Chapter Text
To survive on the streets, one has to be either smarter than everyone else, or stronger than everyone else. At the age of seven, (at least, he thinks he’s seven), being stronger than everyone else isn’t a possibility, so he has to be smarter, quieter, and faster - he has to rely on a lot more than brute strength to survive. Part of it means knowing, having that knowledge of where to be and where to stay the hell away from, having an ear to the ground - being invisible so when the adults talk, they don’t realize they shouldn’t be until after he got the information he needs. As a result, he knows shit, he knows Two Face is running an operation near the docks, he knows Penguin got the new hot shot politician in his back pocket, he knows Joker is planning something in the downtown area, and he knows Batman is scheduled to be there soon, because he always is.
So, it came as quite a shock when Robin showed his pretty little head here instead of there. Robin is always with Batman. So why the hell was he not right now?
Luckily, Jason wasn’t seen yet. He was hiding in a nook of the wall, a little place that has been chipped away by weather and neglect enough that it could fit his small body. He held the stolen necklace close to his chest, careful not to let it get scratch. The necklace costed more than any shitty apartment he ever lived in, and it’d get him at least a months worth of food, plus a heavier coat for winter. Gotham winters are cold and cruel, and his threadbare shirt and jeans just won’t cut it if he wants to survive.
Essentially, a lot is riding on this stupid necklace, and he can’t risk losing it. It’s the only reason he didn’t chuck it and run. Instead, Jason remained quiet and still as Robin looked around, trying to find the thief of the missing pearls.
Dick was a little annoyed as he looked, since he could be fighting Joker right now - and how cool would that have been?! But, he also kinda gets it after Bruce actually, surprisingly, explained himself (though Dick assumes that has more to do with Alfred then Bruce somehow gaining some form of emotional competence). Whatever’s going on with Joker right now is real dangerous, like even more dangerous than normal, and Bruce doesn’t want to risk Dick getting caught in the crossfire - especially since his leg is still healing from his last injury - so now he’s tasked with keeping the rest of the city out of the way so Batman can focus on Joker. Which is why he’s here, in the jewelry shop, seeking out the punk who thought robbing the place would be a good idea. And - oh, there he is. An excellent hiding spot, Dick must admit. If it wasn’t for all his training, Dick would have to admit he would’ve missed him. Now, he has to draw him out. Robin pretended to give up, letting out a loud, resigned sigh before moving to be leaving, walking away a bit noisily before silently hoisting himself up onto a nearby fire escape. Predictably, after a cautious few minutes to ensure the hero was gone, Jason moved. Robin frowned once he got a good view of the culprit, cause yeah he expected a kid. Just not… a baby. The child moved carefully, holding the necklace tightly to his chest, eyes wild and scared. There was dirt caked onto his body like a second skin, and his clothing dangled off his all too thin frame. Obviously a street kid, orphan most likely, malnourished and dehydrated and cold. Robin hated it, hated knowing there are kids living like this: suffering, and dying because rich adults don’t give two shits - spiting on the ‘street rats’ when they pass by, rather than helping. Dick almost wants to let the kid get away, but alas, he’s much too invested and, hopefully, if he catches the kid, he’ll be able to help the kid.
So, with all the dramatics one Dick Grayson loved, he jumped - soaring through the air with a graceful flip to land in front of the kid, “Halt!” Dick thought it’d be easy to catch the kid, honestly. He thought all he’d need was a well placed exclamation before firmly placing his hand on the kid’s shoulder to hold him in place. But the kid was slippery, and fast, and he easily ducked under Robin’s hand before running away, much to Dick’s surprise.
Robin never gives up, though. He chased, but the kid was honestly kind of amazing, and he knew the alley’s even better than Robin, (and possibly even better than Batman), which Dick took as a great critique. Not to self: get out into the alley’s more.
However, despite how tricky the kid tried to be, Robin was Robin and the kid is a malnourished baby. It didn’t take long for the vigilante to catch up, grabbing the kid by the collar of his shirt and hauling him back. Jason yelped, struggling against Robin with all his might. He even got one or two good punches in, and is pleased to note that Robin is going to have a nice bruise on his chin. He knows when he’s screwed, but dammit, he won’t go down without a fight!
Except, Robin was able to easily pin him when he tried, “Hey, hey calm down, you’re ok,” Jason gave one last, good struggle just to show he won’t go down easily, before the fight left his body. He couldn’t even put up a fight pinned like this - but he did remain tense and ready to flee if given the opportunity, “Listen, calm down. Nothing bad is going to happen.”
