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Chapter Text

"Jason Wayne." The teachers bored sigh of his name makes Jason show his small baby teeth and growl at her. The others in the classroom all stare at him, shocked. The were-cat teacher pales for a second before looking up and remembering the 5 year old Jason, canine of some sort, shifter is still only a child and a student in her class. "You may go, Jason. School is over. Go on home." She smiles kindly.

Jason narrows his blue eyes for about half a minute before grabbing his backpack and leaving the room.

Principal Bright is in the doorway of the front hall, counting kids as they leave the building. This is a rich school for rich children with rich parents who would go mad if their child went missing.

"Have a good weekend, Jason." She smiles, holding the door for him.

"Thank you." He grumbles, exiting the building, ducking her hands as she tries to straighten the backpack on his shoulders. "Good Bye."

"Will Wanda be joining us next week?"

Jason glares up at the human, again showing his teeth as his puppy ears stand straight up on the top of his head. "No."

She laughs, reaching down and patting his head. "Alright, Jason. Go on home."

"Have a good weekend." He mutters, walking to the car where Dick is sitting on his phone, waiting for Jason to arrive. Dick only picks up Jason when Bruce is doing batman stuff in the day, so Jason scowls and knocks on the passenger door. "Open up!" He calls.

Nothing happens. Jason backs up, peeking into the window. The older boy is smiling at his phone, tapping furiously at the screen which means he is most likey talking to one of his many girlfriends. Jason growls impatiently, waiting for a minute... and waiting... and waiting.

Dick will get mad if Jason dents his car like last time Jason got picked up by his older brother. Dick will get very mad. Jason knows he shouldn't do it. This is Dick's favorite car, the blue one with white seats and a roof that can get taken off. The roof is on it now, which makes sure the music stays inside. Jason knocks mor. Nothing. He tries to open the door. It's locked.

Jason growls loudly, running 5 steps at the door and ramming into it head on.

Bam!

Jason sits down hard on his butt as his eyes cross and he blacks out for half a second.

"Jason!" Dick screeches, opening the door and running around to where the small canine shifter blinks up at him, rubbing the top of his head. The soundliss screeches again as he sees the damage to his car. "Jason!!!"

"You wouldn't pay attention to me." Jason sniffs, getting up. He grabs Dicks hand, tapping a spot on his head. "is that a bump, flighty?"

Dick frowns at his nickname, running his fingertips over the spot. "That's a bump. but no wonder!" He raises his voice again. "You keep headbutting my freaking cars!"

Jason looks away. "Sorry, Flighty."

The older boy sighs, seeing Jason isn't actually as tough today as he shows off. "Alright, Jason... Lets go." He opens the door and helps the littler male into the seat. "Put the buckle on." He walks back around and sits in his seat again, closing the door aand turning the radio volume dial to off. "Alfred needs us to stop at the store before we go back to the house."

"Okay." Jason nods. He feels his velvety puppy ears on the top of his head the whole store trip. He broke skin on one of them after crushing it against his skull but that isnt a problem. it doesnt hurt. ... Alfred looks up from the glass pan in front of him, which he's lining with bacon. He promised Jason to make meat something for supper tonight, since most meals he prepares are mostly vegetables, as per the others preferences.

"I smell blood." He blinks at the 2 boys, carrying in massive bags of groceries. "Master Jason, are you alright?" He washes his heads and walks over.

Jason huffs. "I'm okay." he nods.

The Bnata raises a silver eyebrow at the 5-year-old. "And you have a bump on your head?"

"He headbutted my car." Dick scoffs. "He earned that bump."

Jason growls loudly. Dick yelps loudly at the little shifters noise and screams as the small sharp teeth clamp on his hand.

"Boys, boys!" Barbara wheels in, glaring at Jason from where she sits in her chair. "What have we told you about biting, Jason?" She wags a finger at him.

Mind your own business. Jason wishes he could say. But everyone except Alfred would be mad at him for it, and he might he tapped on the head. He doesn't like to be tapped on the head. He's not a bad boy. "Not to." He says instead, letting go of Dick and scampering back to Alfred. "I'm okay, see?" He shows the old man how small the scratch is on his ear. "I'm okay."

Dick is still screeching and wailing in the kitchen as Jason leaves, about the boy not having a rabies shot or something. Alfred tells him he should be quieter but he can't.

Jason classifies Dick as a drama queen.

Jason walks up to his bedroom, putting away his backpack and smiling at the sweet scent of his twin sister. He misses her every day when he's gone at school! So, Jason runs off to find her.

Bruce Wayne had adopted the twins without thinking it through first at the "clear the orphanages" charity event thing he had gone to 6 months ago. He was there because he had been invited by 3 different people personally and 1 time as a general announcement. The Gotham Orphanages had been so full they were dumping kids in a nearby city, which naturally caught a lot of attention and the problem had to be fixed. Every single kid had a new family at the end of that night.

"Which one would you like?" The wide eyed head of adopts had stared at Bruce hopefully as she asked the question.

Bruce had stared for about 5 minutes past her, at the list of names on the big board above her, the names listed like the menu of a restaurant.

"Hmm." He had said. "What about... Jason?"

"oh him." She sighed. "He's a bit of a trouble maker that one. We got him from the border of Gotham and Noble, so you know he's going to be a bit rogue. He has a twin sister though, named Wanda. If you take Jason, you will have to take Wanda with him."

"Sure." Wayne nodded, pretending like Batman hadn't been the one to report the problem to the authorities. "I'll take both of them."

"Okay." Her smile had widened with relief. "They're canine shifter, Jason has told us that they will be 5 years old in 2 months. Jason has black fur, and Wanda has light brown. She has many medical issues, but I'm sure you'll take care of them. I'll get everything for you."

Jason didn't know about that. All he knew that night was everything was loud, he heard his sisters name whispered between many people as they declined the offer of adopting him. He had stayed awake the whole 4 hours it had taken until Bruce had adopted them, while Wanda slept. He remembers that first time sitting with his new dad at the table in the center of the fancy hall where the event had taken place. After a kid was adopted they got to eat dinner with their new parents or parent for an hour before leaving. All Bruce had paid attention too was Wanda, but Jason didn't mind. He knew this would mean Wanda would get much of the love from their new parent but he doesn't care. Wanda is his twin and he loves her very much. Much of the meal had been quiet, but it was good food.

"When you're Robin, Wanda, that's what you'll be doing." Bruce's voice is happy.

Jason stops at the door to the fourth living room of the manor. Past it is Bruce's office and that's where the voices are coming from.

But.... but Bruce had told him He would be robin when he was older.

Jason opens the door and walks in, blinking at them.

"Ah, Jason you're home." Bruce smiles at him. "I thought Dick was taking you out on a brothers trip?"

"Trip to the store." Jason grumbles, walking over. Bruce closes the tab that had been up on his laptop that Wanda had been watching with awe on her face. "I want to see it! What will I be doing as Robin?" He radiates excitement at Bruce, eagerness.

Jason had snuck into the bat-cave on his initial search of the place. Bruce thought it was amusing to watch the little boy wander around the house upstairs, feeling the walls, inspecting the floor, growling at a spiderweb so high on the wall Alfred had named the spider Ganet. It's the only spider to ever live in the manor as a pet. Bruce had left the boy to go check on Wanda, and when he had gotten back Jason was in the cave wrestling an angry bat!

"You're batman." Jason had scoffed after Bruce had let the bat go. "You should get better bats. These ones aren't smart enough."

"Jaassssooonnnn!" Wanda says, smiling at her brother, overjoyed to have him home again. The girl reaches out, sliding off of Bruce lap and hugging Jason with all her might. "You're hhoooommeee!"

"Yep!" He holds her back gently. Bruce finds it odd that Jason rubs his cheek against Wandas, but they are canine shifters after all. Both small tails wag furiously at seeing one another, Wanda hasn't had that energy all day. "And I'll be home tomorrow and the next day and then the next day, Wanda!"

She squeals happily, turning to Bruce. "Dad, can Jason and I go play?"

"Of course." He follows them to the room they've claimed as their playroom. "Go ahead and play you 2. I'll have Barbara come get you for supper."
...

"We'll be very sad tommorrow." Jason announces, halfway through supper.

"Why?" Dick cradles his bitten hand, in the exaggerated bandage gifted to him by Alfred. "How do you know you'll be sad tomorow?"

"Because Daddy died tomorrow." Wanda nods, already sad. Her small light brown furry ears rest flat on her otherwise shiny bald head.

"Tomorrow?" Bruce blinks at her, encouraging her to continue. This is the most either has said about their life before the orphanage and Bruce wants to know what he should do to make them comfortable here.

"Yes." Jason nods. "And Mommy died tomorrow too. Both together forever."

"How did they die?" Barbara asks without thinking.

"Barb!" Bruce gasps. "What have I told you about saying that to people?"

"I'm sorry, I just..." She shrugs, looking hopelessly at him.

"Took us into the basement and beated her to death." Jason shrugs. Everyone turns to stare at the 2 little shifters, nodding their heads solemnly. "And then blowed himself up." Everyoness mouths fall open as Jason continues. "He said we were supposed to go too, but messed up. He put me by the stairs and I got Wanda out before going back for Mommy. But it was too late. Both of them died tomorow. So we will be sad tomorrow."
...

They are indeed sad the next day. Neither say a single word to anyone in the morning, but now everyone knows why.

Bruce knocks on the door softly, opening it and walking in despite Jason's growling. The boy growls at him through tears and crying.

"Well hello?" A woman walks in after him. She's wearing a tight black suit, leather, and has 2 big black fuzzy panther ears perched on the top of her head. "Aw, you got more kids!" She squeals.

"Selina!" Bruce hisses, imediately reaching out to try grabbing her out of the room. "Who let you in?"

"You did actually, when you called me your girlfriend, hunny."

Wanda starts crying double time at the sight and smell of her, but that isn't good for her health. Seeing Wanda crying out all of her breath, he gets up snarling at the woman. Bruce jumps between them before the young boy can launch himself at the woman, Selina.

"Whoa!" She gasps, taking herself back to the doorway.

"Jason, Jason go sit back down with Wanda!" Bruce kneels down, grabbing Jason as gently as he can while being firm enough that Jason doesn't go running off after Selina.

Jason glares at the adults snorting with triumph, having removed Selina from the room. He walks back to Wanda, pulling her as close as he can. The blue in his eyes get a noticable shade darker as they fill with misery again.

"Wanda, come here." Bruce calls holding out his arms to her.

She shakes her head, curling up more with Jason and pulling the blanket over them. Jason tries to growl again but it dissolves into the sobs.

"What are you doing to these kids, Bruce?" the woman rubs her hand over his shoulders, staring at the cars blanket the 2 children are using to hide themselves. "You didn't take them off the street like you did with Dick?"

"He was civilized when I took him from his situation. These 2 children, Jason and Wanda were taken from the street between here andd Noble, and put in the orphanage. nobody wanted them because of Wanda's issues with her health." He explains, hoping that will get them to stop crying. The cries don't stop. "I care about them very much... And if they need to talk to me about something, I'm always here." He calls in their direction.

"W-why d-did-did y-you com-come in h-he-here?" Jason whimpers, looking at the 2.

"I came to ask if you wanted lunch." Bruce smiles at them.

"No." Jason says.

"What about Wanda?"

"F-f'r us b-both-both!" Jason shakes his head. "G-get o-out!"

"Wanda, would you like lunch? You should probably have some food I don't want you to be starving at supper time. It's not good for you."

"Nnnnnnnooooooooo! I do-n't wa-want f-food!" She screams. "Li-listen to my br-broth-er a-nd get-get out!"

Selina laughs at Bruces startled face. "You've never heard that before from her?"

"No! She's normally the one to talk Jason out of his weird rules." He walks off.

Jason and Wanda both look toward the door as the scent of food is suddenly present. The door opens again and Selina walks in carrying 3 plates of food.

"Hello." She smiles sweetly, walking in. Wanda whines at the sight of her but both are considerably calmer because Selina's scent is overpowered by food. "How are you 2 doing?"

"Why?" Wanda watches the food licking her lips and glancing at Jason.

"Because Bruce told me a few things about you 2 cuties." She sits beside them on the bed. "Come get some food, darlings." She holds out 2 plates, each with a food Alfred has never made but all meateating shifters have eaten a few times.

"Yummy!" Wanda pulls her plate closer, smiling through her pain.

"Wanda..." Jason reaches out and dries her face off with the blanket hem. "Please eat your food, Wanda!"

"Come here, young man." Selina smiles softly, drying his face even though he doesn't look excited at all for her to touch him. "Go ahead and eat your food... I made it just for you 2 and me."

"Thank you." Jason nods, beginning the eat his food. "Um, why are you here please?" He asks about 5 minutes into the meal.

"Because I thought you sounded hungry, my dears." She purrs. "How is the food? I made it just for you."

"You said that before." Wanda nods. "The food is good."

They eat the food in silence again, as Selina watches them while eating her own food. Alfred was not happy to have her in his kitchen but once he learned who the food was for he left her alone.

"How did you get into the house?" Jason blinks at her, staring up into her eyes.

Selina smiles, reaching into her top and bringing out a small purple key. She winks at them. "I have a key. Do you want a key?"

"Yes!" Wanda squeaks, nodding her head. "I want things!"

Selina laughs. "Stay right here, my dears." She leaves the room, coming back with 2 small rings, covered in various keys. Selina knows most of them aren't useful anymore, keys she's copied for her catwoman journeys. But the childrens eyes light up as she hands them over on one condition. "Me giving you these means," Jasons puppy ears perk up at that and a suspicious gleam enters his eyes. "If Bruce asks you if he should break up with me, you have to say no."

They giggle, snatching the keys from her hands. Jason pulls on her hand, making her sit on the bed with them. Selina watches, curious as Jason climbs on one side of her and curls under her arm and Wanda stays on the other, playing with the keys.

"Thank you!" Jason counts his keys. 38 keys! Wanda has 36. He smiles at that, he loves his sister, but he's older than her by 6 minutes! And he protects her. He should have more.

"Why are you so excited, Jason?" Selina smiles softly at him.

"This is the first gift I ever got!" He counts the keys again and again. "Not from Daddy, Daddy gave me many many gifts! Mommy would have, but Daddy didn't let her. And Buce hasn't gived me any."

Wanda frowns at him. "Buce gives'd's me gifts."

Jason shakes his head to keep pain from his eyes. "It's okay, Wanda! You're not 100 pecent like he calls me!"

But Wanda is gone on her own mission. Ditching the food and keys, she follows the hallways down the the dining room, where everyone is still eating lunch. Bruce smiles at her as she walks up to him.

Slap!

Bruce gasps as Wanda slaps his knee so hard that she stumbles backward. "I hate you!" She spits at him. "Be nice to my brother!"

"Wanda, it's really not good for you to get like this." Bruce looks at her, worried. "What did you tell them?"

"I didn't." Selina shrugs delicately. "Jason did." She takes both their hands and leaves the room, her long black tail waving behind her.

"Thank you, Wanda." Jason smiles at her. She smiles back at him, her face a little bit red. "Miss Selina?" He stops her at the door to their bedroom. She nods. "Um, why are you here? It's not because you want to hurt us?"

"Of course not, little children," She takes them in, guiding them to the bed. "I haven't even thought of hurting you!"

"Okay good!" Jason nods his head. "I'm okay." Thry sit back on the bed. Wanda yawns, startling Selina. "We're sleepy." He rubs his eyes and yawns in response.

"Because you cried all day!" She chuckles, placing them on the bed and tucking the blanket over them both. "Take a nap." Selina collects the dishes and flicks the light off. "Goodnight, Jason and Wanda."

Jason shivers at that. Daddy had said Jasons name before Wanda, but Daddy didn't like women! Selina said it, and they just met. Bruce always says Wanda's name first. It's small useless things that make Jason happy.

...

"Are you happy now, Master Jason?" Alfred smiles down at the boy, tugging on his pantleg.

"Yes!" Jason smiles. "Tomorrow is over, and today I'm happy!"

"Well, where are you going?" He glances at the sandwhich Jason has thrown together from the lunch ingredients on the table.

"Outside." Jason purrs. "Can I have you help me, a bag for my food?"

"Yes, of course." Alfred helps the small shifter place his sandwich in a ziploc bag. "Where are you going?"

"Away." Jason shrugs. "I'll be back later today."

"Be safe, Master Jason."

Jason isn't really safe. He's walking back to where he and Wanda had lived when they were on the street. There used to be another girl that lived there with them that wasn't related but Jason protected her anyways. He thought about her yesterday, how she used to protect them when they spent that whole day crying. ... "Where is Jason?" Dick smiles at Wanda. Wanda frowns at him and looks away. "Come on, he always tells you when he's going to do something, Wanda."

"Not your business." Wanda shrugs. It's been a day since Jason left, and she knows exactly where he went. But she's still mad at everyone.

"Come on." Bruce walks over, seeing his second oldest fail to get Wanda to talk, like they told him he would. "It's time for you to take a nap, Wanda." He picks her up. As he says the word nap, Wanda starts to yawn and rub her eyes. "You didn't sleep last night, did you, Wanda?" He rubs her back, letting her collapse against him, her small tail going limp as she sighs and hugs his neck. "Did you?"

"Nopey." She snuffs, breath slowing as she drifts immediately to sleep.

"Don't do it, Bruce." Barbara bites her lip, watching Wanda in his arms.

"I want to know where the boy went. I want him to be safe." Bruce sighs. "Don't tell Alfred what I've done, he would flip." He hands the small shifter to his other daughter. "I'm going to fetch him, Keep the house safe. Wanda will probably sleep until I return with her twin."

"You're right he would flip." Dick growls. "Hurry home."

...

Jason isn't ready to go home. At that moment he is frantically searching the small hide out he and Maddison had built for a bit of her scent, anything to tell him where she went!

He does find some scent, but it isn't Maddisons. Maddy is a human, this is the smell of... water. A watery beast, with a hint of blood in it, mingling with... food? Jason smells harder, searching for the horrible smell.

the fort is small, 2 small walls made of sticks and blankets weaved together the best children can do, with the other 2 walls formed by the walls of two abandoned buildings, with a small tunnel through them big enough Jason can squeeze through it. All of Maddisons things are gone, the mirror she was so proud of, the small wooden box, the handkerchief, and even her 2 pairs of clothes.

Jason enters the small tunnel, knowing it goes directly to the sewers, the gross underground passages full of muck and grime. There is a small walkway close to the tunnel that Jason hops onto. the smell of that beast is close now, very strong. But so is Maddison.

He follows the scent all of the way out to the pond tunnel. Jason knows not to go down there, there is no walkway. So, he drops the sandwich and runs back to the fort, crying quietly.

Big claws reach up from the water, snatching the sandwich and dragging the whole bag under water with it, racing off. ... "There you are." Jason looks up, scrubbing the tears from his eyes at Bruces voice. "What's wrong, Jason? Why are you crying?"

"N-Nofing!" He leaves the hideout, trying to take Bruce away from it.

"Come here, Jason." Bruce pulls Jason back, into his arms. "Why are you hiding this? What is this place?"

"Nofing! Go 'way!" The small shifter trembles in Bruce’s arms. "Nofing!"

Chapter Text

"Nothing?" Bruce murmurs encouragingly. Of course, the batman doesnt need to be gentle to recieve thhe answers he wants, but being nice to children is his style. "Tell me Jason, why was Wanda scared to tell me you were here?"

Jason collapses, wailing total nonsense so hysterically that Bruce sits down and holds the small boy on his lap and tries to comfort him. They sit there for awhile together, until Jason calms down enough to talk again.

"What is going on, Jason?" Bruce asks, patting the small ones back. Jason mumbles an answer, avoiding the question. "What was that?" No answer. "What is this place, Jason?"

"My house..." He rubs his eyes. "My Wanda and Maddisons house."

"Who is Maddison, Jason?" Bruce peeks into the house. All he can do is blink at the condition that it is in and close the curtain again.

"She's gone!" He nearly screams, the rubs at his eyes turning into him nearly clawing his eyes out until Bruce holds his arms still.

"Is Maddison another sister of yours?" Bruce stands, holding the little shifter still as he takes him to a car, waiting for them.

"Nnoooo! She's my friend!" He stares back at the small den wanting to see her looking out of thee curtain, but nothing moves in the small dead end between 3 buildings.

It takes the hour and a half long car ride back to the manor for Jason to calm himself. He lays against Bruce, having exhausted himself from crying for nearly 3 hours straight, walking to the border of Gotham and Noble, and running to find Maddison.

"Why are you scared to show me that place?" Bruce murmurs, holding the small boys hand.

"D-din't want ya ta ge' mad at me f'r keepin' Wanda there..." Jason blinks slowly, letting the adult carry him inside.

"That place you call home is probably the main reason Wanda is so sick, Jason." Bruce sighs. "If you had come to the orphanage sooner, she might not be so sick."

Jason wriggles out of Bruces arms, feeling attacked again. "Goodnight." He walks to his room.

"Jaaaaassssssoooooonnnnnn!" Wanda giggles, holding out her arms to him.

"Wandaaa!" He purrs, going up and hugging his sister before going to shower, helped by Alfred, and then the twins take a nap.
...
"Be the monster, Jason." Bruce sighs. "I want to see your wolf."

"But I don't know how!" Jason wails, hugging himself tightly. "I don't want tttoooooo!"

"Do it, Jason, if you can learn to be your wolf you can help me protect Wanda."

"W-why does I have ta protec Wanda for my Shifted to be interesting to you?" Jason sniffs, glancing at the door where he can smell Wanda coming up to.

"I want your sister to be safe. You helped with that, so I'm going to be interested."

Jason rubs her eyes. "Wanda?"

