Archive of Our Own ^beta

Something is poking Jason in the ribs.

No, wait, it's not that something is poking Jason in the ribs.

It's that someone is rifling through his pockets and accidentally poking him in the ribs.

Jason is a big guy. He knows what a man his size looks like to most people, and he can shut down a hell of a lot just by folding his arms and looming. That his size, even apparently laid out as he is on….brick? gravel?…isn't deterring the enterprising thief is honestly impressive.

Add to the fact that, as he squints his eyes open and sees nothing but red and black, he is also apparently still wearing his Red Hood helmet- well, this might be someone Jason has to applaud.

Or take out. A confident and brave person is one thing; an enemy is another.

As Jason considers the his next steps, he also takes stock of whats around him. His helmet has finally come back online, allowing him to take a limited look around. Dark , Dead-end alley, no immediately obvious ways to escape (for someone without training), a few trashcans lined up against the other wall. Buildings are no higher than 3,4 stories, easy for his grapple to handle.

He feels fine. Good, even, which is alarming considering he has no fucking idea where he is, or how he got here. That last thing he thinks he remembers is a bright light, a beautiful song, feeling alarmed and- nothing.

Fantastic!

Jason holds back an exasperated sigh by sheer will. When he figures out who to blame for this (whatever this is), he's gonna kick their ass (or asses!) sooooo hard.

He's brought back to the present by the would-be thief. Whoever is trying to pick-pocket him is doing so half-heartedly, like they haven't committed to stealing the wallet off an unconscious man. They haven't noticed the slight tensing of Jason's arm, or the change in color of the Red Hood eye-panels with Jason's awakening. All signs a true expert might take note of.

Still, their lack is his advantage.

Jason shifts his hand around to lock around the offending wrist (small?) and jack-knifes into an upright position to deliver the most cutting one liner to-

A kid?

The tiny wrist caught in his steel grip belongs to a frantically struggling kid. He immediately loosens his grip to be less bruise-inducing, but no less secure.

Because why would a kid who- Jason takes a quick glance at the kids worn clothing and slightly run down shoes- seems to be familiar with the alley be robbing and scared of Red Hood? Hood makes sure to be as non-threatening as possible to the every day kids, and he's worked hard to earn their understanding, if not trust.

Well, the only way to really know is to ask, right?

"Why are you trying to rob the Red Hood, kid?" comes through his helmet in a softer but still robotic voice.

The kid freezes, blue eyes staring in heart-breaking fear at the helmet. Jason finally takes in the rest of the kid. He's taller than Jason though, probably more teen than kid; lean in a way he's unfortunately familiar with, dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue ey-

Hold the fuck on-

"Who's the Red Hood?" comes the thin but skeptical voice that interrupts a truly terrifying thought.

Excuse him very much?

In the helmet, Jason raises an eyebrow. The kid must be new if no one's told him about the Red Hood. Would even explain why the kid is genuinely terrified of him.

"Let's try this again. I," he says, gesturing to the very red helmet protecting his head, "am the Red Hood."

"That's a helmet," argues the kid (dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes, why-), showing a true lack of self preservation but a basic skill in observation. "Shouldn't you be called the Red Helmet?"

It is a helmet though. Jason can't really argue against that, nor is he willing to go into his whole torrid backstory with a kid, especially one who's started eyeing Jason's hand like he might be willing to gnaw through his own wrist to free it.

Jason firmly ignores any feeling of respect that might be bubbling up (dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes is-).

So firmly. Incredibly firmly. Got lawyers lining up down the block, he's so firm.

"It's Red. Hood. Stay focused kid. I'm very clearly a dangerous guy, don't you see all my-," and Jason goes to motion towards his guns, which are no longer there. Ah. "Anyway, you can't be robbing just any respectable guy, like me, who's minding his own and taking a nap in the alleyway."

Jason doesn't think he deserves the pure look of disbelief he gets in return. Quite rude.

"Look, Mr. Helmet-"

"No, no, please, call me Mr. Red Hood. Mr. Helmet was my father."

The kid rolls his eyes (dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes, can't be-) and continues, "You decide to take a nap here, you run that risk. Anyways, I was here first, you're the one who showed up outta nowhere and- oh no."

Where the kid had started to relax in Jason's grip because of Jason's nonsense, he suddenly resumes his frantic efforts to get free.

"Whoa kid, don't pull like that, you'll get hurt!" He'll bruise and burn, twisting as he is to try to slip away. Jason doesn't want to hurt the kid at all (dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes) but there's something-

"I gotta go! Let me go! If I miss this, I'm screwed." Now the kid's flushing with anger (with desperation?).

Jason has so many questions.

But if wherever the kid needs to be is this important (and Jason can come up with any number of things that could cause this reaction, not all of them good) then he can't in good consciousness keep him here.

