Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the first day since the green haze had somewhat faded from Jason’s sight; since he’d calmed down from rabid furor to barely simmering rage; since Talia had stopped whispering in his ears things that made the green even more potent than it possibly would have been - something he was only now realizing once Talia wasn’t there, having been called away on a mission or the other by her father.

Ra’s. 

Jason had no doubt the old man had something planned, but for the life of him, he had no idea how to even go about dealing with that, considering, in truth, the League was kind of helping him. Hell, ever since his D- no, since Bruce hadn’t come after him since he’d replaced him-

He shuddered, and green began to edge his vision, vicious as ever at the very thought of the injustice.

But he couldn’t, he told himself and wiped his mind of any and all thoughts related to the damned Batman. The green, the Lazarus Pit, it was definitely powerful, but as he’d realized over the last month with it driving front-seat during his fights with the League assassins pelted at him in lieu of training, it was also a fucking liability, considering he was, in simple words, a basic bitch under its influence. Who in fuck wouldn’t be able to counter unplanned, damned slow, and stupidly simple punches? Which might be a bloody understatement, but the point still stood. He needed to learn how to manage to keep most of his mind while the Pit roared in his ears, and he couldn’t do that if he kept being overwhelmed by it.

No. He needed complete control of his mind so that when he returned, he’d be able to relish in the horror on Bruce’s face as he realized what he’d given up by refusing to accept Jason’s death as what it was - a warning that Robins always ended up worse for the wear. And he couldn’t do that fighting so predictably, either.

He shook his head and inhaled deeply. He’d get time to imagine that destruction later, he told himself. He’d plan out his entire revenge scenario in due time. Right now, he needed to calm down and understand how to deal with the green and control it so it would power him, not over power him. 

He took another deep breath.

It was, after all, the perfect time and place. He wasn’t scheduled for another training session for a few hours yet, and other than that, there wasn’t anything to do in this damn place anyway.

Breathe in.

This place was utterly cut off from the world, and that was saying a lot with the fucking internet being a master at connecting the world.

Breathe out.

But Ra’s Al Ghul had managed it anyway, and though Jason had no doubt there was some sort of operating system in play - you couldn’t be high-tech without operating systems, and for all the ‘traditionalism’, this place was fucking high-tech - it was nowhere near anywhere Jason could even think of looking. Hell, he doubted most of the assassins knew, either!

Breathe in. Breathe out.

So. Nothing to do but practice.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

All for the sake of his revenge plan, he told himself. Nothing to do with being bored at all.

Breathe in. Breathe out.

BOOM!

He jerked up, eyes flying open and heart beating faster than before. Fucking hell, someone had attacked the League of Assassins.

For a single, shining moment - and what a fucking beautiful moment it was - Jason wondered what it would be like if the attacker was his Dad, coming to rescue him, coming to claim him back, coming to take him home-

But it couldn’t be. Bruce had already damn well replaced him - Talia had shown him the news about the new Robin, and that shrimp was in his suit, using his name, and fighting by Bruce’s side like he had a right to do so! And that meant Bruce didn’t fucking care about him. Bruce didn’t care about him enough to cherish his memory beyond the grave - why the fuck would he come to rescue a dead boy who came back to ruin his damned perfect family?!

He snarled, and the green resurfaced, and it was only the promise he’d made to himself just minutes ago that allowed him to force it back with another deep, calming breath.

No, he told himself. He didn’t care.

And right now, it didn’t matter, anyway. Right now, he needed to get the fuck out there and help the damned League fight off whatever was attacking them. Because, for all intents and purposes, they had helped him, and this might as well clear his debt to them.

So, with just one more breath, he fluidly jumped to his feet, grabbed the sword he’d been given, and began striding to the door-

And it swung open in front of him, leaving him face to face with-

Who the fuck?

He blinked, and though his hand was automatically pointing the blade at the man, the new guy didn’t even flinch, only rolling his eyes at Jason. “I had enough of that with the Demon Brat,” He said plainly, gesturing to the squirming, bound, and gagged kid under his arms, and it was weird since the man (well, more a nearly-an-adult, if Jason was being completely honest, especially since he looked a few years older than Jason) didn’t look even the slightest bit winded even though the way the kid was thrashing looked harsh.

