Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Ninja found he liked his newest epithet, his newest person had chosen well. While he was not a warrior per say, he defiantly could identify with someone skilled attacking from the shadows or darkness. His person is a human, who in general as a species treated the flerkin like species of Earth well so he could see staying here for a good length of time.

His human was one he planned to stay with. The only problem being that as his human performed his normal business Ninja could watch over him, but as for his human's other activities the human needed someone to watch over him. Watching his human himself was cutting into his sleeping time.

It seemed he needed to locate a ‘side kick’ or hero-ing partner as his human had failed to do that himself. Yes, his human had his family but they were rarely with his human. Instead they were on a comm line so his human would have to call on them for aid. Aid which could easily be to late some day.

His human seemed displeased with human young working with human adults so it would be best to find a human adult or older child that was nearly an adult hero, especially if they were a new hero needing some guidance.

Although his human’s not-sire was against having powered heroes in the city so a superhuman would be ill-advised for his human’s new partner.

All of his human’s pack were settled into their own places so none of them would work, and after searching the city Ninja could not locate any not-pack hero types. So Ninja needed to look further.

Maybe he was being to restrictive in his search, only looking at hero types. Some considered his human a former villain or anti-hero so reforming a non-hero into a hero might appeal to his human. He was sure he could convince his human to take them in at least. Then it would be easily enough to convince the new ward to repay his human’s kindness by aiding him in his hero business.

Yes, that was a good idea. Perhaps Lady Gotham might have an idea.

Setling down to ask he surprised to get a vision almost as soon as he asked.

Thinking over the vision he found he agreed. Now to go get his new human’s hero partner.

Chapter Text

Jason groaned as he slid the window closed behind him. It had been a long patrol, but at least it had been busy. So, although his muscles ached, he hadn’t been bored.

Throwing his jacket on it’s hook he called into the apartment, “I’m back. Once I’m done in the shower I’ll make breakfast before crashing.”

Ninja’s meow was a bit off from normal. A double meow versus a single meow, but Jason shrugged it off. He was home late, Ninja was probably just unhappy about the delay on breakfast.

A short time later he yawned as he stepped into his kitchen smiling as Ninja brushed up against him, “Yeah, yeah, I’m making breakfast. We’re almost out of groceries so were both having steak. I’ve got the last of the stupid spinach salad I made for myself as well.”

A meow came from the kitchen table acknowledging his response.

“I know it’s my own fault for getting shot and loosing so much blo…” Jason glanced at the floor where Ninja was still trying to trip him by winding between his legs, before looking to the kitchen table. “Ah Ninja, did you bring home a friend?”

Ninja simply meowed once.

“Right, well your going to be sharing breakfast then. I can’t skip right now, but I’ll make you a snack after I go shopping. Is that okay?”

Ninja purred.

“Alright,” Jason turned his attention to the other cat, that might be wearing something? Hell, he’d care if they were still here after he slept. “Ground rules, nobody sits or stands on my kitchen counters. Tables fine, but not the counters. Then use either the toilet of the kitty litter if you have to go while your in the apartment. And finally, no touching my weapons, for your safety and mine.”

The new cat meowed back, whether they were as smart as Ninja or not he but hopefully if they weren’t Ninja would keep them in line for now. He was beyond ready to crash.

-

Crawling out of bed Jason quickly got what he needed to be ready for the day before heading into the kitchen to see what he needed to buy. After compiling his list he tracked down Ninja, who was still sleeping on his bed.

“Hey Ninja. I need to know if your friend is staying or not.”

Instead of their normal no/yes meowing system Ninja, projectiled, out a cat cushion.

“Well that answers that. I’ll buy food for your friend as well then.”

-

“Alright,” Jason pulled out the board he needed and looked to Ninja’s friend, “One meow for yes, two for no. Do you understand me?”

“Merow.”

“Cool, can you read?”

“Meow.”

“Can you spell your name then?” Jason gestured at the Ouji board he had placed on the table and watched as the cat swatted the different letters.

“Dex Starr? Huh, reminds me of the books Dexter a little bit. Sort of fits my esthetic even. Now how did you get in that get up and do you want it off?”

Dex-Starr slapped the no before spelling ‘ring.’

“Ring? Wait,” Jason looked closer at Dex-Starr’s chest, “Is that the lantern symbol? In red? Shit what’s the red one, I know green is will power.”

