Chapter Text
It was a slow afternoon in 77 Wishes.
A lazy Sunday, orange sunlight giving the shop a soft glow. The single customer they had sat at the front counter with a spoon of bubble gum ice cream in his mouth, listening to Vicky Vale give her report on the TV nestled in the corner of the shop.
“Today marks three months after the events of the Arkham poisonings. Three months ago our team was first on the scene after Timothy Drake infiltrated Arkham and dispersed what is now known as Delphinium poison through all the Arkham holding cells, killing three patients. Lazlo Valentin, Barton Mathis and Victor Zsasz, or better known to the public as Professor Pyg, Dollmaker and Mr. Zsasz.
The rest of the inmates were saved from the same fate thanks to the Gotham Police Department’s ability to rely on the orders of masked vigilantes. They were able to reconnect the water lines and wash away the poison before more casualties occurred. “
And what a shitshow it was.
According to Damian anyway, Jason wasn’t really around to see it.
Jason had done the hard part, he’d gone through the vents and located the main computer Damian wanted. He plugged in the USB, opened the front doors and gave his spare com to one of the guards. Damian bullied the guard into getting the pipes fixed.
Jason went to find Bruce, and ended up just like the other Arkham shmucks.
And while he and Tim were taking a swan dive off the roof, the police finally showed up and helped the guard out. Lucky for them, the poison takes a bit longer on adults than it does kids. According to Bruce the inmates had a good four minutes. Jason had less than one. Who knew underfed ten year olds didn’t take poison very well.
The three victims had less time because of self-inflicted open wounds.
And to the shock of no one, nobody cried after the deranged serial killers.
It was a bit of fun watching the news bend over backwards to try and condemn the act when people were just glad three lunatics were gone.
“Timothy Drake was recognized after leaving the scene by rooftop where the Police blimp camera caught the escape. He was dressed as Joker Junior which confirmed many people’s theories on who had been responsible for the chain of poisonings that had happened in the months prior. “
Fuck you Vicky, his name is Red Hood.
“Drake was last seen crashing into the water with an unknown child hostage from a height of around 250 feet, after which neither of them resurfaced. Experts have stated that a fall of that height and at that speed is lethal and that the chances of either of them being alive is less than one percent. “
God bless Lucius’ stupidly reinforced gear.
“The GPD found remains of Junior, such as his coat and shoes but no body was recovered and is believed to be somewhere at the bottom of Gotham’s river.
The claim holds more water with every passing day, as no poisonings have been committed since and there have been no sightings of the Arkham patient either. Commissioner Gordon had this to say:
‘What happened here is not the sin of one teenager.
It is the sin of this entire city. All of us, myself included, are in part to blame for the crimes committed by the Joker and those the Joker corrupted, because of our inability to stop them. Timothy Drake Wayne was an outstanding young man who went through horrors I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemies.
He is another child we all let down, and now we see what the price is.
It is my professional opinion that Timothy died in the fall, and all I can ask of you is to respect the fact Timothy has a family who should be allowed to mourn his loss in respect.
Because of one boy’s broken idea of justice we lost not only one of the brightest minds I’ve ever met but the life of a little child whose name we don’t even know. I will never forgive this city, or myself, for allowing any of this to happen.
And I swear on my title of commissioner, I will not allow it to happen again.’
In the past three months Arkham has gone through massive renovations to its systems, Gordon has worked on spreading Delphinium detection filters, Wayne Tech has developed a working antidote prototype and perhaps most heartbreaking of all, the Waynes continue their search for Timothy, dead or alive.”
People brought flowers to the main gates of the manor again. It was a lot different than the first time, back then all the rich bastards brought bouquets bigger than Jason, all filled with the fanciest flowers you could imagine. Now though, it was mostly single red roses. Packed in newspaper pages, thorns cut off with house scissors. Jason knows that because that’s how Ann has been selling them down in the alley for years. Other than the roses were mostly wild flowers from the park or little store bought candles.
“Bruce Wayne refused to comment beyond asking for privacy and respect. “
Because he was slightly busy checking if Jason was going to drop dead every two minutes.
And how fun that was. He got out of it alive but the recovery was a bitch and a half. Alfie didn’t let him out of the bed for a month. Though, to be fair he wasn’t really capable of getting up anyway.
Turns out pneumonia is bad for underfed ten year olds.
