion on the subject with the Outlaw:
"I don't think that's a good idea Jason. Damian doesn't like me and I don't like him either for that matter. Before I know it, he'll be selling me to his grandfather as a half-assed cut-up kebab."
"Believe me when I tell you that the greenhorn isn't as aggressive as he used to be. He's still no angel, but I don't think he'll try to kill you anymore. In the end, he needs us anyway, and this little devil knows it too."
Tim could only grimace his face in exasperation, "Wow Jason, you really know how to not convince someone."
"You should give the kid a chance. That's what I've been doing. While he's still annoying and a know-it-all, he's started calling me by my first name. In fact, he's quite affable, as long as you don't piss him of. Believe me. He can be different."
Tim looked at his counterpart with skepticism. He and Damian alone? That would never, ever work out! And when he saw these dog's eyes of the outlaw, he knew exactly what was going on. The look made Tim want to smack this idiot with his telescopic staff:
"I know exactly what you're up to Jason. You just want to pin him to my heels so you can finally have your peace."
Jason hissed once caught, "Damn it." before continuing:
"Come on, now. I can keep Dick in check by myself. A few cigarettes and he'll purr like a kitten anyway. Trust me."
Tim could have pulled out the Taser at those lying puppy-dog eyes. But after almost three hours of discussion, he finally let himself be persuaded to take the devil spawn with him. He definitely shouldn't always give in so quickly.
"Hey Master Tim!" the old familiar pipy computer voice of the car announced itself and snapped him out of his thoughts.
（^∀^）
"I just wanted to give you a quick update that we'll be at our destination in a kilometer."
Tim sighed briefly before answering her:
"Thanks Dina, and could you maybe change your personality to standard mode?"
"Okey Dokey!"
(=◕ω＜=)⌒
The holographic face disappeared and the beepy voice became a calm monotone one, more like Batman's computers:
"Anything else Sir?"
"No, that will be all for now."
Damian just snorted:
"-tt- Why not like that in the first place? Instead of wasting your time programming this pain in the ass?"
Oh, mister I'll shut my lips in front of you til the end of time could talk after all:
"Dick wanted an assistant back then that had a different personality than Batman's AI. So I developed a new one for him that was different from the usual stiffness and based it on the loudest and most colorful franchise ever. Anime. Even I'm surprised that he liked it and seemed to use it."
Damian just rolled his eyes. He'd just given up trying to understand Grayson's rainbow vacuum of a brain by now. He'd probably discover the end of the number Pi before he could see through this mess.
They stopped in the temporary parking lot of Haly's Circus and Tim was already turning off the engine when he turned to Damian once more. He didn't feel like dealing with him at all, since neither of them was particularly eager to work together. But he had to get thew this somehow. Tim blew out his breath strained as he began to speak:
"Okay, I hope I don't have to tell you to behave yourself. After all, people know us here through the media."
But Damian only snarled back in annoyance, "What do you take me for Drake, one of your kindergarten team members? You better make sure you stay on task and don't jeopardize the mission with your sentimentality."
With that, the boy got out of the car and Tim sighed, "Oh Boi, this is going to be fun." before he too left the vehicle.
From a distance, the two saw an older gentleman standing at the colorful entrance gate, right next to a typical ticket booth. He wore a conspicuously colorful jacquet over his lanky stature, which above all brought amazement to Tim's eyes. Although he had only done a short internship here at the time, he immediately recognized the nice circus director Haly from back then in this old man. He still remembered the cheerful manner, which made him look like a teddy bear with his full-figured stature at that time and fascinated a whole audience. Apparently, his old age had finally caught up with him and made him an old man.
But with each step they got closer, Tim still recognized the pure fun-loving magic in his eyes, and so he greeted the boys warmly:
"There you are at last. Good morning you two."
Tim held out his hand in greeting, while Damian only eyed the strange clothing of their counterpart suspiciously. The strangely colored jacquet was joined by a simple top hat, which covered most of the remaining gray hair, and a pair of brown wide pants, which would rather be worn by a hipster of the 70s.
Damian already knew that this was definitely Dick's original home.
"Good morning Mr. Haly. I'm not sure if you remember me, but I'm Timothy Drake, one of Dick's brothers and this is Damian. Also a brother and the youngest of us."
The old man's eyes widened: "You're little Timmy from back then?! Gosh you've grown up. I almost didn't recognize you."
Tim scratched the back of his head a little sheepishly:
"Well, it's been a few years."
"Time flies like crazy." Replied the old man and then turned to Damian:
"And so you are the youngest then. It's nice to meet you Damian. It's always very nice for me when I can meet members from Dick's family."
He offered Damian his hand in greeting. Under normal circumstances, the boy would have just folded his arms and snorted disparagingly, but these were not normal circumstances, "The pleasure is all mine."
Tim exhaled with barely noticeable relief. Thank God Jason had been right when he said that Damian could be different if he only wanted to. He had counted on this gremlin making a fuss until they both were either eyed suspiciously and Tim sinking into the ground with shame, or they were expelled from the premises altogether.
Well at least one worry less. Nonetheless, Tim got right to the real issue:
"Mr. Haly, I already told you on the phone why we are here."
A slight sadness came over the old man's face:
"Yes, sad the thing with his accident. Is he all right so far?"
"As well as the circumstances let him be. He's just very confused, since he doesn't recognize anyone, of course. That's why we're here without him. It would only confuse him more if we confronted him with his entire past."
