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Jason Todd has been dead for eight months, one week and three days. Dick never thought he would move back to the manor after moving out, but grief always has a funny way of changing your thinking. Bruce needed help and Dick would be lying if he said he wasn’t struggling in the aftermath of his little brother’s death. Moving back to Gotham just seemed like the right choice at the time. Helping to make sure Bruce didn’t get himself or the new Robin killed. Tim was a good kid. He looked out for Bruce on the bad days and just wanted to help people. He also never wanted to just replace Jason which was all that mattered to Dick. Nobody could ever replace his little brother, his Little Wing, but he could always make more room for another baby brother.
Bruce was gone for the weekend on Justice League business. He also made the decision to leave Tim behind. Claimed it would be safer if he stayed home and patrolled with Dick while he was gone. Bruce has been doing that alot. Making Tim stay back when he thought it was too dangerous, but he wasn’t going to let what happened to Jason happen twice. No more dead Robins. Spending time with Tim wasn’t bad. The kid was quiet, but once and a while he would show Dick his photo albums of Batman and Robin. It made Dick’s heart swell, looking down at the pictures. A few of him, but mostly all of them were of Jason. Smiling up at Bruce with that big crooked grin. It always made Dick hold back tears, but he never wanted to look away.
“C’mon Timmy!” Dick called out in the cave, slipping his own boots on. “We’re leaving for patrol in three minutes!” Dick hummed, leaning against the Batmobile as the kid came stumbling out of the locker rooms, trying to yank his shoe on as he ran.
“I’m coming!” Tim huffed, which only caused Dick to smile and fix the crooked domino on the younger kid’s face.
“You finished your homework?” Dick asked as they climbed into the car. Even though he was only twenty one, the ‘dad’ voice always came naturally. Probably years and years of telling Jason to get out of trees, do his homework or to put his book down and eat something. Tim only rolled his eyes and nodded.
“Yeah, I finished hours ago. Can we go now?” Tim asked impatiently. Dick just chuckled and nodded before driving out of the cave and into the city.
It was a quiet night. No Arkham breaks recently, meaning most of Gotham's problems were locked away. Except for one. One very big problem that haunted Dick’s nightmares and who narrowly escaped Batman's wrath eight months ago. There hadn’t been any sightings of the clown but Dick knew he was out there and the very thought made his skin crawl. Dick and Tim sat on the ledge of a building, looking out over the city as Tim chatted away about the new camera Bruce had gotten him for his birthday. Dick listened with a smile and nodded along even if he didn’t understand the specifics of photography. Before Dick could even get too lost in his own thoughts, there was yelling from below. His attention snapped towards the street below them, eyes focused on three men, backing a kid into a corner. Dick frowned and gave Tim a nudge before flinging himself off the building.
“Jesus Christ! Don’t you retards know any better?!” One of the men laughed and roughly shoved the boy back against the brick wall. The kid didn’t do much. Didn’t say a word, only flinching at the contact as his back slammed into the wall. “You freak out my fucking kid so why don’t you just get fucking lost huh?” The man said again, shoving the kid into the wall again. The boy hit the brick before his legs gave out and he fell to the ground with a small noise. Dick landed behind the men and crossed his arms across his chest.
“That wasn’t very PC of you now was it?” Dick hummed. Once the men turned around, Tim dropped down, aiming a well timed kick right into one of the men’s chest. Dick smirked and knocked the main problem to the ground with one punch. The last man stared with wide eyes before scrambling backwards and out of the alley. The other two followed shortly after, once they regained their footing. Dick smiled as he watched them run away before turning his attention to the poor kid curled up on the ground. Very obviously a kid from crime alley. He was filthy and far too skinny for the clothes that were hanging off of his body, but Dick took close notice of his clothes under the filth. A white button up covered in dirt and a few rips and what looked like dress pants, also caked in dirt as they were practically falling off the poor kid. Dick slowly crouched down in front of the boy and flashed him a warm smile.
