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Dick knew what fear felt like.
He felt it when his parents fell to their deaths in front of him. He felt it when he was in juvie, fighting boys twice his size for food. He felt it when he faced his parent’s killer, Tony Zucco, armed only with a knife.
He felt it when he faced down Batman after murdering Zucco.
He felt it again and again over the past nine years of living on the streets of Gotham after escaping the Bat. Felt it during his first winter when he wasn’t sure where he was going to get food. Felt it when he took his first client in a dirty alleyway. Felt it when something in his knee snapped as he was running away from the cops. Felt it when he got so sick he wasn’t sure he was going to wake up the next morning.
He felt it when he saw Jason for the first time - a small, nine year old child attempting to stand on a street corner.
Long story short, Dick knew fear. But nothing before compared to the terror spiking through him at the sight of Batman holding his little brother by the wrist.
It wasn't supposed to end this way. Not with Dick standing helplessly at the end of an alley; Jason in the clutches of his worst nightmare. The nightmare that had been haunting him for 9 years.
Jason was supposed to be at home! Safe! Dick was the one who was supposed to take the risks. Dick was the one who took on clients so they could have food and a room. He’d only let Jason start nicking car parts after a particularly violent client left Dick bed-ridden for days. And even then, it was rare that Dick agreed to let him do it. It was Dick's job to protect Jason, not the other way around.
But here they were, in an alley where the Batmobile sat propped up on crumbling bricks and sans three tires. What had possessed Jason to go after them?!
Jason tried to pull away from Batman, but the man’s grip didn’t shift and his mouth moved, voice too low for Dick to hear. Tears were streaming down his little robin's face as he struggled, fighting to get his arm back. Batman jerked Jason gently, barely more than a pull, but Jason's eyes squeezed shut and he screamed: “Dick!”
His little brother's voice jolted him into action. Dick sprang forward, sprinting with a snarl down the alley. His knee screamed, his back ached, but none of that mattered. Because it would not end like this! He scooped up Jason’s discarded tire iron, screamed “Hey, asshole!” and swung. Batman twisted towards him and Dick swore he made eye contact with the eyes behind the lenses when the tire iron connected with the arm holding Jason. Batman grunted in pain and dropped Jason's arm. Quick as a snake, Dick reversed his swing, driving the iron into Batman’s stomach. Batman doubled over and Dick grabbed Jason’s hand.
"Run!”
They bolted. Dick pushed Jason in front him as they rounded the corner out of the alley and made for the abandoned building down the street. They had practiced this - had scoped out this specific building and charted paths through it, ones just big enough for them to move through in case anyone - cops or marks or Batman - decided to give chase. Everyone knew you couldn’t outrun Batman - but you could out maneuver him.
Footsteps pounding behind them.
Jason reached one of the entrances they made and slipped in. Dick was a few feet away when a hand closed on the back of his sweatshirt, his collar jerking against his throat. But Dick hadn’t forgotten his past. He let his neck and arms go up and limp, contorting and twisting and barely losing any momentum as he slipped out the sweatshirt. He dove for the narrow gap and, as he slipped into the building, he swore he felt fingers brush his ankle.
He scrambled further in, deftly navigating the fallen walls and questionable floors to where Jason huddled inside. He’d barely entered the small space before Jason threw himself into his arms. “You’re okay, you’re okay,” Dick reassured both of them as he dragged Jason into his lap - running his hands over Jason's body, reassuring himself that he was here. Jason cried and shook in his arms as Dick gently pushed Jason’s sleeve up. The skin around Jason’s wrist was red and slightly swollen, the skin scraped from when Jason tried to twist free.
“I’m sorry,” Jason whispered as Dick probed his wrist.
“Little robin,” Dick dropped Jason’s arm and cupped his face, “You’re okay, we’re okay.” He tucked his little brother into his chest, phantom fingers brushing his ankle. The cold started biting into his bare arms, causing him to shiver.
Jason readjusted in his grip, wrapping his arms around Dick’s, trying to cover him as much as he could. “I’m sorry,” Jason whispered again. “I know you told me to stay home, but I want to help!”
Dick hushed Jason, gently whispering and rocking them back and forth. Jason eventually went quiet and the brothers clung to each other in the dark.
The trick to this bolt hole is that everyone expected them to slip out the far side. So no one - including Batman - ever waited by the entrance gap. Dick peeked out after 3 minutes of waiting, eyes on the sky. There was no sight or sound of anyone. He tossed a small piece of concrete out as well, listening carefully for any shift in the night - nothing moved.
So Dick squeezed out and reached a hand back to help Jason through. The street stayed quiet as they moved away from the building. A dozen feet away, Jason tugged gently on his arm and pointed. There, crumpled against the wall, was Dick’s sweatshirt. Batman must have tossed it there after Dick escaped from it.
Dick grabbed it gently, something pinging through him as he ran fingers over a new tear in the collar. The sweatshirt was a lucky find two years ago. It had saved him from freezing multiple times since then, Jason as well. The wind picked up and Jason shivered. Dick turned and slipped the sweatshirt over Jason’s head, ignoring the goosebumps on his own arms. Jason made a noise of protest, but Dick just picked him up and moved down the street again.