"Understandable. Well, come along with me. Maybe I can help with that."
Mr. Haly was already turning when Damian asked Tim in a whisper:
"What did you actually tell him? After all, Richard was officially declared dead back then."
"Fortunately, Bruce's explanation to the media was a plane crash. I simply told him that he had survived the crash, washed up on an uninhabited island, and had spent the last year there until he was found with no memory of who he was. And that currently no one is allowed to know that to protect Dick."
Damian just snorted snidely and commented with:
"How cliché." before he too continued walking.
Tim could only roll his eyes.
They entered the actual circus grounds and followed the old director while he spoke again:
"I still have a lot of documents about the Grayson family in my trailer and maybe I can answer one or two questions for you, because I was very good friends with them. Unfortunately, most of the artists from that time are no longer in service. After all, more than 18 years have passed since little Dick left us and the profession of an active circus artist can unfortunately not be continued into old age. At some point the head may still want to, but the body catches up with all of us sooner or later."
"That may be, but we are still grateful for any help we can get."
Tim continued to talk with Mr. Haly, while Damian let his gaze wander over the circus grounds. So this is where Dick had spent his childhood. Between all these colorful tents, caravans and hay bales for the animals. Somehow this hodgepodge really fit Grayson and to Damian, represented his person as well. Despite all the clutter, everything still functioned in a certain order and delivered every day.
He couldn't help but remember his time in Arabia where he lived partially on missions as a nomad as he saw all these tents.
Living in a tent, together with others as well as camels and horses, which were also were a part of this circus. In fact, these missions had always been the most exciting for him, because he just got out.
80% hard training, 17% taking care of physical needs and 3% practice outside the walls of his grandfather's estate.
Damian began to understand why Jason said at the orphanage that his life was a sad one. He had only lived behind walls and was happy every time he was just allowed out. Like an animal growing up in a cage. He had never been to a circus.
Damian snorted in amusement.
To him it seemed like pure irony that his first visiting one was not with the clown Grayson, but with that stupid Drake.
Truly pure irony.
Meanwhile, quite different scenes were taking place in Tim's home.
Since all of Jason's belongings had burned to dust in the fire, the outlaw rummaged around in Dick's old things to see what could be of use for him. First and foremost, it was the turkey's fault that everything had been destroyed. Besides, he couldn't do anything with all the odds and ends at the moment anyway, and since Tim's clothes seemed to be the size of children's clothes, he just stole from Dick.
Thank God the fool wore primarily baggy T-shirts, which would not fight too much against his muscular Back and the same applied to his trousers. Man, acrobats loved freedom of movement.
Jason was just stuffing another t-shirt into a pilfered backpack from Tim as he glanced briefly through the open door at Dick in the living room.
The turkey was still going about the occupation he had given him. Trying to figure out the function of one of Joker's rattle-dentures, which clattered furiously across the floor in front of the taller one.
So he the was still distracted and Jason could move on to the next box.
Now that Tim was part of their little group, Jason could get out of their little group. He just wasn't the type to seek closeness with his family, and someone still had to find out where that blubber of a demon came from. After all, he had done Dickie pretty badly and who knew if that one wouldn't show up again or worse, if more would. It's better if at least one would investigate in this regard.
A pair of pants found their way into now his backpack.
Jason couldn't help but admit to himself that it was also partly an excuse for his escape. He just didn't want to get too attached to other people anymore. He had sworn that to himself. The little boy inside him just shouldn't get hurt anymore, and for years of peace after his time with Roy, was this danger more present than ever.
And Jason also sensed that it wouldn't be long before Bruce found them. Tim was right. It's better if they got along with Bruce to look for a solution together and as the Outlaw already said, he would be gone as soon as it came to that. Timmy had a knack for settling disputes, which was probably one reason why so many friends rallied around him. He could certainly mediate between Bruce and Damian if it came to a clash. And in case it really came down getting hard, Jason would intervene as well. He didn't want to leave Tim and Damian completely alone and just keep an eye on them from a distance for a while.
The Outlaw grumbled briefly as Damian came back into his head. He's going to be so pissed when the two of them show up here again and find only Dickie. Jason should avoid meeting the little one for some time. The same was true for Tim, of course, and Jason was especially afraid of him. He had no doubt that this vindictive genius would make him his lab rat in the future. In fact, the Outlaw was more afraid of what Tim would do to him than he was of Damian. The Brat might be the Al Guhl scion, but Tim, if you really teased him, was the worst sadistic devil you could conjure up.
Jason had once accidentally sat on some new invention of his during his few visits, which he probably worked on for months. Although Jason had apologized, his name had been changed for a month from Jason Todd aka Red Hood to Jason Cock aka Fat Hood. And that meant all articles about him, be it newspaper or magazine, couldn't help but print that name because a virus allowed only that.
On top of that, there was a short film dedicated to him in which Fat Hood, a little fat version of himself with short stubby arms, shouted "Revenge, Revenge!" like the biggest loser on earth and screwed up everything he set out to do.
For weeks Jason was the laughing stock of society, the national cyber threat from the united states and to this day Roy continues to make fun of calling him Fat Hood.
Damian might be good at inflicting physical pain, but Tim could turn your whole life into one big hell. What was a little pain compared to the loss of respect. You really shouldn't have Tim as an enemy.
Jason was tightening his bulging backpack when he looked back into the living room. But contrary to his expectations, Dick was no longer busy with the rattle dentures. Jason let out a slight groan. It would have been too good to be true if he had kept his claws still for just half an hour. What was this pea-sized bird brain up to now?
