HOPE YOU ENJOY

PLEASE VOTE

Side Note: I know it's called the batmobile but Dick hasn't gone around to name everything due to not being brought up by Bruce. So, I'm going on the theory it hasn't been called anything just yet. 

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The next night comes, and Robin is nervously hopping and cartwheeling along a roof within the centre of Gotham. Sunglasses on to hide his eyes as he knew his hood wouldn't do much if he had to purposely stay near Batman tonight. 

It took all his power to keep Jason at home this time and a lot of promises that he'd make sure to keep. Even going as far as having to waste some of their savings to buy a second phone. They had a Nokia, pay as you go, so they could phone for emergencies if needed. But today they bought a cheap flip phone, pay as you go, to be able to phone and text each. Every two hours, Jason would send a text and Dick would reply with the correct code word added. 

Batman showed within twenty minutes before taking him back to the cave to talk things out. Alfred was already waiting for them, a fresh pot of tea made and a couple of cut neatly sandwiches for them to snack on. 

Dick awkwardly took one of the offered seats at a cleared and cleaned desk within the cave. Batman sitting on a chair opposite to him at the table while Alfred sat a little further down and on the same side as Batman did. 

"Talk" Batman ordered without wasting any time to play friendly hosts. 

"I've met Alfred before. When I was younger, and I've seen him in a few newspapers in the background of Bruce Wayne. Everyone knows about Gotham's prince and his butler" Dick nervously answered as he fiddled with his hands that rested in his lap, never good at keeping still even during serious matters. 

"I see" Batman slowly replied as he kept his eyes on the young boy opposite him, trying to get a better read on him. 

"And you couldn't tell us that last night?" Alfred asked with a raised eyebrow as he looked to the boy that squirmed a little under the look he sent him. 

"I was worried you wouldn't believe me and keep us both trapped here. I had to protect little wing. I wasn't sure what B might do if he learnt I knew you once before. Little wing doesn't know anything. He wasn't around when we met. He's at no danger to you, both of you" Dick desperately argued back in his defence as he gripped at the edge of the table to show how important it was for him to protect Jason from them. 

"You're being very mature" Batman pointed out without much warning and startling the younger boy a little. 

"Had to grow up quick" Dick quietly confessed as he lowered his head, squirming on the chair a little as he prayed, they wouldn't ask him anymore questions about it. 

"How have we met before, if you don't mind me asking?" Alfred kindly spoke as he looked to the boy and trying to figure out if they've met in person or from a distance. He felt as if he should know the boy since the boy seemed to know him so much already. 

"Won't say. Need to keep my cover" Dick huffed back as he sat up a little straighter and tried seeming more like an adult then he actually was. 

"You're wearing sunglasses and a hood" Batman deadpanned and seeming rather unimpressed over it all. 

"You're wearing a mask. I'll say my name if you do the same. Only fair" Dick shot back with a raised eyebrow, stubbornly crossing his arms over his arms to seem intimidating but failing. 

"It's a cowl" Batman scoffed back at the boy. 

"Still won't say who I am" Dick childishly mumbled back as he puffed out his cheeks. 

"I don't remember holding any meaningful meetings with a young boy before. But I do apologize for forgetting you if we did share a moment. Blame my memory on old age" Alfred commented as he acted as peace maker once more while trying to get a couple more clues towards the boy identity. 

"We didn't .. talk much. I've just met you" Dick awkwardly replied as he turned his head to the side and staring towards some of the souvenirs in sight. 

"Hmm, I see" Alfred hummed back, trying to think over any young children he might have met that would fit who Dick was now. But nothing was popping up into his mind and he couldn't understand how this boy seemed to know him. 

"Are you a criminal?" Batman asked next with a firm voice and ready to move into action if the boy acted badly. 

"Are you?" Dick scoffed back as he stared straight at the bat without any fear. 

"You're dressed to try and blend in with the shadows. You were out late at night last night and had easily met me again late tonight. Why would a boy your age be out so late and dressed like that?" Batman pointed out all the small hints that the boy held and brought a criminal reasoning to them all. 

"I'm not a criminal. I don't commit crimes, but I can't tell you why I was out either" Dick nervously muttered back as he lowered his head, his fingers pulling at a lose thread on his trousers. 

