Jane Cat

Jason spent most of his days visiting Dick in the hospital, talking about nothing. They had finally formed a bond over the last year to the point where he felt no hesitance calling the other to talk about whatever was on his mind. He stared at the slow rise and fall of Dick’s chest and wanted to scream. Yell at him for being so foolish. Why couldn’t he have just let Jason die?

After a month of sitting on his hands doing absolutely nothing does realization finally begin to set in. Dick was never going to get better and Bruce wasn’t going to do shit. The Joker has fallen off the radar leaving them back at square one. A way to help Dick however was available, if just a bit dangerous. Well, maybe a lot dangerous.

It wasn't difficult sneaking Dick out of the hospital. Swiping the batplane however took some forethought. He was prepared though, disabling the alarm and tracking system. As they flew over the ocean he knew Bruce would be angry but the stagnation of it all was killing him. Jason had to do something and the Lazarus pit was certainly something.

Something that would haunt him for years.

Jason had heard that the pit could have ill effects but he chose to ignore those warning when it came to Dick. If asked he’d do it again, he’d sit there at the edge of the pool and listen to Dick’s screaming and flailing as the pit consumed him. Jason wanted him back. But he didn’t get Dick back. Not the one he knew anyway. He was different, he’d still smile like he used to but there was always something off. Something venomous.

The anger that Dick Grayson had kept in for so long emerged in full force as Nightwing. Breaking bones and throwing more criminals in the emergency room than a jail cell. He was worried but he held hope that things would improve. Until the night he fought with Bruce. It was a disaster leaving Bruce with a swollen eye and Dick in a shatterproof cell in the cave.

Jason handed the older man a bag of ice for his eye. “You wouldn’t let me help. I couldn’t let him lay there dying.”

“He’ll never be the way he was.” Bruce said, voice tired, maybe even a little defeated.

Jason watched as the other left, heading up the stairs, he turned toward the cell and made the slow walk over. Dick’s gaze was locked on him the whole way, he looked roughed up with a split lip and tired eyes but there was still something in his stance. It was though he was ready to pounce even with the wall blocking his way.

“Sorry about…” Jason wasn’t sure how to end the sentence.

For Dick being put in this cage? For bringing him back in this state of chaos? For not saving him in the first place? Jason had fucked up on all accounts. Dick didn’t look upset though, his cool stare softened and he sat down cross legged facing Jason.

Dick hadn’t even given Bruce a solid reason, saying that Dick told him to trust him and that was enough. Well, it wasn’t enough for Jason. Dick could be in serious trouble and they were just supposed to pretend everything was perfectly fine. Jason had no time for that nonsense, he was going to find out what was what. That was what he thought anyway, when he got hit by a tranquilizer dart.

He let out a muffled curse before falling face first into the snow.

Jason’s eyes felt heavy and his body too warm, panic was starting to set in when a hand softly rests on his chest.

“Jason, it’s ok. You’re alright.” Dick says in a voice equally as gentle.

With what feels like a tremendous effort Jason opens his eyes and is greeted by a somewhat scruffy looking Dick Grayson.

“You need ta’ shave.” He croaks out.  “Jesus, what was in that tranq?”

“Pretty potent mix.” Dick says looking apologetic. “But how was I supposed to know it was you? And why are you here anyway? I told Bruce…”

Jason tiredly holds up a hand cutting Dick off mid sentence. “First off… Fuck Bruce. Second, you just ran away. Didn’t sound right.”

Dick shakes his head but he’s smiling in a way that makes the whole room feel even warmer. “I had my reasons, Jay. I needed to get away. The less the family knew the better.”

“Bullshit.”

“Jason…”

“No, all this family does is keep secrets and then we wonder why we all have trust issues. Why the fuck are you out here?”

“Quit swearing.” Dick hushes.

“I said, why the fuck are you out here?!” He shouts and almost immediately gets an answer.

Crying. A baby crying.

Jason gawks open mouthed at Dick. “Are you fucking serious?”

Dick rolls his eyes. “I’m gonna tape your mouth shut.”

Jason watches Dick get up and leave while he himself struggles to sit up on his own. It takes him a bit but Jason eventually manages to get out of bed and stagger down the hall. At the end of it he finds Dick sitting on the floor of a nursery, soft furry rug underneath him, and bouncing a baby gently in his arms.

“His name’s John.” Dick says.

“Hey, John.” Jason manages to say, throat still sore.

John turns his head and stars wide eyed at him. Instantly the boy begins to shriek in terror.