Tired, the Outlaw let out a yawn as he stepped into the living room to check on Dickie. But his lightness was quickly dispelled when he saw what Dick was up to in the adjoining kitchen. Of all the things he could find, it was this one thing that Timmy loved so much and would give himself one hell of a time. Initially in shock, Jason watched as the bird shredded various plastic bags to get to their contents. And it was, of all things, nothing less than Timmy's generous supply of coffee beans, which he knew belonged to the category of zombie coffee. The caffeine content in these little beans, which the turkey was snacking away like normal popcorn, could even bring the dead back to life!
Jason left everything and ran over to the turkey. Why couldn't this senile idiot just not mess up for 30 minutes!
Tail wagging, Dick was delighted at the Outlaw's sudden attention as he rushed toward him. But that initial joy quickly turned to astonishment as Jason put him in a headlock and pushed hand around in Dicks face to get those beans out of him:
"You stupid pea brain! Spit those out right now! I am so not willing having to look after you when you're going off like a suppository over these happy beans! Can't you do what I want you to do just for once?!"
Jason tried to somehow squeeze this pile of pick-me-up´s out of the bigger guy. But Dick, of course, misunderstood this gesture as an invitation to a game, and so he wriggled out of the Outlaw's grip. The half-bird put distance between them, but not without letting another coffee bag go with it and Jason landed not exactly gently on his butt during this process. Annoyed, he growled at the sight of Dick, who provocatively tore the bag and began to plunder the contents, while waiting and wagging his tail, he stared at Jason in anticipation.
But the latter was not at all enthusiastic.
This stupid half-bird was only doing this to get attention. But well, if he wanted his anger so badly...
Grumbling, Jason got up and went to the adjacent storage room to get something out of his newly stolen backpack. Clacking, the Outlaw unlocked his two beloved guns before speaking irritably:
"I should have done this a lot sooner."
Dick, meanwhile, waggled violently with excitement and a mouthful of beans.
Let the game begin...
Tim and Damian were in the process of questioning the individual circus members about Dick together with Mr. Haly. They had already combed through all the documents on the Graysons in the director's mobile home and only found out that there was another brother on his father's side. So an uncle Dick had had. Richard or also Rick Grayson. However he also had died together with his wife Klara and their son John Grayson many years ago in a deadly traffic accident. *3
It seemed almost as if a curse lay on the Grayson family.
The brothers must have had a close relationship, considering the names of their sons.
But since that branch of the family was also dead, that information didn't really get them anywhere. However, there were quite a few photos from Dick's time in the circus. Tim was surprised that they were not also represented in the taller one's photo collection. After all, Dick cared a lot about his past and where he came from. Probably his time as Robin and later as Nightwing, didn't let him get them.
It's quite a shame, Tim thought. But that was what each of them had chosen. Putting their own lives on the backburner to save the lives of others. And Tim was tired of seeing his friends and family get hurt, or even fall, for that reason.
Suddenly, he felt the concerned gaze of Mr. Haly resting on him, and Tim snapped out of his thoughts when the Old Man asked:
"Are you all right Timmy? You seem depressed."
Slightly puzzled, the teenager looked into Mr. Haly's eyes and also felt the piercing annoyed look of Damian at his back. Tim quickly sorted out his thoughts and then said somewhat mischievously:
"Oh, I apologize. I was lost in thought. This whole thing is just stirring me up a bit."
Understanding, Haly put a hand on his slender shoulder:
"You don't need to explain yourself. It's natural for you to be concerned, and I'm glad to see how much Dick means to you."
The words did elicit a smile from the teenager now.
Suddenly, one of the employees called out to the old director from farther away, whereupon he still said to them:
"Well, if you'll excuse me, duty calls. You are welcome to continue looking around, and if you think of any questions, you can just come to me."
With that, Mr. Haly bid them farewell and the brief moment of compassion was also quickly weighted by Damian. When the principal was gone, the boy just hissed angrily:
"-tt-, Get a hold of yourself Drake! You're endangering the mission with your sentimentalism."
But he only got a simple answer while Tim continued to look after the director: "That's something you don't understand Damian. Believe it or not, feelings make you stronger. They are the reason why we rise above ourselves. So there's nothing wrong with letting them in. We have a right to care about our loved ones, too."
"It's unprofessional and doesn't belong on a battlefield. It makes you weak."
"That may be partly true, but no training in the world can teach you what you are capable of when you make your inner self a weapon. The real battle is always in the mind, not on the battlefield. You can train all you want Damian, but you won't really rise above until you realize that."
With that, Tim simply moved on to continue their Investigation. But for Damian, the conversation didn't end there and so the boy caught up with him:
"That's bullshit Drake. You should know as well as I do that emotions have no place in our profession. They unsettle team members as well as civilians and limit your thoughts. Concentration is lost, the nerves follow, the mission fails. It's as simple as that."
"Oh, so it's also what you thought when Dick was dragged into hell back then?"
Damian faltered as Tim continued:
"Is that really what you were thinking at that moment? Because I don't believe you."
In Damian's mind, his last images of Dick a year ago spread like viscous tar. The moment when the smiling face told him it was okay and then disappeared into the portal. How they fought to bring him back and how it hurt to lose a real loved one for the first time in his life.
Even someone like him couldn't always be the mask.