"I don't like being kept out of the loop" Batman frowned deeply as he looked to the boy and expecting better answers from him. 

"I hold my secrets just as you do. Unless you want to tell me everything about yourself, I'm not going to share anymore over my own life" Dick argued back as he stood up straighter again and ready to meet the batman head on if needed. He knew better then to back down even if someone seems bigger. 

"Will you mention over the fact that I work with Batman to anyone?" Alfred asked the main question at hand that caused all this trouble. 

"No. I know some would try and hurt you if I did. I'm not an enemy to either of you. I wasn't going to tell anyone, and I didn't mean to use your name so freely last night. It was just a stressful night" Dick quickly answered, his voice honest but worried as he spoke and wanting to make sure the elderly man wouldn't have to worry over being found out.  

"How do I know you won't tell anyone over Alfred?" Batman asked with an accusing look that gained him a slight disapproving look from his butler beside him. 

"I haven't told anyone over who you are so far, have I? Now can I go home, please. I'm tried" Dick calmly replied with a pointed look before he scooted down from the chair and ready to leave. 

"I'll drive you back" Batman offered as he stood up, leaving no room to argue over that. 

"And no more trackers. I don't like to be tracked like an animal on a farm" Dick huffed out in annoyance as he pulled the trackers from out of his pocket that he found on his and Jason clothing last night.

If it's one thing he learnt from the Mister was to never leave any evidence or DNA behind on a crime screen. His mister had been very strict that neither himself or his "jewel" left any evidence behind somewhere and trained him to always spot when he was being followed, find a tracker and to keep his DNA to himself. 

Clearly Batman would have tried harder last night with the trackers if he knew that Dick understood how to find them and block the signal until he was ready for them to work again. Hence, he was giving warning now by passing them back. He wasn't going to be treated like an idiot or tracked down. Their home was Jason only safety net and he won't let it be stolen away. 

Neither speak again until they're in the Batman's car and driving back towards Gotham again. The darkened windows showing the world outside but not allowing the world to peek back inside. Dick hums an old circus tune to himself without much thought before stopping as Batman finally speaks again. 

"Tell me the truth. Do you really know who I am or were you hoping to play a bluff?" Batman calmly asked as he drive, purposely taking the longer route to be able to speak with the boy in private. 

"I know who you are. But I won't tell anyone. I really won't and I don't expect anything in return either" Dick desperately replied in hopes that the batman would believe him and didn't think he was just some scum trying to scam him. 

"Do you live alone with your brother?" Batman asked next, deciding he believed the boy for now and more worried over the boy's living arrangements. His butler might have been right over someone treating Jason well enough but there were still hints over living a poor life. On both boys. 

"He's not my brother. Doesn't want to be babied like a brother" Dick commented as he kept his focus out of the car window, noticing they weren't going as fast as he's normally seen the bat car do. 

"That's not what I asked" Batman pointed out in a knowing tone. 

"What will you do if we did? Kill us? Kidnap us again? Turn us into social services? We won't live in an orphanage. I would have taken him to a safe one if he'd stay there" Dick snapped back in frustration as he glared towards the batman and trying to figure out what he wanted from him. 

"The mansion is rather big. Even more huge when only two people are living there by themselves. I'm not going to suddenly act like a parent because I'm not one. But I'll be willing to take you BOTH in. I've got the rooms and if you don't fully trust me with such an offer then see it as a way for me to keep an eye on you. For knowing about Alfred and myself. Sounds fair?" Batman casually offered as he purposely kept his eyes on the road ahead and silently hinting towards his own real identity without confirming anything over it.  

"I'll have to speak with little wing first" Dick confessed shyly, hiding his shock from such an offer rather well but Batman still saw the small hints over his surprised reaction. 

"Since you know who I am then you'll know where I live. Use the front door tomorrow if the pair of you deserve to accept my offer" Batman simply replied as he slowed the car down once reaching their destination. 

"How long will you keep such an offer for us?" Dick shyly asked as he turned to look towards the older man and wondering what kind of a time limit the offer held. It seemed to good to be true. 

"For the rest of my life. Maybe longer since I live dangerously. I'll keep a note in my will for the pair of you to be welcomed to my home even after my death" Batman promised without any hesitation as he finally turned to look at the boy again.  