“What the fuck,” He said plainly.

The other guy smiled wryly, and Jason finally focused, realizing he had a mask over his eyes and was dressed in the basic vigilante getup one would expect of, well, a vigilante. The only telling part about his costume was the circular buckle on his chest, which was suspiciously dark, and something was telling Jason it had to do with a certain Bat. Because that utility belt? So Bruce.

“What. The. Fuck,” He repeated, quickly gaining traction as his fury began to rise. “When the hell did you show up? Talia said that D- Br- Batman only had one new sidekick!”

The smile turned into a wary snort, even as the kid stilled, wide blue (familiar blue?) eyes turning to look with piercing curiosity at Jason. “Yeah, no,” He said. “Not really… well, that.”

Jason blinked, and the person sighed. “Look. The name’s Red Ro- Er, you can call me Red. And yeah, I’m affiliated with Batman, but I’m not his sidekick, especially not now-” There was another boom across the base, and both the intruders (despite one being very much kidnapped) flinched. “Shit, okay, uh, look, I’m with Batman, and I’m here to get you back to him. Works?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “Let’s go.” He spun on his feet, still ignoring Jason’s fucking assassin sword, and began walking, and Jason had absolutely no other choice but to follow.

“No, that does not work!” He hissed, even as he raced after Red. “You’re a fucking liar! Talia told me-”  

Red didn’t even bother to look - he let his derisive tone do the talking. “Oh, now we’re believing the League of Assassins? Sure thing, Jason, let’s go with that. It’s not like she has anything to hide.”

There was something weird about that statement. Something pointed out and obvious, but at this point, Jason was beyond caring, even though the kid Red was holding was trying to kick him after that particular speech. 

“I don’t know who the fuck you are, either,” He pointed out.

It was telling that he was still following him, though.

Red didn’t seem asshole enough to point that out. Either that, or he thought it was implied. Jason did not want to guess which one. “Like I said, I’m an associate of your Dad.”

The kid in Red’s arms jerked, eyes horrifyingly wide, but Red seemed to have been expecting that because his hold didn’t waver even as they walked through the labyrinthine halls to whichever destination he had in mind.

“Then why the fuck isn’t he here?!” Jason burst, a tinge of desperate hope in his voice - hope he didn’t want there, thank you very much. But give a kid a dad, and it’s hard to get rid of the safesafesafe that comes with it. With a home. With a Bruce and a Dick and an Alfred- which the replacement had taken away! “Because he’s damn well over this! He doesn’t care, and you can’t tell me-”

“He doesn’t know you’re alive, Jason,” Red said quietly.

And Jason’s world s h a t t e r e d.

“... What?” He whispered.

“I don’t know what Talia told you-” The kid in Red’s arms squirmed, but his grip only tightened. “But B never found out you were alive or he’d have been on a plane to you before you could even think about it. You’re his son - he would always come.”

Jason couldn’t move his mouth.

Red made a quick right, Jason following on autopilot.

“Hell, Agent A would probably be on his way with a barrel of shotguns if he knew, and we all know how damn well scary that is.” 

No fucking lie, a small part of Jason’s mind agreed.

“And that’s not even mentioning Nightwing, who’d tear apart the League’s bases with all the Titans on his tail - fuck retirement - if there was any hint of, well, this.”

“They-” Jason’s throat stayed dry. But the green, which had shattered alongside his world, surprisingly didn’t return, too subdued by the surprise. “They still replaced me. They replaced Robin. They-” 

Red, for a long time, didn’t reply, and his shoulders were strained as his pace quickened. “Yeah, well, they kinda had to,” He said roughly. “The kid was a bit obsessive.” He laughed as if something he’d said had been funny. “You were dead, and B was killing himself out of self-pity, and- and the kid figured he had to help him. Somehow. Because Robin would have.” His eyes flickered back to Jason. “Jason Todd would have.”

Jason flinched. kidKidKID.

Fuck.

