Disclaimer: not mine

So apparently Tim went to a few high schools and had different friends at them? Well, with the changes, they all go to the same school.

Chapter 8

Dick spun, Mad Hatter's men out cold, tensing as the red helmeted figure approached. Was this…the Red Hood? Even Babs hadn't found much on him and if he was connected to the Joker. But the way he protected kids…

"You've gotten even better," the modulated voice commented. "Dickiebird."

He tensed in reaction before he even realised what he'd been called. "What did you say?" he asked, keeping the shake from his own altered voice.

"And that growl sounds wrong from you," the other snorted. They seemed to hesitate and then reached up to the gleaming red helmet, unlatching it to remove, revealing a red domino beneath. Black hair, curling slightly, a lock of white hanging between covered eyes. He was tall and broad, almost as big as Bruce but… "Nothing?"

That voice…but it couldn't be…could it? "Little Wing?" he whispered, it was stupid, Jason was long dead, but lips moved into smirk, the head tilting in a familiar manner. "How? You…you were…"

"Dead. I got better."

Dick stared at him, could it really be him? he wanted so badly for it to be Jason but anything trying to trick him would surely know that. He glanced around and then pointed at a building he knew had a camera blind spot. Jason looked over and nodded, grappling up. "O, you listening?"

"What is it?"

"Red Hood," he answered. "He…he's Jason. Going camera dark."

"I'll stay on comms and alert Ghost," she answered.

He didn't like having Tim on as backup but it made sense, and if things went bad, he wasn't above yelling for his boyfriend. Part of him still felt like Tim was too young, but he was older than Dick had been when he started dating. But Tim had so much more trauma in his past between seeing Dick's parents die, his own parent's neglect and then his mother's death, what the Joker did… he just wanted to keep Tim safe. But he couldn't stop him from living his life.

He landed on the roof, moving into the blind spot, watching as Jason removed his domino. His face was older, but it was Jason's face. Dick took a breath and removed the cowl, meeting Jason's eyes…eyes that were green, not blue. Green eyes, white in his hair… oh Jason.

"It's really you?" he reached for his brother who tensed so he froze.

"It's me," Jason answered, tense, voice a little hoarse now. "Upset?"

"That I somehow missed you coming back and the al Ghul's taking you, yes," Dick answered softly.

"Really?"

"Really," he swore. "When I came back and you were…the fight we had…he should have recalled me for the funeral at least." He'd been so angry at Bruce for taking the chance to say goodbye properly from him.

Jason was staring at him and Dick wondered what lies he'd been fed.

"You're my brother, my Little Wing, and nothing will ever change that."

"Nothing?" was the sceptical question, and Dick smiled.

"Nothing, even being a Crime Lord." He moved closer slowly, Jason tense but not moving away. He carefully put his hand to Jason's cheek, feeling stubble under his hand, Jason hadn't even had to shave before he died. "I missed you so much."

"Even with your little shadow?" Jason demanded, the green in his eyes intensifying a little.

"You'll love Timmy, you saved his life once, you know?"

,

Jason blinked at him in confusion. "What?" He'd saved Tim?

"Yeah, he fell and Robin saved him, and then Jason once shared some sweets with him at a gala. You were his hero, Jay. Protecting your legacy is part of why…he did what he did."

Jason frowned, trying to remember and he did…maybe? "A lot of things are…foggy," he admitted warily, would that make Dick question his identity?

"But you remember me," Dick sounded worried, and Jason nodded.

He hesitated but Dick had missed him, still wanted to be his brother. "I woke up in my coffin," he explained, and Dick's face went pale in horror. "Dug my way out…but I was basically a zombie."

"Little Wing," Dick whispered, hands firm on his shoulders, grounding him.

"Then they found me, took me…"

"The League of Assassins?" Dick asked, and he nodded. "Your eyes, they used the Lazarus Pit on you."

Good, he didn't have to explain. "So, you're a dad."

