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Jason has been living with Bruce for months. He's been patrolling with Batman for a month straight and he's ready to get rid of the training wheels. He wants to be treated like a partner, not a half-trained sidekick. He wants to do more than look over Bruce's shoulder during investigations and listen to Bruce interview victims and trail along in Batman's shadow.
Jason's plan is simple. Bruce said over dinner that Batman won't be patrolling that night so there will be plenty of time for Jason to finish his homework. Bruce said that still wearing his business clothes, though. If he was going to work on cases in the Cave, he would have changed into sweatpants or workout clothes, because Bruce always fits in an extra workout on nights that he doesn't patrol unless he's injured.
After dinner, Jason gets right to work on his essays. He knows the rules and knows that Robin doesn't get to patrol unless all of his homework is done. Jason stays ahead on all of his assignments when he can. Most of his teachers are happy to give him advance notice on projects or essays. It lets him set up a more steady homework schedule so he isn't thrown off by three sudden projects the day that Bruce is following a lead Jason doesn't want to miss.
Bruce says goodnight after Jason's been working for about an hour. He's still wearing his business clothes and he doesn't go to his bedroom or his office. When he doesn't come back within fifteen minutes, Jason is almost sure he's in the Cave.
Jason works on his essays until Alfred makes his rounds. Sneaking past Alfred is harder but Jason learned Alfie's routine after months in the house. Alfred's last check will be the last one of the night if he looks satisfied. He looks very happy when he sees Jason industriously scribbling away at the conclusion to next week's essay. Jason only feels a tiny bit guilty about that when he sneaks down the hallway to the Cave.
The Batmobile is still in the Cave but one of the motorcycles is gone and there is a single fixed point marked in the computer instead of a patrol route. If there are any other notes about the point, he can't get them without logging in and letting Bruce know Jason is onto him.
Jason borrows one of the other motorcycles and parks a few blocks away from the mark on the map. Jason travels the last distance across the rooftops only to find an empty alleyway at the site that Bruce had marked.
Maybe it's a test. Jason studies the alley from a few different angles but he can't see anything unusual from this far away. Jason drops down into the alley and lands almost silently.
Jason frowns at the graffiti on the walls. Nothing seems all that interesting. Those are the usual tags people use to warn each other about just who claims that part of Gotham at a particular moment and the long series of tags is still there, reflecting just who has claimed the warehouses on either side of the alley at any given point.
He's still looking for the most recent marks when the alley door bursts open and six men head for him quickly enough he doesn't have time to use his grappling gun to head for the roofs.
Jason can't fight six men at once. They're all big and one snatched the grappling gun out of his hands when he tried to get away. The others grabbed onto him instead of trying to punch. By the time he realizes they want to capture him and not brawl, he can't reach for his comm or panic beacon.
He's pinned to the wall of an alley with four grown men were holding him down, one keeping watch, and the last man calling someone through the still-open door.
A man in an expensive suit with thick-framed glasses walks into the alley and looks him over in a way that feels awful. The man looks right past the mask and the bright costume like he can see the alley kid underneath. “Good work, gentlemen. Get him inside before the Bat catches wind of this. No one's seen him tonight but we can't waste any time.”
The man in the glasses doesn't waste time. Jason loses his comm and utility belt and has a gag in his mouth before he can stutter through a first threat. They bind his hands in front of him with a row of zip ties before they force him to his knees and bind his ankles together with more zip ties.
The alley door is locked, twice, and a heavy bar drops into place. Even if Bruce knew which door to kick in, it would be almost impossible to sneak in with so many people on alert. Jason can't do much of anything to help and two of the men have guns trained on him.
Jason should have stayed home and worked on his essay. He had stuffed the bed with clothes until it looked like he had curled up before he snuck down to the Cave. It looked pretty convincing from the doorway when Jason turned the lights off. It should have bought him enough time to find Batman. It might buy enough time that it'll be much harder to save him.
“Hands in front because he's a Bat, if a very foolish one. Do not let him reach for anything,” the man in the glasses says coolly. “Four of you are going to keep an eye on him at all times. I want at least two guns on him. Nonfatal sounds, if possible, but you will shoot him if you even think he's trying to escape. If he escapes, it's on your heads. The other two are going to keep a close eye on the door.”
