Archive of Our Own ^beta

Rain sucked.

Being cold sucked.

Some days life in general really fucking sucked.

Being judged by racoons also sucked.

Truthfully there was a lot to consider about choices and life. About people. About choices he’d made while he was a little crazy, of course he hadn’t been pit crazy for several years not that it stopped people from judging him. His so-called family constantly scrutinized his actions no matter how close he toed their line and there was still wary distance between him and his ‘allies’. Cops judged him but he supposed that was fair, heads in a duffle bag would do that even if it had been years ago. Rogues hated him, but he hated most of them right back so it didn’t matter much. Criminals were either terrified of him, waiting for a bullet to the head, or they were enraged by him and tried to put a bullet in his head. Mostly he was able to dodge, evade, or outright avoid all the above categories but tonight just hadn’t been going well for him.

Sometimes he wondered if there might be a cosmic do-over for some choices, even mundane ones.

Of course, letting himself turn philosophical at ass-o’clock in the morning while he lay next to a dumpster in the rain while trying to regain his breath and wondering just how hard he’d hit his head or how bad he might be bleeding while racoons sat on the trash lids staring down with clear judgement might not be the best use of his fuzzy reasoning.

Yeah, sometimes it just didn’t pay to get out of bed.

Jason groaned and rolled over before pushing himself up. Everything hurt and he glared balefully up at the top of the building that he’d fallen off of. Of course, the staircase and dumpster had broken his fall… as it were. He did a quick check of his body and surprisingly he wasn’t bleeding so much he had to call for help, not that he would, which meant he could escape his current judgmental audience and head back to his closer safe house.

“Fuckin racoons.”

Jason made his way back up to his nearest safe house, cussing the whole way as his shoulder pulled and ribs ached. It took him way longer than it should have to get back and longer still to bypass his own traps to get in through the window. Today was seriously not his day. So, one scumbag had ended up dead. Maybe that someone was the one the bats had been looking to interrogate and maybe they were his type of shit-head scumbag to hunt down but that didn’t mean Jason had killed the asshole. He might have if he’d found him first as the man had been involved in too many kids ‘running off’ from rescue houses they should have been safe in. But in this instance, his hands were actually clean.

“Fuckin Bats.”

He stripped off his armor and laid it all out on the couch while he trudged to the bathroom where his first aid kit was waiting for him and patched himself back up after he took a quick shower to get the worst of the nasty off himself. Once he was satisfied that it was good enough, he crashed into bed.

Today couldn’t be fucking over fast enough.

Assholes.

 -----------

When he woke up, bright light was not what he’d been hoping for. He grumbled as he’d clearly been too out of it to close his blackout curtains last night. They’d been an indulgent purchase but well worth it when he could keep the sun out.

Shame they didn’t work on bats.

Though he was partially surprised that none of them had followed him to this safe house to continue the lecture or arrest or intervention… Whatever the fuck that has been. Especially Nightwing, he never seemed to pass up a chance to nag and bitch at Jason for all of his real or imagined sins.

He pulled the pillow over his head and started to settle in when he abruptly realized a few things all at once.

First, his Kris was gone. His blade was never, ever out of reach when he slept. Sleeping unarmed was a good way to invite the nightmares.

Second, the bed was really fuckin soft and the blankets felt heavier and better quality then what he bought for himself.

Third, there was no noise. Not sirens, not people, hell not even the damned dogs from the neighbor below were barking.

He wasn’t restrained. After all these years his senses would tell him always when someone was around him and right now, he was alone. The scent in the room was odd too, faint like the room hadn’t been opened up or used in a long time.

Normally he’d take stock and feign sleep but this was too many things that were out of place. He pushed himself up and looked around as he double checked for his Kris. Hell, he’d take a swiss army pocket knife at this point, being without a weapon made his hands shake. He still had his pants on but this was not the same room he’d fallen asleep in. Getting up, he moved around the room slowly, casing it for anything that might clue him as to where the hell he was now.

Clean room, clean carpet, though it was all pretty bland. Cautiously he tried the door but it swung open on silent hinges and he did a quick sweep of the hallway but still more of that same nothing.

