Whew. It's been a long and busy few weeks of packing, moving, packing again, and so much travel. But I'm back in America and finally settled again, so with any luck I'll be able to finish this out without any more delays in posting.
Quick question for you all. We'll have two obligatory shopping chapters, starting with this one, with a focus on developing relationship dynamics. Then I can either skim through a two-week transition period for little Harry and Jason before ending (this part of) the story, or give you the detailed account, which would be an extra two or three chapters with lots of fluff and some hurt/comfort from all sides before a hopeful ending. Both are already written, so what do you want? Answer in a review! But whichever you choose, I'm far from done with these characters!
Chapter 15: Overwhelmed
Their first stop, as agreed, was Crime Alley. Once again, Harry and Jason insisted Bruce wait for them, with Dick accompanying them as insurance.
Bruce was still reluctant, but he allowed it.
Jason had directed him to park a few blocks away, so they had a bit of a walk ahead of them. Dick stayed close behind them, while Harry determinedly led the way, for once not holding Jason's hand. When they were three buildings away, Jason tried to make Dick stay back.
"Nu-uh, kiddos. I'm coming all the way. You might have been fine on your own before, but things are different now."
"Fine," Jason huffed. "But you ain't comin' inside."
"I can agree to that."
Jason nodded firmly, then gestured for Harry to lead them the rest of the way. When they reached the back entrance, Harry glanced over his shoulder before wrenching the door open and heading inside, Jason and Dick on his heels. They headed up three flights of stairs, and Harry marveled that it wasn't as taxing as it usually was. Apparently two full meals really helped.
When they reached the door to the apartment, Jason directed Dick to stand against the wall while Harry picked the lock with the two bent paperclips they kept stashed behind the loose door frame. Once it clicked, both boys sent a warning look over their shoulder before slipping inside and shutting the door.
Immediately Harry noticed how strange it felt to be back here. It…it didn't feel like coming home anymore. It felt like visiting an old hiding spot.
Jason looked faintly uncomfortable, too. He led the way over to the laundry room door and pulled it open.
The room was just as they'd left it. Harry couldn't help but smile a little at the familiarity of it all. Jason tossed him his tattered backpack, and Harry picked up his worn and faded green hoodie and stuffed it into the bottom. He glanced over to make sure Jason picked up his red one, too. And the three tattered novels on the shelf. Then Harry carefully picked up the bracelet Jason had given him. It didn't fit on his wrist any better now than it had a month ago, so Harry tucked it inside his backpack, too. Then he hesitated and looked around.
Did…did he really not care about the rest of it? The tattered winter coat next to the blanket nest? The glass jar that used to be a candle, now half-full of change? The thick, warm fleece throw blanket they had slept under when Jason was sick that now looked so thin and ragged?
Harry's lip quivered. Had they really survived with so little? Had he been so used to having nothing that a few blankets and a shelf lined with food felt like paradise?
"We're really not coming back?" Harry whispered softly.
Jason put an arm around him. "It looks like it, little hawk."
Harry sniffed and leaned into Jason for a moment. Then he squared his shoulders and adjusted his backpack.
"Yeah. Let's go." Jason took Harry's hand, and this time Harry let him. They shut the laundry room door, then left the apartment itself. Harry hesitated, then locked it back up. It felt wrong to leave the door open, even if they weren't coming back.
As they left, with Dick silently following them, Harry slipped his free hand into his pocket, feeling first the pocket knife he always made sure to have, and then closed his hand around the tiny hawk pin that had gone with him everywhere no matter what. He held on tightly enough that its edges bit into his palm, but Harry needed the grounding pressure, because he was saying goodbye to his entire life. Even if it was, hopefully, for something better.
None of them spoke on the way back to the car. Dick's stare was heavy on their backs, but every time they glanced at him, he smiled.
They found Bruce leaning against the hood of the car, observing the area. He straightened as they approached.
"Get everything?"
Harry nodded silently, and so did Jason. Bruce nodded and opened the back door. Harry and Jason slid inside while Dick took the front passenger seat. They seemed to have an entire conversation with their eyes before Bruce finally turned, started the car, and pulled away.
The car ride was quiet, as uncertainty and something like longing clung to the two boys in the back seat. The uncertainty turned into nerves tempered with a flicker of excitement as Bruce pulled into the parking lot outside a huge shopping center. Harry stared wide-eyed at the huge stores surrounding them. He'd never seen such a huge shopping center before.