It’s been… a messy three months. The biggest problem was Tim.
Just thinking about it gets Jason to scowl.
Bastard just up and vanished into smoke. Jason’s pretty sure the only reason Bruce hasn’t lost his mind is because Jason saw Tim before he left. Oh, and Tim did leave a little message on the computer.
‘I want the record to show it was Robin who saved the day B. Tell the kid I’ll teach him how to really fly next time I see him.’
Bruce took that as a good sign. Enough to not keep him in a cold sweat anyway.
And Jason…well he’s still waiting. Like he has every Sunday for the past two months he’s been coming to 77 Wishes, hoping Tim might turn up. Chances weren’t great but hey. He got his wish last time he was here. Maybe he’d get another one.
So far, no such luck.
“And it is today, on the three month anniversary, that Arkham Asylum officially reopens its doors. And with that, the legacy of the Joker ends not in either bang or whimper, but in a splash.
Back to the general news…”
And time for Jason to head home. Cass usually follows him around but she lets him have an hour in the ice cream place while she does her own stuff. Says Tim would probably only talk to him if he was alone. Jason thinks she just doesn’t like getting her hopes up.
Jason pulled out his phone and sent her a text to which she replied to meet her on the corner outside the shop.
He left his half uneaten ice cream and tried to swallow down the disappointment. He really hoped Red would show his face today. He needed to ask his opinion, or maybe permission, but he called him Robin, and Damian said it was ok, so it was all probably fair game but still-
He kinda wanted to hear what Hood thought. The bastard did have the best style in the family after all.
Just as Jason was about to leave the door to the shop opened with a soft ring and happy voices came with some familiar faces.
It was the Goodwins.
“Oh honey is that Jason? Hello dear! “
“Hello Mrs. Goodwin, Mr. Goodwin. Nice to see ya.”
“You too! I’m so sorry we didn’t come see you after the first meeting. I felt it was rude to just call and say goodbye but then everything started going crazy and we just-“
“It’s fine mam. Bruce told me he called you to apologize for the whole thing, and I’m sorry too.“
“Oh honey it’s not your fault. I’m just glad you found a family.”
Jason smiled at her sincere face. “Me too mam.“
“Oh, and let me introduce you!”
She stepped away to reveal a small girl and an unfamiliar woman with them.
“This is our daughter Emily and her aunt Vanessa.”
Jason blinked at the sight of the shy little girl and polite looking lady next to her.
“Wait is that-“
Mr. Goodwin filled him in. “Yes, the daughter we mentioned.”
“Oh um.” Jason gave them a small wave hello. “Hi.”
The ladies replied in kind.
“But I thought you said-“
“Ah. Things got crazy like I said but-.” And the smile Mrs Goodwin gave him was blinding. “It all worked out in the end. Vanessa agreed to return her to us.”
Vanessa nodded and brushed Emily’s shoulder to which the girl looked up at her aunt with a smile.
“She wanted to see her parents. Who was I to say no?”
The little girl seemed to finally get impatient with all the adult talk, scowling at her aunt.
“Aunty can we get ice cream now?”
“Which flavor do you want?”
The kid seemed to think long and hard about it so Jay threw in his two cents.
“Try the bubble gum It’s pretty good.”
“Isn’t bubblegum chewy?”
“Yeah, but this one is extra special. If you blow on it before you eat it you don’t have to chew it. Don’t tell anyone else though, it’s a secret.”
The girl gasped and started dragging her aunt over to the counter which left Jason with the two parents who chuckled as Emily loudly asked for bubblegum.
“So is she you kid now? Or the aunt’s?”
“We have custody”, Mister Goodwin answered,”But we all agreed Vanessa deserved a place in Emily’s life. She comes visit every once in a while. Emily adores her cool police aunt.”
Mrs Goodwin nodded. “And we like her too.”
Jason looked back to the enchanted little girl who was blowing on her ice cream and dramatically showing her aunt how it really didn’t need chewing. Looking back to the two parents in front of him Jason felt a weight lift off his chest. The Goodwins looked happy again. As happy as they did that day, all those months ago when he and Tim sat there in that shop.
“Oh honey, are you alone?”
Jason shook his head no. “Nah, I’m with my sister. She’s waitin’ for me at the corner.”
“Well then we won’t keep you! Good luck dear, have a nice day!”
And Jason left enjoying the sounds of a happy little family that found a way to heal after all.