“Hey it’s alright. They’re gone, they won’t hurt you. Can you tell me your name? Me and Robin here can help you find your parents and get you home.” Dick said softly. The boy didn’t move, stayed curled into a tight ball, hair falling into his face. Dick frowned and slowly reached out to touch his shoulder. “Hey, it’s alright. We’re friends of Batman. We just want to help.” He said softly, the mention of the Bat seemed to make some tension in the boy's shoulders fade away, but the second Dick touched his shoulder, the boy's head snapped up and looked at him with furrowed brows and a dazed look in his eyes. Eyes that Dick hasn’t seen in almost a year. Eyes that made Dick stop breathing and his whole body go cold.
“L-Little Wing..?” Dick asked slowly. It can’t be. It isn’t. But the nickname caused the boy to let out a little whine, shaking hands clasping onto Dick’s wrist as some sort of recognition came through his clouded gaze. Dick froze, eyes locked on the kid's face. Not just any kid. Jason. Eyes locked on Jason’s face. There was a deep scar running across his face that wasn’t there before, but that was his little brother’s face. Dick carefully reached his other hand out as Jason just stared at him like he was trying to figure out who he was. “Jay..?” He asked softly before the kid flung himself into Dick’s arms, hands gripping the material of his suit. Tim stared with wide eyes a few steps back.
“T-That can’t…It can’t be..” Tim said slowly. Dick quickly wrapped Jason in his arms, biting back the tears that threatened to fall.
“Go to the car and grab..something. Anything. He’s probably freezing.” Dick mumbled, pressing his face into Jason’s matted, dirty hair without a single care in the word as he held the boy close. “I-I don’t know. We’ll uh..bring him back to the cave. Run some tests but go get him something, okay?” Dick sighed. There was no need for tests. Well, at least in his book. This was his brother. Without a doubt. Bruce might feel differently though. Tim nodded and raced off back to the car to find an extra cape or a blanket. Jason’s hands shakily clung onto Dick’s suit as he trembled in his arms a small noise of distress squeezing out of him. Dick frowned and carefully rubbed his hands over his back, keeping his hold tight. “It’s okay. It’s alright, Jay. We’re going home.”
Once back at the cave, Dick made sure Tim didn’t tell Alfred about…what they found. No need to get anyone’s hopes up until they run a few tests. Jason still hasn’t said a word since they found him. Even wrapped in a blanket Tim found, he was still shivering and shaking. Dick carefully got him out of the car, wrapping his arms around him tightly. “Tim, Run upstairs and quietly go grab some clothes from my room. He needs a shower before we do anything else, but don’t let Alfie catch you. Okay?” Dick sighed. The younger boy nodded before sprinting up the stairs as Dick slowly but surely got Jason into the showers to rinse away all the grime. Dick made him sit on the shower floor as he carefully scrubbed his hair and skin, removing the layers of dirt. Jason still didn’t say anything. Just letting Dick move his body around with his gaze focussing on the tiles below him.
Once he was clean, Dick carefully helped him up, wrapping him in a big towel and just as carefully pulling the new clean clothes onto his brother. They’re still big, but they’ll do. Jason just kept looking at the ground, eyes unfocused. At least he stopped shaking. Dick eventually got the boy into the med bay, carefully laying him onto the cot and brushing some of the long black hair off his forehead. Dick gave him a warm smile as he wrapped him in a blanket. “We just need to run some tests, Jay. Okay..?” Jason gave no response. He didn’t even look like he registered a single word Dick was saying. The older boy just sighed and very carefully drew a vile of blood with no issue. He leaned down and placed a soft kiss right onto Jason’s forehead before laying him back. “Try and get some sleep okay?” Dick said before making his way out to the cave where Tim sat, changed into a hoodie and sweats, typing away at the computer.
“It has to be him. Look.” Tim said, pointing to the screen where he pulled CCTV footage from the cemetery. “This was two months ago.” He said softly. Dick frowned and squinted to make out the figure of his brother, pulling himself out of the dirt and collapsing to the muddy ground around him. It was pouring out and Jason just laid in the mud, unfocused eyes looking at the sky above him. Dick’s stomach dropped and he’s pretty sure his heart stopped. It explains the clothes. He was wearing the fucking suit they buried him in. He quickly handed the vile of blood to Tim and cleared his throat.