Jason, in contrast, tightened his hand around Harry's in apprehension.
"Here we are," Bruce announced as he parked the car.
"Everyone out!" Dick said brightly as he opened the back door with a flourish.
Harry was first, followed by a reluctant Jason. He immediately grabbed Harry's hand again. Harry was pretty sure it was for Jason's benefit this time. And he was reminded, again, that Jason was still a kid, too.
And Harry remembered that letting Jason take care of him made him feel better when he was scared or unsure. He'd said it gave him something else to focus on.
So Harry skipped up next to Jason and smiled brightly. "I've never had clothes of my own before," he said, making his eyes wide with wonder. "Will you help me pick some out?"
Dick and Bruce both made a strangled choking noise.
Jason started, then smiled faintly. "Yeah, little hawk. I'll help you."
Bruce cleared his throat. "Let's get going, then." He gestured for them to lead the way.
Taking a careful, deep breath, Harry kept his excited smile in place and lightly tugged Jason along. Dick and Bruce followed right behind them.
As they entered one of the larger department stores and Bruce pulled out a cart, he said, "Feel free to get anything you want. Cost doesn't matter."
Harry's breath caught slightly. As he looked around the huge store, with racks and racks of clothes, shelves stuffed with toys and décor and shoes and so many possibilities, choices he had never had before, Harry suddenly felt dizzy and overwhelmed. No longer acting, Harry drew closer to Jason, closing both his hands around his big brother's.
Jason squeezed his hand back, though he might have been shaking.
"Let's start simple," Dick cut in gently. "The kids' section is over here, and we can look at shirts first."
Harry exhaled shakily and nodded. With a smile, Dick led the way to the kids' section. There was still a lot, and the colors were very bright, but it felt just a little less overwhelming.
Harry still hesitated before stepping out of the aisle and in among the racks, though.
"Go on. See what you like."
With another hesitant nod, Harry stepped toward the nearest rack of shirts. Jason was just behind him and helped push the hangers to show Harry the designs.
They were all blurry and too colorful. Harry shook his head and moved toward the next rack. Jason stuck with him, but he noticed that Dick and Bruce hung back, still browsing within view but giving them space.
A few racks later, as Jason was pushing the hangers back, Harry suddenly gasped, instinctively reaching for the newly-revealed shirt.
"You like this one?"
Harry nodded. Jason flicked through the sizes, holding up one or the other against Harry's torso, then handed him the one that seemed it would fit the best.
Harry held the shirt at arm's length, staring at the design. He could recognize the blurry hawk shape, brown and grey against a dark maroon. But he couldn't make out the letters below it.
"What does it say?" Harry asked breathlessly.
Jason smiled again. "'Take to the skies.' Appropriate, don't you think, little hawk?"
Harry nodded, hugging the shirt to his chest. He'd have to be extra good, but just maybe he could get this one shirt.
Footsteps made Harry look up, startled.
It was just Dick. He smiled in greeting. "Did you find something you like?"
Harry nodded shyly and held up the shirt. Dick smiled. "Looks good. Want to see what else they've got here?"
Harry hesitated, then glanced at Jason. He needed a shirt, too, Harry decided. So he nodded.
"Great!"
With Dick's help, they scoured the whole rack of animal-themed t-shirts. There was a burnt yellow one with a lion on it that Harry kind of liked, but, conscious of the shirt already in his hand, he started to put it back. Then Jason pointed out the saying: "Courageous and Fierce."
Harry smiled a little.
"You like it?" Dick asked.
Harry nodded shyly. So Jason handed him the shirt with a secret smile.
The next one they found was burnt orange with a tiger on it that said "Fierce protector." Harry all but shoved it into Jason's arms. Then they found a dark blue one with an elephant on it that said "gentle giant."
Hesitating, Harry pulled the biggest size off the rack and held it out to Dick.
He smiled, his eyes suspiciously bright. "Aw, you think I'm a gentle giant?"
Harry nodded.
"That's really sweet, Harry. Unfortunately, even the biggest size is going to be too small for me. So…" Dick traded the big one for one in Harry's size. "You'll have to wear it for me."
Harry's eyes widened as he took the shirt.
"Right. I think three shirts is enough for now, don't you?" Dick said. "So, Jason. Why don't you find two more?"