"Or when Dick was stammering away in the audios, desperately trying to maintain the illusion of our closeness. Didn't you care?"
The boy perked up, "Wait, how did you..."
"I have every reason to distrust you Damian, so I have seized your data. Also for Dick's sake. You may only be interested in blood, but he's my brother. And as such, I'll do anything to help him."
Damian gritted his teeth. Drake, that bastard, had seriously hacked into his database: "You're on very thin ice, Drake."
But he was not impressed by this:
"That may be, but I don't care about your kindergarten behavior anymore. I don't trust you and you don't trust me either. That's what we are at the moment, unfortunately. I just don't feel like it anymore Damian. The last year has been enough for me and I just want my brother back now. He's suffered enough."
The smaller one only growled in response:
"Trust is something you have to earn."
Tim had finally had enough. He sped around and snapped at this brat:
"Trust has to be earned?! I offered you my trust at our first meeting and you trampled it underfoot, if you can still remember that! Because I remember it very well!"
Tim looked angrily at the green surprised eyes before him. However, he quickly reminded himself to calm down and took one deep breath while Damian eyed him suspiciously. He knew that one of them would have to give in if this was going to work in the long turn, and that it certainly wouldn't be Damian who did it first. So now, with newfound self-control, the computer genius continued calmly:
"Listen. I do want us to be able to trust each other, but you're really not making it easy for me. I'm the last one to say no to another ally. Even more so when it's family. And I...I really want to be your brother Damian, but this kind of thing doesn't work one-sided. So until you have decided with yourself whether I am a friend or an enemy to you, I too will remain suspicious for the time being. So it is up to you whether you accept this or not. Even though I myself would consider it a great pity if you don't."
Tim saw Damian hiss briefly and then turn his head away in annoyance.
It was obvious he wasn't going to take that offer:
"You know my point of view now and feel free to think about it. I am ready to make peace at any time. Right now I only trust Dick and he saw something in you. There's a reason he made you his Robin and not me. I accept you for his sake, but trust, as I said, doesn't fall under that. I think you feel the same way."
With that, Tim turned around and just kept walking without waiting for a response from Damian. The latter only hissed, but also thought about it for a moment. However, it didn't come to any major train of thought, as Tim thought of something else:
"Oh, and to come back to it. The fact that you're here with me now to gather info on Dick and also rebelled against Bruce for him is proof enough that you can no longer suppress your feelings. The old Damian wouldn't have done that. And if I may give you some advice, use them and keep growing on them before they are in deep conflict with your rationality and break you down with confusion. This..."
Tim pointed his finger at his head before moving on to his chest, "...and that, should work together in harmony and not against each other."
Damian was initially surprised at these words, as he was no stranger to this. Especially when Dick was declared presumed dead, he had had trouble understanding what was going on inside himself. Why his head wanted to, but his heart ached and tugged at him like a chain he couldn't get rid of. Mostly he had tried to shut it out to give it as little space as possible. It surprised Damian that just from the oh so great Drake these words came.
When Damian made no move to continue, Tim turned again, "You coming?"
The shorter boy startled and then joined him thoughtfully.
The sun was already setting in the sky after they spent quite a while asking various circus employees about Dick. But the results were often the same. Most of the people who had known Dick already employed elsewhere or retired. It was like Mr. Haly said. The profession of an artist was unfortunately not one for life. At some point the body just couldn't anymore, or the desire for a normal family life grows.
Probably that was also a reason why circuses became less and less. Only a few were able to survive, and those that did were criticized for the way they kept their animals. Tim knew that Mr. Haly created the best possible stay for his animals, but it would just never come close to a spacious quiet meadow.
Eighteen years was a long time and changed a lot. And it wore Tim down.
He had hoped to find some help for Dick here, but it seemed that was just wishful thinking. Maybe at least the photos would help.
Tim let out a strained sigh and then looked at Damian out of the corner of his eye. The only thing they had done all this time was to keep the silence between them.
In fact, Tim had the impression that the little boy really changed more than he had first thought. It´s been a very long time since they last saw each other, since he himself spent his time mostly in Bludhaven.
Damian seemed closer and his arrogance came out much less often. It may be that this was all due to the fact that they had to help Dick together. But still, even Jason had confirmed that. Maybe he should take this opportunity to try a little harder with this angry cat. Tim was just tired of the constant arguing. It was wasted time, and like he said, he actually wanted to get along with him. He found it very pleasant when they had looked at Dick's picture book together quite harmoniously yesterday. There was no derogatory gesture on Damian's part towards him and it was probably the first time it was like that.
Tim just decided to start a conversation:
"Now that I think about it, since when did you actually start calling Jason by his first name? That's a unusual for you."
But Damian just snarled:
"That's none of your business Drake."
"I'm just curious. You don´t need to answer if you don´t want to. I just wanted to break this strange silence a bit, but we can also continue to be silent if that's what you want. Or you can just give a topic."
"Have you gone among the gossips now Drake?"
"Simple interest Damian. How about Jason, for example? What have you guys been up to until now?"
"Pass."
"And what have you actually been up to the last year? After all, we've hardly seen each other."
"Pass."
"Bruce?"
"Pass."
"Dick?"
Damian just rolled his eyes. He didn't want to reveal anything about himself to Drake. He let his eyes wander to the nearby horse stables, then narrowed his brows skeptically. They were scraping their hooves alarmed across the ground, and Damian shared his observation with Tim:
"The animals seem restless. Something is startling them."
