Closed: DCEU AU: Reunion

[takingthemdown]

♪ ♫ ♬ -The Neighbourhood - Afraid
Who: Jason & Bruce
What: Another Reunion
When:A week or so after this

It had been almost two years since Red Hood had resurfaced, a villain who stole the Joker's maiden name. A lot of bad men got very dead very fast, and after a show down and a new scar, Red Hood left town without a trace. Letting the Bat think he had been blown up in the last fight, just like the boy he had once been had died. He didn't die though, he went back to Talia for awhile before taking over the drug trade to build himself a fortune.

The text was an accident. He'd actually stolen Grayson's phone along with his bike and found Bruce's text funny, but over the past week he kept looking at the shattered screen. The message still there. He didn't think it was a good idea and yet... here he was standing before the gate. His finger lingering on the buzzer He hadn't pushed it yet. He was sure the security had picked him up already. A leather jacket and a hoodie on a bright red motorcycle. Of course it was a bad idea.

Yet, he lingers a moment... The button pushed before he loses his nerves and moves to get back on his bike planning to bail out before they can answer the call.

Comments

[dressedlikeabat]

A week. A week of analyzing the signal, the text, everything about that brief conversation. It was Jason, no doubt that it was. Bruce had found himself in front of the glass case again and again every night since then. Diana had been worried when he told her. Clark had been concerned when he told him. Even Victor couldn't trace the signal. And Victor was every signal.

He didn't even think of it when Alfred answered the buzzer at their gate. Security didn't seem to go off, so it couldn't have been too big of a threat. Bruce poured himself a drink as Alfred inquired who it was.

[takingthemdown]

It was hearing Alfred's voice that made him lay his head down against the handlebars. Jason had always loved Motorcycles, but that was normal with every Robin, Jason had just always been partial to motors of any kind... hell Bruce found him years ago stealing the tires off the Batmobile.

He needed a drink when he heard the man's voice and yet all he could do was say a few words.

"Hey Alfie, The old man's not home is he?"

His stomach felt like it was dropping out. He should leave and yet, he had a feeling the gate was about to open so he had to wait and figure out if he should just leave or get ready to go see the old Butler he had been so close to.

[dressedlikeabat]

Both of them froze when they both heard the voice filter through. Bruce took his shot, leveling the old man with a stare.

Alfred met it and responded, "yes, actually, Master Bruce happens to be home tonight." And with that, the gates swung open for him and Bruce couldn't move. Not without dire consequences from one Alfred Pennyworth.

[takingthemdown]

The only sound for a moment was the sound of the motorcycle idling.

"You know what, this was a dumb idea. It was nice hearing your voice Alfie. I gotta go."

He pushed himself back up to Rev the bike and kick the stand up. He hated feeling like a coward but how did he face Bruce after what he did?

[dressedlikeabat]

"Young man, you are not driving off without a cup of tea," Alfred replied.

Bruce was tempted to tell Alfred to just let Jason go. There was nothing neither of them could say to each other that didn't devolve into something being broken somewhere. He set his mouth in a thin line and retreated to the main room where Alfred liked to have tea in.

[takingthemdown]

He could never tell Alfred no, that was just an iron clad rule. He sighed some, god he needed a smoke, but like hell he'd let Bruce or Alfred see that.

"Yeah... okay." With that the sound of the bike moving could be heard, as he sped up the driveway. His hood blowing off and catching his hair, a streak of white in the front from the Lazurus pit, but he was a lot bigger than the boy they put in the ground, closer to Bruce's size as the Red Hood had seemed. Of course he rode without a helmet, Robin never wore one.

Stepping off the bike he made his way up towards the door humming an old song to try and calm his nerves.

[dressedlikeabat]

"You're having tea with him whether you like it or not," Alfred said. But Bruce didn't need him to make that threat. He wanted to see Jason, know he was alive. He knew that he was two steps away from getting up and bolting, leaving the reunion to just Alfred and Jason. But with the old man's instructions, he stays seated.

Alfred left him there to go answer the door.