“Then the fuck d’ ya’ want?” Jason gave a tug against his hold.
“To help! We’ll return the necklace and then I’ll get you to some people who can help-“
“No!”
Robin was startled back at Jason’s outburst, “What?”
Jason scowled, glaring up at the hero holding him, “No. Listen princess, ya’ don’t get it. I don’t wanna go no where, ‘specially not foster care.”
“Foster care isn’t that bad,” he tried to smile reassuringly at the the young boy, “It’ll get you out of the cold and, and you’ll have free warm meals and everything!”
With a disbelieving scoff, Jason snarled, “Ya’ don’t know what they do ta’ kids in foster care. I do, ya fucking ass… A bargain. Let’s make a bargain.”
Wait wait, wait. How did it go from - a bargain? Weren’t they just discussing foster care? And - and first, let’s focus on that. What’s happened in foster care? Dick was in it for a bit, but he was in the care of a family approved from Bruce so, yeah, he did have a nice family and a nice time. This kid doesn’t have that. This kid is stuck wherever the state sticks him before they forget about him, and… Dick has a feeling he’s going to be looking into the foster care system now. Especially because, well, how bad did the foster system have to be to make the street, the fucking street- fucking Crime Alley- a better option?
And then, how did it get to bargaining? What could this kid even bargain? Where did he even learn the word ‘bargain’? That’s a big word for a seven year old… Dick thinks.
“Uh…”
“I got inf’rmation,” Jason struggled softly, “On Two Face and penguin and Ivy and Joker!”
Dick blinked, “Wha- how?”
Jason huffed, giving robin a knowing smirk, “That’s ma business and no one elses.”
Robin nods. He’s definitely not getting anything out of the kid, at least not right now, “Ok, what’s the bargain?”
“Ya’ let me go, and I’d tell ya wantcha wanna hear.”
“Um,” Robin blinks behind his mask. He realized three things all at once: 1. this boy will not stay in foster care, even if they get him a good home. 2. He doesn’t trust most people, so he won’t ask anyone for help. 3. If he stays on the streets, he will be dead by the start of winter.
There’s only one way to make this boy stay alive, “Ok, how about this? We return the necklace, and then go somewhere warm, I’ll get us some tasty food, and we’ll talk over your bargain. I promise, I won’t rat you out to any of the police or anything. Ok?”
And ok, that does sound better, if not a bit suspicious. But someplace warm, and food - free food. Besides, momma always liked Robin, so he’s sure Robin won’t take advantage of him like the others. With a deep, hesitant breath, he nods, “Fine. Ya’ gotta deal.”
After returning the necklace, Jason hesitantly climbed onto the back of Robin’s motorcycle, holding tight to Robin’s middle. He expected them to go to a cafe, or a coffee shop, or something of the like, but instead they drove to the edge of Gotham - and then kept going. Jason felt his pulse pick up, and felt his heart hammered unforgivingly in his chest, “Uh, R-Robin?” He was debating whether or not to jump off the bike, debating if the broken bones would be worth escaping, but Robin threw a smile over his shoulder and Jason figured the broken bones would only make things worse, “Where are - where’re we goin’?
”Just wait! You’ll love it,” The motorcycle sped, turning toward a cave and then into it. Jason looked around, mouth dropping when he realized where the were going… The bat cave. The fucking - what the hell, why is he - holy shit. Why are they here. “Why did ya’ bring me here? Ya’ said you weren’t gonna rat me out -“
“And I’m not!” Robin parked the bike, stepping off and throwing him a dazzling smile as an elderly man in a black mask came down a staircase, carrying a tray with two cups of hot chocolate.
“Master Robin, I brought the hot drinks for you and your guest. The sandwiches will be ready soon,” The elderly man set the cups of coffee on the table, and Robin smiled brightly.
“Thank you, Agent A!”
Robin took a seat at the table that was placed near the side of the cave, and motioned for Jason to take a seat opposite him. The boy did with great caution, looking like he’d rather be anywhere but here. Once in the chair, the boy grabbed the hot drink and took a small sip. Oh this is delicious. Oh hell. Jason quickly began to drink the cocoa, smiling brightly as tension quickly drained from him because wow, how could he be anything but happy drinking this hot chocolate? When was the last Tim ehe even had hot chocolate? He can hardly even remember.
“So,” Robin took a sip of his own, “What’s your name?”