Tim followed his gaze and now also saw the wildly snorting and neighing steeds:
"Maybe because there hasn´t run a show today and they want to move."
It still struck Damian as odd, but he ignored it for now. Instead, he did think of a topic of conversation and so he asked Drake:
"Jason said you wanted to quit fighting crime. Why?"
"Oh, he told you that? Then apparently I'm not the only gossip. Well, actually, the reason is simple. I..."
Suddenly Tim faltered and Damian looked up at him questioningly. This computer freak's eyes opened up and a shocked "Oh no..." left his lips. The boy followed the taller one's gaze and he didn't like what he saw now either.
Hectically at the edge of the circus grounds, a certain outlaw ran from tent to tent and seemed to be looking for something. It didn´t need mastermind to determine who it was and both Damian and Tim slapped their hands over their faces accompanied by one:
"That idiot."
Jason, meanwhile, finally managed to grab the invisible Dick by his tail as he was about to disappear under one of the circus tents. This turkey was really unbelievable! First he disassembles everything in his caffeine intoxication and then he just takes off over the balcony!
"Oh you I swear when we get back home I'm going to tack your fucking wings and feet together and pluck out every one of your stupid feathers personally like the roast chicken you are.
Jason's grip tightened around the tail of the excited half-bird, which had already half disappeared under the tent, and he braced himself with all his might:
"You son of a bitch! Now get out of there so we can go home before..."
"Jason, what are you doing here!"
The Outlaw looked behind himself, where Tim and Damian just glared at him in annoyens. But before he could even justify himself in any way, his invisible problem's attention turned the opposite direction and Jason was knocked to the ground by the sudden change of course, as were Tim and Damian shortly thereafter.
Dick was visibly excited to see them and literally crushed them with his reunion joy as his body slowly materealized.
Under compressed lungs Damian moaned, "Damn Jason, what is Richard doing here!"
Tim joined in, "You were supposed to watch over him!"
The Outlaw rose and quickly ran over to them so he could push Dick off the two, which wasn't so easy with this superhuman strength:
"Now don't start bitching again. Just help me push him away."
Finally they managed to free themselves from the feathered burr. But even back on their feet, it didn't stop Dick from tugging at them demandingly and pacing up and down jitterily.
"Damn it Jason, what have you screwed up now!" came sourly from Damian, but the Outlaw saw the whole thing somewhat differently. He gesticulated wildly while argue at the two of them:
"Me?! You probably mean him! This idiot always causes all the shit here! He stole your coffee and then of course went crazy. Also, who the hell has 7 bags of hardcore caffeine coffee at home?! And once you look away for just a second, this damn turkey made half of this stuff disappear in his belly as if it was some kind of a magic trick! And before I knew it, he started to tear the place apart, until this pea-brain had the glorious idea to look for you two. So I grabbed your bike and spent the last fucking hour chasing after this retard to catch him and finally cook him! So don't ask me anymore what I fucked up, but rather HIM!"
Tim sighed strained and answered just annoyed: "Great. I guess he has torn my place apart now, too," while Damian mentally made a note to himself not to make Todd Richard's babysitter in the future. The elementary school dropout definitely had no talent for it.
"Doesn't matter right now. We've got to get Dick out of here fast before someone sees him. Do you happen to have any cigarettes on you?" Tim then asked the upset Outlaw, but he only replied:
"God, don't ask me about them. They're scattered and torn all over your apartment. I'm glad he at least had the decency to leave the house invisibly and that he still had your tracker on. I don't even know how he found you in the first place! It's not like Bludhaven has the size of a village!"
"As I said, we can worry about that later. We have to get him out of here right away before anyone sees him!"
They now worked together trying to get their problem child off the grounds and to Dina. Damian lured him in the right direction from the front and Jason and Tim directed him right and left. This actually worked pretty well. At least for the first 30m. Then Dick suddenly stopped and stuck his head up in the air. His nostrils flared while he sniffed wildly and stared at the tent where some of the animals were kept. And Jason right in between.
The outlaw saw the disaster coming before it even happened and said, "Oh fuck, don´t you dare..."
The next moment Dick knocked him down as he was heading straight for the tent, presumably to open a new butcher shop, and each of them thought to themselves that this would never end well.
Damian and Tim were already running after him and Jason got up with the words: "Fuck, Fuck, FUCK!
Dick had already disappeared under the tent and the three Robins could hear how the animals inside roared loudly in view of the dangerous predator.
If he now opens the all you can eat buffet here, that's it with their little secret. One could not simply cover up such a thing, if literally all the own coworkers lie around everywhere totally eaten up!
Tim and Damian already rushed into the tent and saw only the scared animals, but not Dick. Out of affect, they first tried to calm down the animals present, which was more or less successful, until finally Jason joined them and asked sourly:
"Where is that damn chicken nugget! I'll kill him!"
"Shh...keep your voice down! You'll only scare the horses and camels even more, idiot!" Admonished Damian and the Outlaw just growled before going off in search of Dick.
Where was that turkey hiding now? Jason got truly tired of his stupid running away. When this was over, he was definitely going to have a cigarette and a drink. And that without any fowl around!
The outlaw just turned around the next makeshift stall when he spotted the fast food on two legs a few feet in front of him.
Angrily, he shouted, "Hey, bird brain! End of the fun tour! You fucking turd will come with me right now, or Bruce won't be the only one to put you in a cage! I've definitely had it with your strutting around now! I'm going to put you..."