"J-jason?" She asks, through the door. Both the 2 adults in the room follow Jason to the door. "Please helps me J-jason!" She stares up at them.

the small boy sits beside his smaller sister, feeling the animal rage inside of him again at seeing her so weak. Bruce had taken Wanda to a doctor, a shifter doctor which he would normally avoid at all costs... but he was a guinea pig shifter and not exactly up to the challenge of a canine shifter. Even Jason knows that is a bad idea. Wanda isn't feeling well now, she is having a hard time walking very far, and doesn't like to eat. Well, Wanda doesn't like to do anything unless Jason is there with her. Jason had exploded once she got home like this, his eyes blue had turned yellow and his teeth had become sharp points while his nails had grown into short claws and he had tried to kill them. Alfred had gotten him to calm down, but he destroyed 2 whole rooms in the manor first.

"Yes, Wanda?"

"Am tiyed." Wanda leans her head against him, hugging his hand.

"You wanna take a nap, Wanda?" He glares at Bruce, pulling Wanda onto her feet.

"Yeah..." She yawns, splitting the inner corner of her lip as she does so. She ignores it, burying her face against her brother. "Wivfth you, Jayison..."

"Okay." He lays with her until she sleeps before going back to find Bruce. "Call the Key Lady." He growls, eyes a bit yellow.

"What Key Lady?" Bruce frowns, pausing the folding of his sleeve cuff.

"The Key Lady. With the tail. and ears. Call her." He pokes Bruces leg.

"Selina?" Bruce glances at the set of keys Jason holds tight. Jason nods, recognizing the name immediately. "Why should I need to call Selina?"

"She eats meat." Jason growls, baring his teeth. "Call Selyina!"

"Selina?" Bruce watches Jasons small puppy ears waving back and forth.

"Yes?" She purrs at him, sounding like she woke up frrom a nap minutes earlier.

"Jason wants to speak with you." He hands over the phone.

"Alright." She listens as he hands over the phone.

Jason huffs at the Bruce, taking the phone and running off, chattering at Selina, who listens as she gathers things to take over there.

"Jaaaasooooon?" Wanda yawns, reaching out to hug her brother. She blinks at him as he sits beside her. It is her brother... But Jason is... Different. "Jason?" She sits up, blinking slowly.

He pushes her back gently, blinking his bright yellow eyes at her and laying beside her. "Go to sleep." He yelps, running his nosetip on her shoulder. Wanda giggles, snuggling up beside him and falling asleep.

"Jason?" Selina knocks on the door. He stares at her, struggling out of Wandas hands. "I brought what your beast asked for, Jason." She giggles, holding the small vial.

"Wanda!" Jason pats his sisters cheek. "Wakey wakey!" He helps her up. "Seyilaina brought you medicine!"

"Seeelinnnaaaa!" Wanda smiles, reaching out her arms to the panther shifter.

They find it's harder to get Wanda to swallow medicine that is good for her than medicine that is bad for her. the medicine that is good tastes bad for her. Wanda screams as it touches her tongue, upset that they are trying to hurt her. Bruce stands in the doorway, biting his lip as they force her to swallow all of the small vials purple contents.

"Nnnoooooo!" Wanda holds onto Jason and Selina, staring at Bruce thinking he told them to do this. "Get get out-get out!" She yells at him.

"Go on, Baby!" Selina shoos him. "Leave alone, sweetheart." Bruce leaves, after giving her a look. She sits beside them. "Why ya struggle, Wanda?"

Wanda hugs Jason again, shutting her eyes. "Am tiyed..." She complains, biting Jasons shirt.

"Alright... ... Would you like me to sing you a song?" She offers.

Both small shifters nod enthusiastically, closing their eyes and perking up their ears.

The woman sings them a song and leaves them asleep.

...

Wanda feels better. She feels much much better. Good enough to let Bruce take her to the hospital, one with a human experienced in all shifters to take a look at her. Jason goes too, because Bruce wants Jason to be comfortable with Wanda coming here again for regular visits.

Doc Thelaya smiles as the young male shifter walks along the walls, smelling the table, the walls, the counter, the couch, everything inside of the room.

"Is that normal?" Bruce murmurs to the doctor, as Wanda giggles her way over to her brother and follows him in his search of the room asking him in total gibberish what he's found.

"Yes! the little boy is exceedingly unusual, but this is very normal behavior for male shifters when they have a family." She blinks. "Even when they don't have families. They don't have trust when they are surrounded by new things."

"No trust?" Bruce frowns, sitting on the couch.

The woman sits beside him, taking a note on her clipboard. "Not at all. I can tell by the way he looks at you that he doesn't trust you either. He probably tolerates you because his sister loves you."

The man frowns. "I try to care about him!"

"I believe you, Mr. Wayne, but shifters are shifters and many of them are the same... Wanda?" She calls.

Wanda scampers over, holding Jasons hand. Wanda tail wags swiftly behind her, but Jasons is going even faster, He narrows his eyes at Doc Thelaya until she gives him some candy. Jason smiles at her, helping Wanda to sit beside the human woman. He sits next to Bruce, waiting for something.

"Does the room meet your expectations, little Jason?" The human smiles.

"Um yeah." He smiles, nodding. "Wanda can come here."

"Good." Bruce reaches down, ruffling Jasons ears. Something tugs in his chest as Jasons eyes light up and he leans against the adult.

Jason watches with a very careful eye as Wanda and Doc Thelaya do whatever they do. He is satisfied.

...

"Go away, Jason." Bruce reaches down to brush away the hand tugging at his knee.

"No!" Jason whines. "You played with Wanda, now come play with me! Pleeeeeeeease?"

"No, I'm not in the mood." The back of his hand contacts Jasons cheek with a small sound.

Jason gasps, holding onto his cheek and walking to the door. He does want to cry, that is the 3rd time Bruce has hit him in the last 2 days. He knows the adult doesn't mean too, but it hurts him inside! It was bad enough when his Daddy hit him for being bad when he was littler!

"He doesn't want to play, Wanda." Jason plops down beside her, sighing.

"Aw." She sticks out her bottom lip. "I wanted to play with you two!" She tries to stand up and whimpers quietly. "Owch."

"What hurts now?" Jason blinks at Wanda.

"My legs." She whines. "My legs hurt, Jaaassssooooooooooonnnn!" She throws herself at him.

Jason giggles, laying beside her. "You wanna color a picture, Wanndddaaaaaa?"

"Yyyyeeeaaaahhhhhhhh!" Wanda reaches for the crayons as Jason walks over and grabs the coloring pictures. "I wanna color Jakobiana!" She grabs the picture of the dog, starting to scribble with the color green.

"I color..." Jason blinks. "I color the beetle!" He takes the picture and colors it with yellow first.

"Daddy!" Wanda purrs at Bruce, being supported by Jason.

"Yes, Darling?" Bruce smiles at her. "What do you need from me?"

"We drewed something for you!" She holds out her picture.

"Aw." He smiles, taking the small picture. "It's so cute, Wanda." He sets it on his desk. "Go take a nap you two." He points to the door.

Jasons tail drops and he lets his ears lay flat. He tries to hide his picture behind Wanda as He tries to turn her away, back to their room.

"Do you have a picture for me, Jason?" Bruce smiles at them.

Jason smiles, handing it over. "Yep! Just for you!" Bruce nods. "Come on, Wanda! We can take a nap now!"

...

"Jason." Bruce's voice seems to boom above the young boy. Jason wakes up, wrapping his arms around Wanda... except Wanda isn't there. All of Jasons hair/fur stands straight up as he sees his sister held close to Bruce. "Jason."

"What?" He whimpers, almost sobbing already. "Come here, Wanda!"

"She can't." Bruce spits at him. "She's dead." Jason shuts up. His small black ears flatten backwards at the anger and hatred in Bruce's eyes as the adult stares down at him. "She's dead."

Jason looks around, trying to find a camera or something. Dick and Wanda have tried to prank him before but the camera was always out! where is the camera?

"We're serious Jason." Dick walks over. "Wanda is dead."

...

Jason doesn't speak the rest of that day, he hides underneath his bed and cries. He and Wanda have always had a mental tie to one another and he can feel it is gone. It hurts too much to have it all gone. His Mommy, his Daddy, and his Wanda. Why does everybody die?

He killed his sister. Jason sobs at the thought. He remembers with so much guilt the way he and his twin had wrestled before they had taken their nap. She had been happy that he was going to nap with her she had bitten his ear and made him giggle and "fight back". It's all his fault, why did he do this? He had laid too close to her! He should have given her space! What has he done?

"Little Master Jason?" Alfred sits on the floor, leaning under the bed with a small groan. Jason huddles back away from the old man, afraid Alfred will die if he gets too close. "Come here Jason, you will not harm me." Jason wails quietly, covering his face and curling up on Alfreds lap. The kind old man sets his hand on Jason's back, petting it slowly... "You haven't been out of your room in 2 days, little Jason, I am getting worried about you..."

"I killded ev-everybody!" Jason whispers, burying his face against his friend. "Why did I killed everybody, Alfey?"

"You didn't kill anybody, Jason..." Alfred sighs. "But Wanda has left... you did not harm your sister." Alfred pulls Jason's face away, blinking slowly into his shocked little eyes.

"But she's dead!" He shakes his head. "I did it, Bruce sayed I did it!"

"My little friend..." Alfred purrs, a soothing sound for the distraught boy. "Don't believe everything someone says about you. You may be off the streets but that does not mean you are stupid, or dumb, and you did not kill your sister..."

...

Jason comes out of his room then. Bruce doesn't seem to look at him anymore, and Jason notices with more grief that it feels no different then the attitude his new father had given him from before.

Bruce had never had a street child in his home before now. Jason is still a baby, but he's used to being pushed or thrown around by people bigger than himself, people he doesn't trust. Dick was "civilized" when adopted into the Wayne family. He had been brought in from the street he had been found on. unlike Jason who lived on a street, he had run away from the man who had murdered his parents. Barbara was adopted at a younger age too, only 2 years younger then Dick but she had been 6 when she was adopted. nobody knows why or where she's came from...

Alfred notices the lack of care between Bruce and Jason instantly but doesn't say a thing, hoping his own "adopted" son would do the right thing and take Jason back. Wanda may be gone but it was not her brothers fault and he does still exist.

Chapter Text

"Why did you hit me?" Jason sobs, holding a hand over his cheek, keeping his eyes away from Bruce.

Bruce doesn't notice the broken stance of the boy hunched against the floor with his head down, he isn't paying attention. "I didn't hit you." He growls. "I got your attention."

"It hurts!"

"it doesn't hurt, stop being so weak." Bruce turns on his heel and walks away. bumping into Dick in the doorway. "What?"

"When are we going to tell the boy Wanda had a heart attack and died? When are we going to tell him he didn't do anything?.. We're hurting him, Bruce... bad." Bruce doesn't say a thing. The oldest son his very aware Bruce has as problem with death but he doesn't like to hear Bruce lie about a death to make himself feel better. "I'll do what you tell me, Bruce... when it concerns others in the city." Dick nods. "But Jason is my little brother."

"Well start acting like it." Bruce snaps, shoving past Dick and out of the room until he's alone, where he sits down and covers his eyes. Nothing he's doing is wrong.

"Jason..." Dick sighs. He only does this to let the little shifter know he's approaching. Jason doesn't look at him but his small ears twitch, so Dick crouches beside his little brother and tries to hug him. "What's wrong, Jason?"

"I ha-hate you g-guys!" Jason whispers, ducking out of the Soundliss's hug and farther away from him. "And mysef!"

"It's okay, Jason! You didn't mean to hurt-" He gets interrupted by the charm on his bracelet, telling him that something is happening outside and Batman needs NightWing. Jason peeks through his fingers to see Dick biting his lip and looking about to push the button and stay here... "Yes?" Duck answers the call from Batman. there's yelling and fighting in the background. He hangs up and looks at Jason. "Don't move, Jason I'll be right back!" And he leaves the house as NightWing.

...

"Why isn't he talking?" Barbara murmurs to Alfred at supper 2 nights later.

The old man watches Jason say nothing, eating his food obediently. "He's afraid."

"Afraid?" Dick can't stop a frown cross his face. "Why is he afraid?"

"I don't know, Master Dick." Alfred glances at Bruce who is doing everything to ignore everyone at the table. "This should be his safe place... I do not know why he is afraid."

...

Jason growls at everyone in the house. It's been too long for them to still care about him. 6 weeks since Wanda died and none but Alfred have even checked to see if he is okay. which he's not! Jason is not okay, he's hurt inside and they, everyone, have convinced the little boy he killed his sister. He's not okay.

so he leaves.

Bruce doesn't need him to be robin, Bruce doesn't like him. Selina hasn't visited since Wanda was alive, Bruce keeps hitting him! Bruce says its just to get his attention but he hasn't tried very hard in all of the time Jason has been here so Jason doesn't know that Bruce actually doesnt mean to hurt him.

Jason takes off out of the big house without saying goodbye to Alfred. seeing his friend would make him feel guilty and want to stay here to protect the old man. He can't do that, Jason has to leave... He colors one last picture for Alfred, writing a small note on the back, and leaves it outside the doorway to the kitchen, where Alfred is at almost all times during the day.
Barbara would find some way to guilt him into staying also so he dodges past her bedroom door, on the first floor because of her wheel chair.

The boy is skilled at escaping, he had to do it alot on the street. Almost without a sound he closes the big front door and stares at his new he*ck*.

It's snowing in Gotham.

The snow is falling in blinding waves outside the Wayne manor. Jason whimpers at the weather, running out into it anyways. He's not happy there at that house! they don't like him! He should have just stayed on the street with Wanda and Maddison!

the thoughts of Maddison and Wanda makes Jason sob quietly as he runs along. Jason knows where he's goingn he's heading back to the border of Noble! his Daddy and Mommy lived in Noble, he'll be fine there!

~

Alfred watches Jason running off, holding the note in his hand, almost so tightly it's ripping in his fingers. The small shifter is running through snow up to his knees, and almost disappearing as soon as he leaves. Why did HE do this to Jason?

Chapter Text

It's too cold for Jason to go on. He's found a small dead end on the way to Noble. But he can't get there, he's stuck here...

He whimpers, too tired to cry and not going to speak. He calls to Wanda in his head but his little sister does not answer. Why did he ruin everyones lives like this? What has he done?

But... It's too cold for Jason to stay conscious either. quickly the boy is asleep, in a sleep he hopes not to wake from.

...

"Look a little puppy!" A woman purrs right above Jason. "Oh... eh?"

"What?" A rough male voice sighs, getting closer. "That isn't a dog, Harley!"

Jason isn't fully awake but his tail curls closer to his body as he breathes quietly.

"Awe can we keep it, J?" The one named Harley giggles, scooping Jason up. He goes to sleep again at that, this time out of fear for who he doesn't know, and they're picking him up!

...

Somebody is watching him. He doesn't like to be watched! The eyes on him are making him wake up, out of the small coma like sleep he had not been enjoying.

The Man and the woman beam at him as Jason's small eyes open slowly, and his breathing becomes as little louder.

"You're awake!" the woman says.

Jason blinks at her, sitting slowly up. The woman catches his attention first, dressed in black and red clothes, with a section of red here, a section of black there. Her skin is pale, with hair that's so blonde it nearly matches. It's in a braid over her shoulder, the longer the hair gets the more color is added until it's blue and red and green braided together. She smiles at him, her brown eyes joining in with the cheer.

Jason knows who this is immediately but turns to the man, who has his arm wrapped around her shoulders, watching him carefully with gray-green eyes.

The Man is also so pale, if he were anyone else Jason would fear he was dying. His hair is the same green as Harleys, but all of it is that sick green, his skin is pale, his usually smiling face is resting in a regular persons frown, a normal looking face now. He's wearing a loose purple shirt with matching sweat pants.

"He doesn't look dangerous..." Harley whispers to her partner, glancing away from Jason for a second.

"No he doesn't." The Joker shrugs, glancing at her.

as their eyes are off of him Jason slips farther away from them. He has heard the terrible things these people have done but now they don't looks so evil.

"Hey little man..." Harley chuckles, leaning down and peering under the chair he has crawled under. "Where are ya going?"

It's a minute before Jason whimpers quietly and looks away from her to where the other villains face has appeared, staring at him.

"Come on, little man, we're not gonna hurt ya..." The adults both blink in surprise as Jason immediately comes out from under the chair, staring at them a little bit hurt. "Where have ya been, kid?"

They sit there for 2 minutes in silence. Jason's lips don't even move, he just stares at them as if begging not to hurt him.

"Are ya hungry?" Harley asks as a soft ding echoes from another room. "Our pizza is done." She nudges her partners side.

his eyes light up. "The pizza ya say? come on, little man!" Joker scoops Jason up and bounces into the kitchen behind Harley, setting Jason in the first chair at the table.

"Yes the pizza!" Harley announces, opening the oven door with a sweeping bow at Joker. "A hotpad I require, my king!"

"A hotpad ya shall have, my queen!" He opens a drawer and hands her the small yellow square with an equally dramatic bow back at Harley.

Both sit in the other seats available at the table after setting it. Jason watches them, unafraid at this moment, just shocked at how they're acting. all he knows is how cruel Bruce says they are, and the one time he saw them on the street.

The man serves everyone 4 slices of pizza, each the size of Jason's face. they see Jason's eyes light up and immediately he starts eating.

"Hungry little man!" Harley laughs out loud at the sight of Jason with his face covered in food.

"How long has it been since ya ate?" Harley asks, poking Jason lightly. Jason purrs at his food, holding up 5 small fingers. "5 what? hours?"

"5 days." her partner watches Jason shrug before turning to Harley. "Shifters can survive a week without food you know. But that is normally starting at 18... how old are ya, little man?" the boy continues to hold up his 5 fingers. "hmm..." the villain thinks about this as he takes a bite of pizza. "Are ya from Noble?" Jason think about this for a second before his ears twitch and he nods. "Hmm, there was a man from here on the border, he used to have a wife, but they vanished." The face which had been reflective the moment before has as smile stretched across it as he grins at Jason his eyes become a very dark purple. "His house exploded." Joker winks at the boy.

Jason shivers. Those were the eyes he saw when Joker and Harley as well as Vex passed him on the street. Those eyes he doesn't like.

"Hey, ya food." Harley stabs her finger into Jokers side, pointing with a slice of her own pizza to his food. The Man gasps loudly, turning back to his food his eyes become gray green.

"Thanks..." He sighs, going back to his food. "Did I scare ya?" He raises an eyebrow at Jason. Jason stares at him, his small ears back, tail limp, eyes wide. "He didn't mean... I..."

Jason calms down as he eats some more. soon he stops and yawns with a whimper. The woman gets up, getting him a glass of water. Finally Jason points at Joker and tips his head to the side.

"Harley." She smiles, nodding to him. "Ya can call me Harley or whatever is easiest for ya."

"Jack." Jason stares at the villain. Joker smiles softly, his eyes seem satisfied with himself. "My name is Jack."

Jason sighs, nodding, pleased with the information.

"What's ya name?" Harley asks.

Jason looks around, keeping his mouth closed. Finally he points to a pen on a counter. Jack brings a paper and the pen. Jason nods, laboring over his name so that they will be able to read it. The teacher at school said he was talented, but Barbara and Bruce say he can use a lot of work.

"Jason?" Harley giggles. Jason nods, looking at the floor. She doesn't like it. she's making fun of him. "Ya have a very handsome name, little man!" She nods, standing up. "It's night now, ya want to take a nap, little... little J?"

Jason blinks at her, nodding fast.

"Come on, big J, We don't need to leave the house tonight. we can go tomorrow." She hauls Jack to his feet and practically marches him to the door, glancing at Jason who is still at the table. Jason whimpers quietly, following quickly. The 2 adults glance at one another, noticing the small black tail is tucked against Jason's legs. "How many bedrooms we have, big J?"

"2." Jack shrugs. "The living room and our bedroom."

"Ya can have the living room while we clean out ya room." Harley carefully take his hand and they walk back to the room he woke up in. she sets him on the couch. "Take a nap, eh?"

Jason nods obediently, laying down and closing his eyes.

...

The next morning he is awake when Jack comes to check on him.

A big smile covers the man's face." Come eat breakfast, little J."

Jason follows Jack into the kitchen, climbing into the chair where he had sat the night before.

The meal begins quietly, Harley serving everyone food and thwacking her partner on the hand as he reaches for food before she sits down beside him.

"Can ya talk, Jason?" She asks, smiling patiently at him. Jason stares at them for a minute but does not answer. "Hmm?"

"Quiet." Jack waves a hands at her. "if he doesn't want to talk."

Jason goes very still at those words. What will they do if he doesn't want to talk? Neither look at him for awhile, they don't realize they have said anything wrong. Finally Jack and Harley both sniff, smelling salt, and look up at Jason, who is curled up in his chair crying silently.

"Awe, little j..." Harley stands, reaching over to pick him up. Jason attempts a growl but just squeaks, hitting out at her with little claws. He doesn't want... to die...

The 2 villains glance at one another as Jason just suddenly stops, letting her pick him up. Something's wrong here, clearly.

"Can ya talk?" Jack asks again, watching the small boy think. Finally Jason shakes his head, slowly. "Alright." He nods to the food. "Are ya hungry?" Jason looks at the food, bowls of something sweet. He nods. "Alright, let's go eat in the living room." Jack grabs all of the food and follows Harley and Jason into the living room.

They turn on the news. It is all boring, stuff about the latest snow storm and how the city is handling the last attack from the villains.

Jack sighs, switching channels a few times until... a picture of Jason and Wanda appears on the screen. They turn to Jason as there's a small announcement of him being missing, and a small request if he is found to bring him home. Both look at Jason.

The small shifters fangs are showing, his ears are back, and his tail lashes a few times beside him. When they look again, he's hiding against the seat between them where he sits.