Jason tries to sound firm when he says Batman will find him. It sounds stupid through the thick strip of cloth tied tightly around his head as a gag but the man seems to understand him.
“Of course Batman will come for you eventually,” he says dismissively. “With any luck, he'll go after your buyer. My employer has quite a few promising candidates already here to discuss potential partnerships and amicable resolutions to territory disputes.”
Jason looks up at him, frowning, and tries to match the man to any of the Rogues that would employ a man wearing a normal suit without any sign of a theme.
“Well, look at that.”
Jason looks past the man in the suit to someone a lot more recognizable and swallows, hard.
Black Mask rubs his hands together. “Here I was thinking maybe I could get the temperature to cool down a little and instead I get what I need to prove we throw a good party. Everybody that thought they were too busy to come to my little gathering is in for a shock. Li, you've already given orders?”
The man in glasses nods. “Of course, sir. Four men guard the sidekick, two on the door. Robin keeps his hands in front of himself and does not make the men think he's up to something. The second they are suspicious, nonfatal gunshot wounds.”
“Perfect.” Black Mask stares at Robin for a second and doesn't care that Jason is looking as defiant as he can. “I need to get back to working the crowd.” Black Mask looks up to the men around him. “I trust you all know that you're dead if we lose my prize after I tell my guests what's on offer.”
Jason gulps at the chorus of muttered agreement. He knows Black Mask would order their deaths or kill them himself. So do the men surrounding him.
Jason's panic beacon is up by his left shoulder. He should have pressed it earlier. He should have made it look like an accident during the fight. He'd waited too long, though,
Jason's panic beacon still works, probably, but it's up by his shoulder. He can't reach for it without a lot of trigger-happy men getting upset. Maybe waiting is his best bet. They'll move him, at some point, and it'll be easier to get his hands up by his shoulder.
He just has to wait a little longer.
“Good,” Black Mask says. “I have guests to entertain. Li, we're having a problem at the door. Go tell Mr. Malone that this is a party for Rogues, not henchmen. There's nothing he has that will impress me enough to let that bottomfeeder have a seat at the table.”
Matches Malone had shown up fashionably late for Black Mask's auction, mostly by accident.
Bruce had expected Jason to fight when he said that Batman wouldn't be patrolling that night. Jason had volunteered that he had an essay to finish, instead, and he'd excused himself from the table before Bruce could ask if he wanted to spend any time downstairs before he headed out.
Jason had been busily working on that essay when Bruce headed out. Jason had barely looked up when Bruce said goodnight. Black Mask was up to something and Bruce didn't want to rely on the surveillance cameras he'd planted in the warehouse a few nights before. It would be difficult for Batman to observe with Black Mask's usual precautions, let alone when several other Rogues were invited to the talk. Walking right in as Matches Malone would give him a far better idea about what was happening. Even getting turned away as Malone would help. Some of the henchmen that did make it inside might tell him about the meeting, later, as long as he was willing to buy a few rounds at their usual pub.
Matches is content to wait in line. He knows it's a long-shot to be let in but it's a believable move for a well-known thug-for-occasional-hire.
Bruce has to keep that same casual air even when rumors start spreading down the line of waiting people. Black Mask has Robin, they're whispering.
Bruce reaches into his pocket, motions sloppy and unconcerned, and presses the emergency beacon before grabbing a fresh match. He buries himself in the act, projecting casual interest as much as he can, and doesn't relax when the beacon that also functions as a lighter vibrates slightly.
Someone back in the Cave registered the alert. Bruce silently thanks Alfred all over again and quickly rattles out the details in abbreviated Morse code. Robin possibly captured. Black Mask. Location marked in computer.
The beacon vibrates again in the pattern for 'acknowledged' and Bruce can breathe a little easier. If Jason is in danger, and if Bruce has to take one of the riskier options, someone else is on the way.
Waiting to move forward in line is torture.
