One year later.

"Oh my God! What's with all the shouting!? I'm trying to study for the Biology exam we have tomorrow!"

"Your Dad threatened to fire me from being Robin!"

"You did what!?" I yelled, separating Bruce and Dick. "Bruce! What the hell!?"

"He was acting careless and-"

"I saved your life! Mae and I would've been planning a funeral if I didn't push you away!" Dick defended. "And you can't fire me from my thing. I created Robin, not you!"

I sighed, pulling out my phone and texted Wally.

Wall <3

They're at it again
SAVE ME

Dick and Batman?
What is it this time?

Same old

I'll spend the night tomorrow to calm him down
But you need to put a leash on your boyfriend pls
I think he has rabies

He does
Time for his weekly flea bath as well.
It's Sunday

This is why we're friends

Best friends ;)

"Okay, enough before you two kill each other!" I yelled, pushing them away again and turned to Dick. "You go take a shower and eat something. You should also expect a call from Wally in fifteen minutes exactly. I'll help you review soon."

"How do-"

"And you!" I turned to Bruce who widened his eyes. "You're a grown man arguing with a literal teenager! Have some self respect, Bruce!"

"Why must you always get involved?" Bruce huffed, removing his cowl and I scoffed.

"Hey, it's not my fault I came to the Cave to study because Alfred's vacuuming and listening to his music. And you two are always at each other's throats, so someone has to step in."

"You know everything for tomorrow?" He asked, completely changing the subject.

Typical.

"The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell. Don't change the subject."

"Maeve, I don't have time to-"

"Look, you're still annoyed that you can't figure out what happened in the sixteen hours you people were offline, but get over it!" I yelled exasperated and grabbed my books. "I'll patrol with you tomorrow... I don't have Team business and Dick has some mathlete stuff. Plus, Wally is spending the night tomorrow and he'll Zeta in the morning for school."

"I told you two no sleepovers on weekdays."

"You also promised to put a heater in the Cave and you still haven't done that! It's been five years and you're a billionaire, Bruce! We can afford it!"

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"Are those my shorts?"

"My shorts, your sweater and socks because the Cave is freezing... eat your sandwich, please. I'm tired of being mediator for you two." I rolled my eyes and held up a flashcard. "Primary Structure?"

"Unique sequence of amino acids. And you don't have to play mediator." Dick shrugged, holding a card. "Coenzymes?"

"Organic cofactors include vitamins or molecules derived from vitamins... and I play mediator because I live here too and there's so many places I can hide without hearing your screams echoing the hallways."

"I'm sorry, Mae. I try to keep it down, but-"

"Don't apologize, birdie. I'm fine." I smiled and pecked his lips. "Finish your food and go to bed. Don't worry about patrol tomorrow because it's my turn."

"Baby-"

"You have a competition in two weeks and need to study for it. Plus, I miss punching drug dealers in the face! I wanna get back to basics for a bit, not deal with world ending threats."

"I'll never understand how you find joy in beating someone to a pulp."

"It's funny watching their faces when I break their noses with my fist."

"It is pretty whelming." He laughed and I grinned. "Especially when they call you out for being small and a girl."

"Those are the best ones! Especially when Connor or Roy aren't holding me back!"

"Speaking of... heard from Red?"

"Comes and goes, but haven't heard anything since class started." I shrugged, picking up the now empty plate and placed it on the sink. "I'll try calling him tomorrow after patrol. Hopefully I'll get an answer instead of voicemail."

"He worries me sometimes, y'know?"

"He's been worrying all of us since New Years."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"You did good on the test?"

"Pretty sure I aced it! Next week I have an AP Human Geography presentation but KF said he was gonna help me after the Team meeting tomorrow." I smiled, turning into Crime Alley and stopped in my tracks. "What... the... fu-"

"Nope. Too young." Bruce slapped a hand over my mouth and turned to the Batmobile. "Oh, what the fuck?"

The Batmobile doesn't have tires and a pair of legs are sticking from underneath.

"Hey, kid!" I whistled before dragging him out. "Holy shit... Jason!?"

"Domino!?"

"What were you doing under the Batmobile?" I asked, fighting the urge to laugh in Bruce's face.