"Little man..." Jack tilts his head to the side. "Do ya have a family?" Jason shakes his head. "Good... who are they?" He nods to the screen. Jason continues to shake his head until the name Bruce Wayne is mentioned. The purple returns to Jokers eyes at the mention, and he leaves the room with a wild and upset laugh.

"It's alright." Harley reassures him... though Jason doesn't need reassuring. He is staring blankly after the adult, with his head tilted a bit to the side.

...

Jason stays there for 3 days before anything other then that happens. Jason has been wondering why they are being so nice... But Harley and Jack are being very nice. Jason sleeps on the couch with a pillow and a blanket until They are able to clean out the other bedroom in their house and put him into there.

...

"What are ya doing?" Jack smiles at Harley and Jason, sitting at the kitchen table with a paper and pens.

"Playing a game." Harley pats Jason on the head. Jasons tail wags quickly, writing a small 0 on the paper. Jack raises an eyebrow, noticing the game of tik tak toe is going badly for his partner and very well for Jason. He notices the fond smile on Harleys face as she writes an X on the one place where it will allow Jason to win. The same boy squeals happily, marking his final 0 and a line through the 3 of them. "Ya won!" Harley gasps, seeming shocked. Jason's small face gets a massive grin on it, and he reaches out, patting her on the head gently.

"Very good..." Jack leaves.

Jason stares awake that night. He isn't tired... Jack and Harley enter the kitchen at nearly midnight, just themselves. Jason blinks at the open doorway and where the light glows brightly on his doorway...

He's thirsty but he hasn't gotten up to go ask them to get him something to drink. now they're in there! But something tells him not to go...

He goes anyways.

Chapter Text

Jason waits at the door a few minutes to see if they will leave the room... They don't. There is a noise, but it sounds like they are talking...

He sneaks along the hallway, his room almost directly across the hall from the living room and kitchen. The little boy holds up his small puppy ears but doesn't hear anything bad, just words in a language he has never heard... They sound bad. But there are small giggles and chuckling.

Jason peeks around the doorway. He doesn't enjoy what he sees.

Harley, laying halfway over the table, with her arms over his neck, one of her legs over his hip, and body pressed against Jack who is standing over her with a wicked smile on his face, hands either side of her head.

"Do ya like him? Hmm?"

"Yes!" She purrs.

"Ya want to keep him?"

Jason squeaks quietly as he turns to leave and trips, falling into the doorway. When he crawls out of the light and peeks back around, they're staring at where he had vanished, surprise on their faces.

"Come in, little J..." Harley calls, standing up now and watching for him to come back. Jason peeks around the doorway again before Jack nods for him to come in and Harley smiles. "What do ya need, little man? Is everything okay?"

Jason appears to think about this for a moment after creeping into the room. He shakes his head.

"What happened?" Jack blinks. what could go bad in his house? Jason points to the sink and holds his hand like he's holding a cup. "Oh..." The man gets Jason some water and both he and Harley watch Jason carry it off to his room with a bit of a frown on his face.

...

"Come here, little J!" Harley yells. Jason looks up from what he's doing, getting up and running into the kitchen. Both villains are dressed in their leaving home attire, bad guy costumes. Jason blinks at them, curious. "I need ya to stay here alright?" She smiles, setting down her hammer and patting him on the head. "Don't leave the house, ya understand?"
"Good boy." She ruffles his hair and floppy ears before standing herself up. "Lets go, Big J."

"Hurry." Jokers eyes are full of as bright sickly purple, showing the him that is bad. "Let go!" He smacks her over the head. She snarls and pushes him back, they chase each other from the home.

Jason sighs. Now he is alone. What can he do to make them mad at him? He hurt Wanda, so he should be hurt, because he hurt his little sister. The sister he was protecting.

...

Joker and Harley go out often at night as their villains selves, and Jason can't help but notice the big difference around how they act with him and how they take care of themselves outside.

"Hey little Jason." Jack sighs, noticing the boy watching him around the doorway. He hides a bit and peeks back around. "I'm not mad at ya anymore... Come in if ya would like."

Jason narrows his eyes at the man. so far, Jack has gotten mad at him 7 times. so mad he turned into Joker. that scared Jason, but Jack didn't let his other side touch the little boy.

"Little J?" Jack stops what he's doing and glances into their bedroom where not even Harley comes into without an invitation unless something is urgent when Jack goes in by himself looking brooding. "Why are ya in here?" Jason enters the room, watching the bigger man all the while. "Ya don't look sorry." Jack raises an eyebrow, setting it back down as Jason sits next to his feet on the floor. "What do ya need, little buddy?" Jack laughs, reaching down and ruffling Jason's ears.

Jason squeaks a small growl, pouncing on Jacks feet and laying on them too far away for him to reach Jason's ears. Jason did not expect this to make Jack laugh. He wanted Jack to be mad at him. This is not how today was supposed to go.

"I can see ya're nervous." Jack blinks down at him. "Why are ya nervous? What have ya done?"

Jason thinks about this... He opens his mouth... and doesn't do anything and focuses on if he wants to show them he can speak or not.

"Come sit with me." The villain lifts Jason onto the couch and stops his polishing of the weird red bucket looking thing in his hands, setting both that and the small sponge onto the side of the couch. "What do ya need from me, Small one?"

Jason frowns, looking down at his hands. "umm...." He whines quietly. Jack nods... "I accidented..." Jason says.

"What do ya mean?" He asks, seeing Jason get very sad just mentioning it.

"My sister..." Jason sighs. "I-I killsed her on accident..."

The eyes go that purple and narrow. Jason shivers at the cold gaze, but this is what he wanted. He has to go apologize to Wanda for hurting her.

"Little boy." Joker grins, the smile taking over his face. "Ya have not hurt anyone." Jason looks up as The Man pulls him onto his lap. "I can look at ya and see how many deaths you have caused and that is... only 1. A mother of yours... But that is only because your father was jealous of ya. Ya do not have a sister alive but ya did not hurt her."

"How do y-you know?" Jason whispers, glancing up.

"I am the Joker." He purrs. "I am a possessive, and Jack is my host. I am a killer and I can always tell when someone has killed another. I feel her death on ya, ya were there when she died but ya did not cause her death."

Jason frowns. "But how do you know?"

"It is my talent of course." Joker pats the boy on his head, Jason blinks every time he does. "I am a possessive... we each have as host, and Jack is mine, ready to kill with me because I made him this way. But ya have killed noone. Nobody taints ya... yet."

Jason cries quietly at how he can sense Joker is telling him the truth. And it hurts! Why did Bruce lie to him? everybody lied to him!

"I'm sorry I had to tell ya that." Jack pulls Jason close into a hug. "Your dad should have told ya... Bruce Wayne was it?"

"No!" Jason sobs, rubbing at his eyes as he tries to make the tears go away. "No I don't like Bruce! he's not my daddy and he's not Wandas daddy!"

"I didn't mean to make ya upest!" Jack nearly whimpers, holding Jason close. "I just wanted..." Harley peeks her head into the room. Jack looks helplessly at the crying boy. "H-help?" He asks.

"What happened?" Harley sits next to them, seeing Jason is very very upset about something. "Little J?" She pauses her hand above him, unsure if she should touch him or not.

He's cries to himself until he doesn't have any tears left. He looks at both of them, squeaking quietly with small hiccups. "Why's ya bein's nice to me?"

"Because... Why not?" Harley shrugs a bit.

"But you're ba-ad guys!"

Neither of them answer that question, just exchange a glance.

"Would ya like to take a nap, Jason?" She sighs, watching him clench his jaw to avoid showing a yawn.

...

Jason realizes the next day that they might actually care about him...
He doesn't speak to them at breakfast... He stays in his room all the day and doesn't want to come out during lunch.
He hides something from them when they come to see if he's okay and bring him out to supper.

"Did we say something to hurt ya?" Jack asks gently, noticing Jason doesn't look at either of them.

Jason... shakes his head.

"Why are ya sad?" Harley asks. No answer. "Why don't ya speak with us?"

nothing.

"Are ya hungry?" Jack nudges Jason's plate full of food closer to him.

Jason eats the food and runs off back to his room. He has to think about anything.

...

The next day repeats exactly like the last until after supper. Jack wanders off to his personal (supposed to be secret) room, carrying the red bucket thing. Jason glances toward the kitchen where Harley is singing a song and washing dishes and smoking something she told him not to worry about.

And he follows Jack to the secret door and inside.
The inside of the room is like a small work room living room thing. With a couch on one side, one wall is covered in tools of every kind, another with a huge box on it. there's as table in the middle of the room, covered in a map of what Jason assumes is Gotham. Across from the couch on the wall is a huge tv.
Jack sighs quietly as he sits on the couch and turns on the tv to the news. He watches for awhile before going back to polishing and fiddling with the red bucket.

Jason watches as Jack holds it up to his face. It's a helmet! thats what it is! It looked like a bucket... But it's not.

There's a big light in the center of the room, with many small crystals on it, reflecting many lights across the room. or It would do that of Jack had turned it on. But he left it off as he walked in and the only source of light is the bright tv screen.

The red helmet reflects onto the floor. The red helmet casts a red light. this red light is closer to Jason... Jason can't resist the little red light.

He pounce on it, growling quietly. The red light moves as Jack jerks in surprise. Jason squeaks and squirms up to go catch the light, running to the far side of the room and pouncing on it again. Jack's eyes widden as he watches this, not seeing why Jason just crashed into the side of the big wood and metal chest, just seeing that small black furred tail whirling madly and his small hands layered over the other, on top of something on the floor.

"J-Jason!" He gasps again, putting the helmet down on his lap. Jason yowls as the light moves again across the room on the wall. too high on the wall for him to reach. Jason smacks into the wall, bouncing up and reaching for the light. "Jason?" Jack calls. Jason ignores him, all his attention focused on the red light, teasing him on the wall.

The adult suddenly notices why Jason is ignoring him. He takes back up the helmet and casts the light onto the floor. Jason follows with another squeak. Jack allows Jason to catch the light, little boy circles his arms around it, corralling it into his embrace. Jack smiles as he snorts to not laugh.

They play this game for quite awhile, Jack moves around the light and Jason follows it the whole way.

Finally Jack sets the helmet aside and covers it with a throw pillow. Jason sits up, looking eagerly around for the small light. it is not found. The reaction is magical, he looks guilty as he glances at the door and then at Jack who is... laughing at him!

"Come here, little J." Jack holds out his arms. Jason bounces over and climbs onto his lap, and getting comfortable, nearly throwing his head against Jacks chest with a loud thunk. Jack gasps, but Jason just purrs quietly and rubs the side of his face against the older man's chest. "Calm, Jason!" He chuckles, setting his hand on the little boys back.

"What do ya need, Jason?" He asks quietly, expecting a response.

Jason falls asleep rather quickly on Jack's lap. Harley looks around for him, nearly frantic in her search for the little boy. Jason is not found.

"J-jack?" Harley knocks on the door to his room.

"Yes?" He answers.

"I-I lost the boy..." She sighs. "He's gone."

Chapter Text

Jason yawns so huge his ears flatten against his head. With that he wakes up and gets out of bed. Harley had sent him to take a nap after he was falling asleep at lunch. He's better now, much much better.

Jack enters the house shortly after that. He's looking at Jason with a strange, good, look in his eyes as he opens a small package. Jason tries to peek at what it is, but the man turns away and sets the plastic into the trash.

He's sits on the couch, while Jason is on the floor coloring a paper with a pen on the short coffee table. Jason freezes as a small red dot appears on the paper before him. Jack chuckles as Jason drops everything to dive across the table and try capturing the small red dot on the table.

"M-mi-mine!" Jason squeaks, following the circle of red across the room, onto the couch, onto a chair, up the wall, around on the floor until it disappears.

Jack hides the small laser pointer and smiles at Harley, watching from the doorway with a grin on her face.

"Where'd you do with it?" Jason pouts at Harley who points to Jack. Jason pouts at them for the rest of the day until supper is ready.

an hour after he was supposed to be in bed he gets a papercut. He's doing something for them and got a cut on his finger.

Jason walks over to their bedroom and knocks. There's a gasp, a noise, and then a bit of movement which sounds to Jason, very rushed.

"What do ya need, honey?" Harley smiles down at him, dressed and with half of her villain makeup on. Jason looks up at her and holds out his finger, bleeding small drops of red blood. "Awe, what happened, little J?" She leads him into the room. Joker looks down at him, with a near unimpressed blink. "Little J needs a bandage, Big J..." She sets Jason onto the bed.

"Hmm." Joker gets the small medicine kit and goes back to getting dressed in his nighttime, villain, attire.

"There you go, little J." Harley blinks down at the small bandaged finger, which doesn't move from where she let go of it, if anything he holds it closer to her. "Is... something else wrong?"

Jason says nothing, just holds it higher.

"I believe children require kisses to heal." Joker scoffs from where he's covering a mark on his face with paint. while his skin is naturally white, he does have more scars than only his smile.

"oh." Harley blinks at Jason's small black tail, wagging steadily behind him. "I didn't know that..." She kisses the little boys finger, watching as he nods satisfied and gets off the bed, taking her hand. Jason misses the gentle look she smiles down at him with as she walks little J back to his bedroom. "Goodnight..."

"N-nighty..." He whispers, relaxing quickly as he falls asleep.

...

"Why aren't you coming by more often?" Vex growls at Joker and Harley as they appear before them.

"Shut up!" Joker snaps at them. "We've been busy, can't ya understand?"

Vex growls, holding a hand to their chest. "How dare you? May I remind you that I am paying you to help me not the other way around! After my mission is over, I don't care what in the 4 names you do, but not until then."

"Hmm." Joker grumbles. "Fine, let's just hurry before Batman gets here." He spits out the name with such venom Vex has never heard. they calm slightly and sniffs at Harley who grins at them and slings the giant mallet over her shoulder.

...

It's not long after that when they know what Jason has been hiding from them. He has a nightmare, almost mid night. So, he goes to get comfort from them as a child naturally would. The door is locked on their room. Naturally as adults would when they are doing... things.

Jason sits on the floor and just cries as loud as he can, like an injured animal. There's a small sound from inside of the room before Harley appears, barely even wearing her underclothes holding to the top to her body and kneeling down. Jack appears a second later, in pants and holding a hand on a belt loop.

"What happened?" Har pulls Jason against her, watching as he hugs her as soon as she let's him. "What happened!?" She gets worried.

Jack clears his throat. "Did ya have a dream about something?" Jason tries to tell them something but only a breathless sobbing escapes. "He had a dream about something..."

"W..." The adults look at each other. What are they supposed to do now? Jack goes to check his room, just in case something bit him, a spider maybe. Harley stays back with Jason to try comforting him.

Jack returns with 2 things. A pillow for Jason, and a small paper. a portion of it is red brown, showing this is the thing which gave him the cut. Both recognize the small thing as what he had put away everyone they came into the room. It's a picture of Jason for sure, 2 triangle ears on his head and a tail, while there's a bigger figure on the left with a colored in eye and a colorless eye, with a massive smile. The one on the right has a big hammer, and a smile also on her face. everyone is smiling though. Jason is smiling.

"What does this mean, little J?" Harley shows it to him.

Jason doesn't answer, still scared from his nightmare.

"Come on, Big J..." Harley picks Jason up and walks to the bed, setting him on it before sighing and laying beside him. "Come on..." They lay down with Jason between them. Jason whimpers quietly, tucking his head under Jack's chin and sleeping quickly. "Hmm." Harley sighs, unable to help feeling a little jealous that little J is cuddling with Big J instead of herself.

"He turned his back to ya." Jack smiles at her, pulling her close. "That means he trusts ya, ya know... He's quite the little shifter boy..."

...

"What is this?" Jack holds out the picture at breakfast the next morning.

Jason smiles at it, pointing to each on the picture as he says who it is. "Me, Jack, Har!" He passes it back. "I'm very happy!"

Harley smiles, getting up and sticking it with a magnet to the fridge. "I'm glad ya're happy, little J... I'm pleased to have ya here."

...

"One day, Jason... one day I will give this helmet to ya... and ya can be the Red Hood." Jason smiles at the helmet, which Jack is letting him help to polish. "Ya won't understand what that name means to me now, but one day I will explain and be proud to let ya have the title." He pats Jason on the head.

Little J purrs wildly, looking into the helmets eyes. "Whys it specal?" He asks.

"I'll explain when the time is here."

"When I be the Red Hoody?" He asks.

"Years from now, Little man."

"But why yeas?" He asks, scowling up at Jack.

"I'm not ready for that yet... it is dangerous."

"Oh..."

"Little men!" Harley knocks on the door, with an fake frown on her face. "Ya had better come out here or I'll eat all your brownies!"

"No no!" Jason sets the helmet down and runs past Harley, holding Jacks hand. "Come quicker!" Harley and Jack both laugh, following Jason into the kitchen. "My-"

"Don't touch, little J, it'll be very hot!" Jack stops the little boy from touching the food.

"Knock knock." a deep growl at the door makes Jasons ears stand straight up. He ducks behind Harley with a miniature growl back.

"Vex!" Joker roars. "Hurry in before ya get spotted!" the big monster shuts the door behind themselves shaking snow from their head. "What do ya want?"

"The Batman, Joker." They nod to the door. "He's on the search for you again, so much so he's 3 blocks away from here." They glance at Jason. "If you want to keep your son safe, both of you had better hurry as far from here as possible."

There's a rush between the 2 adults. Jason squeaks as Joker shoves him into the secret room with both pans of brownies and locks the door with a firm "Stay." he leaves the house with Harley and Vex.

Jason isn't worried. Jack and Har are much smarter then the Batman, they will trick him away! he trusts them.

...

The Joker does not come back. Harley Quinn, by herself and injured comes back alone. Jason knocks frantically on the door which traps him in the room alone. It is not long before she answers, letting him out and into the house. at first, Jason doesn't even realize she's hurt, just happy to be able to run through the house. until he smells blood.

Jason stops in the living room and stares at her with wide eyes. her top is off, revealing bruises all around her rib cage and a long gash up her side which she is caring for by a cloth and Some clear liquid.

"W-whappened?" He whimpers, sitting next to her and staring at the bruises already ugly purples and yellows.

"It's alright, Little J, this isn't the worst I have had..." She tries to reassure but the pain is evident in her voice.

"The Batman?" He breathes, staring up at her with horrified eyes.

"Yes, of course." She nods. "Him and NightWing, though today there was another one... superman?" Harley shakes her head. "I don't remember his name."

"Soupman..." Jason nods, agreeing with her on the name of superman. "I headed it before..."

Harley suddenly stares at the tv and turns on the news. Big news announcement about The Joker being taken to somewhere. Jason can't read the name that starts with an A, it's too big he's never seen it before.

"Oh no, they took him to Arkham..." A voice from the doorway joins in with Harleys dismay.

"S...Selina!" Jason squeaks, staring at the cat woman with even massiver eyes.

"Jason!" She turns to him. "Where have you been?"

Harley hisses at the woman as Jason whines and hides behind her. "What did ya bring in with ya?"

"Nothing!" Selina comes into the room, uncovering her face and setting aside the helmet she wears. "Just myself, Harley, he knows me."

"k-knows ya?"

"He lived with Wayne." Selina sighs. "He and his sister, though she-"

Jason doesn't stick around for the rest of those words. he leaves the room, glaring at her. He return with a few brownies, which he offers to Harley. She doesn't want to offend him and so takes one. Selina raises an eyebrow as he stomps off, not even offering her one.

"Somebody at the door!" He hides again.

"It's Ivy, I told her to come over..." Selina sighs. "Come in!" She yells toward the door.

it is indeed Poison Ivy who appears in the room next. She looks unhappy about something as she plops onto the floor next to Harley. "I heard about what happened."

"Yeah. I need to get him out of there." She watches Jason stare at the new guest.

"Awe, who is this little baby?" Ivy smiles at the boy. He doesnt answer. "Looks nothing like you... But he kind of looks like Joker doesn't he? How old are you, buddy?"

Jason blinks at her. "5."

"Awwweee!" She smiles. "You're so precious! I thought you said he couldn't have kids?" She whispers.

nobody answers. The 2 guests start helping Harley care for her hurts. Jason sits on the floor. Selina notices rather quickly that whenever Harley grunts or moans that Jason growls in the background and moves a little closer until he's hugging her ankles and glaring at Selina and Ivy.

Chapter Text

After that day, 3 other villains appear, besides Harleys "girl squad". 1, Vex. 2, Yonder. 3, Brix.

"Harley." Yonder knocks on the living room door. "We heard about what happened."

Jason growls at them immediately upon arrival. Selina and Ivy jump at the sound and all 3 males pause for a moment before raising eyebrows and looking down at him, perched on Harleys lap.

"What is it?" Brix asks quietly, leaning against the doorway. He'll stay right in here in case it's a bomb or something.

"My son." Harley pats Jason's hair. He glances up at her with a smile before looking back at the 3 with the same upset. "I-I'm glad ya came to help me... I know it is probably just because he owes ya money but grudging help is better then no help."

Yonder nods. "I came over for that reason but that doesn't mean I'm grudging. Joker would help me if this happened to me. What else should I do?"

"Go into the bedroom, Jason, this is adult time." Harley sighs. Jason does not move. "Jason." He looks up at her with narrowed eyes. Why is she trying to get rid of him. She raises an eyebrow right back. "Don't make me take ya in there." He seems a bit surprised but gets off her lap, glaring at the others in the room before walking to the bedroom and plopping down in the doorway. "Jason, close the door or I'll close it myself!" She starts to stand.

"But ya hurted!" He stands back up.

"Ya'd better do it then, hadn't ya!"

Jason is annoyed at the adults. Why does he have to leave?
He lays behind the closed door and watches through the gap between door and floor. It's quite sizeable, Jack made them that way because he has a fear of being fully trapped into a room.

Brix says something and the room is suddenly full of gray and blue mist, creating a scene. A courtyard of a big building with the people in it as well. They're sitting around in groups doing activitys or just talking about something and glancing back toward the building.