Jason froze. Harry nodded emphatically. With a slight scowl, Jason walked over to the nearest rack with solid-colored tees, grabbed a red one and a grey one, and marched back over. He paused, then went back to the rack and grabbed a dark green one that he pointedly handed to Harry, basically scowling and ordering him with his eyes to take it.
"But—"
"I didn't say we had to stop at three. But." Dick smiled conspiratorially. "For every item of clothing Harry gets, Jason needs the same number. We have to keep it fair, after all."
Jason's eyes widened, then he scowled again. He glanced at the rack of solid t-shirts, then he crossed his arms, his scowl deepening.
Harry frowned slightly, scanning the rest of the racks. Spotting a display on the back wall, he grabbed Jason's hand and pulled him along.
The shirts on display all had words on them that Harry couldn't read, but he did recognize the picture of an open book on one of them, and he could make out the huge scrolling letters on the display wall behind it that also had textbooks and notebooks pictured. So Harry assumed the words on the shirts were book quotes, or funny sayings.
"Brat," Jason muttered affectionately, ruffling Harry's hair. Harry giggled and idly swung their hands back and forth while Jason scanned the quotes and thumbed through the racks. Finally, with a wry smile, Jason pulled a black shirt off the rack with a white phrase on it and a stylized stack of books beside the words.
"What's it say?" Harry asked eagerly.
"It says, 'don't judge a book by its cover.'"
A soft, deep chuckle rumbled behind them. They both jumped to see Bruce and Dick just a few feet away, watching them. Harry's eyes widened as he realized the laugh had been Bruce.
"I'd say that's a very appropriate choice," he said, his eyes still sparkling with mirth. "And a lesson I think we're all learning," Bruce added meaningfully with a nod at Jason.
Jason's cheeks colored lightly as he stuffed the shirt into the cart with the rest. Harry followed suit, though he was reluctant to let go of the hawk shirt.
Noticing this, Bruce smiled softly. "That's okay. You hang on to that one, okay?"
Harry nodded and held the shirt close to his chest.
"Now let's get the rest." Bruce started to push the cart forward.
Harry caught his breath. They were still getting more?
"How about we get pants while you get the boring stuff?" Dick interrupted. "Like socks." He made a face, then winked at Harry.
Bruce glanced between them, then shrugged. "All right. How about I meet you in toys in a little while? Do you want the cart?"
"Hmm. Harry, do you want to ride in the cart—I mean, do you think we'll get enough to need the cart?"
Harry's eyes widened again at the hurried suggestion. Glancing between Dick and Bruce, he shyly nodded.
"Great!" Dick saluted, then shooed Bruce away with a gesture.
Bruce chuckled again, then turned and headed for a different section.
Once he was gone, Dick crouched in front of Harry. "Now that he's gone, do you want to ride in the cart?"
Harry glanced after Bruce's retreating back, glanced at Jason, then nodded. He'd always been jealous when Aunt Petunia had let Dudley ride in the cart at the store while he had to walk.
"Okay. I'm gonna have to pick you up, though. Is that okay?"
Harry nodded.
Smiling, Dick placed his hands under Harry's arms, moving slowly to telegraph his motions, then swiftly lifted Harry high into the air so his feet cleared the top of the cart.
Harry caught his breath in a delighted gasp. Laughing, Dick set Harry inside the cart.
"You enjoyed that, didn't you?"
Harry nodded eagerly.
"Tell you what. When we get home, I can start teaching you how to fly for real. How does that sound?"
Harry's eyes widened. "Fly?" He whispered. "Like—like Robin?"
Dick ruffled his hair. "Exactly like Robin." He glanced at Jason. "I can teach you, too, if you'd like. I'd let you ride in the cart, too, but with both of you, there won't be room for clothes. So why don't you ride on the front? Put your feet on the metal bar and hold on."
Jason stared. "R-Really?"
Dick smiled widely. "Really. Hop on."
Jason did so, holding tightly to the front of the cart while Harry sat inside.
Dick then lowered his voice, grinning. "Hold on tight, and don't tell Bruce about this next part."
They both stared in awe. Dick pushed the cart out into an aisle and straightened it up. He glanced around, then he winked. He took three running steps while pushing the cart, jumped on the back, and laughed out loud as the cart lurched forward.
Jason gasped, his knuckles going white on the side of the cart. Harry caught his breath, then started giggling. He covered his mouth, but it kept bubbling up until it became full-blown laughter.