Dex-Starr hissed.

“Yeah they’re all pompous assholes, but they owe me a favor now. Now violet was love, boy was that a weird week. Yellow were wimps doing all that shit with fear. I’ve had worse mostly antidoted fear toxin exposures then what that guy pulled. Black is supposed to be super bad, death I think…”

Jason almost slapped himself as he realized he shouldn’t have had to think about it, “Red is rage. By Gotham how did I forget that planet? Didn’t know the Lanterns came in different colors before those aliens went all crazy about me possibly being a red one. For once we were luck and that psychic told everybody that I was on the other side of the spectrum.” Jason snorted, “Like hell I’m powered by love, but that got us out of there.”

Jason shook his head, “Right rage. We talking wanting to kill lots of people or being focused on a single person? Cause if your interested in mass murder were going to have a problem.”

Dex-Starr spelled out his answer, ‘Kill 1. I good kitty.’

“Good kitty huh? Well it sure seems like you are, but I just need to know why you want to kill the one person. Press one for murder, two for rape, three for both or four for something else.”

Dex-Starr hit the ‘1’ symbol.

“Good reason, now who’d they kill? One for another cat, two for a human, three for something else.”

‘2’

“Alright good kitty Dex-Starr I think I can help you with that. Now was the human killed your last owner, or well last human? Cat’s don’t really do the owner thing.”

‘Yes’

“Do you know the name of the person who killed them?”

‘No’

“Alright that will make it a lot harder but we’ll manage. For now though I owe you two a snack after serving you guys a small breakfast. After I finish my lunch we can work on victim information and what you know about our unsub before I have to head out to some meetings.”

Dex-Starr meowed his understanding, he was a good kitty, he could wait. Especially for the yummy foods his new human made.

Chapter Text

Dex-Starr is a good kitty.

Jay-sun was stalking his territory for bad men, like the bad man Dex-Starr would find, and not as bad men.

Dex-Starr was quiet. He did not distract Jay-sun from his hunting. Distraction let prey get away. He would not be why Jay-sun’s prey escaped.

No, Dex-Starr was a good kitty. He watched.

Nin-jay had explained. Jay-sun was a strong hunter, but he hunted alone while his prey traveled in groups. Jay-sun needed someone to watch. Dex-Starr would help if prey hurt Jay-sun. Then Dex-Starr would pounce and protect Jay-sun. No one would take Jay-sun from Dex-Starr and Nin-jay.

Because Dex-Starr is a good kitty.

Chapter Text

Jason blinked at the man Dex-Starr had just dropped in front of him, “Dex-starr?”

Dex-starr hissed looking at the man.

Ignoring his confusion on where Dex-starr had come from, he turned to the goon. It was probably time sensitive if Dex-Starr actually brought the goon to him.

“So,” Jason drummed his fingers on his holstered gun, “What does Dex-starr want you to tell me?”

“This hell cat is yours?”

“We work together sometimes,” Once was technically sometimes, “Now he’s a Red Lantern, they’re fueled by rage. Then you know cats aren’t exactly known for mercy... So are you going to tell me what I need to know, or is he going to have to motivate you?”

The goons eyes blew wide trying to glance behind him to where Dex-starr was hovering.

“Nuh-uh,” Jason grabbed the goons head and turned it to him, “What does he want you to tell me?”

“My boss. We caught Robin, the stabby one, and the boss, he’s talking about selling him. Which sure to Scarecrow or someone who the Bat will be able to find him when they taunt him with the kid, I could live with that.”

Jason narrowed his eyes, “What can’t you live with?”

“He thinks we’ll get more from uh, private auction?”

Jason hand gripped his gun, “What sort of private?”

The man’s eyes turned back to meet Jason’s eyes, or at least attempted to. “I don’t work with traffickers and Boss says it’s just once but my daughters is Robin’s age. I-I can’t do it, I cant be part of that. None of use are okay with it, but he’s the boss. You know.”

“Where?” The word was hard to hear through Jason’s growl.

“He’s in an apartment on fifth and main, number 107. The red building next to Sam’s Deli.”

Jason glared at the man, “Scram. If you give your boss a heads up, you won’t be keeping yours.”

Ignoring the man Jason pulled out his grappling gun. He was only three minutes away. Everyone else was to far out to be any help. If anything happened to Damian before he got there, no one would make it out alive.