“Besides, he isn’t a replacement,” He added. “He’s- He’s-” His voice broke, and Jason had a feeling he’d lost a little bit of his nerve because the sentence he’d been saying died with it. “The kid has his own parents. B only has him for the Robin side of things.” He grinned (very fakely, and it was so weird that Jason could tell) and then kicked out at a door, which swung open to reveal - lo and behold - the very operating systems Jason had been thinking about just earlier. “Besides,” He said, waiting for Jason to stop as he had and then throwing the kid to him like a sack of potatoes that Jason thankfully caught. “If you want a brother, you’ve got one right there in your hands.”

What the fuck.

Jason gaped at the mass of child in his arms and the way he was glaring at him with those familiar blue-

Oh, shit.

“Bruce,” He breathed. “This is Bruce’s kid.”

“Mhmm,” Red said.

The kid used that modicum of freedom to headbutt Jason in the stomach and roll away, glaring the entire time, even as he edged further into the room with no way out.

Winded but otherwise okay, Jason just- well, he just stared because what the hell was this day, even?

“Damian,” Red said in an annoyed voice as he walked to the nearest computer. “Stop being such a brat. I’m trying to take you to your Dad.”

The kid- Damian stopped rolling back and propped himself up, and glared at Red, a small growl coming from the base of his throat, but the gag disrupted any actual words.

Red rolled his eyes as he typed something into the computer. “I don’t care if Talia told you your dad doesn’t want you around just yet. That’s a stupid lie.”

Jason almost scoffed automatically because fucking hell like that would ever happen. Bruce would never leave a kid-

Oh.

Well, no one had ever said he had a good mind when it came to himself.

“Batman wouldn’t have rested if he’d known you existed. Talia just never told him you were born.”

Damian narrowed his eyes and growled again, and apparently, Red was adept at translating growls because he just laughed. “No, I’m not going to take your gag off so you can throw death threats at me, kid. Save that for our plane ride back home.” He typed another sequence into the computer, and there was a whirring sound, and Red practically snickered. “It’s fourteen fucking hours long, after all, and I’ve only got twenty.”

Jason stilled. What? What was that supposed to mean? Why did Red have only twenty hours? To do what?

Red stretched his fingers and began working on the League systems again, and despite the bombs in the background and the shuddering ground, Jason couldn’t help but wonder why no one was coming after them. Obviously, they would know there was an intruder, and if Damian was Talia’s kid - as was very openly implied and, ugh, the thought of it - then his absence would also be pretty telling. So why was no one-

The clacking of the keyboard and the sound of the CPUs drove realization back in because of course. He’d just been thinking about this earlier - but not many people knew about this room, anyway, not even in the League. Which meant this would not be one of the first places checked because how could an outsider know a secret that even most League members didn’t?

Which begged the question… “Who are you?” He blurted out. “How do you even know about League secrets?”

Jason could see Damian perk up.

Red smirked, and it was absolutely terrifying. Jason really, really hoped he never got on this guy's bad side. “Let’s just say I know the League,” He said simply. “Because the whole of it is a very long story that I can’t get into right now.” He gestured to the screen. “League servers to hack into.” And, under his breath, though Jason could hear him just fine in the otherwise near-silent room - and from the muffled squeak from the kid, so could Damian - “They’ve got different passwords from the last time I was here, but way worse firewalls.”

Red didn’t seem to notice, his attention entirely on the computer as his hands and eyes practically flew.

Jason was, to put it simply, impressed. The only one with even a fraction of the proficiency he’d seen was Babs, and that was when she even bothered to stick still on a computer. Last he’d heard, she was still swinging around as Batgirl. He had no doubt, though, that should she hone her computer skills, she’d become legendary. 

Right now, though, that was all Red

What seemed like hours later, but was probably only a fraction of that time, Red moved back from the computer, where a countdown had begun, only for the screen to turn black. Red didn’t seem bothered, so it was probably still happening if it was, indeed, Red’s doing. “Man, I’d thought it’d take less time,” He murmured. “Guess I haven’t been practicing enough.”

He jumped up and walked over to Damian, scooping him up even as he began to struggle again. “Shall we?” He asked cheerfully. “I have no desire whatsoever to fight Ra’s right now, and honestly, I don’t have the time. Maybe if I had twenty-four hours…” He shrugged. “Point is, we better get off the base. Coming?” He grinned. “You could stay, of course, but this place is gonna blow in a few minutes.”