Vex sighs, pointing to a group. "They will probably makes it hard for us..."

Harley sighs. "Always glad when they're in prison until we have to get someone out."

"Do you think anyone inside will help? Get into the building, Brix."

Brix just grunts and the mist swirls some more, settling into another scene.

Jason watches as the adults do things that don't make sense to him. Why do they need to find the kitchen in a prison? They must have needed something that wasn't there, Harley shakes her head in an upset way.

"Where is his cell, Brix?" Ivy glances around the misty hallways.

"In the... there." A hallway appears. They walk through the hallway. In many cells there is emptiness but 6 down close to the dead end. "Right there... that doesn't look good..."

In the cell they look to, there is a man laying on the ground with his hand chained to the wall. The thing bothering them most is, he isn't moving.

"Who is across the hall?"

"I... I don't know. Never seen it before." Yonder and Selina both shrug.

"It's strange." Ivy breathes.

In the hallway across from Joker is a small being. Miniature, some would say. It's about 3 and a half feet tall from what they can see and has pointy ears. Another big noticeable fact is that its body is covered in scales instead of skin. Scales!

"We can't focus on that right now! We need to get him out..." Harley hisses at them. "Focus!"

...

"Stay here." Harley pats Jason's head, smiling at him.

"But you're hurted." Jason growls, trying to hold her in the house. "You should stay here!"

"I'm not leaving for a long time." Harley laughs. "I left the tv on for ya..."

Jason sits on the couch and sulks for quite awhile. Until the "Breaking News!" "Villains are escaping Arkham Asylum" "Again." screen tears into the show he was watching and displays a scene of Arkham, with police helicopter lights on the yard showing the few escaping prisoners. But as Jason watches, the few turns into 17 and then 20 people, and eventually turns into 27 people ringing 6 of them, carrying a seventh.

He watches with growing excitement as they leave the yard behind. there are gunshots and a heavy crash.

...

"What's the password?" Jason squeaks at the knock on the door, just to make sure it's the right people.

"Open up before The Batman finds us, Little J!" Harley screeches.

Jason holds the door open for everyone. Harley, Brix, Vex, Ivy, Yonder, and the very strange looking person come into the house. The smells of Blood and Salt hit Jason so hard he hides behind the door holding his nose and whimpering.

"Jason get me the towels from in the kitchen!" Harley calls.

"Okay!" He grabs a whole stack of 12 towels and brings them into the living room.

"Can ya open them?" Harley asks nervous watching someone she doesn't know touching her Jack.

"Can open em, yeah!" The small being chuckles, a strange gurgling screech. "Ya be patience, eh?" He winks at them. "Yoyuk opens anything, eh?" He purrs. Seconds afterward there is a loud click and he pulls the shackles from off Jack's wrists. "This boy not bein so well..." He pokes the man's cheek.

"Stop!" Vex takes the towels from Jason. "Thank you, boy."

Jason goes to the door way of his bedroom again and watches with extra wide eyes. Jokers back is covered in open trails, bleeding and crusted with white crystals. He watches with hurt for himself as Vex brings into the room a dish of warm water and a soaked towel. This Joker moans in terrible pain as Vex slowly draws the cloth over his back and takes off some salt crystals now stained red.

"What happeneded?" Jason whimpers.

"Go to bed, Jason..." Harley bites her lip, covering Jack's head as he starts growling.

Jasone eyes sudden at what the growling says to him, to get to bed because things will only get very bad from here. "N-ni-nighty!" Jason backs into his bedroom. He yips at Jack, just to tell him goodnight, but Jack is back to his hurt moaning and groaning.

Jason lays awake in bed for a time, but eventually falls asleep very worried. He wakes up just as worried if not more so and hops up, running out of his room and into the livingroom.

Jack is laying on the couch, his back up and exposed to the cool air. Jason whines at the sight and sits next to him, grabbing the hand that hangs off the side of the sofa.

"Be gentle!" Harley enters the room with big eyes.

Jason points at her. "You not trust me?"

"I'm sorry, Little J... Jack is just really hurt right now."

"Yes." Jason nods. "I see dat... I seen hurt people 'efore." He sighs, hugging the arm and being still.

"When have ya seen hurt people?" Harley sits next to him. one of Jacks grayish eyes cracks open as his arm is moved.

"At home..." Jason shrugs. "W-when I was with my first daddy and mommy. They hurted each other." He nods. "And daddy hurted other people too!"

Harley smiles. "I hurt people. Jack hurts pe-"

"No." Jason shakes her head. "Joker hurts people with Jack."

Jacks lips curl into a small smile sand he shuts his eyes again.

"How happened?" Jason sighs. "I don't wanna he's hurted."

"Come help me cook lunch, he may be awake by the time we get back."

"Alrighty!" Jason runs to the kitchen followed by chuckling Harley.

Jack doesn't say anything to them when they come back, but he shows them he's awake by opening his eyes.

"You wake!" Jason gasps. "What happenedededed?" He reaches for Jacks arm again but Harley doesn't let him, taking her seat between the 2 and holding food to her partners lips.

"Eat." She says gently but firmly. He doesn't say anything and with as little movement as possible he begins to eat the food.

"Happy food?" Jason smiles. Jack just blinks at him. Jason nods, satisfied with the reaction. "Good! My happy food too..."

...

"Ya were with Bruce Wayne, didn't you say, Little Jason?" Jack sighs about a week after being brought home. Jason nods. "Hmm..."

"What's wrong about it?"

"I don't like him." Jack sighs... "That's all. I'm glad you're here with me though, Little J."

"Me too!" Jason nods, sighing quietly. "How happy are you?"

"Not happy at all." Harley answers. "His eyebrow is twitching." She points out as she sits beside them. Jack just grunts.

Chapter Text

"Are you better?" Jason smiles at Jack. Harley raises her eyebrows and Jack shakes his head, taking his eyes off her. "Ggrrr! When you get better?"

"in some time, Little J." Harley pats them each on the head. "in some time."
Both of the males sigh loudly and look away from her, making Harley cackle loudly.
"He will be better soon enough, little J."

"I'll..." Jason looks around for something to do, anything to do.... "Color something!" He walks to the coffee table, sitting down and taking the small stack of black paper with the 4 pens Harley brought in. He listens in on the adults conversation even though he knows he isn't supposed too.

"Is he annoying you, Big J?" Harley sighs.

Jack sighs quietly. "Not as much as everything annoys me..."

"So no." She sighs again this time in a good way. "I'm glad! I want to keep my adorable puppy..."

"Hmm." He frowns. "I wonder if he minds being called that... Har, could ya do something for me?"

"Anything." Harley stands.

"On the dresser is a small black-"

"I'll get it for ya." She laughs. "Stay here, Big J."

"Where else can I go." He scoffs. "I can hardly move, and if I did ya would slap me or something... or he would flip out."

Jason glances up as Harley sits back down. She smiles at him but doesn't look at him for long. He huffs gently, blinking at the small black wand passed into Jack's hand, hidden from him. He shakes his head and growls quietly.

It's 15 minutes later that the small red dot appears on the paper ahead of him. Jason gasps, staring down at it, his hand frozen over the paper, dropping the pen from it's grasp. Jack chuckles quietly as the small eyes follow the magic light all over the paper and onto the floor. Harley shakes her head, watching Jason's tail speed up...

And the boy pounces. Jack breathes in shock at the speed Jason pounces on top of the small light, squealing in triumph. He keeps his hands over the small spot, peeling back one finger and looking into the small slot. He gasps, removing his hands and staring at the lightless spot.

Jack calls quietly, casting the light onto the wall. Jason finds and follows it with his usual growling and excitement. The game lasts for about 10 minutes, until Harley nudges Jack to turn off the light. Jason gallops over to the hand where he had seen a false red light, grabbing it. Jack's fist tightens over the laser pointer, hiding it.

"Wahtcha hidin'?" Jason whispers, getting the fist close to his eyes so he can see.

"Nothin'." Jack grunts, resisting the small hands trying to tear his own open.

"Why ya not open your hand? Hmmmm?"

"I don't have to do things if I don't want too." Jack chuckles as Jason gets frustrated with the way it isn't working. "Go back to your coloring little man..."

"B-but!" Jason glares briefly up at him. "Fffines." He spits, returning to his coloring paper.

"Har?" Jack sighs. "I'm taking a nap..."

"Alright." She snatches the light when Jason isn't looking, sliding it under her belt to transfer it back to Jack's dresser. "I think a nap is a wonderful idea... ya want a kiss first?"

"Eeew!" Jason squeaks as the adults lean toward one another, and he abandons the room, heading into the kitchen instead.
"Ew nasty! I'm only 5 year old and they doing that in front of me! practically doing the... what's it called! that's nasty." He shakes his head, shuddering violently at the thought of what his parents did openly. just the thought of it makes him sick. "Ew." He repeats, walking into the room again, bringing a small container of food.

"Be gentle woman!" Joker is snapping at Harley who is helping him to sit up as Jason walks in. The little boy whimpers at the hurt man sitting up but neither adults look at him. The man howls as his back touches the smooth leather behind himself, tightening his fingers into Harleys arms. "Gently!"

"I am being gentle! She hisses back, easing more slowly into a sitting up position. "Ya're healing faster then I thought ya could and we don't have the things I need! Are ya sure ya want to sit up?"

The purple eyes glare at her. "Yes! yes just help me and do what I tell ya."

"Baby J! go get me a towel from the kitchen, darling!" Harley calls, pulling Joker off from the smooth couch. Jason quickly brings back a large rough towel, holding it out. "Here, lay it across the back of the couch, just keep it there until he's sitting up..."

"But why ya sitting him up now? He's still hurted?"

Joker growls. "I can't have my host needing to relearn walking for a third time! Hurry, he's going to pass out soon."

"Ooh." Jason watches Jack return once he's sitting up and has his back against the scratchy towel cloth.

"Knock knock?" Catwoman's voice echoes in from the front doorway and the soft tinkling of the bell on her collar announces her arrival. Jack's eyes look pitiful as they're covered up by sick purple. "I brought some stuff, Har! I assume he hasn't woken yet, it's only been a week... oh..." Selina blinks at the very awake man on the couch. "Good morning."

"Why is she bringing things into my house?" He hissed softly at Harley.

Harley chuckles nervously. "It's nothing, just medicine... I asked her to bring it because ya wouldn't let me go out."

The man hisses at them both, glaring with mistrust at the cat shifting woman. "Well, now she can leave."

Selina smirks. "Are you going to get me out?"

"Stop!" Jason walks over, hitting her knee. "Leave my alone! they not yours."

The long black tail behind Selina lashes once in shock, fluffing up for a moment. "Er... You like it here, Jason?"

"Of course he does." Joker smirks. "Harley adores him anyways."

"What about you?" both females turn to Joker.

He closes his eyes. "I don't give a d***. Get out, Catwoman."

"Er... Alright." She pats Jason's head. "But if you ever get tired of living here, I'll take you back to Wayne, just call me." She offers fondly, seeing him register the info and file it away even through the aggression in his eyes.

"Get out!" Jason points to the front door. After the woman leaves with a small laugh and shake of her head, he runs over and plops onto the couch next to Jack. "What's a d-"

Jack is back, and the man smiles at him. "Well... how about ya go see what she brought for me, Harley. since ya invited her."

She giggles. "I would anyways."

...

"Are you better yet?" Jason sighs, picking up his head from where it rested on Jack's lap.

"No." Jack chuckles. "I'm not better yet. Getting better though." A phone ringing interrupts them. Harley calls from the other room letting them know she's getting it. "I've never gotten better this fast before... I don't know what's happening, it was one of the worst times. I wasn't even there for a whole day and-" He stops himself, one eye filling with bright sick purple.

"What's happenin'?" Jason sits up as the adult starts to pet him like a cat.

"Jack..." Harley comes in holding the phone to her ear. "Get up, we have to go right now."

"I can't stand." He sighs.

"We have to go right now. Little J, help him up."

"Mmm... I can't." Jason stands, holding Jacks hand, but unable to pick him up.

"Take this." She hands off the phone to Jason. Jason listens to the man on the other end scream about Batman and street names, about money and how there are 5 of them. 5 of what are them? "Come on Jason! Hurry!" she holds open a door. He follows them into Jokers secret room before she slams the door and locks it.

"5 whats?" Jason watches Harley hang up the phone.

Both turn to stare at him, their faces whiter then normal which is a great accomplishment.

"5 did you say?" She whispers.

Jason nods slowly, glancing between the larger beings.

"Well this is a joke." Joker chuckles, letting Harley help him over to the table, where all 3 of them sit.

"A-are we safe?" Jason glances at the door.

"Of course not!" Joker laughs out loud, reaches out across the table and opening a large map. Jason watches with curiosity as the man finds a certain street on the massive map of cities Noble and Gotham. "There."

"The main street?" Harley sets a small purple token onto the street.

"Yes." Jack is suddenly back, reaching up to rub at his eyes. "I guess while we're stuck here I can figure out what I'll do there..."

Jason gets a bit nervous. Jack is nice and all, but he's heard of all the evil things Both villains have done in their lives. is He about to watch them laugh about coming up with a plan to murder thousands more people? 4 more people? 30?

"What if we..." He clears his throat, continuing to rub his eyes. "Pour... glitter in the town fountain?" He smiles, suddenly cheered up. He laughs, for the first time seeming innocent. "That would be funny! and I don't think the fountain leads to the main water source so it wouldn't hurt anyone!" Harley nods eagerly. "It could be purple and red! red and white!..." He looks over at Jason, blinking slowly. "What's your color, little man?"

Jason taps his chin, "Um... Green... no just red. not green. Daddy liked green. I like the red color! or... blue like my eyes!.. Blue was Wanda's favorite color too..."

"Wanda?" Jack raises an eyebrow. "What's a Wanda?"

"She was my sister. B-But she's dead... remember?"

"Oh... yes ya did tell me about that." Jack reaches over and ruffles Jason's hair. "Sorry little J."

The little man smiles. "I-It's okay."

Jason watches as Jack plots out his perfect plan, flying a plane from Gotham to Noble, filled with glitter (red white black green and blue glitters), until they reach the town square. then, they release the glitter over the fountain and square in general. and they'll do it the night of the town leaders speech! It's only in a week so they won't have to wait long either! Jack says Jason can watch it on tv!

The small wolven suddenly shrinks back in his chair as the Joker suddenly begins laughing hysterically, staring down at Jack's carefully set up map. quickly he tears a section of small purple and green figures away, setting them up in different positions.

Jason watches a very fun and exciting plan turn into a plot to kill everyone in the square and release "laughing gas" into the city as the glitter goes down.

Joker stares happily at the plan, the smile on his lips making it clear that this is the way it will happen.
The man suddenly begins to shake violently as his eyes blink back to their normal color gray, and he looks down at what he's done. He leans forward, resting his elbows on the table and covering his eyes, beginning to sob.

"I tried... I tried, I didn't want to do this again! I tried so hard but it didn't work! W-why?"

"It's okay." Harley sighs, reaching over and hugging his shoulders. "It's alright, Big J, ya did your best I could tell..."

"But I couldn't control it! I'm such a failure, Har! W-Why do ya stick around me?"

Harley gasps, sitting up and staring at him. "Ya aren't as failure! Y-ya're an amazing Vessel! I understand that your kind is made to be possessed!.." The male flinches. "Jack... I love ya, do ya understand?" She sighs.

Jason looks at the phone beginning to ring in Harleys hands. "Um..."

they ignore the phone.

...

after they get out of the room, Jason stares at the map, blinking quietly... He has an idea.

"Joker?" Harley holds Jason's hand, staring at Jack quietly sitting on the couch. the eyes turn purple and he stares over at them, one green eyebrow raised. "Jason has an idea."

"Go ahead." Joker nods, looking at the small boy, staring at his hands.

"Well..." Jason blinks. "What if you didn't put the gas down? instead you only told them you did something so they will think you did something and you only gas one or 2 people? just so they will really think something happened! They might shut down the while city!" He shrugs.

The man purses his lips, glancing at Harley who is looking thoughtful herself. "Hmm..." After a few minutes he smiles, a whole face smile. "I like your idea, Jason! let's do it! Harley make the arrangements!"

"Ya're still injured?"

"Well we'll need more than a few pounds of glitter, darling." He chuckles, thinking happily to himself.

Chapter Text

"You're doing very good!" Jason smiles at Jack, able to sit up on his own in the living room. It's slow, and he can't do more then sit up, but it's more progress in 4 weeks then he made in 2 months last time according to Harley.

"Thank ya..." Jack chuckles. "Go get me the box from in my room." Jason nods, scampering off and returning a minute later with the big box. Jason sits next to Jack, watching him open the case which holds the red helmet and it's polishing supplies. it seems to be a habit of Jacks, to polish the helmet, almost an obsession really.

"Why's it? Red Hoody!" Jason taps the shiny smooth red plastic.

"Ya wouldn't understand, Little J." Jack sighs. "It's special."

"Hmm..." Jason nods. "Special?.. for me?"

"Not yet." Jack laughs quietly. "Ya're still only a small one." Jason smirks, trying to pull the helmet onto his lap. "Hey! stop that." He frowns, taking the helmet back. Jason pets it, purring quietly. Jack's eyes aren't mad for long, he chuckles softly, again ruffling Jason's puppy ears and hair. "What would ya like from me, Little Man?"

"Hmm...." Jason thinks about this. "To have?" He taps the helmet as he asks.

"No, not yet, Little J..." Jack rolls his eyes. "But ya may try it on?" Jason's eyes light up, nodding eagerly. it'll make him happy to feel something that makes Jack happy. "Alright."

Jason shivers happily as the older man carefully slides the helmet onto his head. It's massive, much much too big for the tiny 5 year old. "ooooooohhhhh...." Jason stares through the eye slots, looking up at Jack. the cage for his head is already hot and the rough fabric inside doesn't make Jason want to keep it on. But the kind face and tears in the corners of Jack's eyes makes him want to take it off right away. He giggles happily as Jack pulls him onto his lap, for some reason hugging him.

"2 things I can't ever have..." Jack whimpers nearly silent, taking the helmet off and putting it away. He holds Jason instead, letting the boy cuddle into his chest and hide his face again his neck.

Jason sighs. Jack may be a very messed up man, but he does like to be cuddled. Jason likes to be cuddled! So why can't they cuddle? besides, if Jack is Jason's new new dad then they should cuddle!

Harley sits beside them on the couch but Jason doesn't stir. He's asleep, safely held in Jack's arms.

"How are ya feeling?" She whispers, setting her head on his shoulder.

"Strange." He answers. "Very strange..."

"What kind of strange, Jack? I can get ya some medicine you know."

But she already knows what the problem is. Jack had always been against children before she had scooped up Jason and refused to put him back on the street. She knows he can't have kids, but always thought he would never want any. He is a villain after all.
But Har had always wanted a kid, mostly just to try. She wanted to see if having a child and being a villain would be too hard and if it would, effectively, infect the child or if it would hate her.
Now she has one and the tiny bugger doesn't seem scared of her even after living with Wayne. That guy is sketchy... And Jason... seems to like it here. Maybe it's the laser pointer getting to his brain but she doesn't think so.

"I... don't know." He glances down at her but she pretends not to notice. "It's not a medical need though. I'm okay."

They stay quiet for as few minutes, and both of their gazes end up on Jason, sleeping peacefully.

"Why do ya think he ended up on the street?"

"I was going to ask ya the same thing." Jack raises an eyebrow. "I think... He ran away from where he was. I'm not sure why though, or how he ended up so far from Wayne's ridiculous manor."

"He is a shifter though." Harley taps the small tail waving behind Jason. The boy squeals in his sleep, curling closer to Jack. "Look at those little ears."

Jack smirks, blowing softly into one of the small floppy ears. it waves rapidly as if a fly is buzzing around. Jason growls, growls until the blowing is gone. With a small a huff he returns to sleeping.

"Can we keep him?" She stares at her partner as he answers. Joker is present as he answers but isn't the main body.

"I want to keep him." They say, relaxing on the couch. Harley smiles and nods. Good! Now they have a son... Maybe this will make Joker stop cheating on her. she scoffs.

...

"I'm gonna go to the bedroom." Jason whispers, poking Jack's cheek.

"hmm?" Jack looks away from the tv. "What did ya say?"

"Am going to my bedroom!" he repeats. "Am going right now! Let go of me!" He squeaks, wriggling in Jack's arms like a little fish.

Jack shakes his head with a laugh. "Go on, but first go to the kitchen And see if Har needs help with supper! She asked for ya after ya woke up..."

Jason nods, hopping into the kitchen. Harley is humming a small song to herself, rolling out a... pie crust?

"What's this for?" He looks around for the pie pan but there isn't one.

"I'm making meat dough. Would ya come help me please? I need someone to dip them after they're made."

"I help!" He pulls up a chair and helps her, taking the small circles of meat filled dough and dipping them into water, then cracker crumbes, sprinkling cheese onto them and placing them on a cookie sheet. "Done?" He blinks at the 17 pieces. "So many?"

"Yes, it's the anniversary of something tomorrow and we want left overs!"

"What's an... anvin.... anniv... whatever you said?"

An anniversary? It's the celebration day of something! in this case, when Jack and I met each other. that's the day we're celebrating tomorrow..."

"Can I go to my room now?" Jason sighs, unhappy about having to wash his hands again.

"Yes." She pats his head with a giggle. "Go play."

Jason does play in his room. He plays for about 20 minutes before anything happens outside.

There's a loud boom and Harley screams. It doesn't sound good. Jason darts under the bed, peeking at the door. Joker starts to laugh, a laugh that sounds pained and hysterical. There's as yell, and it doesn't sound good. More booming and a couple loud pops. Jason knows that means guns, so it can't be Batman! Unless... it's Harley or Joker with the gun. Then it could be batman... and maybe Nightwing... maybe Superman is here too.

