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“You’re going to be okay,” Robin said, sitting right next to Jason on the pavement with their backs to the brick wall but very carefully not touching him. “I promise, you’re going to get through this.”
“It’s—it’s not like it’s the first time,” Jason mumbled, scrubbing his palm against his stinging eyes. He knew he’d get—not good again, there wasn’t a good anymore, but he knew the bruises healed. “Not like—not like it matters. Why won’t Batman let me go?”
Robin’s expression crumpled like a soda can, the pity so much that Jason couldn’t even look at him. He ducked his head behind his knees and drew in a deep breath. The blanket smelled very clean.
Clean.
He wanted to burn all his skin off in the hottest shower he could. The thought of trying to wash the—wash himself up with paper towels in a gas station bathroom again made him want to—
Jason’s stomach lurched, the warning just enough for him to turn his head and vomit on the concrete beside him instead of all over himself. Reflex tears stung his eyes, blurring his vision.
His throat kept spasming, but there wasn’t anything else to throw up and he couldn’t breathe and he just wanted to go home, but Batman caught him, and Batman wouldn’t let Jason go; he was going to make Jason go to the police and tell them what happened and then Jason was going to go to foster care and it would all happen again and no one would even care because it would be under a roof and not behind a dumpster in a grimy alley.
Jason’s retching turned to sobs, just as impossible to fight, and Robin made a pained sound. Jason should’ve wanted to scream or fight when Robin gathered Jason into his arms and pulled Jason against his chest because Robin was a man and men only ever hurt Jason, but he found himself clutching onto Robin’s cape and crying helplessly because Robin was a hero and he was trying to help even if he was going to ruin everything.
“You’re safe now,” Robin whispered, his lips brushing Jason’s hair. “Batman made sure that man isn’t going to hurt anyone for a long time.”
Someday he was going to get out though, and then he’d find Jason because Jason’s name was going to be on the police records and the foster care records, and then he could track Jason down and make him pay for what Batman did. That was only if his mom’s dealer or Two-Face didn’t come after him first for his parents debts, and that was only if his foster parents didn’t sell him off first.
Robin kept whispering nice things he couldn’t know were true. He tried to comb his fingers through the curls, but Robin’s fingers caught on the snarls and pulled his hair. Jason winced, Robin murmured an apology and petted over Jason’s hair instead.
Conspicuous footsteps caught his attention—Batman had stopped ten feet away, near enough he didn’t have to shout but far enough that he wasn’t looming over them.
Jason scowled against Robin’s armor. Batman was doing it on purpose, making his footsteps loud and not standing too close, trying not to scare Jason because he thought Jason was just some scared little victim.
He’s right.
Jason sniffled and clutched tighter to Robin. He knew Robin could get away easily, unclip his cape if he had to, but Jason didn’t want to let go.
“The police are here,” Batman said, his voice low and gentle. “They’re taking away the man that hurt you. The ambulance is going to be here in just a minute, and they’ll take you to the hospital. If you know your parents’ phone numbers or your address, we can have them meet you at the emergency room.”
Batman knew he was homeless. It was fucking obvious, even bad parents took better care of their kids than Jason could take of himself. He was just trying to get Jason to say it.
Jason sniffled and didn’t look at Batman or say anything. To his embarrassment, he nudged his head against Robin’s hand to get him to start petting again because if Jason had to go to the hospital and foster care and all that stupid shit all over again, he was at least getting this little bit of comfort first.
Batman didn’t say anything more. This time, his footsteps didn’t make any noise, he was just gone when Jason glanced up to check his reaction to Jason’s silence.
“You’re going to be okay,” Robin shushed, pressing a kiss onto the top of Jason’s head even though Jason was gross and dirty and that man had been grabbing his hair and pulling him around and— “The nurses and doctors are going to take good care of you, then a social worker is going to find a safe family for you to live with.”
Jason’s nose wrinkled in anger. “’t’s not what’s gonna happen.”
Robin seemed surprised he’d talked, but Robin recovered and casually asked, “Oh? What’s going to happen then?”
Jason swiped his nose with what was left of his sleeve. “Someone’s gonna get me.”
Robin stiffened slightly, his gentle petting stilling for a half second. Jason nudged his head against Robin’s hand again, and Robin recovered. “Who’s gonna get you, kiddo? Is someone after you?”