It was time to go home.
Home was a small room in a tenet house deep in Crime Alley. The rent was cheap under the condition that Dick never brought clients back here…and that he was available for free if the landlord wanted him to visit. There were no questions about their ages or their relation to one another. The room was dark, always slightly damp, with a single window.
It was perfect.
Dick pulled the thick curtain closed as Jason plugged in their only light - a lone, free standing lamp. The light fell over the thin, lumpy mattress that was covered in blankets, the cans of food stacked against the wall, and the small stack of books by the bed.
Dick took Jason's arm, twisting it gently to examine the growing bruise in the light. There were slight abrasions on the skin, but nothing that Dick was worried about.
"Come on," Dick said gently as he took Jason's hand and lead him out of the room and down the hall to the communal bathroom. While Jason could have stayed in the room while Dick cleaned up from his nightly work, he was still too jittery to leave Jason alone. So Jason cleaned up a bit using the sink as Dick showered.
Fifteen minutes later, Dick - dried off and changed - pulled Jason into his arms on the bed. Jason lay still for a second before starting to shake. Dick hushed him and ran a hand through his hair, "It's alright, Jay. We're safe."
"I'm sorry," Jason sniffed again.
Dick planted a kiss on Jason's head, "We're going to be okay." Dick held his brother for a few more minutes as he cried before gently brushing Jason's hair out of his face, "Do you want me to read to you?" Jason nodded, so Dick reached over and picked up the top most book.
Not ten minutes later, Jason's breath's had evened out and he was asleep. Dick gently shut the book, unplugged the lamp, and pulled his little brother into his arms.
They were going to be alright.
He was on the edge of falling asleep when something entered their room. It was subtle - the slightest disturbance of the air - but it was enough to snap him awake. His neck prickled as something moved towards them from the window, and Dick internally cursed himself for not double checking the lock. He waited, muscles taunt, until the something was nearly leaning over the bed.
Dick twisted, swinging wildly with the knife that lay under their pillow. The shadow jumped back as Dick quickly rose to his feet. He heard Jason jolt awake with a soft cry behind him, but Dick didn't dare look away from the shadow standing in front of him. A shadow with bat ears.
"Run!" Dick screamed as he swung at Batman again. He heard Jason scramble behind him - his footsteps pounding as he made for the door - as Batman brought up an arm to block Dick's attack.
It's an easy decision, Dick thought as he drew his arm back to attack again. I only have six months until I'm 18. Only six months in foster care, juvie, or wherever they send me. Jason would have six years!
Batman grabbed his wrist before he could lunge again, twisting it so Dick was forced to let go of the knife. "Richard," Batman grunted, "stop fight me." A chill went down Dick's spine: He knows me! Dick twisted with the motion, twirling around Batman's arm. He had to keep the vigilante occupied long enough for Jason to-
Jason screamed.
Dick whiled around - his wrist still in Batman's hand - and for a second time that night, he saw his little brother in the grip of a Bat.
Batgirl must have been waiting on the other side of the door, cutting off their escape. And she now had her hands clamped on Jason's squirming shoulders.
His little robin was crying.
His little robin was crying!
Dick lunged towards the door with a cry, but Batman pulled him back, fighting to get a more secure hold on him.
Behind Batgirl, a door opened down the all and Mr. Smith - their landlord - stepped out, no doubt investigating the noise. But all hopes for a rescue or intervention died when he took one look in their direction and scampered back through his door.
No one in their right mind would challenge the Bat.
Dick was decidedly not in his right mind. He contorted, drawing on muscle memory for moves his hadn't performed in years. He twisted in Batman's grip in such a way that the vigilante either had to let go or snap Dick's arm.
He was playing a game of chicken with Batman.
The iron grip on his wrist disappeared. And Dick stumbled. His right leg twisted beneath him and pain exploded from his knee, sending him tumbling to the ground. Dick tried to muffle his screams as he tried to get to his feet, tried to get to Jason. But his knee wouldn't hold any weight or bend. He collapsed backwards away from Batman, his shoulder colliding with the wall.
"Dick!" he heard Jason call. There was a yelp and suddenly Jason was in front of him.
Over Jason's shoulder, he saw Batgirl shaking her hand. "Fucker bit me," she hissed at Batman as the vigilante stepped fully into the room and closed the door behind her.
Jason stood in front of Dick, legs almost shaking, and growled at the bats, "Don't you fucking touch him!"
Dick frantically reached forward, trying to pull Jason to him. But with his knee already fucked up he couldn't get a solid enough grip on his brother to pull him back. Jason just shrugged his hands off and continued to snarl at the Bats. To his surprise, neither bat reached to grab him. Instead, Batman crouched several feet away, his hands out in a placating gesture.
"Are you alright?" Batman's deep growl filled the room.
Are they alright? Are they alright?! Dick could only stare open mouthed at the man for asking such a stupid question.
Jason had no such issues, "Fuck off! Go away!" Jason's hands clenched into fists, "You hurt him!"