Still.

"Are you in danger, kid? If you are, I can help-"

"I'm fine! Now let me go, stranger danger!"

He lets the kid go after a firm pat to his shoulder*** (bug, which somehow arrived with him and hopefully work, planted). As the kid hurriedly runs away, he glances back a few times. The last time he does, Jason stands to his full height and is wryly amused to see the kid's eyes widen as he scoots around a corner and away into the dark.

Right.

As if Jason was just going to let the kid go without making sure he wouldn't get hurt, or end up in a worse situation after that amount of alarm.

Jason dusts himself off, stretches, waits another 10 seconds and starts after the kid. Wherever he is must play pretty well with technology. The bug he's placed transmits clearly.

He's good, this kid, and has probably given the slip to a lot people, Jason absentmindedly notes as he follows the kid. The kid even remembers to occasionally glance up, as if he might catch someone leaning over, watching him.

What that implies is interesting.

The people who tend to know to look up are those who know someone regularly travels up there. Those who know what it feels like to have the Bat or a bird swoop down and change their lives drastically.

Eventually the kid stops outside another dark alley, about three streets over, with two openings and pauses to catch his breath and check himself over. From there he just waits, head slightly tilted up and expression expectant.

Clearly he's arrived before whoever he's supposed to meet here. Jason frowns from his position on a fire escape another building over, deep in its shadow. He can't see too far into the alleyway, which is a problem, and from the way the kid kept glancing up, he's not willing to risk being spotted by someone.

What's worrying Jason, are the shadows of people he can see around the corner of the other openings. Were they waiting for the kid to show up? And if so, it doesn't bode well that they don't approach now that the kid is here.

The minute he contemplates moving, see who else has an interest in the goings-on, a shadow passes overhead. Jason shrinks further back onto the fire escape.

Fuck.

A bat or a bird.

The shadow was much too small to be Batman, at least. He waits a few seconds more before creeping forward, and patching in via helmet to the miraculously working bug. There's no way he'll be able to get closer now.

"-ou been, Will?" The voice is clear- possibly from standing closer to 'Will.' It's a light tenor, smooth, young sounding, and brimming with mischief.

(dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes and calls himself 'Will')

The kid, who probably isn't named Will, clears his throat before replying in a voice deeper than what he used with Jason, "Good, R, Good."

R? Was the kid talking to Robin? But that wasn't Damian's voice, so who?

"Tell me what's been going on in your life."

Will snorts. "Workin' down at the docks has been interesting lately. Been thinking about moving my days there from Mondays to Thursday evenings. All the cool things seem to happen then."

Jason continues listening in incredulous silence as Will, Robin's informant, tells him in barely clothed code when Robin and Batman should be on the lookout at certain locations for shenanigans.

Alarmed now that he understands, Jason glances at where the two shadows still linger, a bad feeling sinking in. Whoever they were, they were already here.

They already knew and probably had just come to confirm.

Robin (number???) may have gotten this fucking kid killed and for what? Information?

It's not weird or even disturbing that Robin has an informant. All of them, bat, bird, or adjacent, had people on the ground they got information from, had people they met for specific knowledge.

What's so astounding about this, and infinitely more concerning now, is how entrenched the kid sounds like he is in all of the goings-on. From how he talks, he doesn't have a good guess- he knows its going to happen. The only way to know something is definitely going to happen within a criminal organization is to either be very good at seeing the patterns, to be above average goon level in the organization, or some unholy amalgamation of both.

From the confidence Will is speaking with, he's both.

Will is Robin's highly successful and trusted criminal informant. And from the information it sounds like he's providing, he's probably pretty good at juggling his bosses. Jason knows from experience that he tells maybe a total of two of his 'Employees' 100% of a plan. 'Will' has worked himself up to at least mid- level.

His gaze darts back to where the shadows were and curses to himself quietly when he sees they're gone. Unless someone does something, it was likely the kid wouldn't make it to the end of the week.

Jason speeds stealthily down the fire escape and books it to where he saw the two men, knowing he'll attract the attention of the two having their meeting. Robin, at least, will definitely investigate. If the kid's smart, he'll scram.

He books it to where the two shadows were, which turn out to be two level one goons. They don't really pose a challenge for him, but Jason loves to put on a good show and he fights in a way that's almost choreographed with how well he's able to keep them dancing.

He hears the clamor of running steps and the sweet sound of a grapple hooking onto something nearby and holds out for a few minutes longer. When he's sure he's got the attention of the two, Jason lands a one-two K.O, dropping them both and turns slowly to them both.

"Y'all," he says slowly, modulator on and appropriately deadpan, "are idiots."

For a moment, he enjoys the stunned look on Will's face before switching his gaze to Robin who- - is wearing. Scaly panties.