Jason gaped, and even Damian stilled in horror, though probably at entirely different things, Jason thought as he began to follow this very insane new guy through the League base again, walking confidently through a maze of hallways Jason had yet to learn to navigate. But the guy had practically just said he could’ve taken Ra’s on, that he could have defeated the demon’s head where none else had ever succeeded (if you ever heard Ra’s tell the tale, at least). If only he had four more hours.

What the absolute flying-

Goddammit, Jason was out of a bad enough curse word to apply to this absolute clusterfuck of a situation.

Instead, he hurried behind the other guy, and though they finally came across a few harried-looking assassins combing the halls on their way, Red seemed to make quick work of them, though as their number increased, Red handed Damian back to him. This time, Jason was smart enough to drop the sword and hold the kid such that he wouldn’t headbutt him to get away because there was no small room stopping his escape this time.

Instead, as he watched Red practically decimate the assassins - even if they were low-level - Jason wondered why he was trusting this guy with his life against, possibly, the only allies he had left. And then he realized… it was never about his ‘life’. He’d already lost that once, anyway. It was hope that this stranger was peddling, and with green eating away at his insides, it was the only thing keeping his pain at bay. It was the only thing that made him feel like he still had a home, like he still had a family, like he could still go back.

Besides, what the fuck was he thinking, ‘only allies’? They were the goddamn league of fucking assassins. They were no one’s allies, especially not lie-spewing Talia, who couldn’t tell anyone the truth if her life depended on it. She’d lied to Bruce about Damian, apparently; to Damian about Bruce; to him about Bruce- 

Wow, okay, her lies revolved around Bruce a lot, and nope! Jason was not thinking about it.

He blinked, and suddenly, the three were past the assassins and bursting out into an open paved area with a long-

He stared at the plane that very innocuously came into sight, turning visible and standing at the edge of the field, opening for boarding as they came closer, and Red was laughing with outright glee and a “You thought I came without a ride?”

And Jason had because this wasn’t the bat plane anyway, this was- this was-

“Can’t very well take Demon Brat like that on a commercial flight, can we?” Red asked as they jumped on board, and the plane’s guns began shooting something (probably assassins) behind them even as it shimmered back into invisibility. “We’d get carted off by security, and the League probably has people in airport security anyway.” He shrugged, and even without him going to the cockpit, there was the telltale sound of the plane taking off.

Jason’s hands tightened around Damian, who’d finally, finally stopped moving, even though his eyes were suspiciously shiny. “There’s someone else?” He asked, heart beating fast.

Red shook his head. “Just us,” He confirmed, and it was both relieving and sad to hear. “The plane’s on autopilot, though I’ll head over in a bit to be sure, anyway.” He pressed his lips together and looked at Damian, then, without warning, reached out to untie the gag with one fluid motion. “Sorry, Little D,” He said softly. “I didn’t mean to be so rough.”

For a startling moment, Damian was silent. Then he hissed and leaped out of Jason’s hands to cling to the side of the airplane wall. “You kidnapped me!” He growled. “I’ll kill you!”

Red laughed. “You’ve certainly tried,” He murmured. “And you’re free to try again.” He looked amused, and Jason only heard the next part because he was standing right next to the vigilante. “Lord knows you’ll try on the other guy.”

And call Jason crazy, but he didn’t think the ‘other guy’ meant him.

“But we’re not going back,” Red continued louder and more commanding. 

“You will take me back, you interloper, and then you will face justice for your actions!”

“Like an order ever works. Oh, demon brat, we’ve got a goddamn lot to teach you.” He shook his head. “Not turning back,” He repeated. “You can try to make me and exhaust yourself doing so,” He didn’t say that he’d defeat him, but it was so heavily implied he might as well have. But then, Jason figured, Damian’s seething would be outright rabid. “Or you can come with me to meet your father and then decide your course of action.”

Damian stopped. “... You’re lying.”

“Nope,” Red said. “Totally taking you guys to Batman.” His smile slipped. “Bruce.”

Jason flinched at the name.

“How do I know you’re telling the truth?” Damian demanded. “You could be lying to get into our good graces-”

“Because not many people know who Batman is,” Jason said, finally interjecting. “And other than the League, they’re mostly good guys.” His shoulders slumped. “And even out of them, the ones who’d know my involvement-” His breath caught in his throat.