After a few minutes of grunting there's a thump against the bedroom door and the door literally shakes. something was thrown into it. Jason whimpers quietly, watching shadows dash around...

Finally quiet... no sounds... but he can smell blood, which might mean someone got hurt a lot! It doesn't smell good...

Jason crawls closer to the door to peek underneath. As he gets closer, a door slams in the main house, 2 pairs of footsteps approach the room.

"What were they doing to this door?"

"Hiding it duh."

Jason recognizes Bruce and Dick's voices instantly, freezing where he is. Bruce forces the locked door open with a quick shove. They glance around the walls before both sets of eyes fall onto Jason.

"Oh my gosh!" The son takes a while step backwards, his eyes even hide by the mask showing how shocked Jason's pretend older brother is. "It's-"

"Jason?" Bruce gasps, staring at the small boy. Jason stares back, even though he knew they were coming he's still shocked. The Batman kneels in front of Jason, picking up the boy. "What did they do to you? how did you get here? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine..." Jason whispers the words not wanting to leave his lips.

"I'm so glad... Nightwing take him home. I'll be right there."

"But Joker?" Night Wing takes Jason, holding him even when Jason struggles.

"I'll take care of him." Batman goes in one direction, The 2 boys go another.

...

Bruce never expected Jason to glare at him so hard. He has, in fact, never been glared at like this in his whole life. Except maybe once or twice with Alfred.

Jason is sitting at the kitchen table with Alfred and Dick, crying quietly to himself but Bruce had come in.

"What's wrong?" Bruce sits next to his youngest legally adopted child. "Why are you upset, Jason?"

"What d-did you do to him?" Jason rubs a tear from his eye, sliding to the other end of his chair.

"To who? Joker?" Bruce raises a dark eyebrow. "Nothing, he uh, got away."

"Oh." Jason nods. "Oh."

"Why were you there, Jason? did he hurt you?" Bruce leans toward Jason who leans away.

"I hate you." Jason announces.

Everyone raises their eyebrows. "You what?"

"I hate you!" He nods. "You're mean."

"Jason..." Bruce sighs, glancing at his lap. "We had some... testing done on Wanda." Jason's ears go back and he growls. "She had a heart attack... it wasn't your fault."

Jason stares at the adult waiting for an apology... nothing. Bruce blinks at him. "Oh." Jason says again.

"Aren't you happy?" Dick continues to have his eyebrows high.

"Yes. But I still hate you." Jason glares at them harder. "I'm glad you decided my sister's body was worth performing tests on after she died. You did a good job Batman, not asking her brother for consent."

"I..." Bruce frowns. "Your sister was dead already. And then you ran off! How was I supposed to ask for your consent?"

Jason hisses, his beast coming out again. "You didn't look for me! Wanda liked you but I only liked you because she did. You haven't done enough to earn my trust. Nobody here likes me! You're all liars! I should just leave!"

"I would bring you back!" Bruce feels the click of his jaws as they lock together.

"I'll go to Noble. You won't be able to find me." Jason curls his lips into a smirk. "You're not Nobles hero. They have heroes that work."

"I... if that is how you want to think." Bruce nods. "I'm sorry you feel that way."

"Oh really? That's what you'll apologize for?"

"What did I walk into?" Selina stares at the 2, glaring at each other with stares that heat the room.

"Here Jason." Dick hands Jason a drink. "You must be thirsty after crying all your feelings out."

Jason snatches it, but not before giving his older brother an unimpressed look.

He's quickly asleep and Selina takes him to bed, Bruce following her.

Chapter Text

"I'm sorry that I made you run away, Jason." Bruce watches his youngest enter the room at breakfast 3 mornings later, the first time he has come out of his room. Jason puts his hands on his hips, raising both eyebrows. "I'm sorry I made you run away, and I'm sorry what I told you, everything I told you about Wanda... you're... a..." Jason doesn't miss the discreet glare from Alfred to Bruce. "You're a good boy, Jason."

"Hmm." Jason sits as far from everyone as possible, including Barbara, to eat his breakfast and goes to disappear back into his room.

"Jason, we're going out in a few minutes." Jason then notices the suits and ties, and, in Barbara's case, a nice dress and make up. "Please go get dressed and come back here." Jason wordlessly nods, getting into a small suit and going back. "Come on..."

...

Jason is uncomfortable by the time they are back home. They went to a party, a city wide party that was to celebrate his safe return to his family. To say the least, it frightened Jason to have so many people looking at him, telling him how brave he is, asking if he's happy he's back and all he can manage is a yes every time.

"How are you feeling?" Barbara smiles gently at him. Jason just stares out of the car window and shakes his head. "Are you happy to be back?" Jason shrugs. "You could have said you aren't happy..." She sighs.

"N...no." He shrugs. "I can't. You don't understand..."

"I didn't want to be here after what happened to me either. But I got over it and now I'm happy what Bruce cared for me..." She shrugs. "Even if I did hate him for awhile."

"What happened to you?" He glances at the useless pair of legs she has. "Those?"

"Yes... I... I'm not a human, Jason. I'm a sea maiden." Barbara nods as she says the words. Jason stares at her as if asking if this was supposed to impress him in some way. "I wasn't born here I was born in the ocean. But, my family left me... I had a different color of tail you see, and that means or they thought it meant I'm cursed. So they left me when I was about your age, packed up and left me behind.
"I got very sad and ended up beaching myself..." She glances at Bruce in the drivers seat. "On purpose. I couldn't figure out what was wrong with me, so I tried to kill myself and get it over with. Well, Bruce found me, and took me home. He found a way to keep me alive while I'm out of the water at the cost of my legs. I hated him for it. Despised him. But eventually I realized that he had done it because he actually did want to help me."

"mm..." He blinks at her "That happened to you? like your legs don't work at all at all anymore, Barbara?"

"My human legs have never worked, Jason." She laughs, the sound reminding him of Wanda, but for once it doesn't sour his mood. "No, they don't work... But I still have my tail whenever I get into water."

"Oooh..." Jason gasps. "Is it pretty?"

"Yes..." She nods. "But it's delicate..."

"Hmm." Jason looks back out the window. "Are you happy I'm home?"

"I think it's good for you to be home." She nods. "You'll be happy here in the end... I promise."

Jason tries. He goes home that night, even tells them to have a good night. He expects to be told a goodnight back. Bruce does. He pats Jason on the head, telling him to have a good night of sleep before going to bed.

He gets up the next morning and goes to breakfast.

...

3 years pass and Jason is... still a bit unhappy. What does he have to be happy for? He hasn't left the manor unless he's with Bruce or Dick, they pulled him out of school, he isn't going to be Robin at this rate, and he use still unhappy about how nobody likes him.

"What do you think if I got a new kid?" Bruce sighs.

"I'll run away again." Jason immediately answers, not even looking up from his cereal.

Barbara laughs. "No you wouldn't..."

Oh yes, I forgot to mention, Jason runs away... He has run away a whole 30 times in 3 years, but Bruce being Batman finds him before he leaves Gotham. But he does keep leaving Alfred farewell notes... Maybe Bruce sees them?

"Yes I will." Jason nods. "I can live on the streets. I've done it before and I can do it now."

"No." Bruce sits up and holds the small paper under the table. "Then I won't say yes... are you sure you don't want a brother, Jason?"

"Yes." Jason hisses.

"Alright... Jason, I've decided I will let you be Robin as soon as you can lift 50lb above your head and hold it for a minute." Jason glances up. "I know you, since you're a shifter, have more strength at this age then Dick did at your age. That is the test I will put you through... sounds fair?"

"Yes." Jason nods.

The Batman is not impressed how quickly Jason passes his test.

"You said." Jason struts around the cave, mightily pleased with himself. "You said 1 minute I got it for 2 minutes! you have to let me be Robin now!"

"1 minute and 52 seconds actually." Bruce chuckles. "Alright, Robin..."

Chapter Text

"This, is a small device I have made to help me be aware of my surroundings. Since I am human, lots of other creatures have better sense then me. But I use this and it tells me if something is within a certain distance of me, or if there is blood nearby."

Jason holds the small gray and black pieces of metal. "Well I have better hearing and smell."

"That is what we're going to test today." Bruce pats Jason on the head. "I will wear this, and you stalk me. How you win is to stick this..." He hands Jason a small Velcro plate. "Onto my back." He shows where the small other Velcro tape is. "Alright?"

The shifter nods eagerly, watching Bruce melt away into the shadows. He glances around after a few minutes, walking into a direction he knows Bruce likes to sulk in. it's a small corner that has a sink, and a small fridge Alfred keeps full of snacks.

Bruce is not there. Jason smells him though, the man had probably run as soon as he saw Jason coming. It goes to the left, closer to the Batmobile and the the main cave exit.

It takes only a couple more tries for Jason to corner Bruce, in a small spot, some ledges in the cave. Bruce stares out across the cave his eyes scanning for Jason. Jason quietly walks up behind him, pausing every few seconds so the detector doesn't... well detect him. Jason reaches for the edge of the cape, the fabric Bruce is wearing seems to twist and turn along it's sewn edge showing that it had been mended possibly several hundred times before.

With as soft tug he untucks it from Bruce's shoulders, slapping the velcro together. The alarm in Bruce's ear vibrates with the closeness of another being and the man actually yells in shock. But with that he turns around and steps backwards.

Jason gasps as Bruce trips over the edge of the cliff and falls off. Well... the ledges of the cave are very high. and Bruce is falling off of one. He doesn't have any other gear on so he SCREAMS. Jason runs down to the floor. moments later Bruce stops screaming. Jason's eyes get very wide and runs faster. Bruce is not squashed like as but when he gets there. the man is held in someone's arms and gently spiraling downward. The someone is dressed in red and blue... oh no... it's superman.

Jason sits down and stares at the 2 men as Superman's feet gently touch the floor and he holds Bruce close.

"Who is this?" Superman stares at Jason with a small red glow in his eyes.

"What, do you have him on speed dial or something?" Jason stares at the hero. The hero Bruce is outwardly forceful with keeping out of Gotham. Powers and all that crap.

"No, I just came because I heard him screaming. You're lucky I did."

"Calm down boys." Bruce runs a hand through his hair and drops to the floor. "I'm fine... Oh... Clark this is Jason my youngest, Jason this is Superman."

"Mhm." Jason raises an eyebrow at the way this "Clark" keeps his hand on Bruce's shoulder.

"I thought your youngest was the girl that died?" Superman asks. "Did you get a new one?"

Jason stares at them both his eyes widening as he does. "W-wanda..."

"She was very sweet, but I don't think she would have wanted you to replace her so soon, Bruce." This time Superman has a bit of disapproval in his voice.

"Wanda was my youngest, but Jason is older then her. They were twins... I never realized I didn't introduce you to both of them..." Bruce turns to look at Jason and frowns. He doesn't understand the look of betrayal and upset on the boys eyes. "Jas-"

Jason gets up and runs out. Really, he shouldn't be shocked, Wanda got everything around here. and he's happy for her... Wanda needed everything... But it still hurts. He's Wanda's brother, he should have gotten introduced to Superman first. But Bruce isn't a shifter. he'll never understand.

"Jason please come out..." Bruce knocks on the door to Jason's room.

Jason glares at the door before hiding under his bed.

"Jason?" Bruce tries the doorknob but it's locked.

"You sure use my name a lot!" He growls at the door.

"He's under the bed." Superman murmurs quietly.

"He can hear you." Bruce sighs.

"Only trying to help." The other man shrugs. "How can he hear me?"

"You're being very loud!" Jason yells. "Go away! I don't want to talk to either of you!"

"Jason come out here and speak with me." Bruce makes his tone stern.

"No!"

"Jason, come now." The door handle is rattled. Nothing. "NOW, Jason."

"No."

"Open the door." The Batman sighs, stepping away so Superman can break the locked handle. He walks to the bed and kneels down, staring underneath at Jason, glaring at him. "Why are you so upset at me?"

"I don't like you..." He grumbles.

"Get up." with a small grunt, the large man lifts the bed with 1 hand, dragging Jason from underneath. Jason growls as Bruce stands, setting him in his feet. "Listen, Jason. this is my house and you'll do what I tell you. That isn't what you want to hear. but I could care less. if my orders aren't followed I will send you to school again. a school in Noble that you can't get away from. do you understand?"

Jason doesn't like to get shaken. and he doesn't like to get threatened. He stares up at his adopted parent, seeing nothing but truth in his eyes. "Y-you don't." He glances toward the door.

"I'm getting tired of you running away and disrespecting me. I've done my best to make you happy here, but nothing I do seems to make you understand I don't mean to hurt you. or... or That I'm trying to help you. I'm getting tired."

"Um..." Superman glances down the hall. "Your dad is coming, Bruce..."

"Get out!" Bruce glares at his partner, who nods and closes the door.

"I didn't mean to make you fall..." Jason looks at the ground.

"I know you didn't!" Bruce sighs, letting the boy go and running his fingers through his own black hair. "But why can't you love me like I'm trying to love you?"

Jason stares away, his stomach filling with guilt. "I um... I don't want to lose another dad..." He shrugs, shaking his head and taking a step away. "And um... if I don't treat you like my dad nothing bad will happen to you."

It was mostly true. Jason doesn't want to treat Bruce like a father because he is afraid of people getting hurt. But he also isn't comfortable calling someone a father who hit him earlier either. It wasn't a beating, but a slap on the cheek can still mean something to a 7 year old.

"Oh Jason..." Bruce lifts Jason's face, scanning the light blue eyes for honesty even in the dark room. "Jason, you should have told me..." Jason shakes his head. "Son, nothing bad will happen to me because of you... I promise..."

"promise?" Jason sits back in the bed.

"I promise... Promise."

Chapter Text

"There you are!" Bruce stops next to Jason. "Oh... it's that day, isn't it?" The adult sits beside his youngest, sitting next to Wanda's grave... it's their birthday today. Jason likes to spend the day next to Wanda. The 9 year old nods. It is that day. "I'm sorry, Jason... are you sure you don't want a party?"

"I don't want one..." Jason picks at a few blades of grass, staring at the big decorated stone on his twins grave. "I want to be alone."

"Alright... would you like me to leave?" Bruce gets ready to go. It's no surprise when Jason nods. "Hmm, alright. but don't be out too late, we have a meeting later tonight with the league."

Jason shakes his head. "I don't like them..."

"I know, but we have to go." Bruce sets his hand on Jason's head for a second. "I'll see you later, Jason."

"Yeah..." the shifter sighs, letting his tail brush softly against the floor until Bruce is gone. "Wanda, why did you go..." Jason sighs, rubbing his eyes and sighing another 2 times. "I love you..."

...

"I want to go." Jason frowns, watching Dick and Bruce get ready to leave the cave.

"Your arm is broken," the older son chuckles, glancing at the bandage. "Go sit with Alfred or something."

"It'll be healed by tomorrow!" Jason yells after them, glaring at the 2 in their own vehicles. Idiots. Jason does go sit with Alfred... and then in his room... and back with Alfred...

"Why doesn't Dick like me?" Jason sighs, mixing in chocolate chips to the cookie dough with his uninjured hand.

"I'm not quite sure, Master Jason. I think it has something to do with all of the attention Master Bruce gives you these days." the man stirs the dough until the chips are distributed. "Does it bother you?"

"No," Jason sniffs. "Of course not."

"You're 13 Master Jason. you've been here for 8 years, don't think you can still lie to me." Alfred raises an eyebrow, but it isn't to make Jason feel bad.

"7 years." Jason scoffs. "With the times I've spent away from here it has been a year."

The old guy turns away, blinking at the bowl. "Oh, yes of course."

"You're the only reason I stay here you know." Jason shrugs. "I really don't like to be in this house... I want to go live with people like me!"

"People like you?" Alfred looks at Jason... "I've never seen people like you before. you aren't a dog shifter, but you have canine features. you have a creature inside of you, but you call it a beast. What are you?"

"I... don't know." Jason shrugs. "A shifter of some kind, I believe."

"Why don't we take a walk, Master Jason?" Alfred slips the cookie dough into the fridge, covering it with a towel. "Once we return, we will make our treat..."

"Oh... okay." Jason nods. He and Alfred leave the manor, going toward the city. Jason glances around. "Are you sure you don't want to take the car? I can drive-"

"Your arm, Master Jason." Alfred nudges the casted arm.

"It's almost better!" Jason smirks. "I can feel it healing, you know."

"Interesting." Alfred raises his eyebrow with sarcasm in the word.

"I can." Jason pouts, holding the arm closer.

"Forgive me if I do not believe you. When you came home 2 nights ago you were crying in pain and begging me to make it stop. A break like that doesn't heal in 2 nights." Silence between them. Jason opens his mouth to complain once or twice but doesn't.

"Where are we going?" Jason looks around at the empty streets.

"To a friend of mine..."

"You have friends?" The boy laughs.

Alfred raises an eyebrow. "Of course. every one has friends."

Jason looks away. "Except me."

Alfred notices the bitterness in his young boys frown. "Am I not a friend?"

Jason doesn't answer. They walk for another while until they arrive at a small house in a tiny little neighborhood. "Here?" He glances around.

"Yes." Alfred nods. He goes to knock, but Jason stops him. The man takes a step back, watching curiously as Jason walks around the front of the building, before coming back to the door and tilting his head at it. Finally he nods.

knock knock

"Coming coming!" A faint voice is heard over the clattering of glass and a loud boom. "Go get the door, Adrena!" The voice is closer this time.

What opens the door is a girl, probably about Jason's age but a bit older, covered in black dust that looks as lot like soot, dressed in a pair of shirts and a shirt knotted at her waist.

Adrena glares at Jason, aggressively. "Who are you, what do you want?"

"Who is it?" The faint voice is female also, and getting closer.

"I don't know," Adrena frowns.

The other woman appears. She's nearly bent double, using a cane to walk, and also wearing a black, dust covered dress. "Ah, Alf..." She smiles at him before glancing at Jason. "Who is this?"

"May we come in, Thim?" Alfred asks.

"Yes of course! Adrena, go wash you're hands, we have guests..." Thim leads them into the house.

...

"I don't know what he is." Thimble blinks at Jason over her tiny spectacles.

"Are you sure?" Alfred seems surprised.

"Yes! I have no idea..." The old, witch she calls herself, walks to Jason's side, taking off the cast. "But he doesn't need this. He's fine." She takes the arm in both hands. Indeed it is fine. "Hmm, did it break?" a nod from Jason and a confirmation from her friend. "Hmm..." She says again. "Hmm. Very interesting... Jason is it? take your shirt off for me."

"Um..." Jason frowns, but does as he's told and takes off his shirt, holding it awkwardly in one hand. Adrena laughs at him from the doorway.

"Shut up Adrena!" Thimble wags a finger at her great great great granddaughter. she shuts up, but doesn't take the smirk off her face. "Turn around for me, young man."

"Er, yes ma'am..." He does, turning around. He flinches as her cold hands touch his flesh, sliding up and down his spine.

"What are you doing?" Alfred asks, tapping his fingers on the table.

"Shifters do not have straight spines! It's a dead give away." She chuckles. "And this boy.... has a..." she stops, both talking and her hand over him. "A er... a..."

"A what?" Jason whimpers.

"a very strange spine." She taps her chin. "I think you are a varient of a shape shifter, but for some reason, your spine is straight. There is no way you aren't a shifter!" She scoffs. "I think you must shift now... come on, you should shift for me."

"sorry, but no." Jason puts back on his shirt, taking a step away.

"ah, oh well..." she sits back down at the small table. "Adrena, go get me my book from the nightstand."

"Right away." Adrena runs back with a massive book, setting it in the table.

Every one watches as Thimble flips open the book, scanning the pages for what she wants.

"hmm... here you are, boy." She turns the book in Jason's direction. "A small male with a big companion, unable to shift or it would take over his body, unable to shift until 20. likes to eat sweet things. Sound like you?"

"no." He scowls, pointing to the animal on the page. "I do not have a bird inside of me. That's a peacock. I have a dog."

...

"How was your night?" Bruce sighs, entering the kitchen to get a drink before heading to bed.

"Boring." Jason frowns at the table.

"Where is Alfred?" Dick glances around.

"Went to bed." Jason shrugs. "He said I didn't have too."

"I thought I saw you in the cave when we got home, Jason..." Bruce shrugs. "Were you down there?"

"Yeah." He nods. "I was."

"What were you doing at the bat-computer though, Jay?" Dick raises his eyebrows.

"Trying to look up what species I am... I learned that I can't be a Beagle shifter or a cat shifter. Google is very useful," He humphs.

"Oh..." Bruce pats Jason on the head. "You know no matter what shifter you are, I will still care about you, right?"

"Yeah." Jason ignores Dicks little scoff. "But I want to know what I am. it's for me."

"Oh..." Bruce nods. "Go, ah... what happened to your arm?"

"It's better!" Jason smiles, moving around his arm. "See?"

"oh..." Dick scoffs again.

Chapter Text

Jason isn't only looking up what he could be on that computer. He is also looking for anything on The Joker. He is looking for literally anything.

And then he finds it, a file titled, "Wtf". Dicks doing no doubt. It starts off with a few things on a case about scarecrow and then jumps directly into "The Joker and his mess". It's about how old he is, what they know about him, and what Jason is looking for. If they know where He lives. It is a yes. Pictures of the building pop up, all of the doors the windows the backyard.

A video is attached of someone without make-up who looks like Harley enter the house.
Further down it says "the 17th, Superman, Batman, Night Wing, and Flash."

The seventeenth? Jason blinks. That's in 3 days. He quickly clicks off and looks bored, hearing steps come down the stairs.

"What have you found?" Bruce chuckles at Jason's bored expression. Jason tips the screen in his direction. "You took a what shifter are you, quiz? And got a canine shifter, look at that. What a wonderful answer... don't worry, Jason. We'll figure it out."