Jason walked past the Old Gotham Alleys and stood on the corner waiting for Cass to show up. He stared at her with wide eyes when she did, because….why in the world was she covered from head to toe in paint.
“Cass? Where the fuck did you go?”
She grinned at him and signed slowly so he could try and keep up.
“Paintball club.”
“You’re not part of a paintball club.”
“No. And now they know why.”
“I-. You know what, I don’t want to know.”
“I won.”
“Yeah, that I guessed. Come on, let’s get home. Damian’s driving in from Blud and if we leave him with Bruce for more than ten minutes he’ll be pissy all night.”
“Did Tim come?”
Jason shook his head. The best thing he did with his time in recovery was start learning ASL with Cass. He got bored easily and she didn’t mind his slow progress. B and Damian helped out too, so now he could understand the basics. If she goes reallllyy slow. Which is better than nothing.
“I’m sorry Jay. “
“Not your fault.”
She nodded and the two started on their path back home, talking lightly. Jason mostly just looked around, taking in the old alleys and cataloguing which ones looked safe and which ones didn’t. Old habits.
This one is a dead end, so better not. That one reeks but has good fire escapes. That one seems decent but the camera might be trouble. Hell, it focused in on Cass and Jay as soon as they reached the alley. Definitely high security, so a bad choice. Though…maybe not. The thing seems broken. It started whirling left and right all of a sudden.
It kinda looked like it was waving.
Wait a minute.
Jason waved back.
The camera stopped.
Jason waited but it didn’t start up again.
He ran into the alley and Cass followed confused but it didn’t matter. There was nothing there and the camera didn’t move after that so Jason left it be.
They walked home and Jason wondered if he just imagined the whole thing.
After Jason recovered he was pretty much banned from the word Robin.
Alright, he might have been pestering people about it but still. Dramatic much.
He wanted to train immediately but no one agreed, all deciding without him that Robin training would wait till Jason ‘got settled’ whatever the hell that meant.
Jason was already settled just fine thank you.
His logic fell on deaf ears.
So, no training. But like hell was Jason just gonna sit there and do nothing all the time. When he wasn’t getting ready for school he snuck down into the cave and started making a suit.
He’ll admit, his attempts weren’t the best. And they figured him out in like two days. But Jason was nothing if not resourceful so he used his cards as best as he could.
He promised he’d shut up about Robin if they let him make a suit.
They were too tempted to say no.
And the suit turned out a whole lot better with them on board.
Jason kept the red and most of the tech but got rid of the complex computer Tim somehow stuffed into the suit. Next he got rid of the spandex pants and replaced them with cargo pants. More pocket space, duh. Plus they were far more comfortable.
He couldn’t get the cape to look right though. No matter how he turned it around it just looked too dark for him. So he went superhero suit browsing and came up with an idea, but he wasn’t sure if Damian would approve. It was more Black Bat’s thing than Robin’s.
He actually looked flattered for a minute after Jay asked if he could use his cape and hood design.
The dark green fit pretty nice with the red and black if you ask Jason.
Bruce said the suit was getting delivered today from Lucius and Jay was really nervous if it turned out alright.
He really wanted Hood to look it over too, see if it was good.
But oh well.
At least Damian came to throw in his two cents. He went back to his life in Blud two months ago but Alfie bullies him into Friday dinner. Cass comes around more often, staying for a week and going for a week to be with her team. She’s been helping Bruce deal with the fallout after Tim created the biggest power vacuum known to man.
She still babysits Jason during the day. It’s only slightly embarrassing.
And all of them look for Tim in the meantime.
That’s how almost the whole family found themselves in the cave, waiting for Jason to put on his new suit.
And how Jason found himself unwilling to leave the dressing room after he put it on.
He looks….well he doesn’t know.
What’s the scale on kid superhero outfits?
He either looks horrible or…well, it’s Jason. He probably looks horrible, when has he ever looked nice.
But it isn’t the look as much as….
It isn’t right making a suit without Tim’s say so. He shouldn’t have done it. It’s not his fucking place to ask for it when Tim never actually said Jason deserves it. No one actually wants Jason to be Robin anyway, who the hell is he kidding. Like a little kid playing dress up.
Jason swallowed down his shame and started taking off the suit when the com in his ear pinged, letting through a voice Jay hadn’t hear in three months.