[takingthemdown]

The old man in question was gathered up into a bear hug the moment Jason laid eyes on him. He needed a second. The man had meant the world to him, just as Bruce had, but Alfred, was more like his grandfather, the person that would sneak him treats or encourage his interests. Even at his angriest never was any of it for Alfred.

His anger at Bruce.. was mostly that he didn't kill the Joker. That was it.

He followed Alfred along, scratching at his cheek as he did so. It took a lot to get Alfred not to take his jacket, Jason refused to part with it. In case he needed to bail out. Once he stepped into the room behind Alfred he squared his jaw and tried to make himself look bigger like his nerves weren't going crazy.

"...Hey B."

[dressedlikeabat]

“Jason.”

That’s all that he could say. He stood up as soon as he came into the sitting room and stood awkwardly when Alfred left them to their own devices. He wanted to hug him tightly but knew that it probably would have been a bad idea.

This wasn’t what he expected to see. A man that he could practically see eye to eye with. Alive.

[takingthemdown]

He had been a fairly small boy when he died, and here he was tall and built like a brick house, his eyes were harder but he still had the same face. He cleared his throat feeling the eyes on him.

"In the flesh..." He muttered as he made his way over. Knowing Alfred would want him to actually speak to the man. "Your hair's turning gray..." He spoke the obvious but it really put in perspective the years hes been gone. He didn't reach out, he kept his hands in his jacket pocket.

[dressedlikeabat]

He ran a hand through his hair and shrugged at that.

“You look different.”

It didn’t escape him that he seemed to have a similar build as the Red Hood that he had seen around.

“It’s good to see you.”

He took a hesitant step toward him.

[takingthemdown]

"I grew up."

He spoke with a shrug, still eyeing Bruce like he expected him to jump out at him like a movie monster. Yet, he remained still. "Lazarus Pit." He figured how was coming next. So he reached up and tugged the tuff of white in his own hair. "I was brain damaged... it fixed it, and then puberty kicked into overdrive."

He watched Bruce move, but he didn't, even if his heart was pounding.

[dressedlikeabat]

Lazarus pit. Bruce swallowed and watched as he tugged on the white of his hair. Brain damaged. He took another step toward him. Their conversation, brief as it was, haunted him and Bruce wanted to gather the young man in his arms, hug him tight, never let him go back out into the night.

"...you always had a place here. You always were wanted."

[takingthemdown]

Jason had a look of guilt cross his face as he finally stepped forward to, he knew what Bruce was getting at, and he slowly opened his arms watching him with the sad teal eyes.

"You wouldn't say that if you know." he spoke low, honest and painfully, arms open for his father.

[dressedlikeabat]

Immediately, he crossed the distance and hugged Jason tightly. He shook his head, fighting back tears as he held his son again.

"Doesn't matter. You have always had a place here. You always will have a place here. You're always wanted here. Always, Jason."

Spending time with Martha Kent certainly had helped him understand all of the feelings he had about Jason as a parent. What everything meant. How afraid he was that he would lose more family. How it always would be a threat but worth it for the love.

[takingthemdown]

Part of him would always be that small boy Bruce brought home from Crime Alley, the boy who admired Dick, and thought Bruce could do no wrong. Part of him would always seek love and approval, but still part of him was re-trained by the Al Ghuls.
He closed his eyes and hugged Bruce back as tight as he could, feeling something burning in his eyes.

"You don't understand....I...I'm Red Hood." He spoke low into Bruce's shoulder.

[dressedlikeabat]

So he was. Bruce didn't let go of him, just held him tighter. He pulled back just a little to look at Jason. He had seen the Red Hood around. Not exactly on the side of justice but definitely someone who wouldn't let the crime in Gotham get away. The difference being the line the two of them had drawn in the sand. Batman didn't kill.

"That changes nothing."

[takingthemdown]

And oh boy did Red Hood kill. But, he only killed dirt bags, and he protected kids. The same kind of kids that Jason had one been. Forgotten and lost to the system and the city. The same as when he was Robin. He crossed the line, but he was still him inside.

Something about Bruce's words breaks something in him, and Jason starts to sob against his shoulder. He never expected that. He wasn't prepared for it.