Everyone was after Jason because he was small and Gotham was horrible and he didn’t have anyone to protect him anymore or come looking if CPP took him away and never gave him back.
Jason opened his mouth to say any part of that, but he couldn’t choke out the words. What did it matter? It wasn’t going to change anything, Batman and Robin weren’t going to let him go just because he told them what was really going to happen as soon as they left him to the wolves.
“Hey, kiddo—what’s your name, bud?” Robin said, curling his fingers along Jason’s cheekbone down to his chin before gently tilting his face up. “Can you tell me your name?”
Robin’s eyes were hidden behind the mask, but the rest of his face and his voice and the soft way he held Jason seemed so sincere…Jason was dumb to trust Robin, but he finally mumbled, “Jason.”
Robin smiled sadly and pulled one of his gloves off, taking a moment to brush the tears from Jason’s cheeks. Jason remembered his mama doing the same thing one of the times he was sick and she was okay. The thought made his eyes start leaking all over again. Robin tutted and pulled Jason back into the hug.
Jason went willingly, letting his head loll against Robin’s chest. He’d laid like this with his mama, even when she was sick. He’d hold his breath and just listen for her heartbeat to reassure him even when she couldn’t. Then one day, her heartbeat wasn’t there, and Jason was alone.
Jason couldn’t hear Robin’s heartbeat through the armor, but he knew he wasn’t alone because Robin was warm and kind and his chest rose and fell in a calm rhythm.
“What if I keep tabs on you, Jay? I’ll check in and make sure your foster family is treating you right,” Robin offered.
Jason shook his head, that wasn’t going to work at all. He needed to be on his own or—
Or what, someone will get you? he thought bitterly.
It had still been worse in foster care before he ran away. At least he’d survived on his own for months before someone caught him again instead of someone crawling on top of him every night.
“Does someone want to hurt you, Jay?” Robin asked. “Someone in particular?”
Jason drew in a deep, shaky breath and tried to answer, but it didn’t work. He tried again, but it took him a third attempt to mumble, “M—my dad—my dad owes—owes Two-Face money.”
Robin inhaled sharply and quickly gathered Jason closer like Two-Face was going to spring from the shadows and carry Jason away. Maybe he would, Robin would know Two-Face better.
“Okay,” Robin said seriously, “Okay, I’m going to tell that to Batman, and we’re going to take care of you. We won’t let anyone hurt you, not even Two-Face.”
But that was a silly promise. Batman couldn’t protect Jason all the time, and Two-Face got away with things all the time. Sure, Batman would probably beat Two-Face up after he had Jason killed as a warning or gutted for parts, but Batman wouldn’t make it in time to save Jason.
Robin seemed like he believed it, though, and he was being so nice to Jason. The least Jason could do was let Robin think he believed it.
Tremulously moving his hand from Robin’s cape to his hand, Jason shyly threaded his fingers with Robin’s, bracing for rejection.
Robin clutched Jason’s hand and kissed his forehead, whispering, “It’s going to be okay. I promise.”
Jason bit his lip and nodded, ignoring the approaching sound of footsteps and the murmur of Batman talking to the paramedics. Telling them what happened.
“Okay,” Jason whispered back.
Robin stayed with Jason in the ambulance and even through the…exams. He let Jason cry in his arms when the doctors finally had everything they needed and had patched Jason up as well as they could.
Jason didn’t remember for sure, but he was pretty sure he’d fallen asleep with his head on Robin’s shoulder.
He woke up alone.
The warmth of another person he could trust was gone, replaced by cold, sterile nothing. Robin’s cape was replaced with thin sheets. The sweet nothings and quiet promises of protection were replaced by the quiet beeping of medical equipment.
Maybe Robin would keep an eye on him, at least keeping a normal foster family from beating him up too much. Maybe he wouldn’t, and Jason would go through the wringer of the foster system all over again.
A social worker came in and talked to him for a little while, but she’d gotten frustrated by his lack of answering and finally just told him that they’d placed him with a family that would be by to pick him up in a few hours.
Jason wanted to curl up and hide from the world, but there was no one to curl up against or to hide him, and the loneliness of that seemed even worse than just sitting there in the misery, staring up at the ceiling tiles. Besides, everything hurt, a dull ache that had settled in sometime while he was sleeping. They’d offered him pain meds, and he’d screamed at them.
Finally, just when Jason was thinking he might try to fall back to sleep just to have something to do, there was a soft knock on the door.