Getting to the front is worse. The thug manning the door is not one that has been friendly with him before. Matches tends to get along with desperate people that would rather be doing something else. Those sorts of people tend to find employers happy to work with people with criminal records and parole officers. Several have sent their kids to college through Wayne Enterprises scholarships for employees and dependents.
Matches has met this man a few times. The man at the door likes having power over others and no interest in making friends. He also thinks Matches dodges rougher jobs out of cowardice instead of taste.
Matches won't get past him by coaxing. He might by appealing to the crowd, but in a crowd of henchmen with bosses already inside the room, that would get attention fast. He doesn't have time to risk leveraging his reputation as the kind of man that buys drinks more often than is fair. Black Mask's chief organizer makes his way to the doors before he can start laying down his argument.
“Mr. Malone,” David Li says. He looks over his glasses dismissively. “This is a gathering for people of higher status, not for gawkers. I will ask you to leave once and I shall not ask a second time.”
“Apologies for the lack of invitation.”
Matches and Li both turn. The masked man seems to have come out of nowhere and the hair on the back of Bruce's neck rises. He should not be surprised. There is no way that he should be surprised by some newcomer to Gotham but he hadn't heard a thing before the heavily modulated voice cut into their conversation.
The stranger has a skull-like mask with a bright red X on the forehead. The same red X is repeated over the man's black chest armor and on the grey gauntlets. One gauntlet rests on the metallic silver belt, showing the grey lining to his black cape and hinting at just how he had melted out of the shadows. Teleportation is one of Red X's many rumored powers.
“I'm new in town. Word said he's a solid henchman so I hired him,” Red X lies. The harsh monotone delivery through the voice synthesizer makes it hard to tell if he could lie so well with the mask and modulator gone. “I know I'm not on your list but I heard this is an open meeting to talk strategy. I figured it was a good way to start out in Gotham.”
Li frowns. “Red X. Out of Jump City, is it?”
“Robin's too easy,” he says dismissively. “Figured it was time for an upgrade.”
Li looks him over before stepping out of the doorway. “Very well. I suppose I didn't give your hired man time to explain.”
Bruce doesn't have time to figure out why the man lied. He needs to get in that building and the less suspicion he gains now, the more room he'll have to maneuver if Robin truly is in danger. When Red X walks into the warehouse with the casual air of someone wandering into a cafe, Bruce follows.
Bruce drifts to the edge of the room with the rest of the henchmen. He can't afford to be suspicious, yet, and he needs to focus on Robin instead of the mysterious thief that has antagonized his first Robin so many times.
This is not how Dick wanted his night home to go. He'd brought the Red X suit to the Cave to finally come clean and to get some advice about how to safely deal with Zynothium. He had expected a lot of yelling and then maybe some quality time with his brand-new little brother if Jason didn't vanish at the fight sign of a fight.
He had not expected to see a top-status alert from the distress beacon Bruce carried when he was patrolling out of the Batsuit. Between Bruce's warning, his notes about Black Mask's meeting that popped up as soon as Dick logged into the system, and Robin's tracker location, Dick knows this is bad.
He had never planned to suit up as Red X again but he'd do a lot worse for his brother than walk into one of Black Mask's gatherings and head straight for the oversized conference table someone had dragged into a warehouse.
The only open seat is between Two-Face and Mr. Freeze. Red X wouldn't hesitate so Dick doesn't. He pulls the chair back and sits down as if he has never had a reason to fear either of them.
Two-Face takes one look at him and flips his coin.
Dick does not hold his breath. He does not need to look relieved when the coin comes up unscarred because Red X doesn't know or care about Two-Face.
“New face,” Two-Face says, gesturing to Dick's mask. “Well, yaknow. Pretty gutsy to come straight here before a first Gotham heist.”
“First known Gotham heist. I'm not here to be a C-lister,” he says coolly. “I heard this would be worth my time.”
Mr. Freeze turns slowly to look him over. “Hm. Perhaps,” he agrees. “I have heard a little about your work. Zynothium, correct?”
“Zynothium,” Dick agrees. He can't afford to smile, not yet, but step one is done. He's inside the warehouse, Bruce is in the back of the warehouse, no one has called Red X out as a fake, and some of Gotham's A-listers know who he is and just what he has to offer. “I'm flattered.”