"Yeah," Dick chuckled slightly, leaning against him and it was so weird to be taller than his big brother, even with Dick in the Batsuit. "Tim…he's been through so much but he just wants to help people."

"So why Ghost? Why…why not Robin?" it hurt to ask which was just dumb, he didn't want to be Robin, was too old now.

"He was Ghost already, he'd been following us, taking photos and helping people when he saw them, calling ambulances and stuff. The cops and paramedics started calling him Ghost, not sure if he was real or not and he took the name. After…after you died, B…he…things got really bad but I wasn't in Gotham to see it. Tim reached out as Ghost, showed me what was going on and I went to the JL. Tim had been following him and Jay…no thirteen-year-old should ever have to perform CPR on a mugger while waiting for help."

Jason stared at Dick, seeing the pain in his eyes. Tim had…he'd seen pretty bad things on the street, had seen his Mom…and then as Robin…but an untrained kid had gone out night after night to just help people? After everything the Joker had done to him? Did Dick know about that? He had to, surely, the signs were there after all.

"After the JL took Bruce, we got Timmy kitted out with proper gear to keep him safe, got him training so he can fight back if needed."

Jason snorted. "Yeah, saw that. He's good with that stick of his."

"Should have seen him take Luthor down last year," Dick smirked. "Served him right trying to mind control Superboy."

He'd taken Luthor on? Brave kid, the man might not be a fighter but he was scary smart and good at wiggling out of trouble. He wouldn't forget or forgive Ghost.

"I talked with him a few days ago," he admitted. "Didn't know for sure who was behind the mask, but Ghost works in the Alley."

Dick blinked. "He didn't say anything."

"He worked out who I was before I took the helmet off."

"Yeah, he actually worked it all out when he was nine," Dick smirked.

Nine?! Which meant he'd known when taken…and he had kept it secret from him?

"Come home Jay, meet him properly, see Alfred and Babs. We're…we're engaged."

He stiffened, rage rising. "And Bruce?" he growled, but Dick gently gripped his shoulders, meeting his eyes fearlessly.

"He hasn't come to the Manor in over two years. The call to him for help with the ransom for Tim's family was pretty much the first contact we've had since he came back from the League's intervention. He gave the money, no questions asked, even sent a wreath for the funeral. But that's it. He hasn't cut me out of the will or argued over my wearing the cowl since then," Dick explained quickly but firmly. "Please Jay, Alfred misses you so much, he still keeps your room clean, exactly how you left it."

"Exactly?" Jason asked in shock. "Pretty sure there's a very mouldy sandwich under the bed then," he tried to sound teasing and Dick grinned.

"Nah, found that when it started to stink." He shifted closer and Jason knew what he wanted, finding himself leaning in as well, and then he was wrapped up in a tight, patented, Dick Grayson hug.

,

"Hey Alfie."

He stared in shock at the young man before him, it couldn't be and yet…on the screen were the results of a DNA test. "Master Jason?" How…no, that didn't matter. "Welcome home." He reached out to his lost grandson and then he was being lifted clear off his feet, Jason holding on tight. "My dear boy," he whispered, returning the embrace.

,

Tim yawned, heading downstairs for breakfast, his tie undone. "Mornin'," he mumbled, slumping into his seat.

"Morning Timbo."

He blinked, that…that wasn't Dick. His head shot up and he blinked in shock, pinching his thigh under the table. Nope, not dreaming. Hallucinating?

Jason chuckled and then reached over to ruffle his hair. "I'm real kiddo."

Tim scrambled up from his chair and threw himself at Jason who caught him, holding on tight to his big brother…uncle? Which was it? Dick was technically his guardian after all so more like a parent but they acted more like siblings most of the time.

"You came home," he whispered.

"For a visit," Jason murmured, petting his hair gently. "I…I can't stay Tim, not yet anyway."

"And you will always be welcome here, Master Jason," Alfred said as he walked in with their food. "A good day Master Tim?" his smile was soft and Tim nodded. A gloved hand brushed over his hair as Tim returned to his seat to eat. "I shall ready the car to drive you in."