"Can I go to the city?"

"Sure," Bruce nods. "But don't be out after dark, we're going on patrol later."

"Of course!" Jason smiles. "I can do that!" He takes a run into the city.

The house is very far away from other homes, in a run down neighborhood. It's smaller in person then on the computer. A light is on inside.

He glances around to make sure there are no hero's before knocking. He can't help the excitement and nervousness in his stomach. It takes a few minutes before he hears footsteps coming closer. There is no peek hole in the door, but the person inside swings the door wide open, looking out.

She's tall, dyed hair, bright lipstick, oddly patterned clothing. She's pale too. Very extremely vampire pale.

Jason smiles, recognizing her immediately and without thinking, running up and hugging her.
She gasps, stumbling back into the house and staring down at the skinny boy hugging her fiercely.

"Er-" She blinks.

"Hi!" He looks up at her but doesn't let her go. "Hi Harley!" He can't help the tail behind him hitting her leg as it swings side to side.

"Um... I think ya've got the wrong..." She stares hard at him. "Wrong house..." After a few minutes he let's go of her, standing a few steps back and watching the floor, glancing at the door leading into the main house. "I... Look at me." She reaches over and turns his face to look over his face. "Blue eyes... Black ears and tail..." Harley reaches out with a hand and touches his bottom lip, glancing at his eyes before moving it, blinking at the thing he has never seen before. "Tagged lip... pointed teeth..." She quietly closes the front door and pulls him onto as hug. "Jason?"

"Yes!" He nods, slipping his arms back around her. "Jason!"

"W-wh... where did ya come from?" She whispers. Jason listens as her heartbeat speeds up.

"From my house... I wanted to come see you... B-But I have to tell you something important too."

"Can it wait?" She glances at the front door again before locking it and taking him into the first room, the kitchen. "I-I need to make lunch before he wakes up."

"Who? J-jack?" Jason whispers..

"Yes!" She gasps, staring hard at him again....... "Tell me something ya remember... from when ya were here," Her eyes narrow.

"I drew that." He points to the picture on the fridge, stuck there with a small J magnet. "I see it in my dreams sometimes... would you like help with lunch? I can help you!"

"Yonder didn't send ya here did he?" She still looks suspicious.

"No. I came here because I know something important and I need to tell you both." He shakes his head. "It's very important."

"Please help me with lunch." She nods. "I'm just making sandwiches... Ya can make yourself one if ya want?"

"Sure..." He nods.

They stand at the counter and make sandwiches, 6 of them.

"How did ya get so tall?" Harley blinks at him. Jason is much taller then a 5 year old.

"It's been... 8 years!" He smiles. "So I grew!"

"How old are ya?" She reaches out and touches his face.

"13, Harley."

"13..." Harley whispers... "It's been 8 years?.. I..."

"You're just as pretty as you were before!" He leans over and rubs his face against her shoulder.

She giggles. "Stop it! I-I'm so glad ya're back!" Harley sighs. "Jack, I'm coming in! Be dressed!"

"I am!" He yells. "Sheesh! What is that smell?"

Jason pauses, not stepping into the living room with Harley.

"It's somebody to see us..." She murmurs.

"Ugh, I don't have the energy to assist anybody today." There's a sigh. "Come in!"

Jason bites his lip and walks into the room. "Um.. hi." He says, feeling more then a bit awkward.

The man on the couch stares at him for a second before he covers his face and turns away, hiding in his arms. Harley raises an eyebrow and Jason wants to leave.

"Jack?" Harley pokes his arm. "Jack, it's Jason... He came to see ya."

"Not just him... you too!" Jason steps into the room.

"Yeah, he came to see us..." She corrects. "Big J, are ya alright?"
Jason looks at the glass bottle that Jack is trying to hide, between him and the couch.
"I'm sorry to spring this on ya, J... but I didn't know he was coming either..."

"I didn't know I was coming either until... until a bit ago." Jason walks over and sits on the floor in front of them. Unable to help it, he leans forward and purrs loudly, rubbing his face along Jacks knee, extremely happy to be here.

"J-jason..." Jack sits up, setting the bottle in his cupholder in the couch arm. "I-I um.."

"How are you? I haven't seen you guys a lot around- are you okay?" Jason looks at them both.

"N-no..." Jack looks confused, "How did ya find our house?"

Jason turns his face serious. "That's what I came to warn you about." He sits up. "I... overheard. Bruce and Batman talking."

"Bruce Wayne and Batman talk?" Harley gasps.

"Well that explains why he always knows when to go into hiding." Joker hisses, staring down at Jason.

"Yes. I overheard them talking. Batman said He and a few others knew about this place and are coming here in 3 days to get you... I-I know I hadn't come over in years but I... I thought I should warn you! cause I... want you to be safe."

"aw!" Harley pats his head. "Ya want us to be safe?"

"yes!"

"We're villains, Jason." Jack/Joker pats Jason on the head. "everything we do is dangerous."

"True... but there will be more then just Batman, who I know you can get away from."

"Oh..." They nod.

It's quiet for a few moments.

"I..." Jason blinks at the small black something hung on a chain around Jack's neck. He tries to ignore it, looking at them instead. "How have you been?"

They glance at each other. "Pretty good... how about ya?"

"Not so good." Jason shrugs, sitting up and looking down at his lap. "I mean... yeah not so good."

"Really?" Harley raises an eyebrow. "Something with Wayne?"

"Yeah, something... " He shrugs again.

"What is he doing?" Jack asks.

"He's... just being a bazillionare... I don't know. Don't worry about it? I'll be fine."

"Jason?" He looks up. "Why did ya come here? Why did ya come really? Did someone send ya, because I wouldn't want to hurt ya for intruding in my house." Joker/Jack stares down at the younger male.

"I sent myself." Jason pouts, looking away. "I wanted to help you guys, but if you don't want then I can leave?"

"Don't go." Harley pats his head. "Stay."

"Hmm..." He shrugs. "But I can go if you want."

...

"Jason... little J wake up... Jason?" Harley pokes Jason's cheek until he sits up. "Jack... big J wake up... Jack!" She slaps her partner.
Both stare at her. She chuckles. "It's very late. Jason should be heading home."

"What time is it?" Jason stands up, heading straight for the door.

"10:00... it's dark outside would you like a flashlight?" They follow him to the door.

"N-no!" He ducks his head and runs back home, forgetting the small something he slipped under the couch.

"Where were you?" Bruce stares at Jason as he enters the room.

Jason shakes his head. "O-out. I fell asleep! I'm sorry!"

"Sorry? Jason I need more then you're sorry." Bruce nods into the room. "Come in and shut the door." He goes in.

...

"What happened to your face, Master Jason?" Alfred touches the bruise on Jason's cheek.

"Nothing, it isn't important..." Jason mumbles, pulling the hood of his jacket up to cover his cheek.

"Who keeps hurting you, my boy?"

Jason grumbles a "nobody" before sitting at the table.

"Master Jason you didn't go on patrol last night, so who hit you in the cave this hard to bruise?"

Jason shrugs. It was both Bruce and Dick, but Jason isn't going to tell on them. they had their reasons.

"What reasons?" Alfred sighs.

Jason blinks. He had said the last bit out loud hadn't he? "Um, I didn't do things right, I um messed something up..."

"That isn't a reason to hit you."

"But it was." Jason shuts his mouth. He isn't going to answer any more questions.

"Why don't you go take a nap, Master Jason? Breakfast isn't quite ready yet," the helper sighs.

Jason nods and goes back up to his room.

...

Jason goes back to visit Harley and Jack the next day. They let him in, he spends a few hours there. Jason feels bad he bugged their house. But he's worried about them. So he does it.
Besides, something smells very wrong with Harley and Jack seems to be nervous around her as well.

...

"Can I come with you?" Jason stares at the heroes ready to go out. "I promise not to mess anything up!"

"You aren't advanced enough for a Joker mission." Bruce pats Jason on the head. "Besides, you're grounded."

"But whyyyy?" Jason whines, grabbing at Bruce's hand. "I can help! I want to help!"

"But I said no." Bruce sighs. "I said no, so go back up to your room."

"Please?" Jason continues to whine.

"Back upstairs, little boy." Nightwing sniffs at him.

"Fiiinneee." Jason sighs, running back upstairs. He goes to his room and sits down.

Jason didn't put cameras in the house, only something to hear with.

"...id ya want to tell me?" Jack sounds worried. "But first tell me what's wrong with ya! I'm not sure ya're okay but the last thing I want to take ya to is a doctor, Har..."

"I-I" She's crying. Jason bites his lip. "I don't want to tell ya!"

"...Please?"

"I'm... well something is wrong." She sniffs. They move a bit... She whispers something too faint for Jason to hear.

"Ya're pregnant?" Jack gasps, there's a thump and a few footsteps. "Y-ya cheated on me?"

"No I didn't I swear I didn't!"

"But I can't-"

"Please listen to me!"

Silence.

"I-I went and visited... your... brother." She says.

"My BROTHER? Which one?" Jack sounds fragile. "My brother isn't-"

"Your brother, the one with the store." She sighs.

"He could have hurt ya! What do you mean ya went and visited him?!?"

"Please listen!"

Silence again...

"I'm listening."

"Your brother... Red..."

"Fang."

"Yes, him. I went and asked him a question! A small question, a-a question about um... What I should do about our child problem."

"What did ya pay him?"

"Listen!" She almost screeches now.

"Sorry!"

"I went and asked he said he had a solution! So, we went and talked! He has... has a... clone of ya. And I... did pay him, but it wasn't that much. He is your brother after all."

"He has a what of me?" Jack scoffs, a surprised sound. "But I don't want kids, Har why did ya do it?"

"I heard you crying the other day you know..." Harley murmurs. "I did hear ya... ya were crying, Jack, I heard ya. Ya were crying about Jason. I noticed ya haven't cried about it since we saw him..."

"W-what did I cry about?"

"Ya said ya wanted a girl... didn't ya?.. I know we won't know if it's a boy or a girl, but we can hope! if it is, then ya'll have the boy and the girl ya and I both want!"

"Joker won't like a baby." Jack sighs a bit shakily. "H-he'll try to hurt it. Ma-maybe ya should go stay with Selina until ya're better. I want ya to be safe. I can't keep a baby safe, Har, I'm a villain! I owe more then one person money, Har, I can't care for a child!"

"Ya'll do fine!" She growls quietly. "Ya did fine with Jason?"

"We had him less then 2 months."

"Jack..." She suddenly whispers. "It's the 17th today. Do ya think Jason was telling the truth?"

"I don't know." Jack grumbles. "I don't know what to think of him suddenly appearing."

Jason gets going. Jason gets dressed and follows the heroes. He perches a few houses away, toward the back of Jack and Harley house.

"Go go." Jack and Harley appear in an alleyway right next to Jason. "I can hear them close, Har. Run away. I don't want ya hurt."

"But I don't want to leave ya alone with them!"

"I said run! there's more then 2 of them!" Jack pushes her gently. "Go to Selina or Ivy, they won't let ya get hurt."

"B- okay."

Jason waits until Harley disappears before following Jack back. He stops and drops flat. Nightwing and Batman both, perched ready to pounce onto the lone man below them. He sees a few other men but ignores them.

Chapter Text

Batman nods and Dick presses play on a small screen in front of him.
The sound of a whip crack makes both Jason and Jack freeze in themselves. Jason feels his ears flatten against his skull and he wriggles back.

Jack laughs out of shock, a scared and terrified noise, what they should have known was that. both drop down, Batman slapping his hand on Jack's shoulder. He starts to say something but the laughing drowns it out.

Jason gasps as Jack turns around in the blink of an eye and slaps at them. even in the dark he can see The tips of Jack's fingers are small thick claws, tearing through Bruce's suit like it's nothing. Jason wrinkles his nose at the smell of his adopted father's blood. He doesn't like it.

Joker is out now, no questions. The laughter continues, becoming more frantic as he has to struggle more.

"Hey!" The Batman barks as Joker slips out of their gasps. Jason gasps as Joker runs off with more speed then Jason has every seen him move with. "Flash-"

"Joker!" Jason yells, standing up from his crouch on top of the roof.

The man pauses, turning his head to look around for the voice he knows is Jason.

Nightwing tackles the man, Batman turning around to look for Jason...

The sirens fill the air all around the 4 heroes and Jason, or Robin.

"I told you not to come." Bruce's voice growls down at him.

"But I helped didn't I?" Jason can feel his lower jaw jutting out in defense of himself.

"Give him some slack." Superman pats Jason on the head. "He practically caught the man himself!"

"I helped a lot, see?"

"Fine." Bruce gives Jason a nod. "But don't expect this to make tomorrow easier for you."

"Tomorrow is my day off!" Jason gasps.

"Not anymore." Dick chuckles happily.

...

"Why does Dick hate me?" Jason stares at Barbara.

"He doesn't hate you! He's showing you brotherly love!" She smiles with such a genuine look he feels bad for her. "Because he's your brother!"

"You're his sister. that's why he shows you love." Jason grumbles. "Have a good day, Barbara." He leaves the room, shutting the door behind himself.

"W-wait, Jason, don't close the door!" She calls.

He knows she can't get to the door in her wheelchair. He feels mean today.

"Why do you hate me so much?" Jason opens the door to his older brothers room. He had smelled his brothers friends, but decided he was going to ask anyways. they might encourage him to tell the truth for once.

"Not right now." The bright gray eyes widen on Dicks face.
The 4 friends look over at him, hanging in the doorway. some super children, Dick's age, his friends.

4? there should be a fifth...

"Hi guys." Jason ignores them. A few seconds later they watch his ears go up before pulling back flat on his head. He raises an eyebrow. "There's a girl in here... Bruce won't like that."

"Get out!" Dick stands. "You're so annoying!"

"Yeah right." One of them smirks at Dick.

"Easy for you to say!" Jason's brother growls. "You don't have siblings. You're all single children!"

"I've always wanted a sibling." One of them smiles at Jason. "Wanna come hang out?"

"I want my question answered." Jason frowns at them. "Well?"

"I can't answer you right now! get out!"

"Oh no, I think I want to come hang out! I can tell them about the one time Bruce caught you- oof!" Jason gasps as Dick runs at him, shoving him from the room with a very hard contact to the shoulder. He yelps loudly, staggering off.

"Later." Dick hisses under his breath. He's angry.

Jason goes to the kitchen, hiding from his brothers rage.

"How are you, Master Jason?" Alfred sighs. "You seem in a rush today."

"I'm just bored... need any help?"

"I would love help." Alfred pats Jason on the head. "I'm baking a cake today..."

"Okay!"

'Later' comes too early for the younger boy.
"Come here you little Twig." Dick yanks Jason back into his room. the friends are gone, the room is empty. The shifter stares up at his brother, making his eyes as big and scared as he can, dropping his ears for them to lay limp against his skull. "You aren't making it better for yourself. You're my brother. You need to toughen up."

"I'm tough! You're just jealous I helped catch Joker!"

"That may be true but you've been nothing but an annoying brat since you got here."

"I'm a sibling!"

"You're- annoying!" Dick doesn't look pleased that Jason is talking. "You're a sibling, you shouldn't get in my way you should just follow along like a duckling! that's how it works! That's how it worked with Barbara!"

"That's not how it works!" Jason backs toward the door.

"But it should." Dick blocks the door, trapping Jason inside. "I'm the oldest."

"But I'm the youngest!" Jason looks back at the window. "Why do you hate me so much?"

"I don't... Hate you." The oldest frowns harder. "I just... don't understand why you're so.." He searches for the word. "Independent."

Jason gets a terrible feeling. "Because I'm a shifter. I'm a male shifter! It's my job! To protect myself and those I care about."

"Why didn't you protect me? On the mission 2 weeks ago?.. Do you not care about me?"

"Um..." Jason blinks. "I d-don't know!"

"Get out." Dick flings the door open. "Later. Later."

Jason leaves. He leaves quickly. He goes and hides.

...

"Look at you!" Jason smiles at Harley and Jack. He found where they lived again.

"Good morning!" Jack smiles. "How did ya get here?"

"Because I found you!" Jason giggles, sitting on the only other couch they have. The 2 are sitting together, Harley asleep though Jack is awake. "Aren't you glad to see me?"

"Of course..." Jack nods. "I thought ya didn't care about us anymore."

"I do... I just have an older brother and sister... they're protective."

"Oh... would ya live with us if we offered?"

Jason blinks. That's direct. "Yes."

Quiet already.

"Who hit ya, boy?" Jack blinks at Jason's cheek, again bruised.

"Myself. I'm clumbsy!" Jason stops... why is he defending Dick?..

"Oh." A raised eyebrow. "Well then."
It's a few minutes later and Jack reaches up, scratching at his neck. He 'hrmmph's, glancing at Harley before pointing out into the room.
"What's that?"

"I don't kn..." Jason stares at the small red dot on the wall, glowing brightly and making him want to touch it. Already he wants it, wants it bad.

Harley wakes up as the coffee table smashes into a billion pieces, Jason crashing across the room towards the red dot on the wall. He follows it all along the room, climbing over the couch jumping up to the ceiling, chasing the red dot along the floor the room and everywhere!

Jack turns it off. Jason sneezes, looking up from the wreckage he has created. "Little man... Come here."

"Yes?" He sits next to them, rubbing his face along their knees.

"Close your eyes... and take a nap..." both adults lay back down, shutting their eyes and relaxing. Jason shuts his own eyes, yawning with a small whine, he falls asleep.

...

"How are you such a perfect family?" Clark beams at the 3 siblings and Bruce sitting at the table with him. Dick and Barbara smile back, Bruce gives a half smile, proud of his adopted children. He has yet to have one of his own, but it doesn't matter. Dick nudges Jason under the table and Jason looks up with a weak smile from his food. "I wish I could have a family like you, but I'm not great with children..."

"Neither am I. But they're turning out fine. Now why did you want to come over?"

"We have this... problem." Superman nods to the black file next to him. "I need- the league needs your help with it."

"What is it?" Bruce flips through, glancing at everything.

"What's up?" Dick smiles. If the league asks for everyone, it's important.

"A hospital. Someone is coming in and killing children, we don't know why and they only go for the health ones. the ones with only a slight problem instead of the really sick ones... Can you help?"

"Yes... Dick, and I will help. Jason..." Bruce looks at Jason, who he knows hates hospitals.

"I want to help!" Jason nods.

"Alright. We can help you."

The mission... doesn't go as planned. Jason is stationed at the place where the being sneaks in and out of the hospital. a hospital room with a trap door which is no longer secret.

He sits there. He wants Dicks job, dropping in on the guy from the ceiling. But, Flashes job would be fun too, protect the kids. Jason growls, thinking of Wanda. she had stayed briefly in this hospital. She could have been gotten. Jason continues to growl, waiting for the man to come back.

He smells blood when it arrives down the hall. Jason smiles, getting ready for the door to open.
It does, he flings the door open and stumbles inside, holding his torn side and limping.

The man gasps as he sees Jason. The boy hears panic in his sound but the man does not stop coming. Jason pounces on him with a hiss (*insert angry hissing*).

"Jason!" Bruce yells into the room, finally catching up with the man. Jason backs off, getting up from the body and standing a few steps away with a glint of pale green in his eyes. "Jason what did you do?"

"I hope he dies." Jason continues to back away from what he hopes is a lifeless body while wiping a red, blood like substance from his face onto what is on his hands.

Jason!" Bruce runs to the body. It's breathing, but by now all it needs is to be killed. There is no saving this man. "Finish want you started." The Batman takes several steps away. Jason has never heard Bruce's voice so cold or harsh but he doesn't care. The others watch as Jason does finish what he started, though he doesn't use his teeth again.

Instead, he uses his claws, tearing into the man's throat and digging a massive hole. the strong smell of blood brings out the green eyes in Jason and his tail begins to whip back and forth uncontrollably.

"Stop." Bruce catches his youngest collar and drags him roughly from the messy puddle on the floor.

Jason stares at his hands, to distract himself from what Bruce wants him not to touch. It's good for him, or he would go back to ripping it up.

"Go look at it." Flash grimaces, pushing Superman and Sark forward. "You know things."

The 2 heroes do go look. "It's an elf." Sark remarks, nudging the body with his toes. "An elf with the green x... no wonder... she... was bad."

"She?" the doctor who called them for their help stares at the body.

"I could have told you it was a girl." Jason sneezes. "Smelled like honey and flowers... and girls!"

"Honey and flowers doesn't mean a female." Even the doctor frowns at it.

Jason glares at them. "You aren't a shifter. I'm the only shifter in this whoooole group. I know what I'm talking about. My nose is different."

"Your head is different." Batman still sounds cold. Jason can tell he's staring at the body... Jason is in trouble. He knows Bruce would unadopt him for killing someone—the number 1 don't in being a robin. But he killed a woman. The number 1.5 don't of being a robin. Killing a man is number 2... Yep. He's screwed.

Chapter Text

"Jason... Get up."

"Why do you use my name so much?" Jason rubs at his eyes, standing up off the floor and backing away from Bruce. "Y-you don't use so much with Dick or Barbara! Just me!"

"It's your fault, Jason. If you didn't break so many of my rules then I wouldn't need to say your name so much... Where were you going, Jason?"

"Out, I don't want to be here anymore.." the shifter darts past Bruce and toward the door. "I'll come back tomorrow!"

"Jason get bac-"

Jason does not 'get back', he runs away. Runs away to Jack and Harley's house.

"Ya feel like fever," Harley feels his forehead.

"I ran here!" Jason pants, rubbing at the forehead he knows is hot. It's hot because he ran here and didn't stop at all.

"Why?.. Ya don't live here! We can wait ya know." Jack laughs.

"I know! But I don't want to live where I'm living. I want to live here with you!"