“Alternative fuel sources are always interesting.” Mr. Freeze draws a card from a small compartment in his suit. “So are a few rumored properties though it is difficult to come across Zynothium to investigate these further. Perhaps we can talk in more detail later.”
Dick takes the card. He has a part of the belt just right for it and tries to pretend any part of this is normal. “Perhaps,” he agrees.
Black Mask saves him from having to say any more. He walks out of the back room and drops into the upholstered chair at the head of the table, one far nicer than the folding chairs set up for everyone else. He also erases any chance that Dick won't be able to do his best to menace anyone in the room when two men drag Jason forward on his knees. His little brother is bound and gagged and not going to stay that way for long.
“As some of you have heard, we've had a slight change in plans,” Black Mask announces. “We were going to talk about a coordinated strategy after a few of us have had some problems with logistics lately thanks to Gotham's Bat problem. Now, we can talk about that after one of you makes the best offer to get a little Bat of your own. You'll miss the rest of the meeting but that's because this is a buy-and-run offer. You take Robin off my hands for a fee, you deal with the eventual incoming Bat. I don't care what you do with him as long as it isn't here. What's on offer?”
Dick waits. He can't make the first offer. If he can't impress Black Mask, his backup plans are a lot riskier.
Two-Face's coin comes up scarred. Dick keeps his breathing even when Two-Face chuckles about just what he could do with a second shot at Robin.
“Two warehouses and two pairs of thugs that know their way around explosives,” he offers.
“Li, write that down,” Black Mask orders. “Anyone else?”
“Assistance with your next large job,” Freeze says.
Black Mask frowns. “I can guess what Two-Face has in mind, but you? You I don't get.”
“Batman would ransom him back. He has resources very useful to my goals and would appreciate just what others might do.”
Black Mask sighs expansively. “Boring. Bid accepted but I want someone to punch this up a little. I want something I can't get on my own.”
“Zynothium.”
Dick's modulated voice was designed to draw attention. There's an edge to it that catches the ear and it works. Black Mask turns to him and so does everyone else at the long table.
Dick won't need two chances to put on a show. The collected attention of every Rogue and heavy mob hitter at the table doesn't faze him and he lets it show. Dick stands up slowly out of the cheap folding chair. If the Rogues had bothered with better furniture, he'd have enough lift that he wouldn't have to burn the last bit of charge, but they need a show and he needs proof that Zynothium is worth putting aside any other offers of money or favors.
Dick leaps into the air and teleports. He ends up precisely where he'd aimed, fifteen feet in the air over Jason, and lands lightly at his little brother's side with a brief twist to be sure he lands solidly on his feet. He absorbs the shock of the landing easily and stands up straight.
“Zynothium,” Dick repeats. He keeps his voice cold and even. He doesn't want the slightest amount of strain on his voice synthesizer, not now, and Black Mask is just two steps away. “You won't find a source of it anywhere on the East Coast and it's not easy to get out west.”
Black Mask points at Dick's skull-themed mask. “You see? That's the kind of new face we need around Gotham, and the aesthetic? Great stuff.”
“Nothing wrong with a few skulls,” Red X agrees pleasantly. The voice distorter leaves the words sounding downright sinister. “It's a classic look.”
“And not everyone can pull it off, but you give it some character.” Black Mask sounds amused and he's leaning back in the upholstered mahogany chair at the head of the table like he's happy to spend all night chatting. He probably is. He has several men with drawn weapons keeping a close eye on the doors and skylights. Two men have guns trained on Dick's little brother.
“Gotham's the big leagues. Can't just show up here without a theme and a favorite antagonist.” Red X wouldn't rush the villain banter. Dick can't, either, and forces a cutting smile that no one will see beneath the mask. It's the small details that let him fool allies that know him a lot better than Roman Sionis.
“I have heard the occasional rumor that you tangled with the first Robin.”
Dick can feel Bruce's stare on his back. This is not how he wanted to have a first conversation about Red X. “We went a few rounds, sure. I got a good look at the gadgets and most of the moves. That gives me a few ideas about what this one might try.”