No cameras or they were so small and well placed that he wasn’t seeing them in the natural locations. Fuckin paranoid bats. Jason shook his head and made his way down the hall on bare feet. Ugly ass artwork on the walls, bizarre knick knacks laying around in cabinets and on tables as he stepped out into the balcony over the stairwell.

He definitely didn’t recognize this place. At all. From what little he’d seen it appeared more like a museum than a house. Or like one of those big mansions that sit empty while everyone is gone for summer or holidays or whatever.

He caught a faint sound and grabbed a candlestick, how cliché, and headed down to investigate. Either he’d run into whoever had brought him here or he’d maybe find a clue as to where the hell he was.

Someone else was clearly here but they seemed light on their feet, either someone small or someone used to moving silently. He peered around the door but didn’t see anyone right off. When he heard it again, he cautiously slipped into what was a huge fucking kitchen and flipped on the lights.

Startled blue eyes looked up at him from one of the smallest fuckin kids he’d ever seen. A jar of peanut butter was clutched in his hands and he’d gone completely still. Jason clocked the rest of the room then lowered the candlestick, feeling a little ridiculous wielding it. He set it down and cleared his throat, “Uh sorry kid. Didn’t mean to scare you.”

“Uh…”

Jason really wished he had his clothes and weapons; he was getting twitchy again. He looked around, “Your folks’ home?”

The boy didn’t answer him but he also didn’t start screaming so that was a plus. He looked at the kid again then frowned, this kid actually looked somewhat familiar. Realization hit him light a brick. “You got to be shittin me. Replacement?!”

“You shouldn’t swear.” Tim set the jar of peanut butter next to the plastic tub of jam and the bread that was sitting on the counter.

“I shouldn’t-“ Jason almost reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose but stopped himself in time. Bad enough to be having a crisis without acting like Bruce. “Where are your parents, Drake?”

“Peru, I think. They might be headed to Bolivia or Chile. I get them mixed up sometimes.”

“South America.” This time he did massage his temples. Time travel. Or possibly a parallel universe but this was alarmingly not his time. At least he was in Gotham and now he knew exactly where he was but he really didn’t want to be here. “Who is in charge of you while they are gone?”

“Mrs. Mac comes by on Monday to clean and brings more food on Wednesday. She brings me home after school sometimes during the week but I’m too big to have a baby-sitter.”

“Kid you are like 5 years old and can’t be more than 40lbs.”

Tim straightened up from his chair and frowned at him, “I’m 8 years old and I’m too old to be babied when I can look after myself.” He slapped his bread onto the top of his sandwich. “I’m a big boy now. Mom and Dad said so at my birthday.”

Two things became really clear. First the kid had no sense of how messed up his life had been if this was normal before the kid was even 10 years old. Shit, even Crime Alley parents took better care of their kids than this. Second, he had no resources and he might not be able to get out of this right away, unless whatever put him here took him back to where he was supposed to be.

“When are they coming back?”

“January.”

Jason looked around again.

“Are you here to kidnap me?”

Or at least that’s mostly what it sounded like around a mouth full of a PB & J. “Don’t talk with your mouth full. You could choke.”

Tim swallowed his bite and even wiped his mouth on a napkin, “If you’re here to kidnap me that’s probably not a good idea. They won’t come back early and they don’t like being interrupted when they’re traveling to sites.”

“Kid… Tim, look I’m not real sure how I even got here but I’m not going to fucking kidnap you. What the hell?”

“Oh, so your lost?” He cocked his head to one side and the movement made Jason smile, clearly some mannerisms had always been a Tim thing.

“Something like that. I think I traveled back in time but I have to check on a few things to be sure.”

Tim nodded like this was absolutely fuckin brilliant and took another huge bite of his sandwich.

Jason let him eat as he sat down on a stool and snagged a pad of paper to start writing out a few places to check. If Tim wasn’t nine yet then Dick was only just barely Robin officially. He winced, no checking the manor then. With Dick grieving his parents and trying to hunt down and kill the man that killed them and Bruce chasing Dick around, the last thing Jason wanted to do was run into them. There went that idea.