[dressedlikeabat]

He held him tightly. After Luthor, after Steppenwolf, it all put things into perspective for him. Bruce knew that there had been much more to life than simply being driven by anger. He missed having a family. He missed having someone other than Alfred at the table. He saw it when he saw Barry nearly clear out his pantry. When he helped Victor. When he spoke with Diana. Alfred noticed it too: Bruce missed having others around.

Bruce rubbed his back as he made soothing sounds.

[takingthemdown]

He kept ahold of Bruce, a lot stronger than he had once been. It would take him a few minutes to cry it out, but it was also sending off warning bells in his head. Why was Bruce being so comforting?

[dressedlikeabat]

"You're not the only one who has changed," he said quietly. He let go and gave a wan smile. "There's a lot that's happened around here."

"What Master Bruce means is that he has missed your presence around here, Master Jason." Alfred, with his impeccable timing, returned with tea for the three of them as well as a few sandwiches.

[takingthemdown]

Jason had to turn from both to take a breath, running a hand down his face to force himself to breath, and make it stop. To control his emotions.

"I read about some of it. You always taught me to keep up with current events." He spoke before hearing Alfred's voice like a balm to the soul. He looked back over his shoulder and moved to sit down, remembering to keep his elbows off the table.

"Thank you..."

[dressedlikeabat]

Saved the world. He watched as Jason composed himself, wondering if that was his own doing or whatever training he had gone through after his death. Alfred set out the tea and snacks as if it were the most natural thing in the world. Bruce knew that he was glad to have Jason back in the house.

If Jason looked carefully, he would see a black kitten carefully approach him.

[takingthemdown]

A bit of both, he was a fry cry from the once excitable boy he had been before the Joker got his hands on him. He watched Alfred silently a first but, his instincts were sharp he noticed something else... and that happened to be the kitten. He moved to kneel and hold a hand out to the kitten. Waiting silently for it.

"Didn't take you for a cat man, B."

[dressedlikeabat]

The kitten sniffed at his hand before tentatively stepping forth and purring as she moved against his hand. She blinked up at him with wide eyes, nearly far too big for such a small thing.

"Clark's fault. Rescued her and used the excuse of his apartment not allowing cats in the building," Bruce explained. "Her name is Bat Cat. That is also Clark's fault. There's also a chicken. But the chicken is with--he's down on the Kent Farm."

Alfred snorted and sat down to his cup of tea.

[takingthemdown]

Oh those eyes got him. How was such a cute thing in these old walls? Once she nuzzled his hand he carefully lifted her and returned to the seat, running his heavily scarred fingers down her body. Like a villain stroking a cat in a bond movie.

"Clark...?" He didn't know identities of course. Then he said Kent farm and Jason's eyes nearly bugged out. "The REPORTER?"

Jason squinted after a second. "I refuse to believe you've ever seen a chicken that wasn't already cooked."

[dressedlikeabat]

That cute thing quickly became busy purring up a storm and making herself right at home in his lap. Clearly, she had a favorite spot now. Bruce sipped at his tea and set down his cup as Jason puzzled out exactly who he had meant.

"Clark Kent, the reporter." He paused before continuing. "Superman."

Alfred was too amused at Jason's quip about Bruce being near a chicken that was not already plated.

"It's true. I rescued a chicken. His name's Herbert. Since then, we haven't had chicken here at the house."

[takingthemdown]

"Goddamn...." He knew he shouldn't curse in front of Alfred but wow, Superman's identity. It also showed Bruce had a lot of faith in him to trust him with that. He kept petting the kitten with one hand the other reached out for his tea. Finally taking a drink.

He shifted his eyes to Alfred for confirmation. The once sky blue eyes now teal from the Lazarus pit, much like the streak of white in his hair.

"Like Herbert West?" Jason had always been big into his books. He couldn't help a love of litature, and the irony of a pet named Herbert with the Zombie he is talking to Bruce. "I am not about to become a vegetarian. Putting that out there right now."