Guilt seemed to pass over Batman's face, "I didn't mean to hurt him." He made eye contact with Dick (or as much as you could with the lenses) around Jason, "I'm sorry, Richard." Batman shifted forward and Jason squared his feet up and snarled. Batman still held his hands in a placating position, "I only want to check his injury."
Dick could hear the tears in Jason's voice as he shouted, "You don't get to touch him! You're just like all the others! All they do is hurt him, and I'm not going to let you!"
Batman's weight shifted back again, "Alright, I won't touch him. But we need to get you both somewhere safe."
Ice filled Dick's veins. Somewhere safe. How often had those words been used to try and trap them? To try and get them in a car or to the authorities? It was a lie, it was always a lie.
Also, Batman had recognized him, despite it being years since he'd seen the vigilante face to face. There was no question for Dick now what was going to become of him - Batman would never let a murderer go. So Dick forced himself to meet Batman's eyes and begged, "Please, I won't fight you. But, please, let him go." Jason made a noise, but Dick ignored him as he held Batman's gaze. The only important thing now was Jason.
Something passed over Batman's face, "I can't do that."
Jason shot Dick an incredulous look over his shoulder, "I'm not leaving you with them!"
"Jay," Dick tried to shift forward, but flopped back with a cry as his leg twinged. Small hands wrapped around his arms and he leaned into Jason's embrace, bringing his mouth to Jason's ear, "Please little robin. You have to run." Dick vividly remembered his own time in juvie and had heard many a horror story on the streets about the foster system in Gotham. If he could save Jason from that fate, he would.
Jason pulled back slightly, his face again streaked with tears. "Not without you," his brave little brother whispered.
Their attention snapped back to the room as Batgirl shifted and bit her lip. "B…" she trailed off and Batman looked back at her.
Dick couldn't read the expression on her face, but apparently Batman could because he sighed and whispered "Alf's gonna kill me." He turned back towards them and spoke again, "I know a safe place I can take you together."
Dick couldn't stop the high-pitched laugh from escaping, "Bullshit!" He didn't know what planet Batman was living on, but there was no way prison was ever going to be considered safe. And was he insane enough to think they would let Jason stay with Dick? They would be torn apart the second Batman's back was turned. Which meant that Batman was lying again.
Batman's mouth tightened into a line, no doubt annoyed for being called out on his lie. "I swear to you, I will not separate you two."
Oh, a fancy lie this time. Batman wouldn't separate them. But he would soon leave them with those who would.
Dick wanted to keep arguing, keep fighting for Batman to let his little brother go. But he knew how to read people after so much time on the street. The set of Batman's shoulders said that he wasn't going to take no for an answer. And even if the bats weren't blocking the exits, Dick couldn't escape with his knee hurting as it was. And Jason? His little robin wasn't going to leave him; no matter how much Dick begged him to.
Any further fighting was only going to delay the inevitable. Jason slumped against his side, probably coming to the same conclusion.
He didn't know what Batman read in their body language, but he shifted forward and rose to his feet. Jason let out a small whimper from where he was pressed against Dick's side and Dick shifted to clasp his hand in his own. Batman and Batgirl shared a look before Batgirl stepped towards them, a hand reaching for Jason.
Jason jerked away from her, ramming into Dick's side and jostling his leg. The boy froze, horror dawning on his face at Dick's whimper. Dick forced a watery smile on his face, "It's alright, Jason. I'm alright."
Dick's heart broke as he saw Jason shutting down in front of him, his sweet brother locking himself away. And when Batgirl approached again, gently narrating how she was going to pick Jason up so Batman could help Dick, Jason allowed himself to be maneuvered into her arms. Dick saw concern flit over her face as she took in the nearly limp boy in her grip - so different from the spit-fire of a few minutes ago - before his vision was filled with Batman.
The vigilante knelt next to him, eyes traveling up and down where his leg was stretched in front of him. He pulled a complicated looking contraption from his suit - Where the hell was he storing that?? - and showed it to Dick. "This will stabilize your knee for when I move you." He reached for Dick's leg, then paused, "May I touch you?"
Dick didn't want to be touched by him, but he was used to ignoring that feeling. So he nodded and Batman carefully lifted his leg, sliding the contraption underneath. A few seconds later, Dick's knee was nearly immobilized and he felt a wave of panic. Now he couldn't even attempt to run even if there was an opportunity. Batman had hobbled him. And he allowed it to happen.
Dick swallow his panic down as Batman looked at him, "May I carry you downstairs?" Dick's entire body tensed at the thought of being held in Batman's arms, but he knew he couldn't move on his own, especially with the brace limiting his movement. Batman must have seen his hesitation, but the vigilante thankfully didn't comment on it, just hooked his arms under Dick's after Dick nodded at him.
He was hoisted against Batman's chest, feeling a little like a koala. Batman shifted, bracing a forearm under him and moving so Dick's leg dangled to the side of his body. He then shared a look with Batgirl, head tilted at Jason who stared blankly forward from where he was held against her. Batgirl wrapped her arms tighter around Dick's little brother and nodded. Dick kept his eyes on his little brother as the vigilantes carried them away from the room, down the stairs, and into the cold wind outside.