“What day is it?”

“Thursday.”

Jason looked up sharply, “Then why aren’t you in school?”

“Because it starts in two weeks?”

Fuck. Jason sighed, “It’s not September yet?”

Tim got down and went over to where another chair was set against a counter and carefully pulled down a calendar before bringing it to Jason to hand it to him. “This is when you are.”

“Thanks kid.”

Tim pulled the chair over and climbed up, dragging the last of his sandwich over as he peered over Jason’s notes. “Mrs. Mac won’t be back till Monday. Are you going to use magic to go back?”

Jason pulled his notes away and frowned at the small child. “I feel like you should still be scared of me or at least smart enough to not trust a total stranger.”

Tim shrugged, “You’re only wearing sweat pants, you were waving a candlestick at me, you didn’t even know what month it is or even what day.” He looked up at Jason seriously, “I think you are probably a time traveler.” He looked down and made a small sad face when he realized he’d eaten all of his sandwich.

“Trusting little snot.” Jason watched Tim start to sweep up the crumbs and lick them off his fingers. “If your still hungry then make another one.”

Tim just cleaned up his little area but didn’t look up. “It’s okay.”

Jason turned his full attention onto the smaller child and frowned, “Tim, are you still hungry?” He didn’t like the look in Tim’s eyes when his head snapped up and he shook it quickly. Clearly, he was lying but that didn’t make any sense. Or it made sense but Jason didn’t like why it did. Not many reasons he knew that a hungry kid wouldn’t eat.

Jason got up to make it himself but Tim jumped off the chair and pushed Jason’s legs as if to stop him.

“No, no, no! You’ll get me in trouble!” Tim cried.

Jason stopped then crouched to get eye level with him. “Why?”

Tim fidgeted, chewing on his lips. “Not supposed to be wasteful. Mrs. Mac buys enough. I can’t be greedy.”

Maybe it was good that the Drakes weren’t in the country, Jason was having some violent urges towards them. “Tim I want you to hear me, if you are hungry then you should eat until you are actually full. Is Mrs. Mac gonna tell your parents if you eat two sandwiches?”

Slowly Tim shook his head while Jason waited him out. It didn’t take Tim long to crack. “If I have two now, I won’t have any on Sunday after breakfast.”

Jason got up and began to open doors and looked around the kitchen. He checked the freezer and refrigerator and began to get angrier. There was barely any food here. Not even the boxed shit or cans of soup. A few cans of spaghetti-o’s and some other canned foods. A few vegetables and two boxes of cereal. Maybe a cup of milk left in a gallon jug.

Jason stared at the bread, he didn’t any allies here to help him, his funds and ID were all back at his safe house. He was okay with computers but not good enough for the really stupid idea that was working its way into a plan in his mind.

What did he need? Money. Clothes. ID good enough to pass inspection and one hell of a good story. Barbie wasn’t old enough yet to be her amazing hacker self. Clearly the Replace- Tim wasn’t going to be there for years. If he remembered his history correctly then cyborg wasn’t around and neither was the JL so that wiped out a lot of options. “Black-market it is.”

He looked over to where Tim was and made up his mind, first he’d fix this then he’d worry about getting back to his own time. “Okay, how about we make a deal?”

“What kind of deal?”

Jason grinned, “Well first I think I should be wearing clothes and maybe you can help me with that.”

Tim nodded but Jason kept going.

“I need a place to stay while I’m stuck in this time until I figure out how to go back, so here’s my deal. You help me make Mrs. Mac think your parents hired me and I’ll stay here with you and I’ll get you extra food so your parents won’t know if you eat more and I promise, none of it would go to waste.”

Tim stared at him then stuck out his hand, “I like the spaghetti-o’s with the meatballs.”

Jason took his hand and shook it, “Kid I’ll make sure you’re fed really fuckin good food.”

-----------

It really had not been as hard as Jason had been worried about. Once Tim had made his ‘deal’ he’d found things in his father’s wardrobe that didn’t look like Jason had stolen the clothes. Then he’d gotten money and together they had gone to where, thankfully, a few places were still the same to get your fake ID’s and put out a few feelers for some higher quality work at the same time.