“Run the test, okay?” Dick said before quickly making his way to the bathroom to throw up.
—
There were fingers in his hair, running through his no longer matted curls, and he was so warm. It was a nice feeling. Jason doesn’t think he ever remembers being this warm. He moved slightly under the hands in his hair, stretching his neck slightly into the fingers. This is nice. It didn’t even occur to him that the hand meant someone was attached to said hand until his eyes cracked open. He knows this room. He’s been here before. Maybe.
“Hey Jay..How are you feeling?” A soft voice asks. A voice also attached to someone. A voice that settles itself right under his ribs in the best way. He doesn’t know whose voice it is, but it's a voice that makes him feel calm. Makes him feel safe. Jason also doesn’t really remember this feeling of being so safe. Jason’s head rolls to the side slightly, looking at the man who was talking. The man whose hand was still gently carding through his hair. Jason’s eyebrows furrowed together slightly, trying to focus on the face in front of him. He knows this person. He has to. Because strangers don’t make him feel this safe.
“You hungry..? Or thirsty? I got you some water from upstairs.” The person said and Jason just lost focus. It took too much energy to try and place a name for the face, so he just lets his eyes shut again. There was a sigh before the person next to him moved. There was a light pressure of lips placing a kiss on his head before his blankets were pulled up a bit higher. “Alright..It’s okay..” The voice said before Jason promptly fell back asleep.
—
Tim sighed, anxiously typing away at tonight’s report, leaving out a very important key detail. Dick made his way back over to the computer and plopped right down next to his youngest brother. “Did the test come back yet?” Dick asked. Tim nodded and switched screens that showed the very obvious answer.
“Not that we even needed to run the test.” Tim mumbled, anxiously picking at the skin around his nails. “We have to tell B…”
“No.” Dick said quickly, shoulders going tense. “N-No..not yet. We just..we need to get him to talk first. That’s all.” Tim raised an eyebrow.
“Dick…I don’t..I don’t think he’s going to talk.. We don’t know how this happened yet, but I don’t think it’s good-” Tim started before being cut off by Dicks glare.
“You don’t think it’s good? My little brother is back and you don’t think that’s a good thing?” Dick snapped defensively. Tim’s hands just went up and shook his head. He’s been around a very grieving Bruce and Dick for almost a year. He knew not to take it personally.
“That’s not what I mean. It’s just..He-He went through a lot, Dick. I don’t know what brought him back, but it doesn't change the fact that-” Tim bit his lip and shut his eyes. He shouldn’t say it. He’s not allowed to bring it up. “It doesn’t change the fact that his cause of death was blunt force trauma to the head.” Tim said slowly, looking at his older brother from the corner of his eye. “Whatever brought him back..didn’t fix what was wrong before he died, Dick.” He said softly with a frown. “He like..needs a doctor and we can’t bring Bruce Wayne’s dead son to a hospital. We need Bruce. He knows people who can help.” Tim sighed. Some of the tension Dick was holding in his shoulders relaxed. Tim was right. He knew Tim was right. But Tim being right doesn't change the fact he would love to put off this conversation with Bruce for as long as possible.
“Bruce won’t be back until Monday. Alfred usually spends Saturdays at the store so he won’t be around tomorrow. Just-Just give me one more day to figure it out.” Dick said, rubbing a hand over his face. “I need to get him something to eat. I don’t even want to think about how he was taking care of himself out on the street.” He mumbled before heading towards the stairs. Tim just watched him leave before finishing up his bullshit report of the night. One day can’t hurt.
—
When he woke up again, the same hand was gently running through his hair. Maybe he just blinked. Maybe no time has passed. Not that he had any idea how to tell. One eye cracked open to the same familiar face as before, only it felt different seeing this face. He knows this face. He knows this person. Loves this person and from the smile he was sporting, he knew this person loves him too and that same warm feeling burrows deep in his ribs.
“Hey Little Wing.” The person smiles. “I know you’re probably tired but I need you to eat something.” He said softly. Jason tried really hard to focus. Even though it hurt. Jason just stared at his face, not even registering the words that were coming from him when it finally clicked. His big brother. It was Dick smiling at him. He knows Dick. He does love Dick. He knows Dick loves him too.