Black Mask studies him for several long seconds before laughing. “Sure. You came all this way and call me curious. No one else came prepared with something to top what you're offering, or if they have it, maybe they're waiting to see if you can keep Robin caged for a few days before they bring the offers to you.”
Dick doesn't look away from Black Mask. “One Zynothium fuel cell in exchange for Robin. Do we have a deal?”
Black Mask slowly holds out a hand. Dick shakes the hand briskly.
“Malone,” Red X says sharply. “Time to be useful and carry my cargo out of here.” He takes a fuel cell out of the suit's belt pocket and keeps it close. “I hope you'll understand if I want Robin before I hand this over.”
Black Mask shrugs theatrically. “What can I say. I respect not teleporting the merchandise right outta here. Makes it more likely we can do some business in the future.”
Dick can't turn to watch Malone's progress through the thugs and A-list Rogues. He's an up-and-coming Rogue trying to make it big time. Red X won't nervously look around for a hired henchman. If it happens to let him keep his eyes on Jason, it's a small comfort. Jason doesn't know who Red X is. Jason is staring straight past him, and unless Jason's an even better actor than Bruce, Jason has no idea that Matches Malone would never hurt him.
Having Bruce carry Jason was supposed to make both Bruce and Jason feel safer and a little less likely to attack the apparent enemy. If Jason doesn't know that Matches is Bruce, then Dick is going to need to bump up their escape plans, because Bruce won't wait long before making sure Jason knows he's safe no matter what he needs to do to Red X.
Focusing on breathing had come up over and over in training and Jason had never understood why. Maybe it would be easier to draw air in now if he hadn't sulked through the interminable talks about breathing when he wanted to learn how to hit people harder.
Dick had never said anything about Red X. Dick doesn't talk much about his friends or any of their adventures. Most of the time, it feels like it's because Dick wants to talk to Jason, but it would be really nice to know something more than 'Red X fought the Teen Titans and won at least once.'
Jason has no idea what Red X wants with him but it probably isn't anything good.
Malone isn't much more comforting. He's the kind of hired thug that Willis ran with years before, not that bright and sometimes all the meaner for it. His dad had never mentioned Matches, not that Jason heard, but Jason has met too many thugs to want one to touch him.
“You want me to grab him, boss?” Malone asks from just behind Red X.
“You can take the gag off if you don't mind the risk of biting,” Red X says without turning around to look at Malone. It's hard to tell with the creepy skull mask but he seems to be staring at Jason. “Maybe he's a talker like the other Robin.”
Jason bets 'the other Robin' never had this problem just one month into patrol. The other Robin probably hadn't been dead or guaranteed to never put the cape on again two weeks in, either, because Jason knows he can't get out of this yet. Not with so many people watching him. Maybe biting is the best he can offer to prove he won't stop fighting no matter what. Even if it takes until morning for anyone to realize that he isn't in his room, he'll still keep fighting. Bruce will come even if he's mad at him. Even if Bruce doesn't find out until the morning, he'll try to find Jason, and maybe Jason will have the chance to press his panic beacon when it's just Red X and the thug.
Malone drops to one knee beside Jason and fumbles with the knot of the gag. The rough, stained hands are gentle. “First time I've stolen a sidekick,” Malone mutters as he leans closer. “I know some people lift tires but I don't think I've ever stolen a thing from Batman before.”
Behind the mask, Jason's eyes widen.
The profile is different. Jason can see it, now, when Malone is so close to him and Bruce spent days drilling him on disguises and how to change the shape of the face. Changes in facial hair are distracting, Bruce had said, and he'd demonstrated with a mustache that looked a lot like the one on Matches' face. Some things don't change, Bruce says, and the most important is the eyes.
The gag falls away. Jason swallows and looks right into his dad's eyes. “B—Batman's going to come for me. You'll see, old man.”
'Malone's' hand rests on his shoulder for just a moment. “I've got you, so maybe remember I won't be letting you go.” His grip looks rough to all the people staring at them, Jason thinks, but his hands are gentle. Jason squirms for show, doing his best to look like he's trying to get away, but lets his dad pin him against his chest in a strong hold.