Red smiled softly. “More or less,” He agreed. “I’m taking you guys to Batman, and if you don’t trust me, I’ll even give you a weapon for if we land somewhere other than Gotham.”

Domain seemed to mull it over.

“Okay,” Jason said instead of him and was instantly offered the bo staff Red had used to fight the assassins on the way out. It seemed to be his primary weapon, really, and the fact that he was willing to just hand it over because he’d said …

And okay, Jason was pretty sure the guy could take him on without it, especially when he was definitely not in perfect shape, but the thought behind it still counted.

“And mine?” Damian asked very snootily.

Red snorted, then shrugged and pulled out a familiar blade from his utility pack - a Batarang. “Here,” He said. “Courtesy of the Bat.”

Damian’s eyes gleamed, and Jason just knew the kid was hooked. This guy definitely knew how to push both their buttons, and it should probably be terrifying, but it… it felt kind of nice, really.

“Now,” Damian said, clearing his throat and pointing the Batarang at Red. “Tell me what you meant when you mentioned my Grandfather.”

Red snorted. “Like I said,” He repeated. “Long story.”

Jason raised his eyebrows, finally on more stable ground, which was funny because he wasn’t on the ground. “We do have fourteen hours,” He pointed out. “That’s what you said.”

For the first time, Red’s expression cracked and let him send an annoyed look Jason’s way, and that was kinda satisfying, and more so when Damian sent a considering look his way. “Funny,” He muttered, then swept a hand through his hair and groaned. “Look, it’s long and complicated, and it really won’t make sense, so I’d rather not tell it.”

Jason and Damian exchanged a look that practically spelled that they were on the same page, and Red apparently saw it because his tone was hurried as he continued. “Wouldn’t you rather hear about the time that Batman stepped on his cape and hurtled off the side of a building right after he was lecturing Nightwing about acrobatics on top of roofs?”

Jason stilled, stared, and then burst out laughing, only able to reign in enough of his mirth to hear Damian squawk in protest. “You’re lying!” The kid said. “My father is perfect!”

Jason raised his eyebrows. “If you consider emotionally constipated as perfect,” He said automatically.

“Concurred,” Red added playfully.

Damian gaped. “No-” His frame shuddered, and all the amusement was wiped from Jason’s body the second he realized Damian wasn’t, in fact, reacting over the top. His worry, his words, his sudden gasping sobs - they were genuine.

Red swore under his breath, stepped forward, and stilled as Damian flinched, then glared. “You’re lying,” The kid hissed. “You have to be, or- or- or why would Father not want to see me until I was a perfect heir?”

Jason paled, and all possible thoughts against the boy (he was a fucking baby) vanished like the wind because, shit, that was so not what he’d signed up for.

Red grimaced and bent his knees. “Damian,” He said softly, and it was warmer and more loving than Jason would have expected of a stranger. (Who was he? How did he fit into this family of theirs? Did he fit into this family?) “Bruce didn’t know,” And in the same way it had shattered Jason, it seemed to finally reach Damian. Red had mentioned this back in the computer room, and Jason had caught the implications, but Damian had apparently chosen to ignore that little bit of information because when Red said it now, his eyes widened with a mix of fury and hurt and hope. “Bruce didn’t know, or he’d have moved heaven and hell to get you. He’d move heaven and hell to get back any of his kids, really, and you’re the youngest. He’d come to you even if Talia told him not to because you’re his son.”

Jason’s heart throbbed, and his grip tightened around the bo staff.

“Talia didn’t tell him you existed, Damian, but if he knew…” He inhaled deeply. “He doesn’t want you to be perfect. He himself isn’t perfect, as is obvious by Jason’s description. He… he just wants his sons.” And this time, he looked at both Damian and Jason, and suddenly, Jason couldn’t tear his gaze away. 

“He- he doesn’t?” Damian asked quietly. “He wants to meet me before I am the perfect heir?”

“He does,” Red agreed. He would, his eyes said, once he knows you exist. “Hell, you could be the most imperfect person in existence, and he’d still want to meet you.” He snickered, and apparently, that was the right thing to say because Damian smiled, and it was that annoying, superior smile that was ticking Jason off the second he got used to it and stopped feeling sorry for the kid, no doubt.