Jason, in his anger, was about to go straight over to Dick, but Tim held him back by the arm and said:
"Wait a minute Jason. Look!"
Dick scraped his hand against one of the large boxes and clacking sounds left his throat. Damian joined the other two now, too, and saw a long trunk reach over the door and brush the winged one through his crested feathers. Astonished, he asked:
"Is that...an elephant?"
Dick nestled against the familiar body part and literally sought to touch this pachyderm. He cooed heavily and wagged his tail excitedly as now the elephant's head also reached over the small wooden gate to convey more of the caring gestures. The pachyderm roared and seemed visibly pleased to be there as they cuddled and snuggled together like this.
"What's he doing?" asked Jason, who, like Damian, had question marks literally written all over his face, before Tim explained, whooping with excitement:
"I can't believe she's still here. I thought she'd retired a long time ago."
Questioningly, Damian raised a brow, "Who?"
"Well, Zitka! I told you guys about her yesterday. That must be her!"
One brow was joined by the other:
"That elephant Richard spent his circus days with?"
"Exactly! I actually thought she wouldn't even be here anymore because of her age."
Jason, meanwhile, noticed something else as he watched the scenery with his arms folded and his interest diminished:
"Say...is the turkey crying?"
Indeed, the other two now saw individual tears beginning to run down the happy face, and the pachyderm also seemed to shed one or two at the reunion.
Tim drew his own conjecture from this:
"I...I think he remembers her."
Damian's eyes snapped open, "So Richard's memories are coming back!"
"It seems so. At least to some extent."
Dick continued to coo and snuggle up to his beloved pachyderm and Tim was the first to catch up with them:
"Well old girl? I bet you don't remember me, do you?"
Zitka boomed, as if to say that she recognized Tim.
An elephant's memory wasn't famous for nothing.
Damian joined him, while Jason leaned against one of the wooden pillars and continued to watch from a distance. A small information board hung on the door of Zitka's box. Probably so that visitors could build up a closer relationship with the animals when they visited the area like a zoo during the breaks of a show. Tim began by reading it out loud curiously:
"Zitka, 46 years old, the oldest animal member of Haly's Circus and is due to her old age now only a by-stand animal."
There was another small wooden plaque attached to the bottom part, which Tim now read out as well:
"Species appropriate final home wanted! ...Seems like she'll be leaving the circus soon, too."
He stroked the old lady's large trunk a bit snivelling as she continued to wiggle through Dick's feathers. Although Tim only knew the pachyderm from his one week of internship, he had grown very fond of her even back then.
Damian noticed something and noted the fact right away:
"She's the only elephant in this circus, isn't she?"
"I think Mr. Haly is separating himself from most of the animals because people don't want to see them in circuses anymore due to the husbandry conditions and the laws are allowing less and less. The last time I was here, Zitka was just running around free outside. But I guess that also isn´t allowed anymore. She's probably still here because Haly is very attached to her," Tim explained, and Damian looked closely at the animal.
The elephant did not seem unhappy, but he could understand very well why she had to go.
Suddenly, the trunk wandered over to Damian to sniff him closely. Zitka quickly realized that he, too, belonged to her old friend, since Dick's scent clung to him like glue, and then curiously wrapped herself around his slender body. He allowed this as a matter of course and it amazed Damian how soft her trunk was, given the pachyderm's large stature.
While the four of them continued to occupy themselves in this way, Jason kept looking outside from his position. After all, it wouldn't take long before someone will come to check on the upset animals, and when the first employee was already in sight, he interrupted the joyous reunion:
"Tim, Damian, we have to go. Someone's coming."
Understanding, the two nodded and they pulled the slightly whimpering Dick away, who was reluctant to part with his old friend. But the three left him no other choice.
So Zitka trumpeted goodbye to them once more, while the Robins left the tent on the other side.
It was already dark when they finally arrived back at Tim's apartment and Jason wasn't even through the door yet, when he already sought out the alcohol shelf, saying:
"Now you can look after that nuisance. I first of all I need some liquor.
Both Damian and Tim looked at him rolling their eyes, before especially Tim got a headache when he entered his apartment.
His stuff was lying around everywhere. Partly still intact, partly destroyed. The walls scratched by Dick, feathers of the torn couch cushions here and there covering the floor like snow and...were those bullet holes in his murals?
He stared angry at Jason, who was now taking one of his good spirits as well. How had Bruce actually decided to take in such a guy back then? Jason slipped even further up his imaginary list of people with whom Tim would not work if possible.
Damian, meanwhile, spotted a stuffed pupped lying around in the middle of the living room that he knew very well. He went over and picked up the old memento from the dirty floor. It was the Robin doll that Richard had taken from the amusement park back in the day. But it had not quite survived the ordeal. The right arm was adorned with a cut from which white absorbent cotton oozed out.
"Man, he didn't even stop at that." Tim approached him and examined the cloth figure:
"What a shame. And it was right on top of the shelf. But the way Dick is now, even the safest place seems to be no obstacle for him."
Tim reached out for it, "I'll sew it up and then it'll go back where it belongs."
But just as Damian was about to hand him the doll for repair, a certain feathered tail pilfered the piece from his hand.
Provocatively, Dick jumped back and playfully triumphantly showed the item to the three boys.
Jason was just sitting down on the sofa to get comfortable when he commented:
"You can forget about that now. Once the turkey steals something, you won't get it back until he loses interest in it."