—
Dick carefully brushed some hair off Jason’s forehead, still trying to coax him into eating even though it was all probably falling on deaf ears. Then Jason smiles. Not fully. But a small upturned twitch of the lips and his eyes properly focused for the first time tonight and Dick swore he could hear a choir singing. Jason remembered him. He had to. Each time he looked at him, it was like he was trying to figure it out. Trying to figure out who he was. “There you are, Jay.” Dick smiled even though tears were prickling in the corner of his eyes. Just as soon as it was good, it got bad. The smile quickly vanished from his brother’s face and the fog in his eyes was back. Dick frowned and gently cupped his face before Jason’s eyes rolled back and convulsions started to wreck through his body. Dick’s eyes went wide, screaming for Tim as he quickly rolled Jason onto his side. “TIM!” Dick screamed again, trying to gently rub circles in Jason’s back until the convulsions stopped. Tim ran in, eyes going wide before rushing to the other side of the cot.
“W-What happened?” Tim asked in a panicked voice, hands frozen in the air like he didn’t know how to help. Dick shook his head as the panic started to rise back into his throat.
“I-I don’t know! He just woke up a-and he started seizing.” Dick rushed out. The tears that were threatening to fall before were now rolling in big fat globs down his cheeks. “Shh it’s okay. It’s alright.” He cooed softly. Jason seized for two minutes and thirty six seconds before his body went limp in Dick’s arms. Maybe they're in too deep. Tim was right. Jason needs real medical attention. Not some basic medical knowledge from a twenty one and a thirteen year old.
Jason’s body went limp and his eyes were closed but his breathing was normal. Heart rate was normal. Dick carefully scooped the boy into his arms and held him close.
“Call Leslie. Tell her to come fast.” Dick said softly. “And tell her not to call Bruce.” Tim frowned, giving Dick a very pleading expression, but Dick just turned his head back to the brother in his arms before Tim left the room to grab the phone.
Twenty minutes later, Leslie was pulling up in the cave and rushing out of her car. “If one of you boys broke another bone I swear to go-” She started but stopped when she saw exactly who Dick was holding in his arms. A very sickly but a very much alive Jason Todd. The same Jason Todd who she would sneak extra candy too during their visits. The same boy whose smile radiated happiness and warmth every time he was in close proximity. The same boy who died almost a year ago. “What-” She started before sucking in a sharp breath and making her way over to the three boys. “Explain. Now.”
Dick frowned, turning his attention back to the boy in his arms. “We just..We found him on patrol. W-We did a DNA test and it came back positive. It’s him. I-I don’t know how but it is.” Dick said softly. “I don’t know what’s wrong with him. He’s not…right. Tim thinks it’s from all the brain damage he got and when he woke up he just started seizing and I panicked so we called you.” He mumbled, looking back up at her with pleading eyes. “Please. Help him.” Leslie nodded slowly, taking a few steps closer.
“O-Okay. We are talking about this more when I’m finished.” She said with a sigh. Dick only nodded. “Put him on the bed.”
It took Leslie a while to run some tests and look him over. After Jason’s death, Bruce became more paranoid than usual. Which only resulted in the cave being stocked with high end medical equipment. None that Dick knew how to use, but it’s a good thing they had a doctor here. Leslie also ordered Tim and Dick out of the room until she was done looking Jason over. It took an hour before she came out of the room with a sigh.
“Well..There is only so much I can tell without a head CT. But I think Tim’s right. Best guess right now? He has some severe brain damage and that's what caused the seizure.” She said slowly. “It’s common for people with TBI’s to get them, but he needs to be watched until I can better assess how to help.” She said, giving the boys both a sad look. “And I’m guessing since the new boy wonder over here told me not to tell Bruce, he doesn’t know?” She asked. Both boys glanced at each other before shaking their heads. She let out another sigh and closed her eyes. “It’s late. He should be fine until the morning but I want one of you up with him at all times. I’ll be back tomorrow and if neither of you two call him, I will. Bruce needs to know and Jason needs to come to my office to get some more scans done. His body…needs some work too. Badly healed fractures I’m assuming were only done for cosmetic reasons before the funeral.” She said sadly. “Tomorrow. Call Bruce.” Leslie said sternly before giving each boy a quick hug and making her way to her car. It was almost sunrise anyway.