[dressedlikeabat]

"We have not converted into a vegetarian household, I'm afraid," Alfred chimes in. "Simply that we have not had chicken in the house. Though, if you're hungry, Master Jason, I could see if there's something that we could put together for you."

Beyond the sandwiches before them.

Bruce sipped at his tea. Yes, it showed a lot of faith to reveal Superman's identity to Jason. Especially if that meant that he would return home.

[takingthemdown]

"Didn't you learn last time, Alfred, if you start feeding me I'll stick around. No one needs that. Not when theirs a price on my head... and the whole legally dead thing." He shrugged some, he long came to terms with the fact he was doomed to be a loner for life. But, as if his stomach protested, it growled while he protested.

Taking another sip of his tea he shook his head some. "But, I wont tell anyone, you should know I'm good about secrets."

[dressedlikeabat]

"Exactly my diabolical plan, Master Jason." He stood up and neatly pushed his chair back to see what he could get together.

Bruce nodded. He knew Jason could keep things secret. That he absolutely knew how to. He brushed his thumb over the teacup's rim.

"We need you to stick around." The words stay suck in his throat: we need you home. Alfred was the time of person that would express such things while Bruce was still working on trying to express himself better. "...I'm planning a visit to Marth--to the Kent Farm." It still was difficult to say her name sometimes. "Mrs. Kent would be interested in meeting you."

[takingthemdown]

He couldn't help the cheeky look he gave Alfred. "I could never say no to your cooking." He called to the other. He took a drink of his tea letting the idea weigh on him.

"You nearly said Martha..." He's not dumb. He was very smart it was half the reason he had been a good Robin. But his eyes had widened at Bruce's request... It didn't sound like an order, was dear old Batdad growing as a person? Who was this?

"Bruce... B, look. I appricate this, you acting like we're all good... hell, even sitting with me. But, you really don't need to do this. I'm a grown man now." Okay, he was 18 AT BEST, but he looked older thanks to the Pit. "If this woman's on a farm... and clearly important to Superman, I'm probably the last person that needs to meet this lady. Or did you forget Im still wanted."

[dressedlikeabat]

"You know that I never need to do anything. Ma Kent has done a lot for many of us. And she would be interested in meeting people in my life. She's met Alfred. You'll also meet Herbert."

There's still a lot for him to process, a lot for him to get over and understand. Mostly the fact that Jason was not dead. Not only that, he had returned the way he is. And he's the Red Hood that had been terrorizing the drug lords of Gotham. They would need to talk that out, figure out how to clear Jason's name, reinstate who he is in society. He's not a kid stealing wheels off the Batmobile anymore.

"You'll address her as Mrs. Kent until she says otherwise."

Perhaps this was a blessing in disguise. Time on the Kent farm, as Bruce had found, was healing, quiet and away from Gotham's hustle and bustle.

[takingthemdown]

"I still don't buy this whole Herbert Chicken story.. so I guess I gotta go just to see this." He spoke as he raked a hand through his hair. "I know how to pretend to be normal, and Alfred did teach me how to be respectful." You could always drag the kid from the streets but not the streets from the kids.

"I'll call her Mrs. Kent." He nodded, after all, he knew how Bruce's orders tended to go. He could listen at times.

[dressedlikeabat]

Yes, Alfred did. Alfred taught a lot of things.

"And she will show you exactly where Herbert is. Batcat there is actually pretty fond of Herbert. She was crying for nearly a week when we had to take him to the farm."

Except. Chicken. Chicken's a she named Herbert. But Bruce knows better.

[takingthemdown]

"...a girl chicken named Herbert? Well I guess that makes sense since the males are roosters." Jay likes to read, he knows some stuff. "...how the fuck has no one realized your batman? naming your cat like that, Jesus Bruce."

[dressedlikeabat]

"There's other people who use that kind of naming sequence for their pets and things," Bruce responds easily. "Who would believe me? I could shout that I'm Batman but no one would buy that Bruce Wayne is Batman."

[takingthemdown]

"...B, are you that online source that keeps claiming Bruce Wayne's ass matches Batmans? Becuase THAT shit is what throws people off." He reads a lot of the who is batman forums. He likes to troll people.