---

It takes John a few hours to get adjusted to Jason’s presence. Which really means that the boy has at least stopped crying but refuses to look at him. It makes Jason want to laugh, who would have ever thought the son of Dick Grayson would be so shy. And for a moment the whole situation seems hilarious until he remembers that they’re at a lake house in the middle of nowhere that no one knows about.

“Is he a meta?” Jason asks.

“No.”

“Then why hide him?”

“It’s complicated.” Dick replies.

“Well I’m here now and you shot me with a tranq so… I’d like an explanation.”

“You trespassed and paid no attention to my request for privacy. I don’t have to tell you anything.”

“I’m pretty good at changing diapers.”

“What?” Dick looks confused.

“Checked the weather reports on my way here. There’s a snowstorm coming. I don’t think you’re mean enough to send me out there and I can help out around the house.”

“Why would you come just before a snowstorm?”

“Thought I was gonna have to crack some skulls. Wanted to give ‘em that claustrophobic feeling of no escape.”

“All for me?” Dick asks, eyes locking onto Jason’s.

“Yea…” His tongue suddenly feels heavy. “Of course.”

“You can stay. At least till the storm passes.”

“Thanks, big bird.”

Dick looks surprised at the nickname then smiles warmly. “No problem.”

---

John does not like Jason. John does not care about Jason’s diaper changing skills. John’s only enjoyment seems to come from making Jason’s miserable. Dick has taken him up on his offer and Jason had been on diaper duty for the last day and a half which he didn’t mind even with the world’s most finicky one year old, at least until John peed in his face.

“Fuck!” Jason shouts leaping backward while John bursts into giggles.

“Jason, I told you not to- Why are you all wet?” Dick stares in confusion. “Oh. ...Ohhh.”

“Shut it.”

Dick covers his mouth in attempt to contain his laughter when John does it for him.

“Fuuwk!” The boy chirps from the changing table.

“I, uh…” Jason begins as the boy repeats the word over and over.

“After you clean him up you’re making dinner.” Dick says and leaves the room.

Jason sighs. “Thanks, kid.”

John simply stares and giggles.

Dinner is strange and mostly silent. They hadn’t talked much since he arrived aside from awful small talk asking the other if they needed anything or if they slept well last night. It was driving Jason mad. It’s as if Dick is afraid to speak as though once he opens his mouth every secret he had been keeping would spill.

Good. It gave Jason a target to aim for.

“You haven’t asked me about Gotham.” Jason says.

“I keep up with the news.”

“Well, the news is one thing. Personal shit’s another.”

Dick sighs. “Ok, Jason, how’re things back home?”

“Eh.” He shrugs. “Same old. Same old.”

“You’re such an ass.” Dick laughs.

“Think that’s your specialty.”

“What? You’ve been looking?”

“It’s impossible not to.”

They both break into laughter and for the first time since Jason’s been here Dick looks at ease. It’s nice, yet it only makes him worry more. Dick’s been alone in this place for months now. He had John to busy his day with but still being secluded like this could not be good for him.

“Must be kinda lonely here.” He says after their laughter has died down.

“I have John.”

“He’s a baby.”

“I… I get by. It’s not so bad once you get used to it.”

“This place is gonna make you crazy. You need more than John as company.”

“By company you mean you?”

“Uh-” Jason pauses.

He actually meant going back to Gotham. Going back to everyone they knew. The others who kind of sort of just put up with Jason’s presence. The ones who would keep a watchful eye on him whenever we was around John.

“Jason?” Dick waves a hand. “You there?”

“I’ll stay.” He answers. “If you want me to.”

“Don’t you have things to do in Gotham?”

“Pretty sure things’ll be about the same any time I show back up.”

Dick shakes his head lightly. “You’re probably right. But you really want to stay here? Why?”

Jason shrugs. “John’s cute and you need some help with him. And maybe I could use a break too.”

---

Jason wasn’t all that surprised that Dick let him stay. Dick was different. He didn’t look at Jason like he was some failure. He could relax which was bizarre and at times made him feel more tense than he ever felt in Gotham. Dick was there to calm him down, to smile and tell him that it was normal.

“I was so paranoid my first few weeks here.” Dick had told him. “Every little noise set me off. I could barely sleep, till one day I pass out from exhaustion. I woke up and found John in the nursery completely fine and it all sorta fell into place, I guess. That we could be safe here.”