“Get up to bed. I’ll stay with him.” Dick said softly, giving Tim’s shoulder a little squeeze. Tim’s face scrunched up, his mouth opened up to argue before Dick’s hand went up. “Nope. Bed. Now.” He said sternly before the younger boy sighed loudly. Tim’s eyes glanced over to the med bay where Jason was still fast asleep.
“Okay but if something goes wrong, wake me up.” Tim mumbled before making his way to the stairs. Dick watched his youngest brother trek up the staircase before settling back in right beside his other little brother. He needed to call Bruce in the morning. He had to. Or else Alfred was going to find out and call their father himself.
—
“What’s wrong?” Bruce said the second the phone was picked up. Dick ran a hand over his face and glanced over at Tim.
“You need to come home.” Dick said simply, hoping and praying that’s all that was needed. There was silence on the other line for a few seconds and shuffling through the phone speaker.
“Clark is bringing me back now. Are you alright? Did something happen to Tim on patrol?” Bruce rushed out all at once.
“We’re both fine, nobody got hurt but you need to see something. It’s…important.” Dick said slowly.
“I’ll be there in five minutes.” Bruce said and promptly hung up. Dick cursed under his breath and turned his head to Jason, who was still sat in the med bay. He didn’t end up having another seizure throughout the night, but he wasn’t all there. The boy kept his gaze focused on his hands, carefully pulling the long sleeves over his fingers and playing with the fabric, not even taking notice of the other two in the room.
“We are so screwed.” Tim mumbled, anxiously chewing on his nails.
“We’re not screwed.” Dick said, not even sounding very sure of himself. “We just..We just need to explain what happened and show him the DNA results we took.” He said as the cave door was opening. Fuck. Five minutes my ass.
“What happened?” Bruce said quickly as Tim and Dick launched themselves out of Jason’s med bay to keep their father distracted until they could figure it out.
“Nobody’s hurt.” Dick said quickly, glancing down at Tim for a quick second.
“If nobody is hurt, what exactly warrants calling me home? What happened?” Bruce asked, raising an eyebrow and crossing his arms across his chest. Tim bit his lip and looked up at Dick, who was very clearly trying to figure out what exactly to tell their father. Clark looked around the room before slowly backing up and making his way out of the cave without another word. What the bats got up to in their spare time was none of his business.
“We..found something.” Dick said slowly. “And before you freak out, we did all the right tests and it is exactly what it looks like. Okay?”
“Dick.” Bruce said sternly. “What happened?”
“We found Jason!” Tim blurted out before his eyes went wide, hand coming up to clamp over his own mouth. Bruce went stiff as a board, eyes glancing over to the med bay they both ran out of.
“T-That isn’t funny.” Bruce said sternly, looking back over at his two sons.
“It’s..not a joke B.” Dick said slowly. Bruce shot a glare at his children before marching over to the med bay. Before Dick could even stop him, he caught sight of the boy on the bed, still playing with the fabric of his sleeves. Bruce sucked in a sharp breath and froze. Tim and Dick both stayed still, trying to gauge how Bruce would react.
“J-Jason..?” Bruce asked slowly. Jason didn’t look up from his sleeves, still pulling the fabric over his fingers over and over.
“He won’t talk.” Dick said softly. “He hasn’t said a word since we found him.”
“Explain.” Bruce snapped. “Now.”
“We were..on patrol last night. Me and Tim were just sitting on a roof and heard some guys starting trouble. They shoved him against a wall and we jumped in before they could do anything else.” Dick explained, hands clenched at his side before making his way next to his brother on the bed. “We took a DNA test. It came back positive. Look,” He said and carefully tilted Jason’s face up to look at the two of them. “He has the scar he got from falling down the stairs the week after he was adopted. It’s really him.” Dick said, flashing Jason a warm smile. Jason still had that clouded, unfocused look in his eye, not really meeting Dick’s gaze before turning his head back down to his own hands. Bruce carefully and very slowly made his way over, crouching down in front of the boy. His boy. His son.