“If you keep them waiting any longer kid the bats will start roosting on them.”
“Tim!?”
“At your service. What’s the hold up? You’ve already passed the dramatic exit mark.”
“I-I’m not doing it. It’s stupid.”
“What’s stupid?”
“The suit. I shouldn’t have touched it, It’s not mine-“
“Kid, the suit is great.”
Jason snapped his jaw shut. “You. You think?”
“I know. I borrowed Lucius’ files the other night for a sneak peak. How do you think I got this super special secret com built in.”
“You don’t mind I changed it?”
“Of course not. My Robin suit will always be a work of art. But of course it won’t fit another Robin.”
“Fuck. Thanks man. “
“Of course Little Red. Though, I do have to admit. I was on the verge of tears when I saw that cape. The betrayal!”
Jason chuckled at Tim’s dramatic voice. “Robin Hood wore green. “
“Green Arrow already cornered the market. But I see your point. And I have to admit, it looks good.”
“Glad you agree. Damian thinks so too.”
“Ugh, I take it back.”
“Um. Tim. I appreciate all of this, but where the fuck are you?”
“Ah, well that’s gonna be my little secret for now. Dead men tell no tales and all. But I’ll be in your ear whenever you need me.”
“Need you for what?”
“Well, anything technically. Think of me as a helper from the shadows with great knowledge at my fingertips. An Oracle if you will. I’ll be making sure things run smoothly.”
“What? Why?”
“Well, the last plan didn’t really work out and all. I decided to try a different approach for now. And Gotham is still filled to the brim with crazies, so I can’t just up and retire now can I? Someone needs to keep your butt out of trouble. You have a penchant for impulsive ideas after all. ”
“I’m guessing you want me to keep this a secret from the others?”
“Don’t take my dramatic reveal away from me!”
Jason sighed. “Fine. Just make it soon, they all miss you too.”
“Hmm, no promises. Now get out there, I’m right here too. It’ll be fine, I promise.”
Yeah. Jason could start believing in that.
And so Jason walked into the cave, his family watching closely as Robin II was born.
They let him walk up the platform in silence and he tried very hard not to fidget.
Bruce’s face was complete stone. He walked around Jason and hummed every once in a while, not showing a single emotion. Finally, after like a hundred years he stopped in front of Jason striking a thinking pose. And nodding.
“It’s good.”
Jason felt all the tension seep out in a breath. Cass bounded up to him with a happy step, clapping her hands.
“Excellent. Little brother looks very cute.”
Jason pouted. “I’m not supposed to look cute.”
“Don’t despair Todd. The suit is already far better than most of what father’s colleagues in the Justice League wear. “
Damian walked forward and pulled the hood up, casting a shadow over Jason’s face.
“And now you look better than all of them.”
Cassandra nodded.
“Adorable.”
Jason sighed. Can’t win them all.
“I must agree it is far more sensible than what the other young masters wore for their first suits Master Jason. Take pride in it my boy, it is an excellent job.”
Jason’s was suddenly very glad the hood was pulled up, cause his cheeks were probably as red as the suit.
“Thanks Al.”
“Quite. I do believe we should take a picture to commemorate the occasion yes?”
Bruce nodded and started pulling out a camera from one of the desk drawers.
“I’ll set the timer. Everyone gather around the computer.”
Jason stopped short of that. A group picture? But…Tim wasn’t there. Or well, he was but. They wouldn’t see him.
“Wait! Don’t take it yet!”
Jason ran around the computer and pulled one of the side chairs into the frame before running off to grab a piece of paper and pen. Quickly he made a sign and placed it on the chair. Bruce leaned over to see what it said and laughed out loud. He ruffled the hair of one grinning Jason Todd Wayne and went to turn on the timer.
The family gathered, all standing around their new Robin who posed proudly, arms crossed and legs spread. Behind him was a slightly smiling Batman, to his right a serious Nightwing, while Cassandra stood tall with her hands on her hips. Next to her was an impossibly stoic Alfred trying very hard to look professional. And next to Jay was an empty chair with a sign on it that said: “reserved for idiot”.
The camera clicked.
And later, Jason will look at that picture, on the night Robin II will truly fly over Gotham for the first time at Batman’s side. He’ll smile to himself. And his Oracle will chime into his ear once again helping him figure out where to go.
“Well kid. You ready to paint the town red?”