Chapter Text

Dex-starr landed on the building when Jay-sun motioned. His Jay-sun spoke when he set down.

“That was really good Dex-starr. You are a very good kitty for brining that man to me.”

Dex-starr preened at the praise, he was a good kitty.

“Now Robin’s trapped in there, probably tied to a chair and he’ll be surrounded by guards if this Boss has any brains. Which means we need someone to distract the guards while the other rescues Robin.”

Dex-starr nodded to show he understand.

Jay-sun took a breath flexing his hands, “Your small, and can create shields. So I want give you the most important job, rescuing Robin. Can you do that?”

Dex-starr sat up and quietly, meow’d a yes. Jay-sun trusted Dex-starr with his Baby Bird. Dex-starr would not disappoint Jay-Sun.

“Alright, here’s the plan. You float over until your next to the window, put up a shield around yourself so when I shoot the windows the breaking glass doesn’t hurt you. I’ll swing in and start the distraction. As soon as I’m in you’ll sneak in and grab Robin and bring him over there.”

Jay-sun pointed towards the other side of the roof they where on, “And guard him. I’ll join you as soon as I can. Don’t let anyone near Robin unless they’re one of the people in the photos I showed you.”

Dex-starr nodded. Nin-jay had told him about the other birds, and the Bat. Dex-starr knew who he could trust. He would protect Little Bird for Jay-sun.

Because Dex-starr is a good kitty.

Chapter Text

Jason grunted as he landed on the roof top looking around for his youngest brother. He knew Dex-starr got him out, but he hadn’t gotten a good look at the kid before Dex-starr rescued him.

He snorted noticing how Damian was still sitting in the chair he had been tied to, so that he could best pet Dex-starr, who was resting in his lap. Looks like he was up for another argument on who his cat should live with.

Dick was also inside the red shield bubble and seemed to be doing an injury check while complimenting Dex-starr.

Dex-starr seemed quite happy, but still turned his head towards Jason as soon as he landed on the roof.

“Good job Dex-starr. You can drop the shield now.”

Dex-start butted his head against Damian’s hand to get Damian to go back to petting him as the shield disappeared.

“Red Hood.” Batman landed beside him.

“What do you want old man?” Jason turned his head only enough to get Batman in view while still keeping an eye on Damian.

“You killed them.”

Jason rolled his eyes, “Only the boss, the others are going to jail. They’re lucky I let them live.”

“You can’t just-” Batman cut off to stare at the floating cat that had bitten his glove.

“Dex-starr!” Jason stared at Batman’s hand, holding back a laugh, “Biting is not until loud yelling. This isn’t even yelling yet.”

Dex-starr reluctantly let go, only to fly up to sit on Jason’s shoulder and hiss at Bruce.

Jason sighed, “Okay. I was about to tell you that they were planning to sell the Demon Brat on a private auction, aka human trafficking. It was the first time the boss had involved this crew so I gave them all warnings against doing it again. The boss didn’t get that, he chose to try and traffic Robin, he dies. Those are the rules.”

Batman scowled but instead of starting a lecture he turned and walked away, “Robin, report.”

“Outside minor rope burns I am uninjured. The individual in charge believed he would get more if I was unharmed. As far as I can tell the effects from sedative that the bait used has been fully flushed from my system.”

Nightwing frowned, “Bait?”

“A false mugging. When I went to help the woman up she released a gas. My blood may still contain enough that we may analyze and set up a counter agent to the drug.”

Nightwing nodded, “Let me grab a blood sample now before we head to the cave. Hood can you search the apartment they were using? They most likely had planned to use it the next time they moved his so hopefully you can find a pure sample.”

Jason nodded, “Cool. I’ll go find the knock out gas that took out the brat.”

“B can stay here in case anything makes it threw your helmet filters, and your new partner of course. If he and B can get along. Probably best that Dex-starr waits out here.” Nightwing turned to Dex-starr, “Your smaller and don’t have a mask so if a gas gets released you’d be at to big of a risk to risk that exposure.”

Dex-starr hissed before floating down to the building edge to look towards the building. His tail twitching side to side.

Jason snorted before leaning down to scratch Dex-starr’s ears, “I know your not happy, but I’ll defiantly be safe with such a good kitty as my back-up.”

Dex-starr’s tail stopped twitching, instead wrapping around his feet as he meowed a yes.