Jason looked between them even as Dick and Babs appeared for their breakfast. "Tim?"

"I, uh…can't always handle going to school," he admitted softly.

"But your attendance is getting better every term," Dick spoke up with an encouraging grin. "And you're managing to go out to the shops more often too."

,

Jason watched the car drive away. "Dick?" he glanced at his brother.

"It's the crowds," he answered. "Between his parents leaving him all the time, being shoved into boarding schools, then the Joker…" he shrugged slightly. "He's in therapy and he's apparently a lot better than he was after getting free from the clown but healing isn't linear. So, he has bad days and good, even now. And yes, he only gets to go out as Ghost on good days, we're careful to monitor that."

He nodded; he hadn't doubted that Dick wouldn't let Tim go off without knowing he could handle himself each night. "Why is he always seen alone as Ghost?"

"It's actually safer for him," Babs answered. "No one targets him because he gives medical aid even to goons. Yeah, he'll fight them to protect civilians, but he doesn't intervene in other crimes except to call Dick or the police and they never see or hear him do that. Plus, he's been seen with Harley and Ivy and most of the Rogues won't mess with him because he's under their protection. He never goes out if the Joker's out though…there's no way to know how he'd react if faced with him."

"Won't be a problem soon," he growled.

"Jay…"

"Don't Dick," he warned.

"I'm not going to tell you to not do it," Dick said and Jason stared at him in shock. "I want you to be smart and safe about it. He took you from us once, not again."

He nodded slowly, not sure what to think or feel when neither of them tried to tell him not to do it. His big grand plans were long thrown out with B no longer in the cowl. And…that wouldn't have been playing it smart or safe, would it?

,

"Hey Tim," Bernard grinned at him, happy he'd come to class.

They sat together in the cafeteria with the others of their small group. All of them accepted that Tim wasn't always at school, that he often attended online for a reason they never asked about. It wasn't any of their business. But they all had their guesses. Bernard though, he was pretty sure he knew, he'd once seen the makeup on his face smear a little, seen the hint of a scar. Tim had freaked a little once he'd realised the makeup had smeared but Bernard had been the only other one left in the locker room and had carefully acted like he hadn't seen anything. But that scar location, the makeup over his visible skin…how tense Tim got when there'd be an alert about a certain Clown…how often he was out of school if the freak got out of Arkham… it all added up. But he would never say anything to anyone.

"Come on Tim…" Zoanne pushed, and Bernard focused back on the conversation.

Wait…was Tim…blushing? "I, uh…have a boyfriend?" he murmured, and Bernard's eyes widened.

"Really?" he asked, and Tim nodded, not looking at any of them.

"That's great!" Sebastian grinned, and Bernard nodded in agreement.

They playfully pushed for details but Tim didn't give many, except he didn't go to Gotham Academy with them. Tim had been to a few boarding schools before, maybe someone from one of them?

,

Kon smiled as he got to run his fingers through Tim's hair, his boyfriend's head in his lap. Being welcome in Gotham, in Wayne Manor, was kind of strange and a little scary but he wanted to be there for Tim whenever he needed or wanted him there.

"Kon?"

"Yeah?" he looked down at him.

"Have you told Clark or Lois about us?" Tim asked softly.

"No, not yet. I…didn't know how. Do I tell them that Superboy's dating Ghost or that Conner's dating Tim?" he asked.

"Right, good point," Tim murmured.

"Whichever you want is the one I'll tell them," he promised.

"Are they home?"

Kon blinked but listened in carefully. "Yep, dinner is almost done."

Tim nodded and got up, "back in a minute."

Kon watched him go, relaxing back into the couch, purposely not listening in. and then Tim was back, dressed for going out in a nicer pair of jeans and a long-sleeved shirt, a denim jacket thrown over top, shoving his shoes on. And… he was shaking slightly. "Tim?" he asked, concerned.

