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[cat_13145]

Series Title: Renegade Part 1
Part Title: Robin
Author: </a></font></b></a>cat_13145
Rating: Pg-13
Disclaimer: If I owned them, you think Battle for the Cowl would have happened?
Warnings: Character Death fic, I'm sorry, you're all probably going to hate me. 
Character: Jason, Roy, the Titans, Tim, Alfred.
Summary:  The Bat family starts to rebuild and expand...

 

 

Alfred was waiting for him when he got back. Sitting at the kitchen table.

“Good evening, Master Jason.”

Jason sat down. He had known this moment was coming. There was no way Alfred couldn’t have heard the argument from below.

“I’m not trying to hurt him Alf.” He said softly.

“I never suggested that you were.”

“I’m...I’m trying to help him.” he got to his feet and began to pace. “Robin is supposed to be the Light to batman’s darkness, the guy who stops him before he goes too far, the distraction, a goofy kid in a stupid costume.” He paused. “He’s also supposed to follow orders without questioning; even if he thinks those orders will get Batman killed. Normally, that’s cool. Bruce knows what he’s doing. But since Dick...”

He looked into the old eyes. “If something isn’t done, then he was going to kill someone or himself. Either way we’d never get him back. A sidekick can’t interfere in that. A Partner can. A partner can call you on stupid decisions, handle things on his own, and generally watch your back. That’s what Bruce needs right now. Not some dopey kid in a bad Halloween costume.”

“So you decided to become Master Bruce’s partner, with out consulting anyone.” Alfred’s tone was calm, but Jason could hear the disapproval.

“No. I got the Titans’ and Superman’s permission to use the name.” He shook his head. “I’ve made my decision, Alfred. There’s no way I’m going back.”

“And where does that leave the Dynamic Duo?”

Jason licked his lips. “At the moment, the last thing Bruce needs is some kid running around in the Robin Costume. It reminds him too much of Dick, of what they were. Later, when he’s had some chance to grieve, then there’ll be another Robin. It just won’t be me.”

He looked straight at Alfred. “I was never cut out for that. We both know that. I can’t be light. It...It nearly killed me trying.”

Probably would have done if Dick hadn’t gone first.

He bit his lip. “I give you my word Alfred, that there will always be a Robin. And that...that I’m not going any where.” He looked at the man who was the nearest he’d ever had to a grandfather. “I… I need to do this. For Bruce’s sake if nothing else.”

“And you have your...replacement in mind?” Alfred asked softly. Jason nodded.

“But I’m not telling you who.”

“And I do not wish to know.” There was a pause, as Alfred moved and made tea. “I will endeavour to persuade Master Bruce, to your line of thinking.”

Jason grinned.

“Thanks Alfred.”

******

Despite the two years between them, getting the kid on his own was surprisingly easy.

Jason was the first to admit, he didn’t know the kid that well. He’d seen him at some of the Parties, Bruce had forced him to attend, and around the school, but aside from that hurried whispered conversation at the funeral…

He had been standing there, the line of people passing along, muttering their condolences, hating every minute of it, but knowing he had to do this, make all the correct response, because they’re was no way in hell that Bruce could do that now, and most of these people wouldn’t acknowledge Alfred if he hit them. The only time Bruce had actually proved that he was alive had been when Jim Gordon and Barbra had turned up, and even then it had just been a slight change in expression, blinked and you missed it.
The kid’s father was apparently some guy Bruce had known like forever, recently widowed, with a teenage son. The father had merely shaken his hand, made the proper sympathy noises, and moved on. The Kid however, had glanced both ways to make sure that no one was in earshot, and spoken in a low voice.

“Nightwing was amazing.” He had blinked, convinced he’d misheard him, that nights without sleep; watching Alfred crying while he did the silver, thinking he was alone; of watching Bruce just sit in that chair waiting for nightfall, had finally driven him to hallucinations. But he had to be sure.

Thankfully, both had been invited to the Wake, and it was easy enough to get the kid on his own.

“What,” He’d said, trying to keep his voice tough, like the street rat Bruce had found, “did you say?”

The kid had swallowed, but met his eyes.
“I said Dick Grayson, Nightwing, was amazing.”