“Let us not go that far,” He said imperiously. “I am obviously still better than…” He let his eyes rest on Jason, and okay, yeah, no more feeling sorry for the kid.

Red laughed. “Yeah, yeah, you can kill each other later. Try getting some sleep for now ’cause we’re gonna get to Gotham in time for Alfred’s special Sunday dinner for Dick’s birthday, and you do not want to miss that.”

Jason’s mouth watered.

Damian furrowed his brow. “Who’s Alfred?” He asked.

Jason shook his head. This kid had a goddamn lot to learn- Wait, hadn’t Red already said that?

Red began walking to the cockpit, sending a wave over his shoulder. “Have Jason tell you,” He said. “Imma go make sure we’re not about to crash into anything important.”

Jason gaped. That bastard.

Damian turned to him, arms crossed, eyes still looking at him as if he could do better. “Well?” He asked. “Or do I have to repeat my question?”

Oh, Jason was definitely killing this kid. Maybe even before the fucking replacement because he doubted the other kid was as big of an asshole.

Chapter Text

Damian forgets he even has a Batarang by the time they land, and though he is still untrusting of Red, he stays behind him as they disembark, though Red at first tries to make him and Jason go alone with some bullshit excuse that he can’t stay. Jason and Damian do not stand for it. Red has to come, and he ends up becoming the human shield for their trek up the huge Wayne driveway, though Jason has no idea what Red did to disable the camera and comm at the entrance.

They go in, ring the bell, and come face to face with Dick Grayson because the birthday boy has too much goddamn energy, and Alfred’s on kitchen duty. 

Red waves awkwardly, steps aside, and says I brought gifts . Dick continues to gape.

Jason clears his throat, greets his stupid elder brother, and introduces Damian, who sniffs and says is this our eldest brother I thought he’d be taller, having been inculcated into accepting there is no Batfamily without too many bats to count.

Jason bursts out laughing at Dick’s expense, and Bruce comes up to ask what the holdup is, and then it all goes to hell because everyone’s demanding answers, and Red is about to slip away-

But he can’t! Because one of his hands is held hostage by Damian, and seeing his almost-escape, the other one by Jason. Neither of them is coming in without Red, who sighs and goes in. He resists the DNA swab by Bruce, and there’s nothing they can do about it because Damian and Jason are kinda attached and refuse to allow force on this person who saved them. 

Red does have a conversation with Bruce, however, about Damian, which ends with Bruce taking the time to assure Damian he doesn’t need to be perfect to be his son, and Dick smothers him (after disentangling himself from his practical chokehold on Jason) with a million hugs he is very confused by. There is also a very tearful reunion between Alfred and Jason, and they call Babs, too. And, finally, Tim is on his way back-

Red looks at the watch and says he has to go okay bye! and disappears out of the cave using a way none of them even knew about??? Well, that’s Red for you. He also apparently steals some kind of tech because they try to access the video camera files and find everything with Red has been deleted, which is crazy, and there’s absolutely no answer.

Until Tim comes back from wherever he was, and Jason and Damian, who spent the most time around Red, finally realize what the shit was going on because Tim has the exact same style of speaking and talking and walking and-

And he does not have an elder brother, thank you very much. Why are you even asking, suddenly resurrected Ja-

And Tim has stars in his eyes because his idol is alive and also coals in his stomach because he doesn’t have a place in the Waynes’ life anymore, does he? And he makes an excuse about his parents that the older Waynes are too emotionally drained to notice, but Jason and Damian certainly do, remembering how Red - Tim - had calmed Jason down about his ‘replacement’, and they quickly launch an investigation that ends with dragging Tim back to the Wayne mansion. Forever.

.

.

.

And then they spend the rest of their vigilante childhood demanding why Batman is coddling Tim's Robin when obviously he's powerful enough take down the League because oh look they haven't even gotten back up yet.

Tim just wants to know what he did to deserve the two polar reactions of absolute mothering and absolute trust in his apparently amazing intellectual and physical prowess. It's annoyingly giving him good reflexes for emotional contingencies but that's not the point.