"I don't want you to have to hide us from them."

His eyes widened. "You mean…but I thought you don't want to be involved with the JL?"

"I don't, but telling Clark isn't telling them."

Kon got up and took his hands, pressing a soft kiss to his forehead. "You're sure?" he asked, and Tim nodded. "Okay, lets' go."

,

Clark opened the door to find Kon and…Tim Drake?

"Hey Clark, can we come in?"

"Of course," he agreed, stepping back to let the teens inside.

"Clark, who. Conner!" Lois smiled warmly, moving to hug him. "And… Timothy Drake?" She seemed to recognise him almost immediately.

"Tim, please." The teen smiled shyly, not the practiced socialite smile from the papers, not that he was often in them. After Dick called him to help save the boy's parents, he'd looked into the kid a little. He wished they had been able to save his mother and his father was still comatose, but he seemed happy enough living with Dick.

And then Clark realised they were holding hands? How had they even met. And then Timothy put a domino to his eyes and Clark swallowed, oh! Well…that likely explained the threats.

"You're Kon's family and he didn't know which to tell you so…" Tim shrugged slightly.

"So, you're a vigilante?" Lois asked, frowning slightly. "There's no new Robin," she murmured.

"I'm Ghost, not really a vigilante. I only fight if I have to, I'm mostly medical in the field."

"Doesn't mean he can't kick ass if needed though," Kon stated proudly. "He takes me and Cass down in training all the time."

"Yeah, in training, not a real fight," Tim denied.

"Tim, your brain is a scary place and I never want to face you in a real fight," Kon shuddered, making his…boyfriend?...pout.

,

"Hey O?" Jason called over the comm, still stunned at having the connection. It didn't feel real but sure enough, her voice came through clearly.

"How can I help Hood?"

"Know anything about a brat in purple?"

"Spoiler. She's mainly working against Cluemaster, nearly hit Ghost in the face with a brick a few years back but they're sort of friends now, in the mask at least. We know who she is but she doesn't know who any of us are. Trouble?"

"Nope, just wondering if I needed to step in."

"If it looks like she's in over her head, then please. She does have a panic button; Ghost pretty much forced it on her. He's trained with her a bit to make sure she can handle herself."

"Got it," keep an eye out for the purple kid. "Why Spoiler?" he asked curiously.

"She likes spoiling his plans."

Huh, made sense.

,

Bruce left the meeting and headed for his office, nodding to Lucius. He sat back and closed his eyes, breathing deeply. He checked the monito, no change to life signs, Jack Drake was still comatose. He felt bad that paying the ransom hadn't ended with their release but he didn't regret trying. No matter how things were between him and Dick, he wasn't going to drag an innocent kid into it, even if he was Dick's ward and likely the Ghost. He'd dug deeper into Ghost sightings and activity, he wasn't really a vigilante, more an emergency medic, only stepping into fights if someone was in danger, but it seemed to work for him. Even a lot of the villains seemed to respect him for his giving aide to those who needed it.

He might be out of the game, but he still kept a close eye on everything. It was actually easier to keep an eye on those outside of Gotham due to Oracle. He knew Clark had taken on a child himself, Kon-El, Conner Kent, his own clone. The one who had come to comfort Tim Drake in the Cave. There was a new Wonder Girl too, Cassandra Sandsmark as well. It looked like there was a good line up forming to eventually follow in the JL's footsteps. First Dick's old team and then this current group.

And it seemed someone was keeping on top of everything he used to do, it wasn't all Dick though. Dick…he just didn't have the same mindset; his genius lay in different areas to Bruce's. But whoever the other planner was, they had a similar way of thinking to Bruce. Could it be the Drake boy? He knew Janet was very smart, had the detachment needed for that kind of planning. He'd never really interacted with the boy at galas or anything though.

The Penthouse made commuting to work easier but…he missed the Manor.

TBC…

Not entirely happy with this chapter but it's been a while so decided to post.