Jason didn’t answer, but it wasn’t like he got a say in who did what to him or with him or around him.
After a moment, the door opened, and a nurse came in, trailed by an older teenager and a huge man. Jason’s throat tightened at the sight of the man, feeling phantom hands holding him down and tearing at his clothes and stubble scraping his skin as chapped lips whispered obscenities in his ear. The guy from last night had been half this guy’s size, and Jason hadn’t been able to do a fucking thing to—
It took Jason a moment to realize he’d seen the man before.
Jason had seen that face on television screens and tabloid magazines at checkouts, on newspapers and billboards.
Bruce Wayne.
His eyes burned with tears at the unfairness. So he was being sold directly, great. Maybe Two-Face really wouldn’t be able to get him from Bruce Wayne, but they weren’t even trying to hide the human trafficking of it all.
The older boy must’ve been that kid Wayne took in a few years ago, getting too old for Wayne’s tastes apparently. He’d always wondered if the rumors were true, but now he guessed it was: Bruce Wayne was a fucking pedo who wanted kids who looked like him.
The nurse cleared her throat. “Jason, this is—"
“I know who he is,” Jason snapped, looking away.
Had anyone told Wayne Jason was used goods? Maybe he was into that shit, or maybe he cared more about the black hair and blue eyes than he did about how many men had fucked Jason before.
No one said anything at his outburst, but he could hear someone walking closer and someone leaving the room, probably the nurse leaving them alone to get acquainted.
The closer the footsteps got, the tighter Jason’s throat felt, but he wasn’t going to give them the satisfaction of being scared. They were gonna do what they were gonna fucking do, but that didn’t mean Jason had to play along.
“Hey, Jay,” Robin said softly.
Jason spun around, looking to the door. Robin had come back?! But there was just Wayne standing by the door and the teenager standing at the foot of the bed.
Jason knit his brow—had he hallucinated that? The other two weren’t acting like they’d heard anything weird, but that was Robin’s voice! Jason had heard it for hours last night, he knew—
His eyes widened as the teenager smiled gently and reached a hand out to Jason. He knew that smile.
He—
“Hey, Jay,” Robin said again. “Told you I was gonna make sure you were—”
Robin didn’t get the chance to finish the sentence before Jason ripped the IV from his hand and threw himself at Robin, uncaring of the pain. Robin gasped and lunged forward, catching Jason just in time to keep him from falling over the side of the bed and cracking his skull open on the tile floor.
Robin’s shirt was so much easier to hold onto than the cape or the rigid armor, and Jason wasn’t letting go. Robin squeezed him back so tight it hurt and Jason never wanted him to stop.
“I’ve got you,” Robin promised. “I’ve got you, Jason. I promise.”
“I—I thought you were—” Jason’s fears were swallowed by sobs Jason couldn’t fight. He heard the door open, and the nurse’s questioning tone, but Wayne—that was Batman, Bruce Wayne was fucking Batman, and not the way those other rumors said—Batman was telling her everything was okay, and it was okay because Robin had him and he wasn’t letting go.
“You thought I wasn’t coming back?” Robin gathered Jason into his arms like a baby and climbed up onto the bed, holding Jason in his lap.
Jason shook his head, still sobbing. “Thought—thought they—sold—”
“Sold what, Jay?” Robin soothed, carding his fingers through Jason’s hair. A nurse had detangled it last night while they were cleaning it up, so now Robin’s gentle combing didn’t hurt.
“Thought they sold me to him,” Jason cried, gesturing in the vague direction he thought Batman was; he couldn’t see Batman, but he was probably guarding the door like he’d guarded the alley last night.
“Oh Jay,” Robin whispered. “I’m so sorry. You must’ve been so scared.”
Jason was so scared, and he had been, and he is and he didn’t know what to do except cry and hold onto Robin.
Luckily for Jason, Robin knew just what to do to make Jason feel safe and comforted even when Jason hadn’t thought that would ever happen again. Jason didn’t know he needed someone to hold him and pet his hair and rub circles on his back and tell him everything was going to be okay, but Robin did, and Robin was maybe the only person Jason would ever let touch him like this again.
When he’d finally cried every tear he had left in him and Robin finished the song he’d been humming, Jason sniffled and tugged lightly on Robin’s shirt to get his attention.
“Yeah, Jay?” Robin gestured toward Batman, who slowly walked over, set the box of tissues within Robin’s reach, and stepped back to his post guarding the door.