Days passed more easily now. Their small talk isn’t as awkward anymore and the pair are already falling into habits. Jason always wakes up first so he checks in on John and makes that morning’s coffee. Dick makes breakfast and lunch while he sets the table, John resting on his hip contently chewing on Jason’s shirt.

“And you thought he hated you.” Dick smiles.

“He’s just playing the long con, is all.” Jason replies smoothly.

At night they all settle in the nursery. John crawls around playing with his toys while Jason lays on the plush rug telling Dick some stupid story of what he had been up to in Gotham. Eventually John crawls over to Dick sitting in his rocking chair demanding to be held and rocked to sleep.

Tonight he mentions a night a few months back where he tripped their fellow bat family member, Tim Drake, right off the ledge of a building. In front of Batman, no less.

“You didn’t!” Dick laughs.

“Completely worth it.” He grins as John crawls onto his stomach.

Dick gets up and takes a seat beside Jason.

“Can’t expect Bruce was all that happy.”

“Oh his scowl was in full force. I tried my best to keep composure and pretend it was an accident.”

“And how’d that go?”

“I broke so quick.” He snickers. “Tim was shouting through the comms and his voice cracked and I couldn’t stop laughing!”

Dick tries to contain his laughter but he fails miserably which in turn makes John burst into infectious giggles. It’s so strange, almost dreamlike at how all this feels so right. So easy. There’s no pressure in the back of his mind that he should be DOING SOMETHING. That’s when the laughter stops and the panic sets in.

“Jason?” Dick looks concerned.

“What if the tranq was too strong? What if I’m… Am I dead?”

“Oh, Jason. Think about it this way, when was the last time you took a break from crime fighting? Injuries don’t count cause you’re probably still neck deep in research. To stop so suddenly, it’s terrifying. I understand.”

“I invaded your safe house just to be a weird panicky mess on your floor. ...John’s drooling on my shirt.”

Dick looks at the boy napping on Jason’s stomach. “Makes sense.”

“What?”

“The long con. John’s ultimate goal was to make sure he drools on every single one of your shirts.”

Jason can’t help the stupid smile that spreads across his lips. “Dick…”

It’s then that Dick leans over and kisses him. Simple, quick, and sweet.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

---

Jason expects the next day to be awkward. Not from Dick but from his own self. He’s no lovesick puppy but he does feel different. Happy? Maybe. He takes the opportunity to to lean close to Dick on the couch the next morning. Dick kisses him again only a bit slower this time. Jason feels himself melt a little, that same feeling of warmth filling him up. Cue John throwing his stuffed rocket ship at them squawking in disgust.

“Why are you hiding him?” It’s the first he’s asked since the day he arrived.

“I have a very important lineage to them and when I wouldn’t join them they decided to create their own. A new Talon for the Grayson family.”

“How’d you find him?”

“Got tipped off. There are a few in the court that want to bring the whole thing down. They found John and rescued him for me.”

“And you made sure everything-”

“Full DNA test. Ran him top to bottom for trackers of any kind. He’s clean.”

“Who’s his mom?”

“I was told it was another dead line of Talon.”

“Any signs of him… being like them?”

“I think he’ll be ok. He wasn’t old enough for them to put him through anything.”

Jason nods then laughs. “So that’s why that tranq hit me like a brick.”

“Sorry about that.” He says looking embarrassed.

He ives a little shrug. “You had to protect John and now I’m here to help with that.”

“Ah, my big brave warrior. What would I do without you?”

Jason narrows his eyes and Dick responds another quick kiss.

“Are you really thinking of staying here permanently?” Jason asks after a while.

“I’m not sure. At least until John can walk and talk.”

“Guess you’ll need some company till then, huh?”

“That’s a big thing to say, Jason. You really think you’re up for it?”

“Guess I’ll just have to prove it to you.”

Dick raises an eyebrow and this time Jason pulls Dick in for the kiss.

No one should know he’s here. No one. So when he sneaks up to the apartment above him and finds no one he just laughs.

“You’re hearing things again.”He says aloud.

The sudden knife at his neck tells him he spoke too soon. From his periphery Jason can see it’s not one of his own. They’re not one of Bruce’s either. They’re different. This guy smells sweet, like cinnamon but with a dash of smoke. It’s oddly comforting, making him want to relax if only a fraction. Before he can break the hold the knife is pulled away and he’s kicked hard in the back sending him flying across the room.