Providing a “hiring letter” for Mrs. Mac was easy as Tim knew how they should look and had known where some other documents with his parent’s signatures were in the office. So now he was the hired guard that stayed at the house full time. He’d drive Tim to school and get him but he’d also make sure the kid was fed and taken care of. And if memory served, he’d hopefully keep the kid from starting his nighttime stalking habits of a pair of nocturnal morons.

All they needed next was a reason for Tim’s parents to agree to have Jason stay there. That had been almost as easy once they’d had the research as well as backup evidence that Jason had suggested he use to ‘strongly encourage’ Jack and Janet into seeing things more his way. After all Gotham might have been neglectful but the moment he made the upper society aware of Tim being considered an “abandoned child” rather then one that had protection. Janet had, of course, been the harder one to bring around but Tim had known how to push his mother’s buttons and soon she was seeing the advantage. Especially as Jason wasn’t actually threatening them or demanding a high salary to keep him quiet.

She hadn’t been unwilling to level her own subtle threats but Jason wasn’t worried. They’d come back in November and were gone again almost a full two weeks later. Jason had a room, a credit card but he also had an expense report he had to fill out as well as tracking every cent so when Janet checked she had a full accounting of what was bought.

Tim followed him around like a duckling and Jason was surprised at how easily he got used to it. They had a routine down. On school days he fed Tim breakfast, packed lunches that he increased in size with small items, got him to and from school or lessons and then back to the house. But now he also grabbed them fast food just because. Took Tim out for ice cream at the park. He even found a movie in the park not too far out of the way that he felt was safe enough to take Tim out to.

The kid had stayed in his lap watching with huge eyes as they finished the street food and popcorn Jason had gotten them.

On days there was no school Jason took Tim to the Zoo and aquarium, to the parks, to playgrounds or anywhere else he thought might be something Tim would enjoy. The science exhibit at one of the museums was a huge hit. The touch museum, not so much.

Jason also taught Tim everything he could think of. Cooking, reading, gymnastics and even a little street brawling. He wasn’t willing to let the kid join the night circus if he could stop it but he wanted Tim to be as strong and resilient as the Tim he’d know. Just, you know, without all the drama and baggage and neglect he’d gone through.

Jason had taken Tim down to a soup kitchen for Thanksgiving to volunteer in the Bowery but had made some things for them back at the house.

Christmas was a bigger deal and the kids Birthday wasn’t until July so he had time to be sure his ‘employers’ had been reminded about Tim’s birthday and call. Even if Jason had to make it a bigger spectacle then he wanted to. Maybe a big birthday with lots of ‘important’ people around so that the Drake’s were either there or made sure to have their presence felt.

Anything to take the kicked puppy look from Tim he remembered when he thought of his Birthday.

But for now, Christmas. Jason had invited Mrs. Mac but she’d declined so it was just Jason and Tim so he thought about all the things that Alfred had done to make the holiday special for Jason on his first time in the manor and adjusted his plans. Some he’d put together and just take Tim to enjoy, others he’d let the kid choose between things to see what he’d like to do or try as well.

But first, “Alright Tim. You got today to make sure every piece of homework, test, and paper is turned in. The penalty of having them not handed in after today is no cookies for the first week of your break.”

Tim gasped as if he’d been threatened with a beating, “No! I have all of them in their folders to give to my teachers. Cross my heart.” He hastily made the X over his chest, an action that always made Jason smile.

“Alright, I believe you.” He slid the pancakes onto Tim’s plate and poured the whip cream over them. “Eat up so we can leave and then once school is over for the break we’ll go over some ideas I had for the next two weeks. Deal?”

Tim stuck out his hand with the fork in it and grinned, “Deal!”