Tim sighed heavily:
"Great. But don't you dare break it any more, Dick. Otherwise you'll be annoyed with yourself later. Well...then I'll get to work cleaning up the mess at least a little bit. You could help out, Jason. After all, you're partly to blame!"
The Outlaw didn't even think about it. He really didn't want to do anything for the rest of today and so he tipped the Good Rum provocatively down his throat, while he just gave Tim the finger as an answer.
For Tim, the whole thing just screamed to revive Fat Hood.
Jason looked up from the couch while staring at Damian in thought. Finally an idea came to him and so he asked the computer genius among them a question:
"Speaking of Robin... say Timmy, do you still have your first Robin costume?"
Both Tim and Damian looked skeptically at him.
"It's hanging in the storage closet. But why do you ask?"
"Well, our nestling here needs a proper uniform in case some incident like the buff demon happens again. He can hardly move in his normal clothes. You've been quite slender. Damian should fit into your old costume, shouldn't he?"
Tim thoughtfully put a finger to his chin and stared, as did Jason, at the smallest of them, who didn't like the direction in which this was going.
"Hmm...it actually should fit him. After all, I was the same age as him when I became Robin and got it. I'll see what it´s over all condition is."
Tim went into the storeroom to get the costume, while Damian just looked at Jason, aghast:
"You've got to be kidding me!"
"Hard times Damian. You have to live with what you get. And you are more useful if you can move around properly and have all your gadgets with you," Jason said in conclusion, and Damian couldn't protest as quickly as these two pushed the costume into his arms and him into the bedroom to change.
The boy, still rather confused at first, then grumbled angrily to himself and refused to put on the uniform. They were out of their minds after all!
But in view of the fact that Jason and Drake would not let him out until he did, after a good hour of grumbling while sitting on the edge of the bed, he finally resigned himself to his fate.
Skeptically, he looked at the old rag next to him on the bed. It really wasn't Damian's thing design-wise. That skin-tight women's bathing suit over the rest was super embarrassing!
He couldn't believe he was actually putting this thing on now!
To Damian's shock, this rag also fit quite well, but it definitely took a lot of getting used to it between his legs.
However, when he wanted to reach for the mask, his hand faltered.
No...that wasn't the right one.
He went to his few belongings right next to the closet on the wall and pulled out the mask it was supposed to be for him.
Green, cracked, old, and with only a small remnant of its former shine.
Jason's mask.
He put it on and then looked at himself briefly in the mirror.
It was strange to see himself like this. With that cracked leather on his face, the old-fashioned uniform on his body.
Adorned with the feathers of the other Robins.
It made Damian think briefly about his journey so far. How he had grown accustomed to the others by now and was beginning to accept them. How he first broke away from Bruce and the Robin and now stood here in a costume combining Jason's and Tim's Robin. If Dick were in his right mind, he certainly would have enjoyed seeing him like this. After all, it was his wish that they all had a closer relationship and Damian couldn't deny that a bond was indeed building between them. It was still thin, just a yarn. But the root had already been spun.
Damian shook himself free from his thoughts. He shouldn't put too much into it. It was Dick's thing to think that way, but not his after all.
The boy discarded his ideas and left the room where Tim and Jason were already waiting for him.
They looked closely at the youngest, who acknowledged the situation by throwing daggers at them with his eyes and crossed arms.
But they ignored it and Tim said with a smile:
"Wow, I really didn't think it would fit so good. Apparently I was pretty small back then too."
Damian hissed and gave Drake a warning look at the mention of his height. Once he was older, he will spit on their heads.
Jason, on the other hand, got up from the couch and took another big sip from the his bottle as he stepped over to Damian. Skeptically the smaller one looked up at him, while the Outlaw at first only eyed him. Finally, a grin crept onto his lips and he tapped Damian provocatively on the temple:
"Looks good together with the old mask, doesn't it?"
Grumbling, Damian slapped his hand away and took the half-empty bottle from the grinning man before walking past him, still snidely saying:
"Stop drinking Todd before your last brain cells go down the drain too."
Jason just kept grinning and asked:
"Are you worried about me squirt?"
In response, Damian stood by the kitchen sink with the bottle and dumped the rest of it´s contents into the sink, causing Tim to groan a little in pain:
"There goes my good 30 years rum."
Dick, meanwhile, regarded Damian intently, always alternating between him and the little Robin doll he'd been playing with. He realized how alike they looked, which made the feathered tail wag back and forth excitedly.
"D...Dar-...Dam...i...Dami!"
The boys' eyes snapped open abruptly and automatically flew to the half-bird as, against all expectations, they heard Dick's voice for the first time in over a year.
"Did the turkey just...speak?!" Jason said, aghast, but the other two were momentarily asking themselves the same question. To confirm, Dick held up the little doll with his tail and then warbled happily:
"D-Dami...Dami, Dami, Dami..."
They fell into a state of shock. Dick began to talk!
The Outlaw immediately inferred the next question:
"Tell me Tim...does he remember?"
Examining, Damian stepped closer and squatted in front of him. He couldn't deny that hope just overtook him:
"Richard...do you remember me?"
The shorter man looked expectantly into the cheerful eyes of his counterpart, who then continued to say excitedly:
"Dami, Dami, Dami..."
Tim hung his head in disappointment, "He doesn't remember. It's just because he managed to say something. Probably this communicative aspect also stems from the Kryptonian blood or he just tried it out of curiosity. He's acting like a three-year-old who just learned his first word."