The look on his face must have spoken volumes for the kid hastened to reassure him. “It’s alright, I promise I won’t tell, not that anyone would believe me, but…”

He’d looked at Jason, and asked, “How is he?”

There was no doubt which “he” he meant. In their world there was only one he.

He didn’t know what made him tell the truth, maybe the funeral had got to him, maybe it was the knowledge that the Joker had escaped again, maybe it was the 20 year old scotch he’d snuck off one of the waiters.

“Not good.”

The kid had nodded. “I’d love to help out, if I can…” he had trailed off, and Alfred had come to find them both, to let them know the kid’s father was leaving.

Carefully, he checked that their contemporaries were too far up their own asses to notice.

“Hey kid,” he said, keeping his voice soft. “Wanna make good on that offer from the funeral?”

****

If anyone had told Roy Harper, that Jason Todd would be a good teacher, the first time they’d met, he’d have laughed at them.

Jason didn’t seem to have the patience that teaching required, yet the last few months had forced Roy to revise his opinion.

First there had been Tim Drake, soon making his début as Robin (once someone had actually got around to telling Bruce). Then a couple of months later a new Batgirl had turned up. Then there was Spoiler, who Jason had apparently found on Patrol. The kid, part way between Superhero and Runaway, had a super villain for a father, and had been half way to following the same path when Jason found her. Now she was well on the way to becoming a superhero, with Oracle and her birds of Prey (what was it about the Batclan and birds?).

The other members of the Justice League clans hadn’t been idle either. The Flashes had sent Impulse (who seemed determined to drive all mad before he even hit four), Superman had found a “clone” of himself when foiling one of Luthor’s plans, and Wonder Woman’s latest mentee, a daughter of Zeus no less. All was need now for the Arrows to add something to Jason’s rag tag team, and they’d have the next generation of the Justice League ready formed.

He laughed softly at this thought, as Jason came into the kitchen.

“Hey.”

Jason grunted, retrieving a soda from the fridge.

“Team’s looking good.”

Jason shrugged. “Room for improvement.”

Roy smiled. “They look a lot better than we were at the same age.”

“Got a good teacher.”

Roy smiled. It made him even more sure that they’d made the right choice.

“What’s this I hear about you dating a Don?”

Jason flushed. “Don’t think a guy who had a kid with an international assassin is in any position to point fingers.”
There was no real malice in the statement. Jason adored and was adored by Lian, and Roy suspected that he was expecting a variant of the lecture he’d have got from Batman. He waited patiently, and Jason sighed.

“Her name’s Marie and she ain’t a Don.”

“Daughter of a Don, then.”

“Only if you’re stretching it. Vincent Cavonvelli was a Sicilian immigrant and a version of the American dream. Arrived in this country with $5 and 50 cents and a heavily pregnant wife. He managed, via a letter of recommendation from his godfather, to get employment with the Falcones, as a two bit thug. He and his wife settle down to raising their daughter in Crime Alley.”

“Where you two met.” Roy guessed. Jason smiled

“She’s the one who introduced me to Neapolitan ice cream.” He shrugged. “After the Falcone’s final defeat, Vincent found himself in hot water. He must have annoyed someone, cos one afternoon, Marie comes home and finds her mother dead on the kitchen floor. Crime’s still unsolved, cops barely made an effort.” The anger in his voice at someone daring to treat his people this way was touching. “Vincent seems to have sent his mind on settling the score, worked his way up to become a major player in Gotham, but only in Gotham, in Metropolis and Star City he was just an irritating fly. Two weeks ago, as part of a move to prove the untouchability of the police, Commission Atkins decides to arrest Vincent. Takes Vincent, but leaves his operation largely intact. Vincent’s theory been his daughter and lieutenants can run it till he’s out.
“Despite women traditionally having no place in the Mafia hierarchy?”

“In spite of that. Doesn’t work too well, Idiot gets himself stabbed in the shower two days into his sentence, and leaves his daughter at the mercy of a pack of wolves.”

“And you turned up as her knight in shining armour?”