“Jason..” Bruce said softly, willing his voice not to crack. “Jaylad..?” He asked, placing his hands on Jason’s knees and giving a little squeeze to try and grab his attention. Jason slowly looked up, eyebrows knitting together as he looked at Bruce before he promptly flung himself off the bed and into his father’s arms. Bruce quickly caught him, wrapping his arms around his skinny frame as Jason let out a little squeak, burying his face into Bruce’s neck. Bruce’s eyes went wide, tightly keeping his arms around his son and rubbing small circles up and down his back. “It’s alright.. It’s okay.” He cooed softly, flashing a look at Dick. “Where’s Alfred? Why didn’t he tell me?” Dick bit his lip, reaching his hand up to the back of his neck.
“We kind of..didn’t tell Alfred..” Dick mumbled. “We called Leslie though!”
“Only after he had a seizure.” Tim grumbled before his hand went right back up to his mouth when Dick shot him a glare. “I’m sorry! I have no filter!” Tim huffed. Dick only rolled his eyes as Bruce shot Dick another icy stare.
“He had a fucking seizure?” Bruce gritted out.
“Okay, Yes, but we called a doctor! Your favorite doctor! She said it’s probably from all the um..brain damage.” Dick sighed, reaching down to run a hand through Jason’s hair while his face was still nuzzled in Bruce’s neck.
“How is..How is this possible?” Bruce asked slowly, looking down at the boy in his arms.
“We don’t know.” Tim sighed. “I found some footage of him um…digging himself out of his grave.” He said slowly. “I don’t know what brought him back.” Bruce sighed and just tried to hold his son closer, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill down over his cheeks. Jason only let out a little noise before his fingers found their way into tangling into Bruce’s shirt.
‘He won’t really eat. He mainly just slept since we brought him back here.” Dick said softly. “He was on the streets just..wandering around for the last two months.” He frowned. “I don’t even want to think about how he was taking care of himself.” He said quietly, voice cracking. Bruce just shook his head and carefully lifted Jason up, still holding him close to his chest.
“Call Leslie. Tell her we’re on our way over.” Bruce said as he kept rubbing small circles into Jason’s back.
—
Once at Leslie’s office and after the CT scans, Leslie walked back into the room with a new sense of stress settled into her shoulders. Bruce sat up straight, keeping one hand on Jason’s back who was now sitting on the bed and staring at the wall. Dick frowned and stood up, quickly followed by Tim. “How bad is it?” Bruce asked slowly. Leslie sighed, pulling over her chair and opening the folder with Jason’s scans.
“I’m not going to lie, Bruce. It’s not good.” She said, pulling out the CT of his head. “He suffered..a lot of damage. Honestly, I’m shocked he’s able to sit up on his own.” She frowned. “But the brain can do amazing things.” She said with a small smile, placing a hand on Jason’s knee. “He has some severe damage to the left side and his temporal lobe which would explain the lack of speech and general awareness. There is also a good amount of scar tissue that’s built up in his brain.” She sighed. “The brain damage is also what caused the seizure so I’m putting him on some meds to help control that so it hopefully won’t happen as often.” Bruce frowned and nodded along as he kept glancing over at his middle son, whose eyes were still unfocused on the wall. “All in all, I would say he’s a very lucky boy. His motor functions seem to be reasonably well. And like I said, the brain can do amazing things, Bruce.” She said, giving him a small but warm smile. “Give him some time to adjust back at home and we’ll reasses.” Bruce only nodded. Dick frowned and took a step towards the bed, leaning down to plant a quick kiss into Jason’s hair.
“So..we can’t fix him..?” Dick asked slowly. Leslie gave him a sad smile and shook her head.
“Jason…will probably never fully recover, no.” Leslie said slowly. “But I’m very optimistic with some time and some help he can make some progress.” She smiled, giving Jason’s knee a little squeeze to try and grab his attention. “Right Jason?”