The cart rolled a good twenty or thirty feet down the aisle before slowing to a stop. A few nearby patrons gave them looks ranging from stern disapproval to amusement.
As Dick guided the cart to a stop, still chuckling, Harry had the sudden realization that he was still a kid, too. A big kid, but definitely still a kid. He wasn't even that tall, Harry thought, at least for an adult. Bruce was at least six inches taller (and twice as broad).
"What. The. Hell." Jason stumbled off the cart, his eyes wide, his face torn between horror and reluctant excitement.
Dick smirked. "Cart surfing. You've never done it before?"
They both shook their heads.
"I thought so. Fun, isn't it?"
Harry nodded eagerly, all his hesitance (about Dick, anyway) completely disappearing.
"What if B-Bruce does find out?" Jason asked harshly. "It ain't like you were quiet or subtle."
Dick shrugged. "He'll just give me a disapproving look and a lecture about being mature. If someone had gotten hurt, he might ground me for a day or two." He then gave them both a pointed look. "But he will never hit me, unless we're training. And even then he pulls his punches a lot."
Jason still looked uncertain, but he didn't question it any further.
"Anyway. Here we are at the pants. You need one pair of pants to go with each shirt you picked to start, okay? Then we can pick out pajamas and look at shoes before meeting Bruce in the toys."
"O-okay." Harry felt a little overwhelmed at the idea of pajamas and shoes after the pants. But pants first. Harry could do that.
"Let's go, then. Tell me to stop if you see something you like." Dick smiled reassuringly, then started pushing the cart slowly up and down the racks. Harry knelt upright in the cart so he could reach over the side while Jason walked alongside it. Harry tried to look, but there were so many choices.
"Why are there so many damn types of just jeans?" Jason muttered. "They're just jeans."
"Brands, mostly," Dick replied airily. "Wrangler and Levi's are the best, though. So why don't you each find a pair of Levi's?" He gestured at one of the displays with stacks of folded denim on successive shelves.
Jason grunted and scanned the shelves briefly, then frowned. "I dunno my size."
"Do you want me to get someone to measure you?" Dick asked.
"You can do that?" Jason asked.
Dick smiled slightly. "Here you can. Is that a yes?"
Jason hesitated, then nodded.
"Guard the cart, then, fierce protector," Dick teased, referencing the shirt from before.
Jason flushed and scowled while Harry giggled softly. Dick saluted, then scanned the area before jogging off. He spoke briefly to a young woman in uniform, then led the way back.
"This good lady is going to measure you," Dick said. (Said "good lady" flushed a little at the title.) "She'll need to put the tape measure around your waist, and down the inside of your leg. Is that okay?"
Jason let out a deep breath, then stepped away from the cart and stood straight, his legs about shoulder-width apart.
"I'll do my best not to touch you," the assistant said. "If you'd prefer, you can even hold the tape measure."
"'S okay," Jason murmured, his cheeks turning pink.
"Okay, then. Here we go." She pulled a thin tape measure out of one of her pockets and stretched it out, then pulled it taut around Jason's waist, just below his ribcage. "We've got 24 inches. That will be the first number on the size tags." She released the measuring tape, then pulled it straight down from the top of his thigh. "And 27 inches for the inseam. That will be the second number." She rolled up the tape. "If you prefer a looser fit, you can go up an inch in the waist. If you prefer the pants longer or shorter, you can go up or down an inch."
Jason nodded.
"Should I measure the little one, too?" The assistant asked, giving Harry a smile.
Harry frowned. "'M not that little," he grumbled. But he looked at Dick and raised his arms, silently asking to be lifted out of the cart.
Smiling widely, Dick obliged—lifting him much higher than necessary, just like before. Harry squealed in delight, then Dick set him down. Harry then stood up straight, arms out, to let the lady measure him.
"That's 21 inches for the waist…and 22 inches on the inseam." The lady rolled up the tape measure again. "Can you remember those numbers for me?"
Harry nodded.
"That would also be a size medium on the pants not marked by length. Large or extra-large for the older boy, depending on how long he prefers his jeans to be," she added. "Anything else I can help you with?"
Dick shook his head, smiling cheekily. "Unfortunately, I already know my measurements. If I ever forget, though, I'll know who to call." He winked and the girl—because she really wasn't that old—flushed pink.
"Right. Have a good day."
Jason made a face. "Did you really have to flirt with her?"
Dick shrugged helplessly. "I just can't help it."