Jason shook it, ignoring the fork. He had been deliberate to never look like he was disapproving of rejecting anything that Tim did or expressed. He’d worked hard to get the kid to open up and that had been as hard as getting him to eat more. Thankfully both were paying off. Tim was putting on some weight and looked a lot healthier but the best part was how chatty and expressive Tim was now. He’d tell Jason everything that happened and made gestures when he got very excited about something. He still didn’t outright ask for hugs but he no longer got so stiff when Jason hugged him. Tim relaxed into them and let Jason carry him around as much as he wanted. There’d be time enough to teach him to have a mask when he didn’t want other people to see more than he wanted but the last thing Jason wanted was to crush the spark of Joy that Tim was showing.

While Tim was in school Jason went a did a little more window shopping to make sure he had everything that would be needed. Janet had made sure to send some of what she believed to be appropriate Christmas presents for Tim. Jason had gotten them and put them away for later and had done his own shopping for Tim. And boy he’d hadn’t been expecting that he’d have to lock them up and away from the house because Timmy was a little snoop.

He’d seen Jason with a few shopping bags and when Jason had made the mistake of not having a story Tim had been on high alert to find out what was in the bags. All with a mischievous smile on his face.

“What’s in the bags?”

“Just some stuff, nothing important.”

“So I can look in it?”

Jason reached out to pull the bags out of reach and put them up on top of the fridge. His second mistake. “Nope. Nothing for you to worry about.”

Tim watched the bags while he ate his snack and didn’t bring it up again but when Jason left the room he heard a faint scrape and realized his third mistake. He lunged back into the kitchen in time to see Tim on top of a stool, reaching for the bags and almost had one of them. Jason reached over and grabbed Tim rather than the bags. “Yeah no. Those aren’t for you and you aren’t supposed to be climbing furniture.”

“I was climbing the stool because you said I can’t take the ladder down by myself.” Tim reasoned from where he was dangling.

Jason knew Tim was grinning too, incorrigible kid. “That’s because the step ladder is as heavy as you are and we’re still working on those muscles.” He set Tim down and reached up, taking the bags with him this time to put away in his room. He ended up having to move them and the others he’d tucked away five more times before he’d been forced to move them out of the house to a secured locker.

---------

“I don’t know about this Jason.” Tim fretted anxiously while Jason waited. It was the same thing he’d said when Jason had taken Tim to learn how to ice skate or to the tree lighting that had, miraculously, not had some rogue turn it into a disaster. Both had turned out fun for Tim as much for Jason. Making cookies, however, Tim had been enthusiastically been in favor of.

Now Jason waited while he let Tim work though the idea of having his photo taken on Santa’s lap. It wasn’t a big thing but it seemed like something he should at least give Tim as an option to do. His little charge still wasn’t a huge fan of crowds and he preferred to keep Jason close.

 “It’s okay Timtac. What do I always tell you about new things?”

Tim looked where his fingers were twisted around each other then peeked up at where Jason was crouched beside him. “That I don’t always have to do something new that scares me.”

“That’s right, and if it’s something you do have to do then I’m always going to be right here with you to keep you safe.”

Tim nodded then looked over at where the Santa was seated and the line of kids around him. “I think I… I don’t want to do this.”

“Okay, then we’ll get some takeout and watch a few movies.”

“Okay!” Tim beamed and skipped excitedly beside Jason, swinging his one bag.

They’d gotten a tree, put it up and decorated it but Jason had all the presents set aside and hid. He’d put them out on Christmas Eve once he was sure that Tim was actually asleep. He tried to not hate the Drakes but seeing the wary hope in Tim’s eyes, hope he knew was doomed to be disappointed it was hard to not hate them.

“Alright Timbit, time for bed.”

“Maybe we should watch just one more?”

“Yeah, like you won’t crash before it’s over.” Jason scooped Tim up and tossed him over his shoulder. “How about another chapter tonight and we’ll try more movies another day?”

Tim went limp and sighed gustily. “Can I have one last cookie?”

“Yeah, no. That’s not gonna happen. Teeth, face, story and then bed for you nugget.” Jason dropped Tim onto his bed knowing it would make the little boy laugh. Tim might bemoan the need for sleep every night but he was quick enough to go through the routine that Jason set up for him.

Jason settled Tim in and sat on the bed, picking up where they’d left off the night before. Part-way through Tim reached over to give Jason’s finger a squeeze. “Is Santa magic?”