Jason let Robin help him blow his nose and dry his eyes, which he shouldn’t need any help with because he was ten, before he finally mumbled, “Are you my foster family?”
Because no one had said they were, he’d realized only a few minutes ago. The social worker lady had told him that his foster family was going to come get him later, but that didn’t mean that no one else could visit.
Even if Batman and Robin—Bruce Wayne and whatever Robin’s real name was—even if they weren’t his foster family, they’d proved they were going to keep their promise and keep an eye on him. He trusted them, and they had to trust him at least a little if they were letting him know who they were.
“That’s the plan, if you’re okay with it?” Robin laid his chin over Jason’s hair.
Jason nodded quickly, accidentally dislodging Robin and quickly shuffling to curl back into place. He liked being tucked under Robin’s chin, it made him feel small in a way that didn’t make him feel scared.
“The Commissioner intervened himself in light of your connection to Two-Face. I’m a registered foster parent, and we have the resources to keep you safe,” Batman explained softly, finally breaking his silence. It was weird, hearing him talk without the growly thing he did when he was wearing the suit. His voice was still deep and strong and…
Jason shifted uncomfortably. He wasn’t sure yet how he felt about living with a such a big guy. It would be so so easy for him to do whatever he wanted to Jason. Who was going to stop Bruce Wayne? Half the city already thought he was fucking his foster kid, and no one was putting up a fuss to stop him. What if he decided he wanted Jason after all? What if Robin was brainwashed and didn’t know it was bad when adults fucked kids?
But Jason remembered the way the man had cried out as Batman pulled him off Jason, the blood and teeth flying as Batman beat the guy into unconsciousness, the crunch of bone.
Batman did that because he knew what that guy did was bad, and he didn’t like people doing bad things to kids. Batman was a hero. He wasn’t…he wasn’t going to do bad things to Jason or Robin, even if he was strong enough to and powerful enough to get away with it.
Jason bit his lip and, after a couple attempts, looked Batman—looked Bruce in the eye. Bruce met his gaze with calm compassion, not making any sudden moves. He was trying not to scare Jason, like last night, and like last night, it was necessary and only kind of working.
His courage was already failing, but Jason worked up the bravery to say, “Thank you, sir.”
Jason would do his best to not be a burden, but letting his son get a pet kid was a big commitment, especially since that meant Bruce had to reveal his super secret identity to some random kid he didn’t know.
“You’re very welcome, Jason,” Bruce said with so much sincerity Jason wondered if it was true.
Jason averted his gaze and let his head fall back against Robin’s shoulder. Robin was so warm and comfortable, this was maybe the safest he’d felt since before his mama had gotten sick. He could fall asleep on like this, just like he had last night…
“Don’t conk out on us yet, Jay.” Robin nudged his shoulder.
Jason wrinkled his nose in displeasure and gave Robin a very displeased look.
“Oh no, B.” Robin chuckled, glancing over at Bruce. “I don’t know if I can handle the pouty baby face. That might be just a little too cute for me to stand.”
Bruce chuckled. “What goes around comes around. You used to use that exact expression to try to get out of school for missions.”
“Touché,” Robin conceded. “Go ahead and leave the bag here, I’ll get it.”
Jason frowned—what were they talking about? But Bruce set a bag Jason hadn’t taken any notice of on the foot of the bed, staying well out of arm’s reach. Jason still held his breath till Bruce retreated, this time not falling back to the door but opening it.
“I’ll be right outside. No one will come in,” Bruce said, which was kind of terrifying but he seemed to be trying to reassure Jason.
The door closed, and Jason looked up at Robin in confusion.
“We brought you some clothes so you don’t have to walk out of here in a hospital gown,” Robin explained, shifting Jason to set him down.
Jason cried out and seized Robin’s shirt to keep him from leaving, which made Robin chuckle.
“Just trying to get the bag.” Robin didn’t try to shake him loose, even though that would’ve been a perfectly reasonable reaction to Jason freaking out over him trying to move three feet away.
Instead, Robin stretched out his leg, hooked the bag with his foot, and pulled it across the bed to them.
“Okay, do you want me to leave the room while you change or—”
“NO!”
“Okie dokie, I’ll stay right here. I’m not going to leave you, promise.”