Okay, well, that's that question answered. Robin numero uno- Dick Grayson, present!

"Mr. Red Hood," Will blurts out and Robin's masked face snaps to him.

His voice is sharp when he repeats, "Red Hood?" And focuses back on Jason with so much intensity, if Jason didn't know he was Dick (now!) he might be on high alert.

As it is, he does know and makes a show of wiping dust of his hands. "Do you always talk shop when enemies are nearby."

"You're the Red Hood?" Robin asks. Will's head swivels, clearly hearing something in his voice that Jason can't.

"Uh, Yeah? Clearly?"

"You're an idiot."

What.

"What."

There's no way he heard that right, right?

"You're. an. idiot!" Robin repeats, voice more lively.

Oh, Jason did hear correctly. Yippee!

He jumps down to land level with the rest of them and throws up his hands. "You've screwed up our mission!"

Jason doesn't like repeating himself, but he feels another, "What?" Is maybe necessary to the situation.

He feels a lot better about it when Will whirls around to Robin and asks the same thing.

See? Clearly confusing.

"Do you know how long we've been planning this?! We finally got those goons to start looking into Will and you just! Knocked them out!"

Will looks confused and panicked about the information Robin is spilling. "What are you doing?! You can't just-"

Robin gestures to Jason, energy ramping up and mask radiating disbelief. "He's the Red Hood, he's another vigilante, and he just ruined our undercover mission."

"You keep saying that name like it means something! It very clearly doesn't mean what you think it means! Could you explain more, maybe?"

Jason feels like maybe he should interrupt, though the focus seems to be turning to a rather interesting internal issue, and lifts a hand-

"Yes. Please, explain."

-when he's interrupted himself by the person he least wants to see.

Both boys freeze and turn as one to regard the Batman who, of course, arrived without anyone knowing.

Jason takes a moment to look at the scene as it's currently set:

• two knocked out goons (heavily whipped)

• Two increasingly distressed boys (who are the Big Bat's responsibility)

• One very intimidating Red Hood, seeming to be the cause of it all.

It. Doesn't look good for him.

By the way the Bat has stilled and then shifts his face just the littlest bit up, Jason can tell Batman has already come to a similar conclusion.

"You're all coming with me," he growls out, much to the dismay of the boys, who protest the entire way over to him (apparently never even once considering they could just, not.) "You too," he says to Jason and Jason-

Doesn't have anything to do, having accidentally stepped in a perfectly good plan.

Still, he doesn't follow the orders of the Bat. "And who's gonna make me?" He taunts, hands reaching for weapons that- aren't there.

Right.

He considers for a moment if he really wants to try and take on Batman without a few good weapons and a well established plan.

"I'll make me, I guess. "

* (.- -. / .. -. - . .-. .-.. ..- -.. . / ..-. --- .-. / - .... . / .-- . .- .-. -.-- --..-- /) *

Jason doesn't know what he expects when he's taken back to the Cave with only a Batty guard and no scathing silence.

He certainly isn't expecting the boys to immediately erupt into an argument once they all are well within the Cave.

"-as an excellent plan and we would've-"

"-is for months, we can't end it now, I have-"

"-sheer amount of information is-!"

"-oooo much work to cover this up now, ughhhhh-"

"Quiet."

In an amusing (to him!) contrast to earlier, the boys keep up their discontent, voices raising higher.

To Jason's complete surprise, Batman doesn't raise his voice or cut them with a sword of a whispered command.

Bruce, and it can only be Bruce now, raises a hand to his still cowled head and sighs. "Boys. Please, be quiet."

They simmer down, Dick gracing him with a snipped and pointed, "All you had to do was ask."

Bruce sighs again.

Jason is. Out of his element. This is nothing like he was expecting and frankly, he's not even sure they remember he's here.

He's also perturbed by the nonchalance of all three of them acting more or less what appears to be their norm around The Red Hood.

Bruce sighs (once more for good measure) and asks, "What were you doing out there tonight, and why didn't either of you answer your comms?

And there's the expected clamming up.

The two glance at each other, and upon meeting each other's eyes, glance in opposite directions.

And say nothing.

Jason looks between the two of them from where he's stationed himself closest to the entrance (as close as he was allowed which is. Still pretty fuckin' far) and raises his hand. "If I may?"

The cowl gives off an energy of "This Might As Well Happen" and Bruce nods at him.

"From the sounds of it, they were trying to pull off an incredibly dangerous but admittedly probably well planned undercover operation."

Both of the boys eyes get big and they spin to face Jason. Before they can go off on him next, he adds, "Seemingly, without your knowledge."

"Boys."

That's all that needs to be said. They both slump a little, Dickie crossing his arms and Will looking toward the ground. The disappointment in the words is a familiar sound. Instead of a righteous anger in either of them, though, Jason thinks he catches glimpses of shame.