He looked down at Tim and considered, “I don’t know if Santa has magic but sometimes, sometimes Christmas has magic.”

“Do you…” Tim looked down and plucked at his blankets working out how to ask what he wanted. “Do you think if I asked for a wish really hard and promised to be very good maybe… maybe magic might- might…”

Jason reached over and broke one of his bedtime rules to lift the covers so he could pull Tim into his lap and hug him tightly. He felt the soft sob and rubbed his back, “Tim I can’t promise that you’d get your wish, but if it’s important to you then there is nothing wrong with holding tightly to it and wishing with everything you have. Maybe you get it, maybe you don’t but that can’t stop you from wishing when it’s important.”

They sat like that until Tim fell asleep and Jason tucked him back in. It was getting really hard to not hate Jack and Janet Drake.

He didn’t bring up Tim’s wish and Tim never talked about it. He even seemed to be in mostly good spirits for Christmas. After that it was back to school but Jason continued to build up his skills and keep Tim involved in things besides school. There were even a few kids at Tim’s school that Jason was encouraging him to be friends with. All in all he was pleased to have made this much progress with Tim, at this point he’d be damned if he’d let him become Robin and have Bruce or Ra’s ruin his future.

Tim was going to have a safe, happy and fucking happy life if Jason had anything to say about it.

He no longer thought about returning to his own time or his previous life. The Red Hood was dead and buried, Jason Todd of this world and his own were now also both dead and buried. He’d felt bad when he’d finally traced down his alternate in this world but considering the shit that would have been coming Jason had hoped the kid had found peace and would be able to keep it.

Magic, time travel, and the multiverse could all fuck off. Jason was content where he was and he finally had a purpose that he could feel good about. This was as close to being a father as he ever wanted to be.

He swung the towel over his shoulder and pulled the pan off the burner and plated up the breakfast he’d finished. It was Saturday and they had some time and no real plans so he’d gone a little big on the food, deciding to do waffles as a treat. “Timbit! Breakfast, get your scrawny butt in here!”

“I’m not scrawny!” Tim huffed as he wandered in, still rubbing the sleep from them.

“Yeah, keep eatin kiddo. Maybe you’ll graduate up from scrawny to twerp.” He cackled at Tim’s affronted look. Without looking he grabbed the canister to spray whipped cream on top of a pile of waffles and set them in front of Tim’s spot.

Tim continued to grumble but it was hard to take it seriously and only continued to amuse Jason as he dug into his own waffles.

“Okay kiddo, your parents emailed to say they were planning to be back next month because of some big showing they wanted to be at and they want me to have you there.”

“Gross.” Tim mumbled around his waffle.

Jason snorted and shot him a grin, “Yeah well thems the breaks when you’re the only kid of rich parents. Gotta show off that big brain of yours and how cute you are.” He poured a glass of OJ and handed it to Tim along with a few vitamins. “And we gotta get fitted for suits. Apparently, I’m supposed to be in one too.”

At that Tim snorted and grinned impishly, “Yeah well thems the breaks when you’re a guard for the only kid of rich parents.”

Jason nearly choked on his bite and sputtered while he tried to laugh and breathe, all of which made Timmy laugh loudly. “Twerp.” He wheezed, pointing a finger at Tim and trying to clear his throat.

Unfazed by the wordless ‘threat’, Tim stuffed another bite of waffles in his mouth and began to swing his legs back and forth. Clearly very pleased with himself for making Jason choke on his food.

Once he had his breath back and was sure he wasn’t going to continue to choke he grabbed some of the dishes to put into the sink. “Just for that your gonna do two extra laps today with me in the pool.”

“Awww fudgnuggets!”

Jay grabbed the bowl with the remaining batter he knew he wouldn’t be making into waffles and started to turn to the fridge when he heard Tim shriek.

“JASON!”

He felt the cold sensation of being dunked in glacier water as he whipped around and saw Tim’s terrified face. No intruders were visible but Tim’s eyes were already full of tears that were dripping down his face. The bowl crashed to the floor and he looked at his hands in surprise, shocked to see that he could see through them.