The Batmobile waited for them, just as innocuous looking as it had been in the alley earlier, but this time containing all its tires. Batman shifted Dick again, opened the door to the back seat, and gently lowered Dick inside. He quickly slid away from the open door, his leg extending over the entire seat as he leaned against the far door. Batman didn't try to stop his retreat, only stood to the side as Batgirl leaned down with Jason.
Jason flailed - his first sign of life in the past several minutes - causing Batgirl to drop him roughly into the car. She gasped an apology, but Jason didn't seem to care. He crawled quickly over the seat and Dick's leg and shoved himself back into Dick's arms, curling his face into Dick shoulder and shaking. Batgirl's mask covered half of her face, but Dick could still recognize the grief that flashed over it. Dick just tucked his brother against him and leveled the vigilante with a hard stare.
The door shut with a finality that made Dick flinch. He barely noticed the two bats get in the front or the car starting to move. All his attention was focused on Jason. He ran fingers through the boy's knotted hair, gently working at them. Was this the last time he would be able to do this? Would there be someone - wherever Jason ended up - that would love him enough to help? Because despite what Batman claims to promise, they would be separated soon after arriving at the station - Jason off to the foster care system, and Dick to jail. He didn't even know if he would ever see is little brother again.
The sound beneath the car changed from a dull rumble to a metallic whine. Dick stared wide eyed out the window as Gotham fell away behind them as they rose up. They weren't heading into the city center. We're going over the bridge into Bristol!
"Where are you taking us?" He fought to keep his voice steady.
"I told you, a safe place." Batman didn't even turn around.
Dick stared at the vigilante, confusion and dread curling in his gut. Everyone had always said that Batman didn't sell the kids he grabbed, only gave them over to the social services that then sold the kids to the traffickers. But… but maybe they was a special circumstance. Maybe he was telling the truth about knowing a place that would take both him and Jason. Someone who was willing to buy two homeless orphans with no one to look for them. Dick's gut twisted with the thought.
Batgirl twisted around to look at them as they reached the end of the bridge. "Are you hungry?" she asked as she held out two granola bars. Dick wanted to protest - he didn't want to accept anything else from them - but Jason's stomach growled loudly. He could feel the heat rising in Jason's face at the sound and he carefully reached around the boy to snag one of the bars.
He shrugged his shoulder, tilting Jason's face up. Using his teeth so he could keep one arm around Jason, Dick opened the bar and held it up to Jason. "Come on, little robin. You need to eat." Jason looked at him with watery eyes before taking a bite. As he chewed, he gently pushed the bar towards Dick. Dick gave him a soft smile a took a bite as well. It was a ritual they started years ago whenever there wasn't a lot of food available. Both of them were prone to going hungry so the other could eat. This way, all food was shared between them with each making sure the other was eating.
They traded bites until the bar was gone, Dick glancing forward as Jason settled back down. Batgirl was still twisted in her seat looking at them. When she saw Dick looking back, she gave him a soft smile. "It's really you," she whispered, "you're really here." Before Dick could even raise an eyebrow at her, she turned around and pressed some buttons on the dashboard.
The sound in the car changed again as the dim night light from outside the car turned into pure blackness. Dick shifted, Jason moving as well, to stare out the windshield at the headlights of the Batmobile shown on fast moving stalactites as the car hurtled through a cave!
No sooner had Dick realized they were underground that the tunnel opened up into a vast space. He heard Jason gasp beside him, Dick barely holding in his own reaction. His eyes jumped from the stalactites hanging from the ceiling to the vast computer covering a wall to the dinosaur. The car slowed down, jolting into park a few feet away from where an old man stood at attention.
Instinct took over and Dick pulled Jason against him again as Batman and Batgirl exited the car and approached the old man. There were quiet murmurs, the old man's head turning back and forth between the two. Dick could swear the old man heaved a huge sigh before walking past the pair and approaching the car.
Dick scooted away from the door as the old man gently opened it and peered in at them. "Hello," his voice was soft as he spoke. "My name is Alfred. May I know yours?"
There was no way that Batman did not inform the man of their names, but he appreciated what Alfred was trying to do. "Dick," he said softly in response, "and this is Jason."
Alfed smiled at them, "It is my great pleasure to meet you, Master Dick, Master Jason." His smile was warm and soothing, exactly how Dick remembered the older members of the circus being. "I have been informed by Master Bruce that you have received an injury tonight." Alfred glanced over his shoulder at Batman (Bruce?) at this statement. The man seemed to flinch and almost shrink under Alfred's gaze. Batgirl gave him a pat on the shoulder before turning and making her way across the cave. Alfred looked back into the car, "Would you be so kind as to let me examine you in the medbay?"