Bruce sighs again (what is that, the thirtieth sigh?? Jeez old man) and focuses back on Jason.

Finally.

Jason feels the familiar brace for impact that comes along with any conversation with Bruce and announces, "I'm-"

"-The Red Hood."

Alright.

"I'm not-"

"-From here, yes."

Seriously?

Like it's been practiced, the two boys perk up a little and say in unison to Batman's confident, "You're a traveler."

"You're a traveler!"

"You're a traveler?!"

Jason has never liked Bruce's all knowing answers (and certainly doesn't appreciate being interrupted twice and once in fucking stereo.) and a familiar anger starts to stir.

He spits out, "I'm from an Al-"

"Alternate Universe."

"Is this funny to you old man?" Jason hisses, any amusement from the boys antics (and discomfit in Bruce's unexpected showing of humanity) completely destroyed. "Always have all the answers, huh?"

The tension rises and the atmosphere chills with Jason's words, a regret mixed with knowing in his chest.

Bruce considers him, and slowly lifts his hand to push back his cowl. The eyes under the cowl aren't as weary or wary as Jason was expecting. They're not cold, not judging. It's watchfulness reflecting in his blue eyes, a patience so expectant yet placid, that he hasn't been treated to in a while.

"Do you know why you're here?" he asks with a voice of quite steel. Like no matter what Jason says he'll be ready and able to enact a plan for it.

It stings, a bit, to finally be allowed to answer a question only to not know the answer (Bruce knew he didn't know, didn't he.) "I don't," he bites off. "Are you gonna tell me you know why I'm here?"

"I don't," he says easily (easily?!). "But we've had our fair share of dimension and universal travel lately. We'll send you home. "

There's a pointed cough and tapping of a foot from Will's direction and Bruce's head tilts upward, and turns back to Jason.

"If you would like help, of course. You're welcome to remain in the city while we set up all the necessary equipment to match to your universe's frequency."

He can't take this anymore.

"What is this!" He shouts, startling Dick and Will.

Nothing ever shakes the Batman, who keeps eye contact with him. "What is what?"

"This!" Jason gestures to the Cave, to the kids watching him with wide eyes, and ends with a finger pointed at Bruce. "Your sidekicks bicker in front of me about their failed plan-"

"Hey!" comes an offended protest from one of them.

"That was your fault," the other grumbles.

"-you bring me here to your Cave no questions, don't even bother to check me out, because I could be anyone, and you're gonna what, let me wander around the city willy-nilly? Is this a joke to you?"

Bruce blinks at him, eyebrows the slightest bit drawn. "None of that is an issue?"

"Ex-fucking-scuse me? Why not?!"

True confusion breaks free of his mask and Bruce stands, makes as if to move towards Jason.

He moves back.

Bruce stills, closes his eyes, and goes back to his original place.

"Any child of mine is welcome here, Jason."

Before Jason can even process the fuckery that is Bruce knowing who he was the entire time, there's a loud gasp from one of the boys.

"You're a Jason?"

Turns out the gasp came from Will, who clutches Dick's arm so tight he might leave bruises.

Jason watches him from the corner of his eye, fists clenched, waiting to see whether it's fear or anger that he'll get next, from his scars, from his demeanor against the kids mentor, from whatever crime the kid thinks 'a Jason' was capable of-

"I'm a Jason! We never get Jasons! This is so cool!"

????

Turns out the gasp did not from Will.

(dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes and freckles)

The gasp came from Jason.

(dark hair with a patch of grey, and blue eyes and freckles and everything Jason was once used to seeing in a mirror.)

And despite the still simmering anger, the desire to walk out of the Cave and never return (the confusion because Bruce isn't acting like Bruce), Jason clenches a fist in victory because-

"I fuckin' knew your name wasn't really Will!"

* * * * * * *

Turns out Bruce was serious about Jason being…welcome.

The Jason of this universe was practically vibrating like a speedster with the force of his curiosity, but it was already late when Jason, uhhh, misunderstood their plan and ensuing chaos meant it was closer to morning then night. Time for tiny teens to go to bed.

Bruce himself walks him through the mansion and introduces him to Alfred, who leads him to a tastefully decorated guest room.

When he checks it out after they've walked away, there are several items that he thinks has been included because a Jason might like them.

He hates that he does.

He sleeps, fitful and uneasy, on the soft bed and when Alfred comes to the door the next morning, he's already awake and dressed. He doesn't join them for breakfast, priortizing searching the manor for differences.

It becomes apparent pretty quickly, if he hadn't had suspicions last night (because he never ran an op of that scale, not with Dick, and not under Batman's noce), that this is more than likely another timelime. Aside from the fact that Robin and Will (and- Jason has to pause for a moment, when he realizes just who 'Will' actually referred to. Oh.) look much closer in age than he is to Dick, there was that odd familiarity the group as a whole had with universal travel, like it was old news.