Horror made him feel sick, “No… No I don’t fuckin want to leave!”

“JASONJASONJASONJASONJASONDON’TLEAVEMEDON’TLEAVEME!” Tim continued to shriek as he scrambled down his chair and rushed to him.

Jason tired to reach him but felt the pull and tug before everything was just gone and he was back in his shithole of a safe house with Tim’s sheiks still echoing. He looked around feeling sick as he realized where he was and sank back onto his bed. Nothing was covered in dust and nothing was disturbed.

He sat while his mind spun before grabbing the nearest item to fling across the room, slamming it into the wall as he bellowed out in frustration. “SENT ME THE FUCK BACK!” For the first time in a little over a year, Jason saw green. He raged, tearing his entire safe house apart. Shattering windows and smashing open parts of his walls. Nothing was safe. Nothing was off limits to his rage until finally he was spent.

He sank onto the floor only to realize the raw wounded sound was coming from him as he sobbed. “You gotta send me back… please, you gotta send me the fuck back.”

He lost track of time while he lost himself to his grief. This was worse than anything else he’d dealt with. Even getting blown up didn’t have this same sharp and jagged sense of loss. He hadn’t hurt this much even when Catherine died. Then he’d been too focused on just staying alive. Now… now all he could do was feel the agony of loss.

It was hours before Jason began to come back to himself, it was dark outside but the was no way he was going anywhere. He needed to get back. It was just that simple. Whatever universe magic fuckup had sent him could just do it again and then leave his ass there this time. Pushing himself up from where he landed he looked around, swearing under his breath while he searched for his phones.

“Where is it?” He shoved things out of his way until he finally found it and pulled up his contacts. “Answer the phone you fucker.” When it went to voicemail Jason tried to keep the threat out of his voice. “I’m cashing in my favor and I’ll pay you a shit ton of money on top of it. Call me back. Now.”

Now that he’d gotten past the worst of his rage his mind was already working on plans. He wasn’t going to wait around hoping for luck. He’d make his own fucking luck just like always. He’d pack up and prepare to take what he could with him and he’d find a way no matter what he had to do to get back. Tim- no he couldn’t think about him now or he’d loose his shit again.

He continued to call the same number as he gathered up his armor and weapons. He’d take all he could back with him, even if he had no intention of patrols or donning a ‘cape’ he wanted the armor to use keeping Tim safe, it was the best he had and he damned well wasn’t going to leave it behind for some shithead to use. Or some damned nosey bat.

“What. The. Fuck, mate?” Was the first thing his phone said when he hit redial again. “28 voicemails and 87 missed calls? Damned zombie, what in fuckin hell is so bloody important to harass me this loud?”

“About fucking time. I’m cashing in m-“

“Yea, yea. I heard your message, at least I almost listened to one of the damned things.” He sighed, “I could be there in a few weeks.”

Jason clenched his jaw tightly, “Now. I need you here right the fuck now.”

Constantine snorted, “Sorry mate, I hate Gotham. You’ll have to come to me and it’ll have to wait. I’m busy.”

Jason scowled, “You aren’t hearing me. I am cashing in the I-saved-your-life-from-your-own-fuckup-and-saved-your-ass-and-covered-for-you-with-the-Justice-League-Cops-League-and-the-Bats Favor.” He paused and continued to steamroll over what else the cantankerous Brit might say. “And I’m offering to pay on top of it since I know how much you hate Gotham. Tonight, Constantine. Wipe my favor clear and I’ll also pay you 84 million on top of it.”

Constantine whistled low, “You know once you cash in this favor you don’t get to call me for any others ever again?”

“I won’t need to if your skills are as good as your big mouth says they are.”

--------

“Alright, this should do it.” John Constantine finished drawing out the runes for the spell and looked over at where Jason was waiting. “I gotta ask, just one last time. Are-“

“For the last fucking time, yes! I’m sure. Put me back to the alternate universe or time stream or where ever the fuck I was and lock the door behind me so I can’t get pulled out again.”

“And you’re certain that there isn’t a Jason Todd you’ll be replacing there?”