Jason fake-gagged, then turned back to the rack. He scanned the shelves, muttering under his breath for a moment, then pulled two pairs off the shelf, a dark-wash and a black.
"Good enough?"
"This isn't for me, remember," Dick said with a soft smile. "If you like them, then definitely. If you don't, put them back and we can choose something else."
Harry nodded emphatically when Jason glanced at him. He made another face, then put the two pairs of jeans in the cart. Harry then turned his attention to the rack. After a moment, he selected a pair of light-wash and a pair of medium-wash jeans.
Dick nodded in approval as Harry put them in the cart. "Good choices. Now let's look for something more interesting than jeans." He mock-shuddered, making Harry and even Jason crack a smile.
Harry held on to the cart with one hand and Jason's hand in the other as they moved further into the pants section. They hadn't gone far, though, when Harry's eyes lit on a rack of skinny jeans. He pulled Jason over and pointed at the dark grey ones, and Jason obligingly flicked through the hangers to find Harry's size. When he found it, he handed it over. And Harry grinned in delight when Jason went back for a pair in his size.
"Very stylish," Dick complimented them. Harry flushed, grinning. Jason turned away, but Harry could still see his faint smile. "At least one more now."
They ventured into a different section of casual pants. And this time it was Jason who paused beside a particular rack of cargo pants, his eyes bright with interest. After a moment's hesitation, he pulled a pair of khaki-colored ones and tossed it in the cart with affected carelessness. Harry tried not to giggle. He studied the rack himself for a moment, then pulled a pair of army green cargo pants from the same rack.
"Practical. I like it. Do you boys want a pair of shorts, too?" Dick gestured toward the shorts. "Maybe a set of work-out gear, for when I teach you to fly on a trapeze?" he suggested with a grin and a wink.
Harry nodded eagerly, and Dick led them to the athletic section. There, they each chose two workout shirts, a pair of shorts, and a pair of track pants. Harry chose dark green running shorts, while Jason went for a pair of black and red basketball shorts.
"Now you need proper exercise shoes," Dick instructed them. "I'm sure your boots are comfortable, but you don't want to be running laps or doing gymnastics in combat boots." Dick nodded at Jason's battered black combat boots. "And hiking boots are for hiking, not running," he added with a nod at Harry's.
Harry blinked, then looked down at his beloved hiking boots. He tried to imagine running around on the grounds with them, or doing cartwheels.
Cartwheels in hiking boots was an odd image, but Harry didn't see a reason to replace them.
"Why not?" Harry asked. "They're comfy. And I know they look really dirty, but they're still in really good condition! I found them all by myself, and got them with money I st-got all by myself, too!"
"They are some very nice shoes. Where did you find them?"
"In a secondhand store," Harry replied, straightening up. "They were just there, on the rack. And they were only eighteen dollars!"
Dick's eyebrows rose and he gave a low whistle. "That's impressive. I bet you're really proud of that. But getting new shoes doesn't mean you have to stop wearing the old ones. It just means you have more choices. And while those shoes will be great for hiking or long walks around the city, it's better to have a different pair for everyday wear. Is that okay?"
"I don't have to get rid of them?" Harry asked, his eyes wide. "Because my old clothes were gone when I woke up this morning."
Dick smiled. "Nope. You don't have to get rid of them. You're just giving yourself another option. That's all."
Harry bit his lip, hesitated, then nodded. "Okay."
"Great! And like before, we don't have to stop at a pair of sneakers. So if any other shoes catch your fancy, you can grab those, too. It's just more options. I bet combat boots would look really cool with those grey skinny jeans you found."
Harry nodded. "I like combat boots," he said quietly.
"Then we can take a look around once we get sneakers. Sound good?"
Harry nodded, then he glanced at Jason. Jason shrugged.
Dick took that as agreement, and led the way toward the shoe section. Dick had them measure their feet on a rubber mat on the floor, then guided them both toward the sneakers. Jason found a pair pretty quickly, a pair of classic grey and red running shoes, and tossed them in the cart. Then he hesitated while Harry's brow furrowed as he scanned the shelves. But Harry gave him a smile and a nod, so Jason wandered toward the boots. Harry found a few pairs of sneakers he liked, but he just couldn't decide between a pair of grey and green sneakers that almost matched the colors on his boots, and a pair of mostly dark green light-up shoes.
"You can have both, you know," Dick said quietly after watching Harry debate for several minutes.