He knows for a fact it was still rare and surprising when he was Robin.

There are more pictures of Dick than of Jason-his place's Jason (oh, that's gonna get annoying real quick). More evidence that Dick has been settled in longer. Jason hums and thinks the places where their timeline diverts is possibly further back than he originally thought.

He keeps searching, more curious now. Memories that didn't happen dog his heels into every room. Whispers of what may be follow him out.

The very air here feels different. Jason frowns, swipes a white streak out of his face in unnamed irritation. There's a distinct lack of shadows of pressure here, and he doesn't know why. There's no feeling of being watched, but he's shoulders grow tighter with every step.

The manor is unfamiliar to him and he doesn't think 'alternate timeline' is the only reason.

** * ** * *** *

A few hours more exploration doesn't answer the 'why'. He heads to the kitchen, intending to grab a snack and maybe head down to the Batcave (he hasn't run into Dick, Bruce, or Jason yet and suspects that's where they all are) where he can extract some answers from one of them.

Turning just past the open door, he surprises Jason II at the kitchen counter, cheeks stuffed and expression startled.

It's his first time seeing the kid in regular clothes. He looks less lean then the undercover clothes implied, certainly healthy, and a part of Jason relaxes.

Well, they do say great minds think alike.

Jason nods at his doppleganger. "Afternoon, mini-me."

The kid regards him with wide, curious eyes as he correctly identifies the cabinet that holds the higher protein snacks.

"Are you really me?"

"Million dollar question. Are any of us really us?"

The Return of Jason rolls his eyes. "Hardy-har. It's just- we never get travelers who are a 'Jason' and you're…a little different from me."

Jason considers the kid across the kitchen from him. On the one hand, he thinks if Bruce comes up and finds them talking alone, it'll finally make him drop whatever friendly mask he's trying to wear.

On the other, he does have some questions he wants answers.

Hmmm. Both hands appear to have winning options.

Jason jerks his head toward the table. The kid scrambles to gather the rest of his food and rushes to grab a seat.

Jason plops down directly across from him, where he can still see the door. "I answer yours, you answer mine?" At his nod, Jason tells him, "More than likely, we're just versions of each other that share a name. There are too many things I remember that don't match up to here. As for why I look different-"

-Laughter, screaming, firehotblaze, never giving up-

-Darkness, terror, instinct-

-Sudden screaming rebirth, a path bloody through corrupt teachers-

The kid doesn't need to know that.

"-Trauma is a hell of a drug." He even throws in jazz hands. "I suspect you know that already though." Jason's eyes flick to the boys dark grey hair and the other grimaces in understanding. "Why do Dickie and Batman know about the Red Hood but you don't?"

That one has been bothering him. Another thing Bruce kept for 'his own good'? Didn't want his precious Jason to be tainted by the knowledge of what he could become?

Baby-faced Jason pops a piece of fruit into his mouth and chews thoughtfully. "Dick keeps getting universe-napped."

"???" comes out of Jason's mouth.

"Teach me how to do that!" Jason-the-Kid exclaims excitedly.

"Sorry, trade-marked secret ability. Are you gonna expand on what the hell that means or?" And how it's even related to what he asked.

He pouts then shrugs. "Somehow Dick got zapped into this huuuge battle for the existence one of the universes. That's how they found out about me," he sidebars proudly. "A version of me was also there and Dick said he was determined to find me here. And he did!

"Anyway, that one went fine, Bruce got him back, right? Dick kept gettin' snatched up for universe-things though, and he'd meet lots of new people like us, and even different versions of him and Bruce. Must've met a Red Hood on one of those. Then people started coming over here, we call those ones 'Travelers', and usually it's JL-level so even Dick doesn't know too much about those ones. They keep a list but I'm not allowed to look at it until I- well, technically Cardinal- can be introduced to the Teen Titans." He rolls his eyes again. "Something something they think the universe won't take notice of me until I'm in the 'Big Leagues.'"

He even does finger quotes. Adorable.

It does explain a lot. Jason still wants to ask more about it; Robin didn't sound upset about the Red Hood existing, just that he'd fucked up their plan (again, his bad). He wants to know about the other versions of him that didn't inspire distrust and made this universe so frighteningly open.

For a bit, they throw inane questions back and forth- "How do I get to be your size?" "Your vigilante name is Cardinal?"- Lightness and humor, no obvious digging towards the future or the past.

Eventually younger Jason goes off to finish up an essay before they patrol for the evening. Jason the taller stretches and then plans. He needs more information.