Despite it being phrased as a question, there was no doubt that it was a request. Their chance to move on their own before the bats forced them to move. Determined to at least try and stay on their good side, Dick gently nudged Jason towards the door and dragging himself across the seat to follow. Alfred held out a hand as Jason neared the door. Jason looked at it skeptically before grabbing it and moving out of the car. Once his little robin was standing, Dick made to leave himself, but Alfred held up a hand, "Wait a moment." There was a soft rattling and Batgirl reappeared pushing a wheel chair in front of her. Dick wanted to be spiteful. He'd been living with this injury for five years at this point. But he didn't think he would be able to stand up to the combined forces of Alfred and Jason, especially when he was still hobbled by the brace.
So he allowed Batgirl and Alfred to maneuver him into the wheelchair, one leg sticking out in front of him. After he was situated, Batgirl moved behind him and started pushing him across the cave. Jason stuck close to his side - hand never leaving his - as they made their way away from the car. At some point during his transfer, Batman had walked away and was now typing away at the computer. The screens were too far away for Dick to make anything out, but it was easy to see he was flipping through a lot of files very fast. Alfred also headed in a different direction, leaving them with Batgirl as they crossed the cave.
Jason's head was swiveling back and forth as they traveled. When his eyes lingered on the ginormous dinosaur, Batgirl chuckled, "That's from when Batman had to try and survive 36 hours on an island with dozens of robot dinosaurs without any of his gadgets."
Jason whirled to stare at the vigilante, "You're shitting me!"
Dick could hear the smile in her voice, "Nope! Was there myself when a Mr. Chase rode the thing to try and kill Batman." She dropped her voice to a whisper, "Just between you and me, he would be dead without me."
Jason grinned back at the vigilante, but the smile quickly faded as they rounded a corner and entered the med bay. Cots and various medical supplies filled the space and Batgirl stopped them by the nearest one. She glanced at Jason again, "Wanna help me move your big brother to the cot?" Jason nodded tightly and braced himself against Dick's side as Dick wavered to his feet. He braced a hand on Jason's shoulder as he hopped forward, Batgirl hovering in case he lost his balance. But he wasn't a circus performer for nothing and he successfully made it to the cot without falling.
He was just getting fully situated on the bed when Alfred reappeared with a tray. He set it down carefully on a counter against the wall, revealing bowls of steaming soup. He offered one to Batgirl as she stood back from the bed. "Thank you, Alfred," she said as she took the bowl and pulled her mask off her face. Dick took the opportunity to study her closer: she looked young, younger than he was expecting. She couldn't be much older than 20. Her red hair, now free from her cowl, flopped around her face and she wrangled it into a messy bun before picking up her bowl again.
Alfred offered a bowl to Jason next. Dick quickly covered his mouth with the back of his hand at the almost immediate distrust that shown on Jason's face as he looked at the bowl. Alfred also did not miss the look, "Master Jason, I am always willing to switch your bowl with Miss Barbara's if that would make you feel better." Batgirl, apparently Barbara, looked up from where she was already eating and offered them a smile.
Jason glanced between them, suspicion clear on his face. Dick reached over and ran a hand over Jason's hair, "I don't think they placed anything in there, little robin. I doubt they would bring us back here only to drug us now."
Alfred seemed to startle at his words, and an almost offended look came over his face. Dick gave him his best apologetic smile, but it worked as Jason took the bowl and gingerly took a bite. He only spoke as Alfred made his way around to Dick's other side. "What about Dick?!" he demanded.
Alfred calmly spoke, "The last bowl is for him. I do not want him spilling anything during my examination."
Jason scowled at the older man, then clambered up onto the bed with Dick. Barbara jolted forward, but Dick had already grabbed the bowl to stop it from spilling. Jason sent another glare at Alfred from where he was kneeling at Dick's side as he held a spoonful up for Dick. Dick accepted the offered bite and couldn't contain his moan at the taste. It was simple, yet complex; multiple layers of flavor filled his mouth and the warmth seemed to seep into his body as he swallowed.
Barbara laughed, "Yeah, Alfred's soups are some of the best!"
Dick smiled and nodded at her as Jason took another bite, then offered the spoon to him again, repeating the same ritual as the bar. After a few seconds, Alfred seemed to accept that Jason was not getting off the bed and instead turned his attention to Dick's leg. With a few twists, the contraption was removed from Dick's knee and the old man lifted a pair of scissors. "Wait-" Dick flung out a hand as Alfred lowered the scissors to his pants.
He paused and looked up, "I'm sorry, Master Dick. I will provide you with a new pair after this is over. I do have to see your injury to assess it though."
Dick swallowed around the lump in his throat, "What will is cost?"
A flash of sadness passed over the old man's face. "It will cost you nothing, Master Dick. I will simply be replacing what I destroyed." Dick didn't trust it, but it wasn't like he could stop them. So he took another bite of soup as Alfred efficiently cut his pant leg off above the knee.
His knee was inflamed and red, no doubt also hot to the touch. Alfred gently maneuvered it back and forth, checking up and down his leg for any other injuries, "When was it originally injured?"
"Years ago," Dick responded. "I was running and slipped on a patch of ice." No need to tell them the reason I was running.
Alfred hummed, "And tonight?"
"Twisted beneath me."
Barbara looked up from her bowl, "He was grappling with Bruce."