Harry's eyes widened. "Really? We don't—we don't already have too much?" He couldn't help but glance at the cart, which was already half-full.
"In my opinion, you can never have too many clothes," Dick said in a low voice, as if sharing a secret. "But if you're worried about the money, just remember how big the manor house is. I promise Bruce can afford it. And it won't be at the expense of food or anything else," Dick added gently.
Harry scuffed his toe against the floor. "A-are you sure? And…are you gonna make Jason get two pairs, too?"
"Nah. That was just because you guys were so reluctant before," Dick said with a smile. He crouched down in front of Harry. "If you end up with different numbers of shoes, that's okay. And if there's something in the cart you only got because you needed one more thing, we can put it back. The same is true for Jason."
Harry bit his lip, then nodded. "O-okay. C-can I have both pairs, then?"
Dick ruffled his hair. "Sure you can, kiddo. You take the light-up ones and I'll take these, then we can meet Jason by the boots. Okay?"
Harry nodded and picked up the box with the light-up shoes. He replaced the lid, then stood on his tip-toes to set it in the bottom of the cart. Dick put the other box on top.
"Wanna ride on the front?" Dick asked.
Harry lit up and hopped on, holding on tight as Dick wheeled the cart around the corner.
They found Jason with one shoe off, trying on a pair of dark red combat boots. Harry's eyes widened.
"Those are sooo cool, Jay!" he exclaimed.
Jason smiled faintly. "Yeah. They are, aren't they."
"So…what's holding you back?" Dick asked.
"I…I've already got a pair," Jason said, using his toes to point at his other foot, still clad in the black combat boots from before.
"Dick says we can have two of the same type," Harry piped up. "Look, I got two pairs of sneakers."
Jason looked up, looked in the cart, then looked up at Dick. Then he ducked his head. "R-really? C-can I?"
"Course you can. And the extra pair won't count against anything else we buy, either. I promise," Dick said. "We're not going to be short on food or bills or anything to pay for extra shoes. I swear."
Jason bit his lip and glanced at Harry.
Harry nodded. "Dick said to remember the big manor house, and that 'Bruce can definitely afford it.'"
Jason hesitated, then looked at the red boot on his left foot. He chewed his lip, an internal debate warring all over his face.
"C-can I? Really?" Jason's voice was small.
Dick crouched in front of him and handed him the second red boot. "Yes. You really can," he said gently.
Jason bit his lip, this time to hide a shy smile, and reverently packed the boots back into the box before holding it close.
"Can I get a pair of boots, too?" Harry asked shyly.
"Yep. Go wild," Dick said with a laugh.
Harry whooped and darted down the aisle, eagerly scanning all the displays. He actually sort of wanted the same boots Jason had found. They'd go perfectly with his red hawk shirt and grey pants. But he didn't want Jason to think he was copying him, or get their boots mixed up.
Maybe he could borrow them once in a while. Jason's feet were about his same size, right?
Then Harry's eyes landed on a pair of black and red high-top sneakers, and his eyes went wide.
They looked kind of like combat boots, but not exactly the same. And these ones had a cool-looking design on the side. It was too small for Harry to see the details, but from what he could see, they were really cool.
He turned to go get Jason, just in time to see he and Dick enter the aisle. Jason's eyes were a little red, and he was still holding the box close. But he looked happier. And that made Harry happy.
He darted down the aisle and grabbed Jason's hand. "Jay, come see!" he exclaimed, pulling the older boy along.
"Whoa! Hold up, Harry!" Jason stumbled after him, glaring over his shoulder as Dick laughed.
Harry laughed instead of replying and pulled Jason to the end of the aisle. "Look!" Harry pointed eagerly to the shoes he'd found.
Jason raised an eyebrow. "Those are pretty cool, little hawk."
"What's the picture on the side?"
Jason looked closer, then laughed out loud. "Wouldn't you know it. It's a hawk. I think it's the symbol for some famous skateboarder. Do you just have magic luck or something, where you just always find exactly what you want?"
Harry's breath caught at the word magic, but he smiled shyly. "Or something," he said quietly. "Help me find my size? The numbers are all too small to see."
"Sure, little hawk." Jason scanned the boxes, then pulled one off the shelf. He checked inside that it was the same shoe, then handed it over. "Want to try them on?"
Harry nodded eagerly. Jason led him to a bench a little further down the aisle, and Harry eagerly tried on the shoes.