Jason’s surprised when he looks up, the guy’s not even wearing a mask. Not that he has a clue who the hell this man is. He’s lean, black skin tight armor that reminds him of Catwoman’s except this suit golden lines running throughout. His skin is pale but it doesn’t look natural, more like he’s been kept underground. His pitch black hair falls messily in front of his eyes, a sharp shade of blue that makes Jason tense up all over again.

“You just gonna stare?” Jason snarls.

It feels like an eternity waiting for the other to speak. He tilts his head, inquisitive eyes locking onto Jason’s.

“Are you sad?”

“...Excuse me?” He sits up rubbing the back of his head.

“Your army is gone and so is your cloud.”

“Oh.” He says flatly. “Neither of those matter much anymore.”

“You sound sad.”

Jason reaches for his holster but finds it empty and silently curses himself. “Who the fuck are you and why the fuck are you here?”

The man shrugs. “I got bored down below. Wanted to see what all the noise was all about.”

“Well… I made a mess of things.”

Jason draws his knees up resting his arms on them feeling like a defeated child. The other man steps over and flops down on the worn out sofa looking equally as childlike.

“Trying to kill the Batman?”

“Seriously, who the fuck are you?” He glares.

“No one, really.” The other responds softly, his gaze breaking from Jason to the window. “You shouldn’t be hiding. Gotham is still empty. Why not roam?”

“There’s still eyes in the sky.”

“What’s he like?” Jason asks before he can stop himself. “Your Batman.”

“He doesn’t wear a weird red helmet if that’s what you’re asking.” The boy says and Nightwing snorts out a laugh.

“So you’re a smartass in whatever universe, huh?”

“Jay!” Nightwing scolds.

“It’s ok.” Dick says. “He swears in front of me all the time. My Jason, I mean. And… all of this is different. We don’t live in a mansion with a cave, we live in the city in a building our cave is the basement. It’s just the two of us… He needs me just as much as I need him. Now he’s all alone and-” He lets go of Jason’s hand to rub his eyes.

Jason puts a hand on the boy’s shoulder and gives it a comforting squeeze. “We’re gonna get you back there, don’t worry.”

The second Dick hugs him Jason knows the boy is going to be stuck to him like glue for the rest of his stay here. He glances up at Nightwing who has a worried expression on his face.

“What?” Jason cocks his head at the other.

“Nothin’.” Nightwing says. “Should get him to bed, been a hectic night.”

“No!” The boy yelps. “Please, I don’t wanna be alone.”

Jason rubs his back. “We’ll go upstairs together; me, you, and Nightwing. We can watch some TV and you can rest. I promise I won’t leave your side, ok?”

Dick thinks a moment then nods. “Just a sec, though.”

He hops off the exam table and walks over to Bruce who’s sitting at the console.

“Yes?” Batman glances over at the boy.

“Can I see your face? Jason mentioned you before but I’ve never seen a photo.”

Jason watches on half expecting Bruce to tell the kid no when the older man pulls back his cowl. Bruce always had a damn soft spot for kids, top that off with seeing a twelve year old Dick Grayson again and Bruce didn’t stand a chance. The boy begins to speak but his voice is lost in the sudden loud rumble of the cave.

For a moment Jason thinks it’s an earthquake when a large blue void opens in the center of the room. The electricity in the cave goes haywire and figure flies out of the void landing with a hard thud. When the back up generator kicks in and the lights come back Dick’s eyes go wide at the figure standing before them. It’s Batman. But it isn’t. The gear is similar, grey and black, but the bat symbol is a crimson red. The suit is more armored and the gauntlets alone look like they could rip a person to shreds.

“Jason!” Dick shouts and runs to the other Batman.

The boy is quickly scooped up in the other’s arms and is held tightly. The other Batman’s eyes travel to Nightwing then land on Jason and he pauses, lips parting just a fraction. Enough for Jason to feel uneasy, like he’s being inspected by his superior. But the other’s gaze quickly refocuses on the man behind him. Bruce.

“...You’re alive.” The other Batman says with a hint of shock.

Bruce says nothing but eyes the guns holstered on the other’s hips.

“Things are different here. They’re ok.” Dick whispers.

The other Batman tugs off his cowl, eyes still on Bruce. “I don’t want any trouble. Another portal opened up and I jumped in. Simple as that. Didn’t expect any of this.”

“Do you know how to get back?” Jason asks.

“Not a clue.” He laughs.

“Guess we’re stuck with two Jason’s for now.” Nightwing gives a shrug.

“And us too!” The young boy looks at his older self.