"I... I kinda stole them." Jason mumbled, hiding the leg wrench and I nodded.

"You stole the tires? By yourself?" Bruce interrupted and Jason nodded.

"Serves you right for leaving it abandoned in Crime Alley."

Oh, I love this kid.

"Because no one would think about stealing the Batmobile's tires."

"First time for everything." Jason sassed and I burst out laughing making Bruce glare at me.

"I'm sorry... but this is hilarious! A twelve year old stole your tires!" I wiped my tears and took a step forward. "You're covered in grease, little bird... I'll walk you home while Bats searches for his tires so we can get home."

"My foster parents are kinda... y'know how it is. They-"

"They're nonexistent, are they?" I sighed and he nodded shakily. "You staying somewhere?"

"Uhh... that corner over there with a lead pipe. Things go bump in the night." Jason pointed at a secluded corner next to a dumpster and Bruce widened his eyes through the cowl.

"I'll stay with you tonight. How's that sound?" I offered and Jason widened his eyes with a smile. "I'll protect you from whatever goes bump in the night, alright?"

"No." Bruce interjected and I turned to glare.

"Batman-"

"Get my tires and get in the car before I change my mind." Was all he said before Jason ran off with a skip in his step and his laugh echoing through the alley. "He's your stray, you take care of him."

"Promise me something, B."

"Mm?"

"He's a good kid who wants to do good... don't turn him into us. Don't bring him to this life." I pleaded and he nodded. "Promise me."

"What if he-"

"He's a child, not a soldier. Not like me, and certainly not like Robin. He asks, you shut him down or I will."

"Deal."

｡ﾟ•┈୨🃏୧┈• ｡ﾟ

"Why was I called down to the Cave? And why is there a child wrapped in fifteen blankets?"

"Because someone didn't put a damn heater and it's freezing! And the kid's Jason. He's gonna be staying with us for a while."

"No way the Dick Grayson is Robin!" Jason exclaimed and Dick widened his eyes, grabbing one of the blankets and wrapped it around me. "You're like my idol, dude!"

"As Robin or-"

"Both! I loved watching you whenever the Circus came to Gotham! I'm sorry about your parents, they seemed like nice people... Ooh, can you tell me about-"

"Slow down, Jace. You're going a thousand miles an hour." Dick laughed and kissed my cheek. "Patrol was good?"

"Even better... Little bird over here managed to steal the Batmobile's tires!" I exclaimed and he widened his eyes. "I know! I had the same reaction when I saw it!"

"Please tell me you have pictures!?"

"Yep, and sent them to Wally, Artemis, Zee and Raquel. They're having a blast with it!"

"Consider me whelmed, Jason." Dick laughed and high-fived him.

"Whelmed?"

"It's best you don't ask. And never ask him if he traught or feeling the aster, especially the latter." I chuckled and glanced at Bruce who was in a hushed conversation with Alfred. "Uhhh, Dick? Can we talk for a moment? Jason, there's a shower down the hall to the left. Alfred already laid out some warm clothes for you and I'll show you around later."

"What's up, pretty girl?" Dick whispered after Jason ran off.

"Call me crazy, but did you see-"

"Bruce looking at our first suits and then at Jason? Yep, sure did." He shrugged as we both walked to where our old suits were hanged up in display. "You thinking what I'm thinking?"

"He promised me he wouldn't."

"He promised you a lot of things and broke each one, Mae. Remember all the times he said he'd be home for dinner?"

"That's different, Dick. This is something else entirely."

"What are you gonna do about it then? I can't do anything because I'm not exactly sidekick and ward of the year right now."

"It's too early to tell, but he's a child."

"I started at nine and you were raised to be a weapon. I don't think age is a factor here, Mae."

"So what? We wait it out or throw him to the streets again?" I scoffed. Dick shook his head and held my shoulders tight. "Dick, I have a bad feeling."

"You're being paranoid as usual. Start feeling the aster and be glad that you have someone else to annoy for a little bit. Plus, he's better off here than in the streets." He pointed out and I sighed, resting my head on his shoulder. "Why are you so protective over him anyways?"

"There's just something about him, y'know? It's a feeling."

"A feeling?"

"Best way I can explain it."

"I'll take it, I guess."