“…Jason,” Jason bit his lip as he refused to give his last name, “You gonna keep me here?”
Robin shook his head, still keeping his bright smile on his lips, “No. After food, if you really wanna leave you can leave. But let’s talk about it, right?”
“Talk?”
“Yeah! Talk!”
“I agree,” Robin looked up and Jason froze before slowly turning to look over his shoulder at a large man - Batman. The Batman, “We should talk now, actually. Who is this kid?”
“This is Jason! He has information on some of our villains.”
Batman raised an eyebrow, looking between his Robin and this Jason, “Information?”
“Yeah! It was a bargain. I get him food and not call CPS because apparently the foster care system isn’t… good, and he tells us some stuff about what he knows.”
Batman gave a small nod, because of course he understood everything. He was just that good… and Dick would like to believe his and Bruce’s deep bond played a role in their easy understanding of one another.
Alfred returned with their sandwiches, an extra one for Batman. Jason was, once again, incredibly tense, eyes darting around the room, as he tried to take everything in and he just - this isn’t supposed to be his life. He hated it…. but… if the sandwich is as good as the cocoa…
Batman sat at the table beside Robin and Jason couldn’t help but gawk. The man was big, bigger than what he looks like from a distance. His armor almost has a sheen to it, and though there were some cuts and blood visible he didn’t look that bad for just coming out of a fight with the Joker. And his cape, it looked a lot heavier than Jason thought it’d be. He looked intimidating, stern, scary and… and kinda nice too, with the way he looked between the two of them and softened, the corners of his mouth ticking up into a small smile.
Jason wondered if he’s actually a vampire or not.
“Alright. What’s some of the information you know?”
Jason swallowed his big bite of sandwich before clearing his throat, “Uh, the new politician, the one Bruce Wayne end-indors- the one he pays, is workin’ for penguin,” that one made Batman frown, eyes narrowing, and Jason had to look away, down at the table to steady his breath. He didn’t like angry men. “And Two face is workin’ near the docks. He’s also lookin’ to get inta’ business with the workin’ girls,” and everyone else working the street corner. Jason knows about that a bit too well, not that he’d be telling Batman anything about that. “Ivy and Harley are datin’ again,” Jason shrugs. He likes when they’re dating though. Ivy doesn’t hurt kids, and Harley’s always nicer with her than when she’s with Joker. Those two are probably his favorite rogues.
Batman paused, letting out a little hum. He knew about Ivy and Harley, and about Two Face’s investment down at the docks, but but the other information on Two face, and the Penguin was interesting. Batman’s been so focused on Joker, he missed those bits, “You said he’s going to be doing business with the working girls? How?”
Jason took a bite of sandwich and shrugged one shoulder, “Lotta rich people come inta’ the narrows lookin’ for things they can’t get nowhere else. Sometimes illegal stuff too. He’s gonna blackmail them after they get some.”
Illegal? That could mean so much, but Bruce isn’t naive enough to think it’s anything but - well, he knew about all of the rich assholes who think they can get away with anything. They think they can indulge in any little perverted fantasy, then make it all go away with money - it always makes Bruce want to hurl. Batman is going to be hurting a lot of people soon.
“And you know all that how?” He saw the boy tense, eyes downcast as he took a little nibble from his food. Batman’s fist clenched, and he saw the corner of Dick’s lip pull up into a little snarl. Bruce knew what he had to do. “Thank you for all this. You’re helping me greatly,” He stood from his seated position, pretending to not see the way the boy flicked when he walked around the table to kneel in front of Jason, “I know you said you wanted to leave after eating, but why don’t you stay with my friend tonight? I promise, he’s very kind. Batman approved.”
Jason looked at the Bat with large, wary, wrapping his arms tightly around himself. He… kinda wanted to. After eating something real, drinking something warm, staying in a place that didn’t have holes in the roof and broken windows that let in frigid air and specks of snow, it was tempting. And Batman hasn’t been mean yet, or Robin. But he… “I don’t know.”
Batman gave him a small smile, “If you don’t want to stay, no one will force you. You aren’t a hostage, but he can give you a warm place to sleep, clothes, and food. At least give it a try.”
“But I can leave if I wanna?”
“Yes.”
Jason took a deep breath, chewing on his bottom lip before looking to Robin, who gave him two thumbs up. That’s decided then, “Ok.”
With Robin’s bright smile, and Batman’s own little one, Jason couldn’t deny he felt he made the right choice.