“Well we know people. People who can look in his head and like..fix him. We can do that right? We can call someone?” Dick frowned. Bruce sighed and shook his head and frowned at his eldest son.
“That’s enough.” Bruce said sternly. “I’m not having anyone poke around inside Jason’s head.” Dick let out a huff and Bruce saw Tim try and shrink himself away in his chair. Bruce just forced a smile towards Jason, brushing some of his hair out of his face. “Let’s go home. I’m sure Alfred made something nice for lunch.” Jason’s gaze flickered upward from the floor as his hand reached out and tangled his fingers in the fabric of Bruce’s button up.
—
Jason has been home for two months. Dick moved back into the manor a few weeks ago to help. Wayne Enterprises released a statement about Jason’s comeback, stating that the accident had left the body in the warehouse beyond recognition. That Bruce Wayne, in his horrible state of grief over his son, identified the wrong body and that Jason had been taken to a hospital with no ID. It was enough to please the public. The media went crazy. In the first two weeks, anytime they needed to take Jason to his doctor's visits, the car was mobbed. Cameras flashing and reporters shouting questions as everyone tried to get a glimpse of the missing Wayne boy.
It was horrible. The media outlets in Gotham had a reputation to be pushy and invasive, but this was a whole new level. Reports were pushing and shoving their way to the front of crowds, screaming questions left and right. Dick had to throw a jacket over Jason’s head as the family rushed him in and out of buildings to try and keep some privacy. After the second week, Bruce snapped. Publicly snapped. As he was leaving the office one day, he got mobbed by people asking about Jason. How he didn’t know his own son was dead. How he could live with himself knowing he left his son in another country. Why didn't he fight harder to find him? Gotham’s pride and joy, Brucie Wayne smashed a reporter's camera on the pavement.
“How dare you people!?” Bruce yelled. “My family has been through enough and you people think it’s okay to harass us?” He snapped. “My family, my son, have been through a horrible tragedy! We deserve privacy and peace just as much as anybody else! Anyone else who shows up to my son’s doctor’s appointments to try and get pictures or score an interview will be hearing from my lawyers.” He yelled as he got in his car and drove off. The next morning, Clark wrote a whole page dedicated to the shame Gotham paparazzi should feel. He basically shamed the whole city into silence with one paper. After that, things were mostly okay. Quieter.
Life just continued as normal. Well, almost normal.
Dick had taken it upon himself to wake up Jason every morning and help his brother get ready for the day. Tim assumed he was using it to make up for lost time. He just never would say that outloud, but he could see it for what it was. Almost a type of separation anxiety. Like, if he left Jason alone for too long he’d disappear. Or die again. They still had no leads on what exactly brought Jason back to life. They had no way of knowing if it was permanent or if they were all just living on borrowed time.
Dick carefully cracked open Jason’s bedroom door before quietly making his way next to the bed, reaching down to gently run a hand through Jason’s -now shorter- hair. Jason only let out a small noise, trying to pull his blankets up over his face. Dick just chuckled and leaned down, planting a kiss on his brother’s forehead. “Morning Little Wing.” Dick hummed softly. “Time to get up, Jay.” Jason’s eyes cracked open before he met Dick’s gaze. The older boy just smiled down at him. This is why he liked waking Jason up. The first few minutes after he woke up he was the most aware of who was around. More likely to look you in the eye and even crack a smile every once and a while before he sunk back down into the fog. “There you are.” Dick smiled, brushing back Jason’s bangs. Jason just looked up at his brother for a second before he cracked a small and crooked smile. Dick felt himself smile even wider even though something deep in his ribs cracked. Jason had been making progress since he came home. A little more aware everyday, more expressive when he wanted something (usually attention), but to Dick, It was just a reminder that his little brother will never be the same again.
Jason’s gaze fell to Dick’s shirt, reaching out and tangling his fingers into the sleeve and giving a gentle tug. A tug for what? Dick wasn’t sure. “What do you want, Jay?” Dick asked softly before there was another tug on his sleeve and Jason’s brows furrowed together. The younger let out a little huff before giving another tug. Dick frowned and leaned down more in the direction of the tugging. Jason didn’t stop. He just kept tugging until Dick was literally falling into his bed. Once Dick was face planted into Jason’s pillow, he let out a sigh, turning his head to face his brother with a raised eyebrow. Jason stopped tugging then. He looked at Dick for a few seconds before snuggling back into his own pillow with his hand still tangled in Dick’s sleeve.