Jason shook his head curtly, “I checked, kid died and was buried before he hit 5. This place here doesn’t need me. This city… this world is gonna be fine without me but that one… It could go on without me but there’s someone that needs me right now and I can’t let him down. Just send me back.”

Constantine finished his cigarette and nodded slowly, he wasn’t sentimental and he could give a shit less about Gotham or it’s bats. “Alright mate, step into the circle and keep focused on where you want to go. Do not let your mind waver or shift focus. Once I let go of my side if you aren’t 100% focused then I won’t be able to find you. You’ll be fuck all from luck and no idea where you’d land.”

Jason huffed and pulled on his jacket and shouldered the smaller bag he had strapped to himself. He’d had to downsize from his previous load and repack twice so he wouldn’t through too much out of balance. Hell, if it would help him get back to Tim he’d fuckin strip down to his boxers or go back bare-ass naked. “Let’s do this.” He centered himself and closed his eyes, focusing on the Drake manor. The kitchen where he made Tim eat and work on learning how to do more than make a PB & J. Tim and his ridiculous snort when he was trying not to laugh. On Tim and he scream when he’d realized that Jason was disappearing.

“Good luck Zombie.”

He barely heard Constantine over the wind and stayed focused hard on where he needed to be. ‘Look I don’t know if there is anyone up there listening or giving a shit but please, let this work. Let me take care of him.’

When nothing happened, he tried to not bellow in rage again; loosing himself to the Lazarus pit wouldn’t help Tim. “Alright so we do it again.” He turned to where Constantine had been but now, he was alone. Jason looked around and inhaled sharply.

This was Drake manor but… he wanted to shout for Tim but his throat was tight as he crept his way down the hall from the room he’d been in. It was just another guest room, not the one he had been living in. Silently he headed for the kitchen, desperately looking for any clues that his mad gamble had worked. It looked right but Jason wasn’t taking any chances. He had no idea how long he’d been gone and if he was even in the right universe.

When he reached the kitchen it was still silent but he let out the breath he’d been holding when he saw the same mess from breakfast as when he’d left. The waffles were still there, cold now. The batter mess was on the floor along with a few plates. Tim’s chair was tipped over. Jason scanned over everything again, right place but how long had he been gone? Mrs. Mac didn’t come anymore unless Tim wanted to invite her over or Jason needed some help because the Drake’s were coming back and Jason flat out refused to clean the whole fucking manor.

But where was Tim now? He clearly hadn’t been gone for more than a few days based on the mess. No other food was missing. Jason went to the security pad and typed in his code to get a read back from his last check. No doors opened anywhere, no windows. No change. He checked the date and time and felt dizzy with relief. He’d only been gone for an hour.

“TIMBIT!” Jason shouted for Tim and raced up to the bedrooms, needing to confirm by seeing Tim for himself. “TIMMY!” He tore up the stairs two and three at a time when he heard a door slam.

“Jason?” the small voice wobbled making Jason’s heart squeeze hard.

“Timberly!” He turned a corner and saw Tim, still in his PJ’s.

“JASONJASONIMSORRYDONTLEAVEMEDONTLEAVEME!”

Jason met the boy in the hall and squeezed him tight as the thin arms grabbed onto him tightly. “I’ve got you, Nugget. I’m not leaving. I’ve never leaving you again. Never.”

“I wished for this. You can’t leave me, you were my Christmas wish.” Tim cried as he held onto Jason.

Jason just held him tighter and let himself have a moment to cry a little. God help the universe because he’d raze them all to nothing if it meant he could keep this kid. “I love you too Timbit.”

Later he’d explain as best he could and let the science of it all make Tim’s mind spin with all the possibilities. Later he’d unpack and resecure his weapons and the cash he’d brought with him. Later they’d clean up the kitchen and stay curled up together and let movies play that they wouldn’t pay attention to. Later they’d deal with everything. But that was later.

For now, all that mattered was holding Tim. Making sure the boy knew how much Jason cared about him and even if he had to keep Tim tied to him, he was going to make damned sure that they stayed together.

He was home.