Alfred hummed again, this one lower-pitched, before moving to what Dick assumed to be a freezer and grabbing a bag of ice. "I'm concerned that you have a torn ligament in your knee. I don't have the ability here to properly assess the damage it has taken over the years." The ice was cold as the old man laid it over his knee. "This should help with the swelling though and some of the pain." Alfred grabbed the last bowl, offering it to Jason as their current bowl was now empty. "I will reach out to a doctor we trust to schedule an X-ray and MRI to determine the damage and proper treatment steps needed."
Fear, colder than the ice, shot through Dick. Jason had similarly frozen as he was giving the empty bowl back to Alfred - the new bowl slipping from his grip and splattering across the floor. It wasn't the prospect of a doctor visit - though they could never afford to go to one before. It was the fact that Alfred believed they would be here long enough to schedule one.
Batman didn't sell kids, but that doesn't mean he doesn't take them himself.
Alfred and Barbara had both moved when the bowl had slipped from Jason's hands, but froze when Dick pulled Jason into his chest, clutching his little robin as if Dick could protect him. He didn't know what emotion was showing on his face, but Alfred shifted his hands into a placating gesture and Barbara slowly lowered herself back into her chair. "I know you might not have a lot of trust in doctors, but Dr. Thompkins is a close friend. She will do you no harm."
Dick shook his head, half his attention on his chest where Jason was gripping so hard that his nails were digging into Dick's skin. He fought to get his breath under control, "What do you want with us?"
"Beg pardon?"
Dick's voice rose, "What the hell do you want with us?!" Because it was sounding less and less that they would be turned over to CPS, but all the alternatives were even worse. "Why would you try and fix my knee?! Why were we even brought here?! What do you want?!"
Barbara looked as if she was about to respond, but quick, light footsteps echoed from the area beyond the medbay. All four of them turned to the doorway in time to see a tiny child burst into the room and skid to a halt. The kid looked around wildly, straight black hair whipping around until his blue eyes - almost the same shade as Jason's - landed on the boys on the cot. Barbara was already approaching the boy, a look of fond annoyance on her face. "Tim," she admonished, "I know for a fact that Alfred put you to bed hours ago."
Tim ignored her, his eyes glued on Jason and Dick. "They really found you!" he exclaimed before rushing the bed. Barbara and Alfred made to intercept, but were not quick enough to stop the boy from clambering up.
Dick hissed in pain as Tim jostled his knee when he fully got on the cot. Jason moved in front of him and brandished a scalpel at the boy (because at some point his brilliant, resourceful little brother must have swiped it off the counter). Tim paused at the sight of the blade, but his wide eyes were still mainly focused on Dick. "I was listening to the comms tonight, but I didn't really believe it when Mr. Wayne said he found you! I've heard all the stories about you and even helped Mr. Wayne monitor the tracking programs he set up just in case your name ever came up in the system! Where have you been? What have-"
"Tim," Barbara said loudly as she scooped the boy off the bed, one eye on Jason's scalpel. "What are you doing up? And where did you get a comm?"
Tim turned his bright eyes to her and completely ignored her second question, "How could I sleep knowing that Mr. Wayne finally found Richard Grayson! He's been looking for him nearly as long as I've been alive!"
A scuff of shoe on stone announced Bruce's arrival. The man was no longer wearing his cowl and sharp, greyish blue eyes scanned the scene in front of him. Bruce looked familiar, and it wasn't until he had approached Tim and Barbara and softly smiled at the young boy for the face to click.
Bruce Wayne.
His face often covered the magazines and newspapers - announcements of scientific discoveries, scandals from various galas, or charity works - that tended to litter Crime Alley. Dick had never really cared about the billionaire, except for the fact that Jason, being the voracious reader that he was, would often collect the papers to have something new to read. He would even read them out loud to Dick when he was having a bad night.
The billionaire ran a gentle hand over Tim's hair, "Timbo, you're supposed to be asleep. You have school tomorrow."
"But- but you found him! You finally-" Tim tried to protest, but a yawn cut through the rest of the sentence.
Bruce chuckled, "Go to sleep, Tim. You can meet them tomorrow."
Dick and Jason tensed again at the confirmation that they were going to be staying here longer than expected. And Bruce seemed to have noticed it because his head turned slightly, eyes lingering on them, "Babs, why don't you take our little eavesdropper up to bed."
She nodded and, after saying a quiet goodnight, headed out into the cave, Tim's head already drooping onto her shoulder.
Bruce turned towards Alfred, "Alfred, could you see if we still have any of my old clothes in storage for Richard and Jason to wear?"
"Certainly, Master Bruce." Alfred nodded to them, then quietly slipped out after Barbara. Leaving them alone with Bruce.
Bruce looked at them with gentle eyes - no doubt cataloging how Dick had pulled Jason back into his arms and how tightly Jason was holding the scalpel. Then, slowly, he knelt down and grabbed the discarded bowl and set it on a nearby counter.
"I'm sorry for scaring you. I'm sorry for… not communicating as well as I should have. It's something my family is working with me on."