With that the group broke up. Batman and Dex-starr watching Red Hood re-enter the apartment while Nightwing took a sample of Robin’s blood before taking him back to the cave for a more advanced health check and anylsis.

Chapter Text

Jason yawned as he stepped into the kitchen. He just needed to make a meal up from his and his two furry roommates and he could go to bed. It had been a long night, and disgusting. Dex-Starr had actually managed to get into the shower, and turn it on, before Jason could. Poor guy had fallen into one of the mysterious goo puddles mid-fight had not been happy. Understandably.

Now having washed Dex-Starr, himself, and the floor where they had dripped the non-toxic ooze so Ninga or anyone wouldn’t accidently fall into some and need a bath.

Smiling he carefully didn’t trip over Ninga only to have to grab the counter when another furry body rubbed against his leg.

Jason blinked, a second furry body? Glancing over at the cat tree Damian had insisted he get he saw Dex-Starr on his normal surveillance bed for once tired enough to be laying down.

Glancing down he saw Ninga and someone new. A very small black and white cat, “Guys, I can not have more cats living with me that the demon brat has pets. Three is my max, okay?”

Ninga nodded as he meowed out a yes.

“Right,” Carefully stepping over the new cat, more a kitten on second look, he pulled open the fridge, “Steak, chicken of Tuna?”

At the paired three meows he pulled out the tuna and walked to his chopping block, “My new roommate have a name?”

Ninga meowed twice.

“Well, we will work on that after we all sleep.” Jason nearly tripped again on a furry body as he went to grab a knife from the drying rack. Instead changing his motion to pic up the kitten and walking over to Ninga, “Nobody but me in the kitchen or no one gets food.” He put the kitten down next to Ninga, “Not sure if this one is as smart as you two but you brought them home, you need to teach them. Agreed?”

Ninga meowed once before turning to the kitten.

As the two began to talk at a volume he couldn’t hear he returned to the tuna and started to make up three and a half, no four servings. He didn’t know when the kitten last ate and he could always save the left overs for later today. He’d have to look into what kittens needed in their diets after he’d slept off the fight.

Chapter Text

“Alright,” Jason looked at his three roommates, two of them looked back the third to distracted to give him much attention. “We are going to the vet.”

Dex-Starr hissed while Ninja stood to leave.

“Nah-ah, Ninja you’re going to.”

Ninja looked at him in a way that somehow reminded him of Alfred’s raised eyebrow.

“I know your not a cat but you are getting a rabies shot. Rabies is an uncontrollable fatal infection that is spread through saliva if you managed to get it you could infect and thus kill, a lot of people. I got a rabies shot, so you’re getting one.”

Ninja sat but refused to look at Jason.

“I have something pulled up on my computer for you to read. I can project it on the wall to make it easier to see so you can read all you want about the disease and the disease but everyone is getting that vaccine.”

Ninja finally looked at Jason still somehow obviously annoyed but seeming to finally agree.

“You can decide whether or not to get the other Gotham vaccines. They are to the various shit the rouges put out. They have something that should help with Joker Gas and Fear Toxin, but like with the human vaccines they’re just to cut the edge off, a bit of a chance to get to a remedy. You both know where I have those stashed at the right dosages for each of us.”

He sighed leaning back, “Pam is pretty good about aiming her stuff only at humans, as in specifically avoiding effecting animals but she does provide vets with an animal only general vaccine to her pollens. Dex-Staff if you want to keep fighting with me you’re getting them all as well as blood work so if something happens we know what your base line is. That way we will know what your blood work should look like and try and treat you accordingly.”

Dex-Starr growled lightly but did not leave.

Jason turned to his newest roommate who was playing with one of the fake mice Damian had brought for Dex-Starr and Ninja, they were finally seeing some use with the kitten. “You are getting everything and once your old enough your getting fixed. Unless you start showing signs of human-level, or higher intelligence and then we can talk, capice?”

The newest cat, which he was trying not to name even with Dick’s joke that he needed pirate bootie after the one fight where he’d been turned into a pirate. He didn’t care that the cat had what where often referred to as ‘booties’ on a cat until he knew a gender, and Ninja and Dex-Starr refused to share. Mostly likely just to mess with him, he wasn’t naming Bootie… he meant the cat.

Bootie continued to chew on his toy ignoring Jason’s naming plight.