"Thank you" Dick smiled softly. 

Batman simply nodded before watching the boy soon jump out of the car and sprint away into the night of Gotham. He didn't bother with any trackers or to follow the boy, sometimes a bird needed to fly free before it returned after all. 

Robin entered the flat before Dick finally appeared again and he hurried to remove his nightly clothing like he always did when returning. Slipping into his awaiting pyjamas before finally heading to Jason's room and knowing the younger boy was waiting up for him. 

Smiling his blinding but warm smile as he found him wide awake and sitting on his bed fully dressed and ready to storm out to "save" him from the bat if needed. Slowly walking over and wrapping him into a tight and needed hug. Standing by the edge of his bed and feeling the younger boy's face lay against his chest while his arms clung to him. 

Neither speaking at first before Jason finally broke the hug and demanded to know over everything that was said and that had happened. Dick just smiling at him before telling him to get his pyjamas on while he made them both a much-needed mug of hot chocolate. He might suck at cooking, but he was proud over his hot chocolate skills. 

Ten minutes later they were cuddled and squashed together in his double bed, drinks half drank and forgotten on the bedside table while they talked. Dick knowing to leave certain bits out for Alfred and the bat's shake. Jason listening keenly and adding a few threats towards batman if he tried to intimidate or kidnap them again. 

Dick deciding to tell him over the offer about a new home, a new family and a better future in the morning. They were both tired from all raging emotions inside of them and needed sleep. School could be skipped tomorrow for once even if Jason rather did like his perfect attention. 

Come morning and Dick was the first awake for once and already calling Jason school to say he was sick and won't be in. Making them breakfast that was mostly cereal and a cup of tea each before he woke his roomie up. 

Jason knew something was up by the main fact that Dick was already awake before him. He stayed silent and accepted his breakfast and cup of tea. Both moving to sit on the sofa after putting their bowels in the sink and knowing they had to talk. 

Jason listened, not daring to say a single word at first and listening Dick out completely before he even dared to give his thoughts on the matter. He might have been the youngest, but he was the most mature between them and knew this was important. Dick wouldn't have brought it up between them if he didn't think the offer by Batman wasn't worth hearing out. 

Jason stayed silent and returned to his room to think about the offer by himself alone. He needed to clear his head and just sit in a quiet room by himself. Dick left him as he was, knowing he needed time alone and moved to wash up and get himself ready for the day. If they didn't accept batman offer, then he'd still have to head to work tonight anyway. 

Four hours later and Jason finally leaves fully dressed and with a bag packed by his doorframe. He walked towards their bathroom and brushed his teeth before finally stepping out and facing Dick again. 

"You won't have to work, right? You'll be able to go to school with me and live your life instead of taking care of me full time, right?" Jason asked with a small, worried frown as he thought over all the ways the move would do for Dick and how they'd both be able to act their ages now. 

"I think so. B seemed to really care about our safety and health. I think he'll give us the best life he can, we've just got to meet him halfway though" Dick mumbled back as he tapped his chin in thought and assuming that Batman would send them both to school and letting them have a proper life again. 

"We can't tell him about this place. We'll give living the good life a chance but leave this flat as our back up. We can leave and come back if we're not happy with him. Deal?" Jason demanded as he crossed his arms over his chest and putting his foot down over keeping their first home safe and untouched by a stranger. Leaving it as their own safe house to escape too if needed.  

"Deal" Dick smiles sweetly, hiding his amusement over how serious the other boy was taking this. 

"Good" Jason huffs back as he lets his arms fall to his sides again. 

"I'll go pack and we can take a stop at my workplace to quit on the way to the manor" Dick smiled as he stood up, stretching once more as he knew it'd be a long day for them both now. 

"M-Manor" Jason stuttered back in disbelief. 

"B is rather rich it seems" Dick grinned back cheekily as he was looking forward to seeing Jason reaction once they arrived at the manor. 

"How do you know about him?" Jason curiously asked with his eyebrows furrowed as he still didn't understand how he knew over Batman like he did. 

"I'll tell you later once B finds out who I am" Dick promised instead as he headed towards his bedroom to pack his own few personal belongings.