[dressedlikeabat]

"I'm not going to confirm or deny that," Bruce replies. Everyone needed a hobby. And if he could feed into the lies that would throw people off his identity, then everyone benefits from it.

[takingthemdown]

"...." Jason stared at him a second before grinning. "I was the anon who offered up the photos of Batman's ass to compare." He laughed a bit as he sat back. "I have no shame in helping keep you safe, shit, as far as I'm concerned no one but me is allowed to give you hell."

[dressedlikeabat]

"I guess I should thank you for that," Bruce chuckles a little. "Keeps it so that you're the only one that would be able to do so."

[takingthemdown]

"No need for thanks, its part of the job right? Former side kick gives old boss hell. Help's keep his identity secret."

[dressedlikeabat]

He doesn't say that he misses Jason. He doesn't say it. But he does. Bruce picks at the sandwich in front of him and keeps himself from blurting it out.

"Ma Kent would be happy for some extra visitors. I see her sometimes. Usually when Alfred says I've had enough of the city."

[takingthemdown]

Jason seemed to take Bruce lifting the sandwich as a sign to do the same, having been so long since he had something of Alfred's to eat he kind of didn't reply until he had a few bites down. Even a simple sandwich was the best with Alfred's work in it. So after he sat the bread down and used a napkin real quick.

"I'm down for it B. No worries, though I'm going to have to head off soon, but I can come back if you want. I'll leave you my real number. One of my burners I actually use for personal stuff." He didn't have a legit phone plan, he was the Red Hood, that would be dangerous.

[dressedlikeabat]

Bruce only nodded at being left his real number.

"...it's good to have you back, Jason."

That's as sentimental as he could afford right now. Not without getting in touch with emotions he's not ready to process just yet.

[takingthemdown]

He finished his sandwich before giving the same awkward shrug he used to give as a boy when he was sure he'd screwed up. "Don't say that yet, you don't now me anymore, B. You might not like the man I am." He spoke as he stood up and texted a gotham number to Bruce as he looked at him with an awkward smile. "It's been good to see you though."

[dressedlikeabat]

Bruce gave a small chuckle at that. The kind of man Jason was these days? Not someone he remotely recognized but was willing to give a try. Hell, he was ready to welcome Jason back with open arms. But baby steps. That's what they needed to focus on. Just baby steps in rebuilding their relationship.

"It's good to see you too, Jason."

[takingthemdown]

"I have to go handle some work." he repeated, more to focus himself as he started to head towards the door, stopping long enough to touch Bruce's shoulder. "Take care." He muttered before he hurried for the door, snatching his jacket and pulling the helmet back on and moving on out before Alfred sees him leaving.

Fic - between scenes

[takingthemdown]

It was alien for Jason to be back in the giant house. Sure, he'd spent a year with Talia in fine houses but he had been mostly brain dead in that time... his training had all been in spartan places much like living back in Crime Alley, which was where he vanished to when he returned to Gotham and made a big scene. Even after the bomb went off, Jason slithered further into Crime Alley. He knew how to blend in there, he was born of that smoke and grim, it was in his blood. Much like Bruce, it was why he had more than once been jokingly called a Prince of Gotham by Alfred. Jason lived and breathed Gotham.

Being back in the manor was just a lot for him to process, so he did what he knew best. He stayed quiet and kept his head down and kept to himself outside of meals. It was after the first two days that Jason found himself down in the garage. He didn't want to go to the cave yet, not after seeing his costume there like a memorial. Back when he was 15, not long before he died he had begged Bruce to buy him an old mustang they had seen once at an event, it had had a for sale sign on it. He died before the sale could be completely, his sixteenth birthday had been just months away... but when he saw the tarp covered car it was like his heart rammed into his throat. Bruce wouldn't have.... of course he would have. Jason had so rarely asked for anything that wasn't books given how often they bumped heads. He had moved over pulling the tarp off, and biting one of his knuckles.

He practically lived in the garage from that point. It needed work having been left sitting to long so when he wasn't bent over the engine or under it he would randomly be found dozing in a chair. He needed to keep busy to keep from thinking.