The other Batman glances at Nightwing. “Wait, what?”

“He’s me, Jay. Just older.”

Jason watches the other’s look of confusion and holds up his hands. “Look, instead of all us gawking at each other let’s figure out how to get you guys back home.”

It takes a few minutes of arguing but eventually Jason gets his alternate self to hand in his gear for examination. He refuses to give a blood sample at first until Dick, who smartly decides to call himself Robin to avoid confusion, convinces him that no one means any harm. Jason’s amazed at how easily it all goes after Robin just nudges at him. That he trusts the kid’s judgement like it’s a normal everyday occurrence. Jason’s jealous.

“Hey, you got a place for him to sleep?” The other Jason asks now holding a very tired looking Robin in his arms.

“Looks like everything finally caught up to him.” Jason laughs. “Follow me.”

Jason’s dealt with a lot of weird things. Hell, he came back from the dead. But there’s just something about being around this version of himself that makes him feel so off. This other guy was Batman with a Robin that clearly loved him enough that he’d latch onto alternate versions of the guy. It wasn’t fair.

“So what do I call you? This is all kinda… weird.” Jason says.

“I call him Jay.” Robin mumbles tiredly.

“Jay, then.” Nightwing says with a smile like he’s trying to play off that this whole thing isn’t completely bizarre. “This is my old room. I think he’ll be ok in here.”

Jay walks past, glancing around the room before settling Robin down on the bed. “Could you give us a minute?”

Jason and Dick give a quick nod and walk down the hall together both slumping against a wall to the floor. Jason rests his head on Dick’s shoulder, shutting his eyes for a moment trying to quiet the angry noise in his head.

“You ok?” Dick asks.

“He… Yea. Fine.”

“He’s not better than you. Just different.” Dick plants a kiss in his hair.

“Everything is.” Jay says, walking over to them. “Back home this place is a pile of rubble. It’s like walking into some memory waiting for the whole thing to collapse.”

“What happened?” Dick asks while Jason quickly pulls away.

“Blew up.” He says plainly. “We thought we were safe but this place sticks out like a sore thumb.”

“Is that when Bruce-”

“I’m going to the cave. Will you please watch Robin?”

“We’re not babysitters.” Jason crosses his arms.

“You have a problem with me.” Jay smiles. “Fine. Pout and be angry that’ll really show me.”

Jason stands up and takes a step over. “Hey, fuck you!”

Dick is up and between the two in an instant. “Both of you stop it. Getting into a fight isn’t going to help. I will watch Robin. Jay can go down to the cave. And Jason, you can… whatever it is you’re gonna do. Ok?”

It’s not as though Nightwing hasn’t seen Red’s violent side, hasn’t confronted him on it. He has. They fight and it isn’t some careful dance. They fight to hurt. It doesn’t end until one of them can’t bring themselves back up. Last time Nightwing won and Red just smiled at him, mouth bloody and left eye swelling shut.

“Think I might be a bad influence on you, blue bird. Or maybe you’re just always this angry. Letting go feels great, doesn’t it?”

Nightwing thought about punching Red to shut him up but he figured that would prove his point even more. He spent the rest of the night mending Red’s wounds, passing out on the couch then waking up bandaged himself. He felt guilty, not for what he had done, but that he enjoyed it and looked forward to their next fight.

Fingers snap before his face and Red is handing him a coffee mug. “You’re thinking too much.”

Nightwing stares at the mug. “What’re we doing?”

Red shrugs. “I dunno. Having a good time in a city filled with scum and shit.”

He puts down the mug and glances at the other, noting all the scars, the one’s Nightwing’s given him and the one’s that have been there since they met. There’s one that stands out above the others though, one that Dick finds himself drawn to. The Y incision scar running from his chest to his stomach, faded but still prominent. Dick’s asked about it before and really the answer shouldn’t have surprised him.

“I was dead. Now I’m not.”

But when he tries to dig further, ask about the death, Red becomes vague and withdrawn. Dick doesn’t push anymore, there’s no point in it right now. What they have seems to work and Dick wants to keep it that way. He’ll place tentative kisses on the scar until Red combs a hand through Nightwing’s hair telling him that he’s fine and that he doesn’t need anyone worrying over him. Nightwing would say the same of himself but he knows Red’s thinking about him just as much Nightwing is of him. Most of their attempts to act like they don’t care fail miserably.

“I’ll be gone in the morning.” Red will say in place of a goodnight and Nightwing gives a small hum of acknowledgement.