With that, the harsh dampener spread throughout the entire room. So this was not yet the longed-for redemption of their hellish ride.
But Tim also saw the good aspect in it:
"Basically, this is not so bad. After all, we can now teach him to speak a little bit so it makes our communication to him easier."
The computer genius now found himself at Damian's side, pointing his hand at his chest:
"Hey Dick, can you say Tim too? T-I-M."
Dick seemed to consider, but actually understood what he wanted him to say:
"D...Da...Di...m...Dim, Dim!"
Tim began to grin, "Yeah, the T is a little difficult, right?"
He was now pointing his finger at the Outlaw, who already knew that this toddler would never get his difficult name right at all.
"How about Jason. J-A-S-O-N."
Dick looked at Tim, confused at first, at this difficult task, and then on to Jason. But still he tried:
"E...eh...G...J...Jar...Jae...Jane?"
Tim grunted out as he could barely suppress his laughter and Damian couldn't help but add in amusement as well:
"We should teach him to call that jerk Roy Tarzan.", Damian said and Tim couldn't help but laugh out loud at the image that had settled inside his head at these words. Dick didn't understand at all what was going on here.
Jason grumbled in annoyance, "Yeah well, you two go ahead and laugh. You could have at least started with Jay instead of going all heavy caliber."
"Ok, Ok...Dick, can you say Jay?"
"Jane."
"J-A-Y."
"Jane."
"Well, I've tried everything. I guess Jane will have to stay."
Grumbling, Jason retreated back to his couch and closed his eyes while Tim and Damian continued to make fun of him. He just wasn't in the mood to care much anymore. Let their Kama do it for him. There was an aftermath for everything.
The next hour was spent with Tim resuming the cleanup, Damian trying to teach Dick more, and Jason sleeping like a lazy old fart on the couch. Tim left him alone for the time being, since it was impossible to discuss anything with this grouchy sourpuss anyway.
The computer genius had just collected everything from the floor, when he finally wanted to vacuum through and went into the adjoining storage room to get the vacuum cleaner. For the holes in the wall, he had to go to the hardware store first anyway.
Tim was just entering the small room when he stumbled over something. Why was his backpack standing here in the middle of the way? And full packed?
Curious, he opened it and initial surprise quickly turned into anger, as it was not difficult for him to count one and one together.
"Jason, could you come over here please?" He called into the living room and the Outlaw, startled up on his dozy state, knew exactly what was going on. Fuck, how could he have forgotten!
Grumbling, Jason heaved himself off the couch and under the curious gaze of Dick and Damian, walked into the adjoining room.
His back tuned to his side and continuing looking at the bag, Tim growled:
"Close the door."
The Outlaw knew full well that he didn't want to have this out in front of the other two and closed the door accordingly, bringing the storm to life:
"You were going to run away again, weren't you?"
Jason just rolled his eyes in annoyance:
"Someone has to gather information about this other demon Tim."
"And you can't discuss that beforehand or what? Try fooling someone else, Jason! You're just using this as an excuse to get the hell out of dodge again! I thought you would have been past this by now!"
Jason crossed his arms and looked at Tim, who was scowling at him accusingly.
He thought, but quickly came to a decision:
"I'm really not in the mood anymore."
Jason approached Tim and snatched the backpack out of his hand:
"I don't care what you think about it. I'm just doing what I do best and that's not being here and babysitting you guys. That's going underground to gather information's."
He still stared his opposite with an hard expression to show him how serious he was. But Jason couldn't deny that Tim's hurt eyes gave the Outlaw a little sting.
With that, Jason turned and stepped out of the room. He really had to end this now before he couldn't anymore.
In the living room, Damian could only watch in confusion as Jason vigorously yanked open the door and then, without another word, left the apartment with a backpack.
Then, as Tim also stepped angrily out of the storage room, the boy asked:
"Where's Jason going?"
Pissed off, the teen threw his hands in the air:
"Well, what do you think? He´s running run away! That stupid coward is taking off again, leaving us alone with Dick! Arg...I could punch him so hard in the face right now! That fucking honorless airhead of a flat-footed Olm!"
Damian looked at him, stunned, before his gaze moved on to the front door, where said one had just disappeared.
He couldn't be serious. This really couldn't be Jason's seriousness! Why did he abandon them just now?
Even though the boy didn't really want to, bitter disappointment spread through him. He couldn't help but be grieved about it, even though he was always so insistent that something like this couldn't hurt him.
The initial confusion quickly changed to a face contorted with anger as the shorter man jumped up angrily:
"To that street rat I will..."
Before he could even get to continue speaking and pursue his actual intention of running after Jason and washing his head, piercing white light suddenly filled the room and loud rushing jets outside the window facade made Dick yelp painfully.
He still hadn't gotten used to very bright light, so he yelped irritably before seeking shelter in the bedroom.
Damian and Tim each held a hand over their eyes and the latter quickly combined who it was:
"Oh just Great! The Wingjet. That's Bruce!"
Notes:
*1 If someone didn´t know, Connor was created by Luthor using his and Clark's DNA. So he's technically their son.
*2 The internship thing comes from the old Batman Animated Series. They had a case at Haly's Circus and Tim wanted to do an internship there. However, he mainly had to shovel crap and didn't like it that much.
*3 Dick's uncle Rick and his family are canon (depending on the universe). In Young Justice they also died in the trapeze accident. In my story it was a car accident.