Dick couldn’t even try to hide the smile pulling at his lips. He wiggled around a little until he was more comfortable before relaxing into Jason’s bed and pulling his brother in close. Jason went happily, letting out a quiet hum as his eyes slipped shut again. Dick took a deep breath and let his own eyes shut again. A few minutes wouldn’t kill them. Plus, Dick will never pass up a good cuddle with his brother.
Before Jason died, he wasn’t very outwardly cuddly. He’d hug Dick once and a while. On even rarer occasions he’d sneak into his brother’s room after a bad dream and curl up like a cat. But, it was always something he initiated first. If Dick tried to hug him without warning, Jason would push him away with a grumble about how he wasn’t a baby.
Dick loved his family. He also loved showing his family he loved them by physical affection. Even now, he still gives Bruce a hug once and a while when either of them are having a rough time. Sometimes, Bruce just looks like he needs a hug. Other times, Dick just really needs a hug from his dad.
Now, Jason was usually always holding onto Dick. Sometimes he was holding his arm or his sleeve. Other times, Jason would just walk up and take Dick’s hand in his own. He didn’t really know why. It might have something to do with the fact he woke up in a coffin alone. Then spent the next few months on the street all by himself and just trying to survive. It was almost like Jason was scared he’d get lost again if he wasn’t holding onto Dick in some way. When Dick thought about it too much, it made him sick to his stomach. Thinking about how scared Jason must have been on the street and they had no idea. How he managed to survive by himself was still a mystery. But now that they had him back, Dick wasn’t going to let go.
So, he laid in Jason’s bed with him all morning. Slowly running a hand through his brother’s hair as Jason drifted back to sleep. If being close was going to make Jason feel better, Dick would never complain about it. Never in a million years. Especially not now.
A while later, Jason was fully back asleep. Dick kind of forgot what a kola the kid could be. Jason had his face squished into Dick’s chest when a soft knock came from the door. Dick looked over just in time to see Bruce poke his head in.
“I was wondering where you two were.” Bruce chuckled softly. “Is he okay?”
“He’s fine. I think he’s just tired.” Dick whispered back. “I think he had another nightmare last night..” He explained slowly. Bruce quietly made his way in the room, sitting on the edge of the bed next to his two oldest sons. He sighed, carefully pulling Jason’s blanket up higher to keep him warm.
“Let him sleep.” Bruce hummed. “I have a few meetings at the office today. I’m taking Tim with me so he can sit in on a few of them but we’ll be back before four.” He said before leaning down and leaving a soft kiss right on Jason’s black hair. “If you need anything just call my cell.”
“Okay.” Dick yawned. “We’ll be fine. We’ve been re-reading the Lord of The Rings books and you know him, once I start reading he won’t let me stop until he either falls asleep or we finish the book.” He chuckled.
“Oh, I know.” Bruce smiled before standing up from the bed and giving his eldest son a quick kiss on the head. “I’ll see you boys later.” He whispered before quietly making his way out of the room, careful not to wake Jason up.
Dick relaxed back into the pillows, watching the branches outside sway with the wind as Jason slept.
Their lives might be different now, but none of them would change it for the world. No matter which way you look at it, Dick got his little brother back and gained another one. Even if Jason’s life would be drastically different now, Dick promised himself he would do anything to make him happy. He had a lot of lost time to make up for, so if Jason wanted to sleep in late and snuggle up, that’s exactly what Dick would do. Bruce was happier. Tim was happier. Jason was no longer dead or living on the street only just surviving.
They still might have bad days and bad things will always happen, but they were a family. A whole family again.
So, Dick just held onto the brother asleep on his chest and took a deep breath before drifting off to sleep himself.
In some other universe, in some other world, maybe Jason didn’t come back. Maybe he stayed dead and their family stayed broken. But not in this one. Dick was eternally grateful it wasn’t in this one.