Dick swallowed past the dryness in his throat, "What do you want with us?"
Bruce made his way back over and lowered himself onto a stool before answering, "For you to be safe. That's all I wanted since I first met you 10 years ago."
Accusation slipped into his voice."You've been tracking me?"
"…I've been trying to find you, yes." Bruce looked down at the floor, "And yes, that did involve a tracking system that would ping me if you were entered into either a CPS or GPD search or database."
"Why have you been looking for me?"
Bruce's eyes flicked back up to his, "Because I wanted you to be safe. No child should have to go through what you did."
Dick thought of the other street kids he'd seen and worked with. The multitude of others like him and Jason who didn't have anyone to turn to…and many had worse stories than his. "There are dozens like me out there."
"Yes," Bruce sighed. "And my search for you has shown me just how bad it's gotten. I've been doing what I can to help, as both Batman and Bruce Wayne."
"By giving kids to the traffickers?!" Jason shouted, causing both Dick and Bruce to jump.
"What?" To Bruce's credit, he actually sounded confused.
"Everyone know the kids you take don't come back!" Jason continued, his grip on the scalpel turning white. Dick wrapped his hand around Jason's, massaging and maneuvering his fingers under Jason's to take the scalpel into his own hands before it broke under Jason's grip.
"It's true that a lot of kids are sent away from Gotham," Bruce confirmed, his voice taking a sad tone, "but that's because there are very few foster parents in Gotham that qualify. That is something I invested heavily in after learning more about Richard's experience after his parents died."
"Dick," Dick interjected.
"What?" Bruce said again, a little taken aback.
"I- I don't go by Richard. My name is Dick."
Bruce smiled softly, "Alright, Dick. I will admit, bringing you both here was not the plan. After seeing how bad the foster family situation was in Gotham, I applied myself to become a foster parent. In fact, that's why Tim is staying with me now. I'd hoped to give you over to CPD, then apply for custody as Bruce Wayne. But," he chuckled, "it was clear you were both very against that plan."
Jason's gaze dropped as he curled further into Dick's arms, "They would have never allowed us to stay together."
"Under normal circumstances, you would be right since you aren't blood siblings. But after I recognized you in the alley, Dick, I instructed Alfred to hack into the CPS system so they would call me for an emergency placement. Please trust me, it was always my goal to keep you together after seeing you both in the Alley."
Dick tried to wrap his head around what Bruce was saying, but…"But why would you want us? Why go through all this trouble for a pair of street rats?"
"Please don't ever call yourselves that again," Bruce's mouth tightened into a line before sighing again. "And because you both deserve somewhere safe to live. Somewhere safe to sleep and eat and return to if needed. It's one of the reasons I became Batman was to help the people of Gotham feel safer. It's why Barbara joined me on the street of her own accord."
"And what about me?" All this was sounding too good to be true, so that meant there was a catch. And the big one was that Dick was still a murderer. "Why are you not arresting me?"
"Dick, you were a kid. A kid who had just went through one of the worst things imaginable. I understood exactly where you were because I was the same after my parents died. But I was lucky, I still had a support system, and my parents' killer got his day in court. The system worked for me. It didn't for you. Another area of reform I'm working on. But either way, arresting you would have done nothing to help you heal from the pain of losing your parents. The plan was always to get you to people who could help you." Bruce's eyes flicked down to where Jason was curled up and another soft smile spread across his face, "Though I see you've found someone to love without me interfering.
After Jason shifted slightly to look at Bruce again, the man continued, "I only know the basics of your story lad. But my home is open to you as well. I mean it when I said I want both of you to have a safe place to live."
"And how do we know you're not lying?" Jason's voice had gone soft, the exhaustion of hope and the long night catching up.
"That's the painful thing about trust: you don't. All I'm asking is for you to give me a chance. And if you still want to leave after a few months or I do anything that makes you fear for your safety, you talk with Alfred and he will get you to someone safe. Please, just give me a chance, that's all I'm asking."
Dick squeezed Jason's shoulder, his little robin's eyes connecting with him. They would do this together or not at all. And in Jason's eyes, he saw hope. It was small, a barely there flicker. But Dick was determined to not let it die. So he looked up at Bruce and nodded, "Okay, one chance."
Bruce nodded back, "Thank you." And Dick could hear the sincerity in the vigilante's voice.
Six months later:
The sun shown softly across Dick's face on a rare day the clouds above Gotham parted. He lounged in the yard chair, his leg resting horizontal in front of him and propped up on a couple of pillows. He'd had another reconstructive surgery on his knee a few days earlier and was on strict bed rest for the foreseeable future. But just because he couldn't move doesn't mean his voice didn't work.
"Tim! I swear to god, I better not have just seen you put a worm in your pocket!" Dick sat up slightly, glaring at the younger boy. Said younger boy's face turned tellingly guilty and his hand slipped back out of his pocket.
Jason laughed from where he was digging in the dirt nearby, "Getting hungry there, little bird?"