Jason shrugged. “Basically.” He took a long sip of soda. “Any of her family interests that the wolves hadn’t got hold of, she handed over to her godfather, Tony Corleone, which hasn’t endeared her to Bruce, even with the proviso he stay out of Gotham.”
Roy nodded. He could see Bruce’s point of view, but also the girl’s. There was no way she could ever completely escape her family, so her solution made sense. Jason was giving him a bat questioning look.

“Why do I think this has nothing to with my sex life?”
Roy grinned. “And to think we once accused you of having no detective skills, little wing.” He sighed. “You know I’ve been helping out the CBI, occasionally with Drugs enforcement.”

Jason nodded, that was common knowledge.
“They’ve offered me a full time position, and I’m tempted to accept.”
“You should.” Jason said, ignoring his heart pounding against his ribcage. If he was honest Roy was his best friend in the superhero community, the only one who seemed to see him as his own man, Not batman’s shadow. Not Dick Grayson’s replacement. He didn’t want to lose that.

Roy continued. “It certainly makes sense. Lian’s getting bigger she need some stable influence in her life.” He shot the kid a glance. Over the last couple of years he’d become very good at reading Jason. “But she still needs her wild Uncle Jason.” He watched the kid smile at that, and continued. “Either way, I’m not going to lead the Titan’s anymore.”

Jason shrugged. He’d figured that out. Roy had taken over after Dick’s death, but it had been viewed by everyone, including Roy as temporary.
“So who’s in charge?” He asked, cautiously. “Wally? Garth? Kyle? Kara? Raven? Kory?”

Roy shook his head. “Flash is running with the big leagues now, so Kyle. Garth’s interests are fairly firmly confined to Atlantis’s. Kara’s got some news of possible survivors from Krypton that might include her father. She wants to investigate them further. Raven…” he trailed off and Jason grinned.

“Good point.”

“Kory’s going home.” Roy finished. “She was never happy here, after…”
“After.” Jason agreed.

Roy flushed. “She got the chance of being some ambassador to an Alien planet and she told the meeting she’d take it.”

Neither of them mentioned Jason’s absence from said meeting. They both knew that after one early disaster of a meeting soon after Jason had started hanging out with the Titans, Jason had avoid such meeting like the plague, normally by training while they were on.

“So…” Jason asked, jerking him back to the present. “Who’s in charge?”

Roy drew a breath. “You.”

O.k. it had been a mistake to tell him while he was drinking soda. Most of it splattered over the table, but a bit splattered over him.

“Me?” Jason screamed at him, and Roy nodded. “NO way in hell.”

“Why?” Roy asked genuinely puzzled. Then he followed Jason’s eyes. Someone (and he’d didn’t know who) had hung a photo of the original teen titans in the kitchen, the day after Dick’s funeral. Dick grinned out at them, sitting mid center. And suddenly it all made sense.

Jason had spent most of his life trying to get out from under Dick’s shadow. In his eyes this would be a step back. Taking on a job his brother had done, everyone comparing them. He cursed himself for his own stupidity.

Slowly, carefully, he spoke again. “Most of the original team is gone. All grown up. There’s only Cyborg and Beast boy, and neither of them knew Dick that well. Those kids you’re working with through there,” he nodded in the direction of the gym. “They’re the future.” He drew breathe. This was going to hurt him, but if it was what it took to persuade Jason that this was what was the right thing to do, then he’d do it. “A couple of days ago, I was in here with…what’s the superkid calling himself, Con?”

“Kon.” Jason corrected.

“Right. Well he asked me who the guy in the photo was. When I told him it was Nightwing, he thought you’d been deaged or something.”

He looked seriously at Jason, the way he had when he was trying to find out how things honestly were between him and Bruce. “You’re Nightwing. Most people don’t even remember another guy wore that costume. They remember Dick as Robin, but not as Nightwing.”

Jason’s face was thoughtfully, so he decided to play his trump card.

“Plus the Tower’s got to be better for assignments than some dark alley in Gotham.”

Jason’s brows were pulled together. “It won’t be like the Teen Titans.” He said firmly.

“No.” Roy agreed. “It might be better.”

TBC
On an unrelated note: Alfred Rules.