He leaves the manor while they're all out, either in school, at work, or on patrol, learns what he can from the streets and libraries. When he's gone for days at a time, he's eventually found and stared at (sometimes with puppy eyes; sometimes with an intensity that frustrates him further) until he throws up his hands and returns back on his own.

For a while after that, the only places he goes are the Cave, where they wave some weird device over him to track his universal signature, and the truly exhausting amount of random rooms of the manor. When that gets to be too boring, he shadows Robin and Cardinal on their patrols.

He trusts a total of about one thing in this universe; himself. He's too uneasy here, for all that they act like he's been a trusted member of their family from the jump.

He decides he needs to switch tracks; he decides to take action against the source of all his uneasiness.

Bruce Wayne.

* (..-. --- .-. -.-. . -.. / - --- / - .... . / ..-. --- --- .-.. .----. ... / .-. --- .- -.. / .----. .-.. --- -. . .-.-.- /) *

The best way to figure out what specifically is so odd about this Bruce is to indulge in the time honored tradition of stalking.

He follows Bruce to his office and perches where he has the best vantage point of the man's office, follows him on walks through the city, out at night when he patrols. He stops hiding in his room to observe the way Bruce interacts with Dick and Jason (who he kindly tells will be called Jay henceforth, much to the kid's amusement) both in and out of the suit.

Several times Jason is so sure of an action Bruce is about to take (a dressing down when Robin spends more time performing than scouting, disdain when Jay-called-Cardinal cares for a crying woman on the street, snapping when the boys inevitably roughhouse on patrol) only to be so incorrect (a soft reminder to keep antics to a minimum, patient approval as he lends a hand, the world's smallest smile as he watches them and then not unkindly calls them to task) that it may as well have been a slap to the face.

And it keeps happening.

It happens so often that Jason finally clues in to what it is making him so uneasy and agitated.

The Bruce he knows, the one he expects to see mirrored in every move, word, and action of this universe's Bruce, isn't there.

He-

He doesn't know what to do with that.

** * * * * * * * * * * *

Jason confronts it.

** * * * * * * * * * *

The room is quiet. Every sock-footed step lands with all the force-impact of detonating bombs. Jason can't possibly be breathing so loudly it fills the room, knows his heartbeat isn't pounding it's vicious rhythm into the air and sending out shock-waves.

It's all Jason can focus on.

Or. It's all he'd prefer to focus on.

Instead his eyes are drawn to the only other figure in the room.

Bruce.

He doesn't really wanna look at the man sitting calmly in a chair, leg folded over knee and peacefully, patiently, waiting for Jason to make his way over to the table. How he takes in each word of his newspaper, and doesn't hold an air of impatience as if the world destroys itself because he takes a moments peace.

He doesn't lift his eyes challengingly, like Jason's approach itself is the continuation of a war he knows he's already won; Jason's presence the catalyst.

He doesn't then pointedly but disregardingly look over Jason's gear, as if Jason having a weapon on him is both admittance of defeat and something to scorn, but then that it's existence could ever be a threat to him

When Jason finally gets to the table and drags a chair away, he slouches in it, still tense and vibrating with (too much) emotion. Bruce doesn't say his name like it's somehow become a new Pandora's box, containing one of every nasty and vile thing this universe has ever seen, or ever will see.

"Jason," Bruce greets him warmly (his name an invitation, a welcome), like he does Jay, like he does Dick, like he does Alfred.

Like he has pretty much ever since the first day, then every day after, no matter what Jason threw at him.

(This time, it might break him)

"There really is no difference to you, huh," and Jason means for it to come out strong and solid and dismissive and ignores that it's soft, wavering; on the verge of giving into something (a prelude).

Bruce looks thoughtful for a moment. "I wouldn't say that," he admits.

And Jason waits for the triumphant feeling of victory-mingled-hurt to burn within. Isn't surprised to find only waiting.

From his Bruce, it would've been an acknowledgment that yes, Jason is different, and seldom in a way he's had reason to think well of.

His face of contentment twists into a wry smile. "It would be, unfair?," he tests the word and shakes his head. "A disservice. To look at the both of you and see the same person when you've both overcome so much, in different ways and not see your differences." There's disappointment and grief when Bruce continues. "What would that make me, if I couldn't acknowledge your survival."

"Not someone either of us could call a father," Jason murmurs and knows Bruce hears him.

That's all this Bruce has done. Hear him, see him, learn him.

Bruce heard him the entire time, when Jason screamed in rage at the caring stand-in of a man who couldn't live up to his own projected standard, and heard him still when his silence continued to speak anyway.

Saw his scars, his reactions (and lack of reactions). How Jason was never far behind Robin and Cardinal when they went out, a shield they sometimes didn't know they had (and when they did, they made it their mission to cause as much chaos as possible. It made his heart ache with a fierce sourness. He thinks Dick of his universe would really like them.)