"Hmm. Converse brand. You're a little style hound, Harry," Dick teased lightly. "Best-dressed little boy in town, I bet."
Harry flushed as he pushed his foot into the shoe and tied it up, fumbling a little with the long laces. When he finished, he held his foot out, rocking it back and forth and marveling at how cool it was.
"Hmm, yep. All the other boys will be jealous of you, I'm sure," Dick said, grinning.
Harry paused. "I don't want them to be jealous." He looked sadly at the shoe.
"That's their problem, kiddo," Dick said, kneeling in front of him. "As long as you're friendly, the jealousy won't stay for long. And somehow, I don't think that's gonna be a problem for you."
Harry smiled again. "C-can I get them?"
"Sure. Toss 'em in the cart with the rest. Bruce should be meeting us soon, too."
Harry tensed a little. "Is…is he gonna be mad we have so much stuff?"
Dick laughed and straightened up. "Not at all. If anything, he'll be upset with me because we didn't even fill the cart."
"I don't want him mad at you, either," Harry said quietly.
Dick smiled and lightly ruffled Harry's hair. "I'm teasing. He won't be mad at all. Besides, we still need room for pajamas. And I absolutely insist that you both get at least one stuffed animal before we leave today."
"Those are for babies," Jason muttered.
"Nope. Every kid deserves a stuffed animal. I still have mine from when I was a kid. A stuffed elephant, Zitka. The real Zitka was an elephant at the circus, and she was my best friend. The stuffed animal was nearly as good once Bruce took me in."
"I heard my name?"
Bruce circled the display and joined them in the aisle. His arms were loaded with stuff—Harry saw packages of socks, underwear, and undershirts, belts, slacks and button-downs, and a dozen other things that made Harry dizzy.
"I was just saying that these two absolutely must have a stuffed animal," Dick supplied. Then he glanced at the load Bruce was dumping into the cart. "Do they really need all that?"
"They need at least one formal or semi-formal outfit. It comes with the territory. Especially if I end up having to go to court to get official custody—Jason at least still has living relatives. Without Harry's last name, though, I couldn't find anything on him."
Jason tensed. Harry froze.
"You're not about to turn them back over to their families, are you?" Dick demanded. "Because as far as I can see, they were all unfit guardians."
"Of course not. But I'd rather have all the official paperwork as soon as possible. Less hassle in the future."
"You…you actually want to keep us?" Harry asked softly.
Bruce blinked, and Harry realized it was the first time he'd addressed the man directly—or, indeed, spoke aloud in his presence—since they got to the store.
Bruce knelt in front of him. "I promised you could stay with me, and I intend to keep that promise." He glanced at Jason, who still looked uncertain. "And I'll make it as official as I can, as soon as possible, so you can stay with me no matter what anyone else says. As far as I'm concerned, though, you're both already mine."
Harry blinked rapidly, instinctively grasping Jason's hand with both of his. Jason inhaled sharply.
"Y-you mean it?" Harry breathed.
Bruce smiled—a small but real, genuine smile. "I mean it. You're as much mine as Dick is, and I love you just as much."
Three gasps answered that statement. Harry was distracted from his own surprise by Dick's, and he turned to look.
Dick's face was hard to read, a mix of several emotions warring with each other. But mostly, Harry saw the unnatural sheen in his eyes.
Bruce looked up, too. He inhaled sharply at the look on Dick's face, and straightened so quickly it made both Harry and Jason flinch.
Bruce put both hands on Dick's shoulders, holding his gaze. "Dick. I mean it. You're mine, too, no matter what, and I love you."
Dick covered his mouth with both hands, then threw his arms around Bruce with a half-choked sob.
Bruce froze in surprise, then firmly returned the embrace.
A moment later, Dick pulled away. "You sure got over your hesitation quick," he muttered, grinning wetly.
Bruce huffed a laugh. "I suppose so."
Harry looked up as Dick then crouched down in front of him and Jason.
"You hear that, boys? We're all Bruce's, which makes you two my little brothers." Dick grinned and opened his arms. "So can I get a hug from my new little brothers?"
Harry barely hesitated before throwing himself into Dick's arms with a huge grin. Jason held back, until Harry grabbed his arm and pulled him forward. Jason submitted stiffly to Dick's embrace, and pulled free as quickly as he could. But his cheeks were flushed with pleasure, and Harry could see he was making a point not to smile.