Jason sneers up at him. From this angle, it's even more obvious that he's looking at his dad, but he can't relax. Robin wouldn't trust Matches so Jason can't let anyone know that he's safe.
“Zynothium,” Red X says in his creepy robotic voice as he holds out a squat cylinder to Black Mask. “Pleasure doing business with you.”
“Likewise.” Black Mask's hands curl around the fuel cell. It doesn't look like much but Jason is not looking forward to what Black Mask can try when his men can teleport. “Back exit's all yours. Li, let's make sure the crowd doesn't cause damage this time when they head on their way.”
Red X leads the way through the back door and right back into the alley where Robin had been just an hour before. None of them relax when the door closes behind them. Jason keeps up the pretense of trying to get away but he isn't going anywhere yet. The second that it's safe, Bruce will get him out of the zip ties and he can fight, but until then Jason has to pretend that his dad doesn't already have him.
So far, so good, but Dick can't relax. He's taking the lead and that's not a particularly safe place when he doesn't want to risk telling the truth this close to Black Mask's base. He can see security cameras dotting the alley and he moves fast. Bruce's footsteps are still shuffling, as he's still putting on a show as Matches Malone, but they won't stay that way as soon as they're out of camera range. Dick can just hope they get to the right alley before Bruce decides to deal with a probable threat to Jason.
“We doing this on foot, boss?” Matches asks diffidently.
Dick knows how quickly Bruce can move and he knows that Black Mask won't have cameras everywhere. This second alley is no good for telling the truth, either, not when he can see security cameras placed low enough to get clear views of their faces. As long as he makes it obvious that he's not an imminent threat to Robin, he might be able to get to a safe place to get a few words out before Bruce deals with the apparent threat.
“Not much chance I could get him to stay still on my bike,” Dick says, voice casual beneath the distorter that makes the words sound more menacing than he wants. “I've got a destination in mind. You're a local, you might be familiar with it.”
“I mean, since you can teleport and all,” Matches persists.
Dick doesn't slow down. “Have you ever tried to teleport with someone that doesn't particularly want to be teleported? It's unpleasant.”
“Might be a little nicer than walking through Gotham alleys when the Rogues have no obligation to keep to Black Mask's deal.”
It's a warning that he doesn't have much time left. Dick doesn't turn around. Bruce is holding Jason and that's the only thing that is holding Bruce back from an immediate takedown. Bruce would burn any identity in a second to save one of his sons, Dick knows that, but Jason isn't in danger at the moment and he's staying quiet. Dick does not like contributing to a situation scary enough that Jason's keeping his mouth shut.
Dick's shoulders tense when he leads the way across the street and then down a third alley. This one has just one security camera. It's high enough up that it probably doesn't carry any sound but he isn't sure and doesn't know if he wants to risk turning around yet. Just one more alley and then he'll be ready to take the risk.
“I'm asking because I want to know if I should call in backup, chum.”
Dick freezes. That's Matches' voice, maybe, but there is no way that Matches would...
Dick turns on his heel. Bruce is still cradling Jason protectively but now he's smiling.
“This alley's camera is one of mine,” his dad says calmly. “I had my suspicions. I was sure when I saw how you moved in midair after teleporting. We're having words about teleporting in particular and Zynothium in general when I'm sure both of you are safe. What's our plan?”
Behind the mask, Dick smiles.
The plan is apparently to stage a fight between Batman and Red X before anyone gets brave enough to follow their trail and see if they can try stealing Robin away from the newcomer. Dick isn't sure if he'll ever use Red X again but he wants to keep the possibility open.
“His night started so well,” Dick explains while Bruce glowers. “Just think about it! Red X went from messing with Robin to outbidding some serious A-grade Rogues with Black Mask. He was set up to make a big splash and then he got Batmanned.”
Jason laughs when Bruce looks pained at the word. “Did you see the looks on their faces?” Jason laughs harder at Bruce's sad look. “They thought he was ready to be one of the heavy hitters and he walked out of there with Robin. The next thing they'll hear is that he got Batmanned in an alley.”
Dick laughs. “Right? Talk about a fall from grace, if you can call it grace when it was supervillainy.”