Learned about Jason's past in the heavily edited and bite-sized pieces of it he shared with Dick and Jay (because Bruce would stand outside the door. Jason could tell, sometimes, when he was there. It wasn't worth it to ruin a session with the boys just to spite Bruce. Not here.)

Jason doesn't think too much of the tears that start rolling down his cheeks. A little tension and anxiety wash away with each one, until he's left with an almost terrifying nothingness at the center of his chest.

An exaggerated groan from Bruce's side of the table drags Jason's gaze back to him as the other man gets up, and grabs his coffee mug ("World's Okayest Dad").

The cup doesn't get set down again when he stops behind Jason's chair and places a large hand on Jason's equally large shoulder. He firmly presses down and doesn't let go.

He doesn't say anything but the warmth of his hand radiates where it stays.

Jason cries harder.

Some time later when Jason's river becomes more of an occasional leak, Bruce huffs in amusement. "Such big criers. Every single one of you."

"Shut up, old man."

* (/ - .... --- ..- --. .... / .... . .- ...- -.-- / - .... . / .-.. --- .- -.. / -.-- --- ..- / -.-. .- .-. .-. -.-- --..-- / .-.. .. ... - . -. --..-- / ) *

It's a little easier, after that, to reach back for the hand Bruce has been offering.

He joins them for breakfast, and in the soft afternoons when their civilian lives must be tended to; participates more in learning about how they're sending him him and spends more time with Jay and Dick obviously, instead of the shadows of the evening, where Bruce might pass by and be tempted to join them.; all to put Bruce's word to the test.

Not once does his go back on it.

* ( .- -. -.. / -... . .... --- .-.. -.. -.-.-. / ) *

Predictably, after that, the universe decides he can't have nice things after all.

* * * * * * * * *

They're all in the Cave, Dick and Jason sparring, Jay intent on some work he refuses to show anyone but also refuses to go upstairs for, and Bruce monitoring the Bat-computer when two things simultaneously.

An ear-splitting shriek sounds from the Bat-computer's speakers at the same time that a song explodes into being inside Jason's head, dropping him to his knees. They both continue, the song insistent in its tone, somehow somber and gentle, nostalgic and hopeful.

A minute later, they both cease and the only proof of it happening is Bruce furiously running logistics, and Jason panting on the ground, trying to regain equilibrium.

"Was that-," Jay starts, and Dick finishes the sentence with some surprise, quickly joining Bruce at the machine. "The universal alert. Did someone else come through?"

Jason watches Bruce stare at the information pouring in on the screen, and puts two and two together to get fish when the look on his face when he turns is soft and somber.

"It's me." Bruce's lids lower and he gives a slight nod, and Jason's stomach heads for the cave floor. "Pretty sure that's what it was. It's for me."

Devastation makes itself at home in Jay's expression. "None of our readings indicated this was coming. We should've felt the ripples or something earlier, right?" He glances at Bruce hopefully, the certainty that Bruce could stop even the apocalypse (and has, actually, several times, from what he's heard) shining in his eyes.

"I don't think so, mini-me." He hates the crestfallen, slightly betrayed look he gets for saying it. "Whatever force brought me here didn't give me a choice; took me from my ship, my team, and dropped me off here with no warning. " The force of that song was no joke, on par with a psionic attack. He doesn't even think it was at full strength. "Could've grabbed me just now, too."

"Then we should consider this the early warning it clearly is," comes Bruce's gruff voice, "and be prepared."

It's evident by the silence and lack of immediate action on anyone's part that no one likes this. Even more so by the tears that fall in the quiet.

Once they all calm down, the

Jay sits right next to him on the softest couch, the one that they can never easily get out of it. He's got a tight grip on Jason's jacket, like he can make Jason stay as long as he holds on.

It's adorable and says a lot about how much Jay has come to trust him. If Jason couldn't feel the pull of his own universe in his bones now, he'd…consider it.

Staying.

As it is, there's another call beginning to haunt his ears and Jason doesn't think he'll have more than a few hours left with the Bruce, and Dick, and Jay of this universe. The idea of leaving this universe pulls at his heart; there's so much he wants-

But he has no control over this, had no control over how he arrived, and the next best thing he can do is give them something to remember him by.

So he tells them more stories, of things that may come and how he handled them, more tales of his own versions of them, glosses over some of the troubles (which he knows Bruce catches and catalogues; hopefully to not make the same implied mistakes), and exaggerates the small victories in a major way.

"-you did not!" squawks Dickie, eyes wider then he thinks the teen wants them to be, sounding reluctantly impressed.

"I did," Jason crows with relish. He'd never admit it, but doing something his would-be older brother found cool is. Pleasing. Exciting, an accomplishment.