Tim's eyes narrowed, a calculating glean in them. Before Dick could even open his mouth to yell, Tim cocked his arm back and threw the poor worm straight into Jason's face. Jason sputtered in surprise and Tim took the chance to dash across the garden before Jason scrambled after him.
Dick just relaxed down with a sigh. Alfred had sent the two rambunctious boys outside and Dick, like a fool, agreed to watch them. The boys has quickly taken to the muddy garden, the recent snow melt making the ground soft. Dick had already decided to be long gone by the time Alfred saw the muddy clothes - he'd only said he would watch them. He never agreed to police them.
Dick was tracking the boys through the garden then the scuff of a foot against the stone patio alerted him to Bruce's presence. The man stood next to Dick, his eyes also on the two boys and their playing, "Alfred is going to have a conniption when he sees them."
Dick huffed a laugh and gestured to his leg, "Did Alfred really think I would be able to do anything about them?"
Bruce hummed as he grabbed a nearby chair and pulled it closer, "How is it feeling today?"
Dick shrugged, "Still sore…and itchy. I didn't think bones could itch, but you learn something new every day."
Bruce chuckled, "I'll get your ice shortly to help." They fell into silence then. At least they were silent…the garden was still full of noise from the other kids.
"So," Bruce started awkwardly, "next week's your birthday."
Indeed it was, and Dick was doing his best not to think about it. Despite the world's best efforts, it seemed like he would actually make it to his 18th birthday. But the age that would usually be cause for celebration in most teens only brought him dread. He will be officially aged out of the foster system. And while the last six months with Bruce had been better than he'd hoped for…it was now coming to and end for him.
He was sure Bruce would at least house him until his most recent surgery was healed, and he was sure that Bruce wouldn't ban Jason from seeing him. But there was still a lot to be decided. His caseworker had given him a binder of information and resources at their last meeting - shelters and social programs he could use to support himself. And he'd read it - hidden away in his room where Jason couldn't see it. His little robin hadn't seemed to make the connection yet that Dick turning 18 meant Dick had to eventually leave.
Dick forced his dry throat to swallow and nodded, "Jason's already planning a cake with Alfred." His little brother had thrived in the past six months. Consistent meals had allowed him to gain back the weight he should have had, and Bruce had almost immediately enrolled both of them in online school. Jason had caught up in a couple of months and had actually started attending Gotham Academy in January. Dick was still was working through his lessons, and often found himself studying with Barbara when she was not attending her college classes.
"He's a good kid," Bruce said smiling.
Dick nodded in agreement, "The best."
Bruce clicked his tongue, "I, um…I was wondering if I could give you your present a little early?" It was then that Dick noticed Bruce clutching a folder. He nodded and Bruce offered it to him. Dick was flipping it open when Bruce, uncharacteristically, started babbling, "There's no pressure on you for it. I just…well, you seem happy here so I wanted to let you know it was an option. But you don't need to say yes and your answer doesn't affect Jason at all and-"
Dick had stopped listening to Bruce as he scanned the adoption papers. His name was penned neatly on a line, Bruce's on another. All that seemed to be missing was what Dick's last name after adoption was going to be and signatures.
He tuned back in to Bruce: "-and of course these are just…ceremonial for lack of a better term. We would have to make a court date, but that is why I wanted to talk with you this week about it."
"Bruce," he cut Bruce off, his voice getting tied up in his throat, "are these…real?"
A hand rested on his good leg, drawing Dick's gaze. Bruce's face was soft and open as he spoke, "Dick Grayson, would you like to officially become my son?"
Dick blinked and the tears that were threatening to fall did. Bruce's hand moved, cupping his cheek and wiping them away with a thumb. "I don't need an answer today. But I wanted to make sure you knew it was an option. And if you decide no, I'm more than willing to help you get set up wherever you want to go."
Dick clutched the papers as if they were the only things tethering him to earth. "What about Jason? And Tim?"
Bruce's smile turned mischievous, "They have their own folders back in my office."
A laugh burst from his chest, "I don't think it's going to be a question for them."
"Maybe not," Bruce conceded, "But I wanted to offer it to you first. Again," Bruce's hand dropped and he closed the folder, pushing it firmly into Dick's hands, "I don't need an answer today-"
"Yes." Bruce froze and Dick fought to get his mouth to work, "I- I want to be your son."
The smile that split Bruce's face was the biggest he'd seen yet and he could see the man blinking back tears. "Well then," he also seemed to be struggling to speak," I guess we have some paperwork to do."
"I guess we do," Dick laughed as he folder forward into Bruce's arms. It had been six very long and very short months since he'd first felt these arms around him in a far away apartment in Crime Alley. Six very long and very short months of doctors appointments and meals and movie nights. Six months of healing, of laughter, of crying, of love.
Dick had a new home, here, with Bruce, Alfred, Tim, and Jason.
And Dick will maintain until the end of time that it was all Bruce's fault for distracting him from his very important task of watching his brothers.
They jolted apart at Alfred's scream: "Master Dick!" Dick spun towards the house, horror churning in his gut as a quick glance around showed that the boys had disappeared. Alfred stood in the kitchen doorway…where a muddy hand print shown on the white wood next to the door handle.