Quiet between them. Harley smiles, unconsciously reaching down to rub her belly and pat Jason on the head, at the same time, thinking about something only she knows.

Jason sighs. "I killed someone the other day."

"Ya wwwhhhhhat?" They both pause and stare over at him.

"I did." He nods. "They were doing bad things and so I killed them.

"Killed them? they're dead?" Jack smiles at Jason with curiosity at the corners of his lips.

"Yes... I made sure..." Jason nods.

"Good boy..." Jason glances up expecting Jokers mad purple eyes to be staring into his soul but instead he sees 2 gray eyes, very much Jack's, smiling down at him. "Only 1 person?"

"Yeah, and Bruce isn't happy with me... I might run away."

"There isn't a way we can keep ya here and keep ya safe at the same time." Harley sighs. "Ya wouldn't ever be able to leave the house."

"What if Bruce unadopts me? I could come live with you then!.. Right?"

"Yes... How could ya make that happen?"

"Do something else bad." Jason smirks. "I do a lot of things bad..."

"Like what?" Harley giggles. "Ya're a good boy around us..."

"That's because everything they say is bad you say is good." Jason purrs back. Then he sighs. "I broke a pen while I was over there and got yelled at..."

"Here." Jack handed him a pen. "Go ahead."

Jason breaks it with a small twist of his hands, ripping it apart nearly with ease.

He stares at it almost a bit sadly.

"What's on your mind?" Jack leans back on the couch.

"I just want somebody to care about me for who I am without having to change me..."

"Have ya got a partner yet?" Jack blinks at the younger male who stares at the older as he nods to Harley. "Like one of them."

Harley scoffs, pushing him. "Of course he hasn't! He isn't even 15 yet! He's 13 and a bit."

"How do you remember that?" They both look at her.

"I don't know." She shrugs. "It isn't like he told us last time he came or anything... and I may have his birthday, or roughly, marked on the calendar in the spare room."

"I don't ever go in the spare room." Jack sighs, momentarily getting a sad look in his eyes. "Jason, do you have any family besides Wanda? Where are your real parents?"

"Dead." Jason shrugs. "All of them are gone. I'm all by myself, but I don't mind... Wanda isn't in pain anymore so that makes her passing worth it for me."

"Ya don't seem sad."

"Why would I be sad? My mother would do her best but she wasn't a very great person and would often hit Wanda and I. My father did it more often with a crueler intent. I don't need them, so I'm okay with them being gone..." He looks over at Jack. Harley is watching Jack also. "Why do you ask?.." no answer. "Do you have any other family?"

"Yes." Jack nods. "Yes I do... only my parents are dead, but I still have a whole family left..."

"Why do you bring it up?" Harley sets her head on her partners shoulder.

"I'll be going out more often... and if anyone even comes up to ya with a pair if white ears, like yours Jason, and wears a necklace or accessory with a red crystal charm, run from them."

"Run away?" Both stare harder at him. "Why would we run from them?"

"To keep yourselves safe!" He laughs, patting each on their heads. "It is to protect ya and myself. Since... someone..." He glances at Harley. "Went to see one of them, one of the more powerful ones I might add."

"Sorry." She giggles again, relaxing against him. "I wanted to make you happy, I didn't know it would make ya mad."

"I'm not mad at either of ya." His eyebrows shoot up. "Did Joker tell ya that?" Harley nods with a small smile. "Of course he did. Don't worry, Har, I just wish ya would have—"

"Ya wouldn't have let me go." She stabs his side with her fingernail.

"Ya're right." He sniffs at her. They sit quite with each other for awhile, pleased to be in each others company.

Jason sighs, both Harley and Jack look at him again. "I bet I could kill someone else... or maybe just tell him that I'm leaving again... but they would come get me." He frowns. "Hmm..."

"Do what ya want." He pets Jason's soft ears.

...

"I'm going out." Jason calls into Bruce's office making sure the man hears him. All he gets is a grunt. Bruce hasn't spoken to him much lately. "I'll be back... in the morning." Waits for a reply.

"You'll be back in 4 hours." Is the answer.

"I'll be back tomorrow morning."

"In 2 hours."

"Tomorrow morning!" Jason starts to walk off.

"4 hours and I'm coming to get you. or I will send Dick." Bruce threatens.

"You won't find me!" Jason runs off.

First he checks on Jack and Harley. Second he goes to the store and gets himself "study snacks," a dozen doughnuts and a whole pie. He goes to the library, right on the corner of Noble and Gotham. Jason hates the library; that's why they won't ever find him. But he needs to look something up. Crystals. red crystals.

"Food, huh?" the librarian smiles at the plastic bag full of junk food and nods into the room full of books. "If you're here to study for a test or something, the study area is back there."

"No, I'm just looking for a book to read."

"Hmm, a rule of this library is to read a book even in the walls is you have to check it out. once you find the book you would like to read, bring it back to me and I'll register it to you." He smiles.

Jason nods, walking off into the building. He finds a nature section, picking up a small book about rocks and another specifically for crystals. He goes to the "self care" section and stares around. He didn't know library's had those. Jason does find a book on crystals there and snatches it.

"What do you need these for?" The librarian looks Jason up and down before bringing to flip through the books, scanning for bookmarks or any torn pages before placing a small number into the computer. "What's your name?"

"Jaaaason." He says, looking away from something around the males neck.

"Are you sure about that?" He pauses.

Jason nods. "Yes. my name is Jason... why do you need to know?"

"You've never been here before." The man, whose name tag says Mihkel, shrugs. "I need to put down your name so we know who to blame if the books go missing. Last name?" Jason closes his lips. Mihkel raises both of his eyebrows, finger hovering over the screen. "Alright then." He lets it go.

"Oh." Jason nods, thinking about nothing. "I don't like libraries that much..."

"I didn't either until I decided to work in one." Mihkel chuckles, placing all 3 books in front of Jason. He catches Jason's eyes and holds contact. "I need to ask you one question before you take these. Why do you want them?"

Jason can see something glowy and red in the gap between shirt and skin, now visible since Mihkel leans forward. He opens his mouth. all that comes out is...

"I like rocks." Jason says, seeing the menacing expression in the librarians eyes dissipate as he stands back up.

"Good. good we have nothing to worry about then. Continue, Jason." Jason takes the books and walks quickly off. "If you need anything just call me!"

"Y-yeah!" Jason stammers back. awkward!

Jason chooses a seat as far from Mihkel's sight as possible. Out of his sight. He gets out a doughnut and begins to munch, flipping through the first book with his free hand.

Nothing in the self care book, He didn't really expect anything from it. The book about rocks is... massive. So he goes to the other book on crystals. But he only reads the first page before sighing and setting it on the book he read. Let's get through the beast first.

"Still here?" Mihkel walks through with a cart of books.

"Obviously." Jason hisses at him. He notices how the older male jumps as he does, walking on the other side of the isle.

3 hours of reading, another 7 doughnuts and half a pie later. Jason's head is filled with names of rocks, what they look like and places you can find them. Quietly, He reads the last pages of "rock and exotic Dictionary".

"Go take it from him."
"Why?"
"He hasn't started reading it yet! Go before I-"
"I'm going I'm going!"

Jason's ears twitch at the whispers from across the library, picking up the third book and leaning against the wall as he reads.

"Hey." A voice directly to his left, in the isle.

Jason glances over. "What?"

The voice belongs to a boy, about his height with green eyes and tan skin, dark tan. If Jason had to guess, the boy is a shifter as well. Very obvious wolf shifter, the velvet white ears in the black coarse hair is a dead giveaway. Is he... albino? why are his ears white?

"I recognize you." He says, staring at Jason. "You were in the orphanage with me."

"I don't remember you." Jason shrugs. "Why should I?"

"Ouch." The other chuckles, sitting on the other side of Jason's table. Jason knows exactly how to annoy shifters. He is one after all. Jason ignores him, and definetly ignores direct eye contact. From the corner of his eye he sees an annoyed flick of these white ears. "Hey, can I see what you're reading?"

"No."

"Why not?" He sits up and stares at Jason. No reaction just a lifted eyebrow... "How's your sister? Wanda, I believe?" He sighs. "She was nicer then you."

"She's dead."

"Oh-oh... My name is Nace." The other reaches out for the book in Jason's hand.

"Touch me and I will hurt you." Jason leans back in his seat and turning to the side able to keep his eye on Nace.

Nace blink in surprise, getting up and walking off. "It didn't work!"
"Well get back out there and take the dang book!"
"But he threatened me!"
"I'll threaten you! Go back over there or I'll tell your father what a terrible job you did! Why are you so scared of it? Usually you're a mean teenager!"
"He's scary!" Nace explains quietly his when they were in the orphanage, Jason would glare at them all day, or attack them depending on the occasion.
"Do. It."

Nace comes back with a frown on his face. "Give me the book."

"No." Jason shrugs. "You can take your turn. But it's signed under my name so I'll use it all I want. You can have your turn."

"B-but..." Nace frowns all while biting his lip.

"So you work here?" Jason eyes him up and down. "I don't think so. You still look like a street mess. To work a job you look professional. That's the last thing you look like."

Nace again gets up and leaves the table. But only lurking on the next isle, tapping his lips and pacing. He comes and sits back down. quiet.

Chapter Text

Every time Nace reaches over to snatch the book Jason leans back and holds it closer to his chest.

"What are you looking for in there?"

"I'm learning about rocks." Jason sniffs at him. "But now I'm curious what's inside because you obviously seem to want this book very badly. Is there money in it?"

"No." Nace watches the pages as Jason flips through them with an almost nervous expression on his face, white ears twitching ever so slightly.

How this book is set up, there is a picture of the crystal on one page with a description of what the name is and what it does on the other page.

Jason flips through after looking at the picture and looking at the description. Names don't matter, of course they don't matter.

He stops at a crystal with a light reddish tint on it's creamy white base. He would read the description to himself, but notices how Nace tenses up as Jason pauses on that page. So, being the kind child, he reads the page out loud.

"Hive-mind; This crystal allows the owner to control a select group of individuals. Often times related by blood to the owner, the victims of this crystals effect most commonly become addicted to the long lasting sensation of being close with their sibling and more often then not choose to wear the crystal on them at all times.
Each crystal has it's own strength in the ability but most crystals are only capable of controlling 3 to 4 people at a time. it also depends on how strong the owner is. Weak owner, weak crystal. Strong owner, strong crystal.
Beware; The effects of the hive-mind can be permanent, replacing the mind of someone with your own and making them your most dangerous opponent and the neediest thing you own. plus their family might get mad at you."
He shakes his head. "That's interesting."

"Y-yeah." Nace nods. "Who would want to own that..."

"Not me." Jason shrugs. "I want something..." He speeds through a few more. "Something... actually I don't know what I want."

"Oh... okay." Nace sits back, looking defeated.

Jason sighs. One of the stones is for faster healing, another is for having a positive interaction with a specific person of your choosing, one is for bonding with people... another... another is for...

"This bluish crystal has a more long lasting affect on Mind Readers then any other type of being. It helps to separate the mind from becoming attached too or forming relationships with others. For mind readers this helps them to stay focused on their talent instead of being worried when they harm the person they are reading.
Most mind readers will wear it in secret just in case their secret came out. Some times, like with any other crystal effect they become reliant on how calm the crystal makes them and are unable to process emotions like a normal or sane being.
Beware, the effects are not permanent and though most mind readers will tell you that it is, they are lying. They are trying not to be truthful with themselves as well as you that they can control all emotions instead of only having ones they would like to experience."

Jason takes out his phone and takes a picture of this page before closing the book and leaving the library.

"Where are you going?" Mihkel frowns. "Where are the books?"

"I left them with Nace." Jason mumbles, leaving more quickly then he has ever ran from home before, and that's pretty fast.

"Master Jason." Alfred smiles at him. "You're home!"

"Where is Bruce?" Jason glances around the kitchen.

"He went searching for you... Why?"

"I have to show him something... Where is his ring?"

"His parents ring?" The old man raises his eyebrows.

"Yeah."Jason begins to walk off.

"If you harm that ring, Master Jason there will be consequences. It means a lot to your father."

"He's not my father." Jason grumbles, running first to Bruce's bedroom. He checks in the nightstand, nothing in any drawers. Next he runs to the office. Bruce's main office where he spends most of the time.

He begins his search for the family ring, searching through the 6 drawers in said dresser. 2 aren't that big, but one is huge, the others are medium.

It is located in the first medium drawer. Jason pulls out the small box, taking the ring with caution. He doesn't want affected. Setting the ring down on the desk, he stares at it.

It is a thick silver and blue ring with a black rim indicating which side face toward the hand. Along the outside is a blue surface, which he had always imagined was to replicate the ocean, with small lighter blue, crystal shards on top to create waves... blue crystals. Blue crystals with the exact hue of the crystal in the picture.

"Jason?" Bruce's voice holds a questions. The boy doesn't move, continuing to stare at the ring. "Jason what are you doing..." He walks over. It doesn't take long for him to try snatching the ring from Jason. Jason pulls it away. "Why do you have that? That's my family's, Jason, put it back! Jason!"

"What is this?" Jason holds it close with a frown on his face. "What is this?"

"It's my ring, Jason. Give it to me!"

"Take it from me." Jason glares at the adult, clutching the ring tightly in a fist.

"I don't wan...t to hurt you." Bruce frowns. "Give me back my ring."

"You do want to hurt... what is this? why do you have it?"

"To help me remember my mother, Jason. She gave it to me."

"Did she not like her emotions either?" Jason walks over to the opposite side of The desk from Bruce. he watches the man frown.

"Give me my ring, Jason. It's to clear my mind and help me work."

"It's not though... I didn't know you could read minds."

"I didn't tell you." Jason hears Bruce's teeth grinding. "I didn't tell you because you don't need to know!"

"I bet Dick knows! and Barbara! and Alfred! why don't I need to know? I already don't trust you, how does this in your mind make it better?" Jason snarls.

"It's for when I use my mind on you, Jason. for when I look into your mind, Into Dick or Barbara's! To keep me from feeling I hurt you!" Bruce nearly lunges across the desk, catching his fingers in Jason's collar.

"What do you mean- to keep you from understanding it hurts someone?"

"The pain keeps me from doing my job! My job is most important!"

"Most important? More then your kids?" Jason darts away, standing on the other side of the room.

"My job is to keep the city safe as a whole. I do that best when I don't feel-"

"Bad for others?"

"No of course that's not it!"

"Yes it is!" Jason ducks away as Bruce follows him across the room. "Why do you never tell me anything? I'm your kid too- despite you liking it or not! You adopted me!"

"It isn't important!" Bruce snaps. "You're the duckling of the family, the youngest! You should obey and not question."

"What does that mean?" Jason jumps back as Bruce catches as fistful of his shirt. They both glance down as the fabric rips. Bruce drops what he has in his hand and grabs again at Jason's shoulder. "I'm a shifter, my nature is to investigate things! I thought when I was younger you would use it to your advantage, but now I know you really didn't want to adopt me you only wanted Wanda!"

"Don't be jealous of your sister, Jason." Bruce hisses back at him. Jason bites his wrist as his adopted father slaps him across the face. It's a usual feeling, unfortunately for Jason. he never does anything right and more of the then anything else the way he's punished is a slap on the face. Maybe Bruce doesn't realize that shifters are smart enough a NO will make them rethink. Who knows, Jason doesn't.

"I'm not jealous of My sister." Jason drops the ring, squirming away from Bruce and walking to the door. "My sister was beautiful and perfect, she deserved all she got. But I'm good too, I deserve things..."

"No you don't." Bruce's eyes fill with what Jason now can recognize as guilt instead of love. "You aren't good enough yet. You need to work on it."

"Work on what?" Jason glares through his teary eyes. "What do I still have left to work on?.." No answer, just Bruce walking toward him with broken eyes that are the picture of a guilty man who is definetly regretting something. "No don't touch me." Jason hops away out into the hallway. "I'm g-going out and d-don't expect me ba-ack." Jason runs off for the second time that day.

He passes Alfred in the hallway, the old man is dusting a small shelf with vases on it and a picture of Bruce's parents along with one of Wanda. He races past it and doesn't even listen to Alfred asking what is wrong.

He goes out, passing Dick but the older brother doesn't even notice him. he's talking on the phone. He makes it to Jack and Harleys before turning around and going somewhere else. It starts to rain, what a fitting mood.
Jason stares at The ducks, sitting on the pond surface and quacking to themselves and others.

What just happened?..

"No you don't..." Bruce's words echo in his mind. No you don't.

Jason has tried to make everyone work, he has always gone home even when he was mad. He stayed being Robin because that's what he wanted was to be Bruce's partner. Now, that's the last thing he wants. Jason doesn't want to be here any more.

"Hello, Jason." Somebody sits next to him on the bench. Jason glances over but chooses not to say anything. Nace has 3 others with him, 2 adults and another about his age.

Chapter Text

"How are ya feeling today?" Har smiles softly at Jason.

They got told to stay here while Joker goes out and does something with the gate Jason gave them the password too. Harley is just there because Joker/Jack won't let her anywhere. She stays in the house and does... nothing. Jack took Jason aside and asked Jason to protect Harley, and he said yes. So here they shall stay.

"Tired." He smiles at her, "I just want to take a nap... again."

"Well take a nap then," She giggles, briefly shutting her eyes to mimic a nap.

"Only if you take a nap with me," He shrugs.

Harley frowns, glancing at the front door; she grumbles something. Jason raises eyebrows. "I was going to go to the store."

"Jack told me not to let you leave." Jason shakes his head. "But I can go to the store for you if you promise to stay here."

"I don't promise." She turns her face away, "I'm a bad girl, I may go anyways."

"I'll go for you if you promise to stay here." Jason says again, stretch across the couch and over her lap, trapping her on the couch. "See?.." Harley smiles at him. "Good."

...

It's been 3 hours. Jack/Joker isn't back yet.

"Can I ask you some questions?" Jason sighs, moving his small token over the monopoly board. They started the game half hearted and are now very bored.

"Sure." She nods, Moving her own token out of jail.

"Why did Jack start drinking? I notice he doesn't like to do it around me and is always glancing at me when there's any sort of bottle in the room... Is that because I'm still a child or something else?"

"Something else." She sighs. "Well... He had been a drinker before we met. But, since we were together he had stopped. Then we found ya and we were actually very happy... and then ya got... Taken back in a very traumatizing manner. He wasn't healed yet and I wasn't... well... anyways." Harley shrugs. "Then he started drinking again. A lot. And he's been drinking since. It's calmed since ya came home though. I'm very grateful. Joker gets out of control when Jack is drinking."

"I have noticed that." He looks up at her, noticing she got very tired thinking about it and... doesn't look ready for more questions. "Would you like to take a nap?"

"Yes." She sighs. "I probably should... even though I-I don't want too. Could ya go to the store and get me apples please?"

"Sure." He shrugs. "Anything else?"

"Mustard. Hot and spicy mustard." Harley shuts her eyes and doesn't say more.

Jason makes a face at the ingredients, already sure what she's going to do with them. Apples and Mustard doesn't sound appetizing, but he goes and gets them for her.

Jack is sitting next to her as Jason arrives home. They smile at each other but Harley just shakes her head.

"Ya'll never guess what Jack has done, Jason."

"I'm what?" Jason sets down her food. "Why has he done?"

"Caught your father."

Jason sighs. "Why did you do that?"

"Because I wanted too." Jack purrs, snatching one of the red apples and standing up. "It got me out of one debt, so I did it. He isn't my concern anymore. I traded him... Besides, why would ya care? He doesn't treat ya right."

"That's true." Jason shrugs. "He has Supermans phone number though. whoever you gave him to is in trouble, Jack."

"It's not my problem." He grins, the wicked Joker light in his eyes ending the conversation. "I got them the man, now they can deal with the consequences they never felt the need to ask Me about. I know he's friends with Superman." He walks off. "I'm going to shower but then I'll be back... I'll make waffles or something." He leaves the room as silent as it had been when Jason got back.

"One debt?" Jason raises an eyebrow a few minutes after he's gone. "How many does he have?"

Harley sighs. "We have too many. About... 15 still. All to different people. If we're out of Gotham, it's because he's trying to pay ones off. Normally it works. If it doesn't... He has his ways."

"Oh... I wouldn't have guessed." Jason taps his lips. "I have another question for you if... if you want to answer one."

"Why don't ya ask Jack your questions about Jack?" She pushes him gently. "I can't answer so much! He knows everything not me."

"I don't want him upset." Jason shrugs. "It's about his um- helmet thingy."

"Oh." Harley glances at the bedroom door which Jack disappeared into. "Ya'd better ask me those questions."

"I thought so." He nods. "Can you answer them?"

"Yes, Jason. Most of them."

"What is it? Why does he have it? What does it mean? Why did he say I could have it later? Is it something he wants to pass down or was it just because I was bothering him about it? What is it for? Why-"

"That's enough." Har laughs. "One at a time..."

"Okay... What is it?"

"It's a helmet that he got. Or a hood if ya will... I'm not sure what he calls it anymore." She sighs. "What does it mean and Why does he have it?"

Jason nods, leaning forward after glancing toward the bedroom.

"Well... I can only tell ya what I know, but from what I understand. Jack has multiple siblings. These siblings have... I wouldn't call them a gang exactly, but that is pretty much what they are. He- before he... anyways he used to be a part of it. They each had a red something, I only know a few of them. Red Fang, Red Whip I believe is one, Red Hood, things like that. That was his... and then the whole coming to Gotham, getting pushed into acid, becoming possessed with Joker thing happened and he just decided to keep it. It means a lot to him, keeps him as part of his family. but other then that I don't know what it means." She blinks at him. "That's all I can tell ya."

"Oh, okay. Thank you." Jason nods... "Why does Batman hate him so much?"

There's a sigh from the dooorway. "Because I... I don't know." Jack appears. He has showered and so it took off all of his makeup. Jason blinks at him. Jack shrugs. His eyebrows... are blond!.... BLOND.