*** *** * * *

Alfred allows them to dine in the family room, even joining them as they have a muted dinner, the brief joviality gone again.

Finally, he can't avoid the singing in his ears any longer. He's been ignoring it and it's deepened to a whole body hum. He's thinks if he ignores it any longer, it's going to stop playing nice and maybe make his ears bleed.

Jay is the first to recognize the goodbye that settles behind his features, alternately loosening and tightening his grip. Jason wraps an arm around the kid and pulls him in close. Dick crawls over to join them, and Jason tucks him under his arm, too. He squeezes them both extra tight and pretends like he's just going on a mission, and that it's not the last time he'll ever see them.

The song picks up an urgent thrum and Jason winces. He squeezes them again for good measure, and stands up and away. He doesn't know what his…going will look like, and he's not gonna take any chances with them.

Bruce stands and places himself directly in front of Jason. "It's been wonderful having you here, Jaylad."

Jason-

Hesitates.

He wants-

This is the last time he'll see them. This-them, that is. He'll see their faces in other people and mourn.

"I-"

As if sensing that giving Jason any more time would backfire spectacularly, the song grows to a fever pitch, and right before it becomes completely unbearable, it explodes into silence.

"Well that was anticli-" Jason starts, and pauses as what feels like a wave of cold winter air rushes through ever part of his body, the thrum from before making a reappearance and shaking every single atom in his body. A white light begins blooming from underneath his skin. Within seconds, Jason is able to see through the furthest edges of his arms. "Nevermind."

Dick and Jay are huddled slightly behind Bruce, who watches with a slightly forlorn smile as Jason grows more transparent between breathes.

His time is up.

He meets each of their eyes, staring hard, suddenly desperately convinced he's going to forget everything that happened, that he'll wake up and have dreamt all of this up.

"W-wait!"

Jay leaps out from behind Bruce, hands outstretched towards Jason.

"Jay, hold on, don't-"

Jay 's wobbly grin and the little shit shoving something into Jason's right cargo pocket are the last things he sees, before-

Black.

* * * * * * * *

Jason staggers against a suddenly-there humming wall as the world's brightest light blasts him back into solidity and fading. He never wants to feel his veins, muscle, and bones shaking that hard again. Shaking his head, Jason takes in the clean lines of a very familiar ship and whips his head around wildly.

Tumbling out of suddenly-there lights as eye-blindingly bright as his own are Kori and Roy, neither appearing the worst for wear as they solidify and rush to meet in the middle. Hands run over bodies checking for wounds. There's exclamations over what the fuck just happened, Kori sweeping them both into spine-cracking hugs of delight at their apparent unharm, and Jason, fresh from a watery goodbye, can't hold back another rush of tears at finally seeing his friends again.

It's much later as they're sitting side-by-side-by-side in the coziest room on the ship that Jason finally remembers the whatever-it-is Dick stuffed in his pocket.

Kori and Roy watch him with curiosity as he digs around (cargo pockets could definitely carry their own universe) and finally pulls out- paper?

No, not just paper.

It's paper folded around something small and hard. When he unwraps it, a small necklace falls out; blue jewel embedded in serious looking technology disguised as silver plating, attached to a chain that looks too delicate in his hands.

"I suspect we all have much to tell each other." Kori notes, peering with interest at the device that holds all of Jason's suddenly swelling hope.

From where he's draped over Jason's shoulder, Roy is the first to remember the paper that fell out with it. "Looks like those're…notes?"

He's right. Jason picks them both up to examine them.

The smaller folded paper has Dick's handwriting.

For whenever you want to come home and see your little bros :P and Bruce too, I guess

The second paper is weightier, nicer stuff. It's been folded carefully. Jason very, very gently opens it and lets out a breath at the handwriting on this one.

It's. from Jay.

“I'm glad I finally got to meet another Jason. No matter if any come after you, you'll aways be my favorite! You have to make sure to come back and visit us! We're family now.”

Once he's finished it, he folds it back just as gently.

oh.

oh.

The implication is clear (and even clearer is that this is also two-fold from Bruce; a reconfirming- he'll always be welcome and even more- he's wanted.)

Jason sniffles.

Jason leans his head back against Kori's shoulder, who favors him with a bright smile. "I would like to meet your new brothers, Jason. We will plan a visit!" Kori's confident assumption that they'll all be going back with him fills him with a happiness brighter than her flames. "Would you like to tell us about them?"

The idea of not telling his friends about his time there and what he found never occurred to him. Yet the invite to share is appreciated and so, settled within the comforting warmth and love of his friends, he does.

 ( .-- . / .-- .. .-.. .-.. / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... --..-- / .- .-.. .-- .- -.-- ... --..-- / .-- . .-.. -.-. --- -- . / -.-- --- ..- / .... --- -- . .-.-.-)