“Later,” Bruce says firmly. “Jay, if you're okay waiting another couple minutes, I'll change and then we can use footage of Batman saving you. Someone is going to try to hack this camera if they're clever and I'm going to let them recover some footage. We don't need anything showing you if you want to go straight to Alfred.”
Jason glances down at his bound wrists. He hasn't thought about them much since he knew that Bruce had him. Any delay in cutting him free was just strategy because he knew that he would be okay. He knew that he wouldn't have to worry that his knees still felt numb or that he wanted to go home and get a hug from everybody before the lectures start. “I'm good,” he promises. “I can wait another couple minutes for Batman.”
Dick switches the voice modulator off and reaches out to take him. “Hey, Little Wing,” he says. “If it's okay?”
Jason rolls his eyes behind the mask. “Of course it's okay.”
Bruce looks worried even after Dick is holding him. Jason shoos him away, both hands together, and doesn't comment when Dick holds him a little tighter than necessary. It's kind of nice that Dick had been so worried. It's still hard to look at the unfamiliar mask but it's easier when he knows that it's Nightwing in a different suit, not some stranger that might hurt him.
“I'm sorry I couldn't explain,” Dick says. “Black Mask had too many weapons trained on you and a smoke bomb would have been too risky.”
“It's okay. I know why you had to do it that way and you had to make Black Mask think you were for real.” Jason looks up at the skull mask. It wouldn't be so hard to look at if it was all one color but he knows that it's his brother under the mask. It's much easier to remember when he can hear his voice. “Thanks for turning off the voice changer.” Jason's voice is quiet in the empty alley. “That's... pretty intimidating.”
“I know,” Dick says apologetically. “I wanted to be intimidating, at the time, and if anything else... I'm so glad it helped get you out of there.”
“I know.” Jason curls against Dick's shoulder for a moment. “Thanks for distracting part of the lectures later. Whatever is going on with Red X...”
Dick laughs. “Oh, trust me, I'm in for a much longer lecture than a little bit of sneaking out and not telling Batman,” he promises. “Starting with just how we're going to grab the empty Zynothium fuel cell before Black Mask realizes I cheated him. If I ever want to bring this identity back, it'll be bad enough that I'm about to make shaky surveillance cam footage of losing badly to Batman that the Rogues will pass all around. They're awful gossips.”
“Better get in character, then.” Jason grins at Dick's exaggerated proud stance. “Oh wait, you'd lose to him anyway. No need for the act”
“I'll show you,” Dick retorts. “Is that your plan? You lure me into sparring with B so you can trash-talk us both and sit there with popcorn?”
Jason is absolutely planning to bring some popcorn out if he can get them to spar. If they're not arguing before they start sparring, it's like watching a video game between two people that fight faster than his eyes can track all the motion. They know all each other's moves and it can go on for minutes without anyone landing a blow. If they are arguing before they spar, any friendly teasing turns into barbed insults, almost all of the hits land, and Jason gets out of the Cave as soon as he can.
The tension in the Cave feels a little like the sense of someone standing in the alley putting out a low level of fury.
“Showtime?” Dick asks. He isn't the least bit intimidated, which helps, because Jason still gets a little nervous when Bruce goes full Bat. “The Batmobile's right around the corner. Jason, if you're okay with being on the ground for a minute, we can stage the rescue. You can go right to Alfred if you'd rather, though.”
Jason huffs. “I swear, big bird—yes, I can handle being on the ground for a minute. I slept in alleys, before, I can handle being put down with both of you right here.”
“Enjoy it while it lasts,” Dick threatens as he gently sets his brother down just where the camera can see him. “Nobody's leaving you alone for a week after this. I already had a week lined up to try talking to Bruce and to spend some time with you.”
Jason squirms a bit before giving up and deciding that his position sitting with his back against the wall is good enough. “Don't you have a fight to lose?”
They don't put together much of a fight. Batman crouches over Robin, cutting his wrists and ankles free. Robin backs up from the fight with a batarang in hand and looks ready to run. Batman looms over Red X, they have a few quick exchanges of blows, and then Batman leaves a few scores in the crumbling brick with a batarang. Dick leaves behind a couple marks from X-shaped blades that look incredibly inconvenient to hold without cutting his own hands. For the final touch, Dick takes the skull-shaped mask off and leaves the alley. Bruce hits the mask a few times and leaves a couple shards behind.