"What happened to your eyebrows?"

"Harley got tired of them being green so she shaved them off and they grew back blond." He shrugs. "Don't ask me how, I don't know, I just usually dye them back."

"Oh, okay. Sorry." Jason hides a smile.

"Want to help me make waffles?" Jack grins at Jason. "Of course ya would! Come help me!"

Harley chuckles as both males run off into the kitchen. It's a good thing he didn't come out before then. She can stand the eyebrows green most of the time. Just... She hadn't meant to make them blond again. It's a painful reminder to him of things he can't have. but he had annoyed her enough... well... people who cheat on Harley Quinn get what they get.

...

"Jason?"

"What do you want?" Jason sighs at Nace, following him again. "Leave me alone I'm busy!"

"Busy doing what?" Nace purrs, reaching out to grab Jason's arm.

"What do you want from me?"

"I want to show you something... One thing that's it! but I can't promise I'll leave you alone, My dad might tell me to come back."

"1 thing? And then leave me alone... right?" Jason glances around. He had been looking for Batman, it should be when Bruce starts patrol. He wants Bruce to be out already, cause even though he doesn't like him, Jason doesn't want... him tortured either.

"Yes." Nace smiles.

Jason glances at the older boy, 2 years older if Jason remembers correctly. He doesn't like to trust people who are older then him. "Promise?"

"Yep," Nace grins. "I promise."

"Alright. What is it?" Jason nods.

"You have to come see." Nace slips his arm over Jasons shoulders.

"Oh... okay." Jason walks with Nace. It isn't a long walk, just to a dead end between a few houses. "Okay... why are we here?"

"Come in."

Come in what? Jason blinks into the dark space. He can see people in there, lots of them. Maybe not lots, but at least 2 pairs of eyes. "Why are there so many people, What do you want from in there?"

"Just go." Nace shoves him.

Jason squeaks as the shove sends him crashing into the back wall of the dead end. He doesn't like to be shoved but before he can do anything about it, Nace pounces on him. Jason squeaks, throwing up his hands, hiding his face. Seconds afterward a loud shredding sound is followed by a small hiss from Nace and hot pain in Jason's sides, both of them.

In the background all of the pairs of eyes blink at him, 4 pairs of eyes. 2 yellow, 1 brown, and the other a bright nearly painful blue. 4 sets of white ears stand straight up in the dark.

Jason turns his attention back to Nace after that second, hissing back even through the pain and the smell of blood. He yelps as again he is not fast enough and the other does something else with his claws; this time gripping Jason's arms and tearing out and away from Jason successfully uncovering the others face.

Jason growls, louder then expected and Nace jerks away from him for a second. He wriggles away, kicking the older boy as he does so. Jason stands but instantly folds back over with a groan, blood pouring down his side and leg.

The 4 tall beings, probably not older then Nace go digging in their shirts, coming up with a small necklace jerking them off, one breaking a clasp in attempt to get it off. Too late, all freeze in place and just stare at what's happening.

Jason shouldn't have gotten distracted by this, he should know much better then that! But already, he doesn't even know Nace, and he's being... attacked, mugged? probably attacked.

Nace hisses again, knocking Jason back onto the ground with a punch to the face. Jason decides he doesn't like to be punched in the face, he's already been hit there too much. He turns his face aside and the next punch is avoided, barely. Nace growls, very displeased.

For the next 2 minutes the 2 boys lay on the ground, one getting wrecked and the other enjoying himself a bit too much. After 3 minutes one of the ones in the dark, with yellow eyes, yowls. Jason can't help feel very relieved as Nace gets off of him and steps over to the other people. "There!" One says, "Let's go, my father is coming. As Nace hops over they are able to move and run off fast together.

Jason decides before he passes out that today has been the worst day... This whole year. Today sucks. He wished he had just gone to visit Jack and Harley like he said he was going to do. Today... hurts.

...

"J... Jason?" Jason wakes up as he's touched but since his pain is great he doesn't move. He recognizes Dick's voice and wishes he was back in the alley bleeding to death. "Jason are you awake?"

Jason whimpers as hands touch his gashed side. There's a small pat on the forehead before he feels someone wince and take their hands off of him all together.

"Are you awake, Jason? I don't want... to hurt you anymore then you already are? It must hurt..."

He whines quietly moving his foot ever so slightly. Instant regret, the small movement sends pain shooting through out his whole body. Jason groans.

"Hmm, maybe I should have brought you to the hospital instead... but." It is a moment later that Dick stabs his finger into his younger brothers injured side. Jason howls for a few seconds before passing out. it hurts a lot. "Sorry about that." Dick takes him to the hospital.

Chapter Text

"Why are you out in the rain?"

"Why are you out in the rain?" Jason shrugs, asking the question back as he continues to stare at the ducks.

"We came to find you!" Nace smiles. "Well I did!"

"Good for you." He nods, giving no emotion into the reply. "Now what."

"You come back with us..."

"Why would I do that?" Jason turns and blinks at them, a sign he isn't intimidated or impressed.

"Because we said so." One of the adults steps closer to him.

"I don't think that's how it works." Jason stands. "You're from Noble, not from Gotham... Nobody just goes with anybody without fighting first. And I am not in the mood." And he walks off. He sighs as they follow him. What will he have to do?

"Come on, Jason..." Nace runs ahead of the other and walks at his side. "You're making me look bad in front of my dad!"

"Sorry." Jason blinks again at him.

"You don't know who my dad is, that's the problem..."

"I guess so." He shrugs. "Can you leave me alone?"

"Nope!" Nace smiles cheerfully. "Not until you come back with us."

"I'm not in the mood." He glances back at the others, now in ear shot. "Why are you even over here? Noble likes you better." Jason notices the dull red glow coming from one of them and the white ears on all of their heads. He chooses, what else does he have to do today and ignore those facts.

"We don't want to harm you, child." The one who spoke earlier sounds gentle. "Just come back with us and nobody will get hurt."

"I'm not interested." Jason walks toward a McDonalds. "Are you hungry? I'll get you some food."

"You lack emotion today." The other clears his throat. Nace flinches slightly at the voice. This is the one with the red glow. "What happened at your father's home?"

"Nothing." Jason shrugs. "I can "lack emotion" if I want too. It's easy."

"Welcome to McDonalds!" The one worker visible calls with a smile. Jason walks over, staring up at the menu. "What can I get for you today?"

"Anything edible." He shrugs. "I don't know... whatever you want to make."

She winks at him. "It's 10 dollars."

"Okay." He nods. "Charge it to Bruce Wayne."

"I can do that." She nods. "Go sit down, your food will be ready shortly.

"Sure." Jason sits down and waits, laying across the table and staring out a window, ignoring the people around him.

Nobody says anything... Jason thinks about how the heck they know he's lacks emotion but doesn't really care. the food comes... He stares at it... doesn't eat it.

"Are you gonna eat that?" The other kid stares at the food almost eagerly.

"No." Jason shrugs. "You can if you want." He gets up and leaves the restaurant.

And runs away.

It's dark enough he shouldn't be followed but only goes to a pool nearby and jumps in. He knows being wet will either increase his scent or mask it, and he hopes it to be masked. either way, he goes to Jack and Harleys house, knocking on the door until Jack answers. "Hi I'm coming in." He locks the door behind himself.

"Harley we need a towel!" Jack laughs, staring at Jason, soaking wet.

Jason smiles. "I'm not that..." He glances down and grins. "Never mind. We might need 2 towels."

"Coming!" She enters the hallway with a smile. "Jason! We hoped ya would visit today!"

"I'm here." He sighs, taking the towel with a small grateful twitch of his ears.

...

"I met some of those you told us to run from today." Jason sits with a sigh onto the couch next to Harley.

"Ya what?" Jack flinches, unconsciously hooking his arm around Har's shoulders. "Did ya speak with them? How many? where? Here?"

"Yes!" Jason nods. "Here! There were 4 though only 2 were adults. Actually I met 3 adults I'm pretty sure at least. I want be positive about the 3rd though. But they were here, and they spoke with me. One of them said something..."

"That's not good..." Jack bites his lip. "Ya locked the door right?" Jason nods. "Would ya check the windows please?"

"Sure..." Jason walks around and finds all of the windows, closing each one and making sure it's locked.
"Do you like them? Or no." Jason sits back down with a sigh.

"They don't like me." Jack shrugs. "They... would... hurt me. Probably."

"Oh." Jason nods. "Let's not do that."

"Jack..." Harley pets his shoulder. "Why would they hurt ya?"

"Because." Joker comes out annoyed. "Leave me alone, wander back to your bubble of happiness."

"I'm not happy." Jason frowns at them. "I'm angry." Harley sits up. "I deserve good things!"

"Sure." Joker nods. "So do I."

"Yes! We all deserve good things!" He huffs, curling his tail tightly over a leg and leaning heavily into the chair behind himself. "Me too..."

"Yes." Harley reaches over, stopping slightly bent over, her fingers almost reaching his head. She gets a frown on her face and starts moving toward the edge of the couch. Jason leans closer, shoving his head under her palm, hanging over the edge of his chair. She sighs. "Do we need to get ya some good things?"

"Yes." He pouts. "I don't have any..."

"No? Don't ya live with Wayne? He has lots of good things." Jokers eyebrows rise in suspicion. Jason just pulls his lips into a tight line and shakes his head.

Har tugs her fingers through his hair, tangled and wet. He yips loudly, opening his eyes and staring at her. "Stop." She laughs, leaning back on her chair. He whines, sliding off the chair and following her hand onto the couch. He curls up to fit in the empty space and sets his head on her knee. "Alright..." She sets her hand on his head and drag her fingers through his hair.

Jason stays there a day without anything happening, he just doesn't leave and they don't question him.

It is the third night... the lights are off in the house but there are people awake.

Jason wakes to a murmur of his name from Joker but then he goes away and Jason stays awake the listen. He's laying on the couch, and over the side blanket thrown over both himself and Harley who decided she wants to sleep want Jack doesn't tell Harley no.

"What about him?" A question from someone Jason can't recognize the voice of.

"Leave him he's asleep."

Jason fades in and out of sleep for a few minutes, not hearing any interesting conversation.

"We could use Harleys speed for this ra-"

"Ya touch Harley and I kill ya." Joker interrupts.

"I was just saying-"

"Touch. Harley... and I will kill ya." Joker lowers his voice and hisses. "Understand?"

"Understood." The person sighs. "Can we continue please?"

"Yes let's go."

Jason stretches, waiting to relax until he feels Harley next to him. He sighs quietly and goes back to sleep.

"I bet I can get to his office..."

"Wayne is known for his complicated passwords." Another voice joins the one Jason already didn't know. It sounds disapproving.

"If... if you need the password to Waynes gate and computer..." Jason blinks over at them. "I know both of them."

"Ya know them?" Joker waves his hand over, beckoning Jason to join them at the table. Jason gets up with a sigh, walking over. "We need this password." He points to a gate... a gate to the back door of Wayne manor. "Tell me the password..."

Jason shrugs. "It's pretty simple, the color green is 2 letters, the color blue is 4... the color red use 5 colors, and then the letter L." Jason blinks at them.

"What?" The one with pink hair stares at him like he's crazy.

"What happened?" The one with green hair blinks back at him like he's nuts.

"Simple." Jason retrieves a pen and paper, sitting down the password. "Look. Green is 2 letters. G and N... Blue is 4 letters. B, l, u, and e... Red is 5 letters. R, r, e, d, and D. L. That's the password."

"GNBLUERRRDDL?" The pink haired one makes a face. He sounded like an idiot saying that word Jason nearly smirks.

"Yes." Jason nods. "That isn't every password, but for that gate, it is the password. Only..." Jason hmms, tilting his head a few times. "Batman, Bruce, Dick, and a few others know it also. But now you do." He shrugs. "Have fun..." Jason looks at Joker, suddenly feeling a soft glow of Jack's pride. One gray eye turns purple again and Joker nods. "Can I go back to sleep please?" He asks, leaning over and brushing his throat against the older males shoulder.

"Go ahead..." He nods, eyebrows raised again.

"Thank you." He walks over and nudges Harley. "Hey... go get a drink, you smell thirsty." Jason sits up and waits until she smiles at him and leaves the room to get as drink before laying down and shutting his eyes.

...

"Jason!" Barbara stares at him with relief. "You came home!"

"I didn't come home for you." He hurries past her.

"I know but you must have come home because Br-"

"I didn't come home for Bruce either." Jason hisses. He came back because Alfred called him on the phone- CALLED Jason on the PHONE!.. and asked him to come back. Jason said he would come back for a few minutes and talk.

"How are you?" Jason stares at the old man.

"I should be asking you..." Alfred walks over and takes Jason's face in but hands. "You've been back once in... a week and a half."

"Yeah, right now." Jason nods, taking a step away. "What do you need from me? I-I've been busy."

"Are you sure?.. I can talk if you would like, what busy have you been? Where?"

"Talk about what? I am talking with you." Jason shakes his head, turning around and running out of the house and back to Jack and Harley. That was awkward. that was... unpleasant.

Jason should have known he would get guilty about leaving the old man like that. He's back at the kitchen table helping Alfred make brownies the next day. He isn't happy to be there, but he'll be there. Alfred tried to make things good for him... even if he only really cooked plant based food for the weak people in the house who only like vegetables.

"Where have you been?" He asks without looking over from what he is doing.

"I'd rather not say." Jason shrugs. "Away, safe. with people who love and care about me."

"I care about and love you." Alfred sighs. "I wish you would see it..."

"I do see it. You're the only one that cares about me in this house but it isn't enough to make me stay."

"But... Why not?" Alfred tilts his head to the side and Jason glances over to see the hurt hiding in the soft brown eyes.

He looks away. "Because my childhood was terrible, I don't want to stay here. I wouldn't stay here for only 1 person, I hate it here."

"Hate?" Both turn to look, finding Bruce in the doorway... Jason looks away with a small scoff. "I hoped you would be back-"

"I'm not back for you."

"In time for your birthday." Bruce continues. "It's in a while if you remember."

"I do remember."

"Good. I have something to tell you if you come back." Bruce shakes his head. "Why do you hate it here?"

"Because, almost half of My memories are from being hit by either of My parents, by you, or by who is supposed to be my brother. Why wouldn't I hate it here?"

"Jason!" Bruce hisses.

"I'm sorry." Jason stands, nodding to Alfred before walking out. "I don't want to be here if my name is in used every other sentence."

"I don't use it in every-"

"You might as well." Jason grumble, walking remarkably quickly to the front door.

"Come back Jas..." Bruce drops himself and Jason hears a small "hmm" as the other turns around and walks inside the house.

Chapter Text

Jason walked in the hospital quite numb. He blinks at the clean ceiling and whimpers to himself.

It isn't long before someone joins Jason in his hospital room, complaining all the time.

"No I'm fine- it's just a scratch! I'm fine, really I'm fine!"

"Sir, you're not fine, your arms are green." A calmer voice of the doctor that looked over Jason echoes in the room, even over Bruce's voice.

"No, they're not! I'm fine, really I'm fine I should just go home."

"I don't think so, and besides your son is in here. He might want to see you."

"My... Oh." Footsteps and a defeated sigh, something Jason didn't know his adopted dad could do. "What happened to him?"

"We don't know. It isn't life threatening... mostly. Are you awake, Jason?" Jason does nothing. Nobody needs to know when he's awake and when he's not. "Well anyways, I can show you what happened but I'm not sure you want to see. It should probably heal, he will have scars, though... I'm not quite sure how long his face will be like that..."

"Hmm..." Bruce reaches over and gently touches Jason's cheek. He removes his hands, stepping back. "I would like to go home please... keep him until he's better though."

"I... I thought you liked him." The doctor sighs. "Well you had better learn too, Mr. Wayne because you aren't leaving until you're better."

Jason almost laughs. Many people will give Bruce his way because he's rich. but now, this doctor is doing things his way... Jason likes this one, even if he is making Bruce stay in this room.

...

"Jason, I see you're awake," Bruce sighs the next morning. "You can't sleep that long without waking up..."

"I don't want to talk with you," Jason grumbles quietly.

"What happened to you, Jason?"

"That's my name... don't wear it out."

"What is that supposed to mean?" Bruce sighs. "What happened?" He asks after his youngest doesn't answer the first question.

"I got beat up... obviously."

"Well why did you let that happen?"

"Do you think this was my choice?" Jason huffs. "I was distracted, okay? I didn't want this to happen! Clearly. Otherwise I would have let them finish? Duh."

"Why do you have an attitude?" Bruce frowns.

Jason hisses quietly. "Why are you trying to make me angry? I'm hurt, this isn't the time or place to intentionally make me angry!"

"I'm not trying, Jason, I'm just trying to understand what could have distracted you so much that this..." Bruce leans over and pokes Jason's shoulder. "Could have happened to you! You are one of the most on guard people I have ever seen! And it isn't a good thing, usually."

"You, okay?!" Jason snaps, moving slightly to open an eye and stare at Bruce, his eyes swirling yellow from blue. "It was you! You being captured by someone random was distracting me! It's your fault! I was trying to find a way to help you and this happened! If you had been more careful this wouldn't have happened to me and you wouldn't have been wherever the he** you were!" Bruce blinks at him in surprise. "I was going to try to help YOU but I don't know why I even bothered! It was a waste of my time and I got beaten up! Shut up so I can go back to sleep!"

Bruce does shut up, but it's because he's startled, not because Jason said to. He's gone from the hospital the next morning.

...

"Can I call someone?" Jason complains to the nurse who is just leaving the room.

"Sure? I can call your father..."

"No not him." The shifter sniffs. "It's someone else."

"Oh, sure..." She steps back in, walking to his side. "Who would you like me to call?"

"I have a phone number." Jason glances up at her.

"May I have a name?" An eyebrow is raised.

"I have a phone number," He shrugs.

"That didn't hurt?" The other eyebrow goes up. She reaches up and tucks brown hair behind her ear, glancing toward the door.

"No, not anymore. I'm almost better you know... I just have a phone number."

"Oh fine." She sighs... "What's the phone number?"

Jason frowns as she pulls out his phone from her pocket. "You don't know the password to that, do you?"

"Well, we didn't at first but your dad told us."

"Bruce doesn't know the password..." Jason looks away. Of course it isn't his own, he should have known Bruce had a password... "Okay, anyways." He tells her the phone number.

"They hung up." She blinks at the phone. "It didn't even ring twice!"

"Call again." He grumbles, moving himself to be more sitting up.

"Hung up again." She starts to put away the phone. "I don't think they want to talk-"

"Call one more time." Jason purrs, staring at the phone.

"Once more." She nods. "I'll do it one more time. If they don't answer take a nap." she calls.

"Hello?" Jacks voice sighs tiredly. "What do ya need, I was asleep."

"Oh um..." She's puts the phone in Jason's hand. "Wait- I thought that was the broken h-"

"It's not anymore." He smiles at her. "You did a wonderful job of taking care of it. Thank you for my phone back."

"You can have 10 minutes and then I'm bringing the doctor back..." She leaves the room still staring at him.

"Sorry, I'm in a hospital somewhere." Jason sighs.

"A hospital?" Jack sounds more awake. Harley echoes the word faintly in the background. "Why are ya in a-"

"Long story short I got beat up... really bad. a nurse said poison was involved but I don't think so. I think they're just being over dramatic. I'm almost better already!"

"Jason!" Harley almost screams. "And ya didn't call us sooner?"

"Well the first day my mouth was like swollen shut? But I'm fine now, I promise! don't worry too much, I'll be fine!"

"I really need a way to tell ya apart from everyone's else... what do ya want your ring tone to be?" Jack sighs.

"No that's too easy Batman would figure it out. I don't think you should save my number... How about... I call twice, and on the second time I change the ring I call you with?"

10 minutes pass quickly. They make plans for Jason to come over as soon as he's out, and he tells them it will be soon. they work out the ring tone, Jason will change it to "rattling maracas" because it gets on Jack's nerves and so he'll pick up the phone to make it stop.

"Jason..." 2 doctors and that one nurse comes back in.

"Um hello." He looks at the new doctor. Finally! One he can smell other shifter on. He doesn't understand why he's always brought to a human. He isn't human.

"...too much, I don't understand how he's healing as fast as he is," The human doctor whispers.

Jason blinks at the second human... he recognizes her? oh yeah... this is the one Bruce would take Wanda to see... oh... okay.

"Jason?" Doctor Theyala walks over, blinking at him.

"Of course not," He grumbles, staring at her with mistrust. now that he's older... She's probably half shifter... a hawk.. He thinks. Big hazel eyes, slightly beak like nose, heavy eyelashes. definitely a bird of some kind.

"Oh. You noticed." She chuckles. He blinks down at her hands. Freaking long nails... "My mother was a osprey, my father was human. Unfortunately I got more of his features." She shrugs. "What happened to you, young man?"

"Um... s-"

"I know what happened, don't tell me." She's reaches down and taps his cheek. "Somebody got mad at you, and jumped you."

"Um... basically, yeah," He nods. "How did you know?"

"It happens all of the time just not usually to boys of your age." She sighs. "Come on, can you stand yet?"

"I don't think so." Jason sits up. "Though I can sit up."

"That's good..." Doctor Theyala pats his head and takes a step away, looking over him again. "You are one of the most unusual shifters I have ever seen. "Your father said he thought you and Wanda were Wolf Shifters, but I don't think that's the case. Not with you anyways. I can't quite... put a finger on what you are though. Not yet."

Jason sighs. "Dang... that sucks."

"Sorry." She chuckles, patting his head again.

...

Jason is out in a total of 7 days after entering the hospital. He gets out and goes right to Jack and Harley's house. They answer the door and drag him inside, sit him on the couch and interrogate him about what happened. He doesn't mind, though he doesn't tell them everything.