[28]

                                    

                                          
Gotham was silent as night tightened its hold over it. Apparently not a sound was to be heard yet the dark alleys were as always resonating with some sinister activity.
                          
A flash of red was hovering over the city, swinging agilely from one building to another and looking down at those alleys with a vigilant eye. Red Robin was on his watch, making sure that no criminal activity passed in the streets that night.
                          
So far he had prevented a drug deal among the notorious gangs of the Gotham underworld as well as stopped a kidnapping, and though the groups had retaliated, he had managed to round them up without any severe injury to himself.
                          
After a long while of ensuring that the city was safe for the time being, he had finally perched up on the highest rooftop in Gotham; belonging to the one and only Wayne International Tower.
                          
He scanned all the view points from there using his advanced technology binoculars, zooming in on the Bowery and Crime Alley. Though there wasn't a single speck to be seen with Gotham submitting to rest at last.
                          
However, a slight shuffling noise approached him followed by a louder exclamation that would have made any normal person stumble from the perch in alarm. "Boo!"
                          
But the batkids were trained to be far from normal because in a split second, Tim had spun around pointing his bow staff threateningly at the entity beside him.
                          
"Red Hood," he recognized when the weapon came in contact with the signature scarlet helmet which was gleaming even in the dim light.
                          
"Hi there, Babybird," Jason's smooth drawl was muffled and reverberating due to the fact that he hadn't taken off the helmet yet, "what a pleasure to see you even though I don't approve of the way you greeted me. It's quite rude coming face to face with your brother's bow staff."
                          
A slight smile flickered on Tim's face as he realized that Jason had called him his brother instead of addressing him as Replacement merely, though he managed to disguise it, "and what do you have to say of your way of greeting? I don't approve either because I could have fallen to my death due to it."
                          
"Ah come on," Jason finally took the hood off, tilting his head upwards to let the fresh air strike his face, "I know you can handle a jumpscare. And even if you didn't, I have a couple of these which would have come in handy." He pointed to the thin but sturdy rope tied to his waist.
                          
Tim shook his head, quite amused at the statement as he scooted over for him to sit up on the wall beside him, "I appreciate the concern."
                          
The two sat momentarily in silence until Tim spoke up again, "so what are you doing here?"
                          
"I'm keeping watch."
                          
"But tonight was assigned to me so... It's kinda surprising to have you for company."
                          
He chuckled, "I'm not keeping watch on the city, in fact I'm keeping watch on you. Though you should know that you're quite lucky to be bestowed by my presence as well."
                          
"No wonder," he agreed, quickly scanning the areas again.
                          
Jason snatched the binoculars from him sweeping his eyes over the city as well, "not much happened tonight, eh?"
                          
"Excluding a drug deal and a kidnapping," he remarked, "but yeah nothing that alarming. Looks like all our celebrity criminals are taking a break."
                          
"Touche." He handed him back the binoculars and climbed off the perch, "let's call it a night, shall we? Not much is going to happen now, y'know."
                          
"Anything could happen," Tim argued, not taking his eyes off the wide expanse of alleys and main streets. 
                          
"If it does I'll handle it, you just stop overworking yourself, okay? That's exactly why I'm keeping a watch on you," Jason reasoned, grabbing him by the waist and putting him effortlessly on his shoulder, "now you're coming with me, Babybird, and I won't take no for an answer."
                          
"Jay!"
                          
"What did we tell you about using names on the field?"
                          
"I meant, Hood, put me down at once," Tim struggled for a while but gave up knowing that he couldn't easily writhe himself out of Jason's grip. And he knew that if he succeeded in doing so, it would only piss off Jason which he didn't want to do since it was rare to find him in such a good mood.
                          
"Though I do wonder why you're so concerned all of a sudden," Tim mumbled, drowsiness taking over him as he nestled his head against Jay's neck, "not that I'm complaining but still... It's not very you."
                          
"Good question," he answered, not slowing down at all as he took long strides towards the manor. They had climbed down the Wayne International Tower as well as crossed Robinson square and were nearing the vicinity of their neighborhood. "Your mom has been pestering me about you since days with all those worrying accounts of your health and well being."
                          
"My mom...?"
                          
"I meant Dick, your dear Mummy Grayson, who else? By the way he's worrying about you, anyone would think that you're his child."
                          
"Hmm... Makes sense. Though what did we tell you about using names on the field?" Tim repeated his words though his voice was dimming as sleep overcame him completely.
                          
Jason chuckled, "we're not on the field anymore, we're crossing the garden. Turns out you're too sleepy to notice anyway."
                          
He mumbled something in reply but Jason didn't quite hear it since it was just a faint whisper right before a soft snore sounded in his ear. He tilted his head to check up on Tim and saw that the boy had gone to sleep just then.
                          
A faint smile crept up on his face as he entered the manor, climbing up the stairs to Tim's room. Very gently he placed him down on the bed and tucked in the blankets after removing the cowl from his face.
                          
"Sweet dreams, Babybird," he whispered softly before switching off the lights and making his way out.
                          
Though just as he was about to step out, he heard a faint murmur. He paused to look back at Tim and heard the last two words. "Thanks, Jay."
                          
***