Jason should probably protest when Bruce scoops him up and carries him to the Batmobile. Alfred looks approving from his place in the driver's seat, though, and Jason can breathe a little easier. They're all happy to have him back and by the time they've all fussed over him he might be more comfortable with the lectures.
Bruce drapes a blanket over Jason's shoulders and sticks him in the middle of the Batmobile's back seat. Bruce and Dick sit on either side of him. Alfred puts his cell phone down before Jason can see who he was texting when they approached the car. After Alfred looks him over, he nods approvingly and hands Jason a thermos.
“It's good to have all three of you back safely,” Alfred says. He's wearing his own domino mask and an old-fashioned suit jacket that he keeps down in the Cave. “Let's get out of here so the few people lurking two blocks away will get up their courage and go have a look at your feigned crime scene.”
They can see a few braver people start to move toward the alley when Alfred drives them away.
Somehow, in between changing his clothes and driving to Gotham keeping the Batmobile idling in a dangerous part of town long enough to find them, Alfred had time to make hot chocolate. The warmth of the thermos feels good against his hands and it gives Jason something to do. He takes occasional sips of his drink and doesn't fuss when Bruce insists on taking Jason's mask off and fussing over the small cuts from where Jason had struggled against the restraints.
“What's our plan for the Zynothium?” Dick asks. He ignores Bruce's horrified look. “Don't get me wrong, it's a spent fuel cell, but I'd rather not let Black Mask have too much time to figure out the reverse-engineering for stabilizing Zynothium. I was planning to change back to Nightwing and go take it back to better mess with my hypothetical rival. Red X was always me and that's a long story I can explain after we deal with the fuel cell.”
Jason shakes his head. Only Dick would cause that kind of trouble on purpose.
Alfred's phone chimes.
Alfred's lips twitch. “Perhaps you should check that for me, sir.”
Bruce reaches for the cell phone. “Hm. Selina sends her regards and congratulates Nightwing on the successful theft of a Zynothium fuel cell. Black Mask may be able to find the trace evidence she left behind crediting Nightwing with the break-in if he investigates before losing his temper.”
“You texted Catwoman?” Jason asks, staring at Alfred.
“Catwoman particularly dislikes Black Mask and anyone foolish enough to try harming children,” Alfred responds without turning. “The combination meant she was willing to help in exchange for baked goods to be delivered tomorrow.”
“Thanks, Alfred,” Dick says. “I would've left behind more evidence and would still be figuring out my approach.”
“You are welcome, Master Dick. As the fuel cell is already handled, you are free to come directly back to the cave and explain precisely how you have determined that Zynothium is safe for use and that you have suffered no ill effects from such a risky venture.”
Dick rubs the back of his neck sheepishly. “Sorry, Alfred.”
Bruce pinches the bridge of his nose. “We'll run some tests back at the Cave.”
Dick shrugs. “I only had the suit with me because I realized that I can't exactly say that you're uncommunicative and never tell me anything if I'm going to do the same. So I wanted to tell you guys that Red X was actually me all along. It got a little more dramatic than I thought when I showed up to explain and Bruce's panic beacon popped up. I borrowed one of the plain motorcycles, Alfred took the Batmobile in case we needed a driver, and you guys saw the rest.”
Jason curls up on the battered sofa in the Cave while Bruce and Dick are still arguing about science and reasonable testing and reasonable uses of alternate identities while Alfred is drafting inquiries about Zynothium. It's typical for Batman to notice a new substance being used in Gotham and worry about the toxicity effects on the rogue, not just the rogue's victims. They expect to have answers in days.
Usually, Bruce and Dick's arguments are cold and vicious and make Jason want to run. This time, they're mostly arguing in whispers because neither one is willing to let go of Jason and he's comfortable curled up between between them. Whenever the whispers get too vicious, they both calm down before Jason can even tense up.
Jason falls asleep between his dad and his big brother. He's never felt safer.