Robin helped Jason change into the clothes they’d brought him, fresh underwear, soft sweatpants Robin tied as tight as they’d go and rolled to keep them from sliding off, a clean tee shirt, and a thick red hoodie way t0o big for him.
Jason’s eyes glimmered with tears as he pulled the hoodie on. He tried to be cool about it, but he could tell Robin noticed.
“You were pretty upset about your hoodie last night, so…I hope you like it,” Robin said, fixing the tucked-in hood.
Jason hugged his arms around himself and nodded because he didn’t think he could talk. It was even the same brand as the one his mama’s hoodie, Robin must’ve checked before passing it off the police lady for evidence. He didn’t know if the police would ever give it back, if he could fix it even if they did, but this one reminded him of when she’d been alive, not just that she’d died.
“Thank you,” he said again. There were a lot of thank yous to be said, apparently.
Robin smiled and helped him into his new socks and shoes, then helped him off the bed and held him till he was steady. Robin held his hand and kept Jason’s pace as he led the way to the door.
Jason hesitated, and Robin looked back at him with so much kindness and patience.
“We can stay here a little while longer,” Robin told him. “There’s no rush.”
Jason shook his head and squeezed Robin’s hand. He didn’t trust himself to talk, but he didn’t want to be in the little cold hospital room anymore.
“Okay, just let me know if anything is too much,” Robin said, slowly opening the door.
There were people outside walking around in the hall, occasionally glancing at Bruce, but no one was coming near the door. Batman was a good guard after all.
Bruce smiled at him but didn’t look at Jason too long, which Jason appreciated.
The walk was slow because of Jason, but neither of them complained. Robin held his hand, and Bruce walked just ahead of them to make sure no one could get too close or see Jason that well. Bruce must be really good at noticing things to not get too far ahead but also not be so close they were stepping on him, all without looking.
When they finally got to the front and Bruce had signed whatever papers he needed, a sleek black car pulled up to the door. Bruce led the way again, ignoring stares, as an older man got out of the car and opened the back door with a small bow.
Jason shivered even though the breeze was warm. Another man? He’d thought he was at his limit, but…Robin smiled at the man, and if Robin trusted him, that probably meant Jason could too. For now, at least. While Robin was guarding him.
“A pleasure to meet you, young Master Jason,” the old man said in the most British accent Jason had ever heard in his life. “I only wish it were under better circumstances. My name is Alfred Pennyworth, and I am at your service.”
Jason just nodded dumbly and tried to think if he’d ever actual met a British person before. He arrived at the conclusion that he hadn’t met a British person before he arrived at the conclusion that he was supposed to get in the car.
“Oh, thank you,” Jason said and quickly climbed into the backseat.
Jason stopped in the middle seat so Robin would have to sit next to him. Robin didn’t say anything about it, just reminding Jason to buckle up. Bruce got in the passenger seat, and Mr. Pennyworth walked back around the front and got in the driver’s seat.
For the first few minutes, Jason sat stiff and tried not to freak out at being in a small cramped place with grown men he didn’t know. With him in the middle seat, either one of them could easily reach back and grab him if they wanted…but they wouldn’t.
But they could.
Noticing his discomfort, Robin put his arm around Jason shoulders and pulled him close, laying his cheek against the top of Jason’s head.
Jason breathed out slowly. No one was going to hurt him while Robin was here, because Robin protected kids, and Batman protected kids, and Alfred…Jason didn’t know about Alfred, but he couldn’t get too close while Jason was so protected.
It was still hard to relax, but Jason let himself lean again Robin and close his eyes, pretending it was just them. That was how he’d gotten through the hospital last night, it was how he could get through this car ride.
“I’ve got you, Jay,” Robin promised, rubbing Jason’s arm. “You’re safe now. You’re safe, and we’re going home.”
Home. Jason hadn’t had one of those in a long time, but Robin…he trusted Robin. Robin felt safe. If Robin said it was home, then…Jason could probably believe him.
Robin kept it up with the reassurance and the kind touches. Jason wasn’t usually a touchy person, but it had been so long since someone had touched him without it hurting, and he was just so tired of always being scared. He was so tired…
Jason stifled a yawn, prompting a chuckle from Robin. He probably shouldn’t be showing so much vulnerability, but…
He drew in a deep breath and reminded himself again that Batman and Robin were heroes, and they weren’t going to let anyone hurt Jason.
Jason was…safe.
And before the car pulled up to the gates of Wayne Manor, Jason was also asleep.