Chapter 22
Jason sat at the far end of the table for breakfast. Peter stood by his chair for a minute before taking a seat next to him as his siblings filed in. He watched as his mom took his old seat right next to his dad who watched them from across the table. Cass took up the seat on his other side as Damian sat across from him.
Dick joined them a minute later, taking the seat across from Jason. Peter could hear Jason’s heart spike as everyone slowly trickled in. The only ones left were Duke and Tim, though the former tended to have earlier starts on his patrol. Especially to avoid awkward breakfasts.
Was Tim avoiding breakfast? Or Jason? Peter had the urge to check on his brother but he didn’t want to leave Jason on his own either. Biting his lip, Peter’s eyes darted from the door to Jason, weighing his options.
“Drake avoids breakfast as well? Pathetic.” Damian sighs, pushing away from the table just as Alfred brought in the breakfast cart.
“Damian.” His dad warned just before Damian disappeared out of the dining room. His mom only shook her head, patting his dad’s arm. “How did you sleep, Jason?”
Peter frowned at his pancakes, listening to the hearts inside the manor. Jason was still nervous, uncomfortable in a place he should feel safe in. Tim was too, his heart racing when he should feel at ease.
He had to get them to talk to each other. Jason has to apologize and Tim… Tim would need time. Peter just had to figure out how to get them to be more comfortable with each other. He couldn't handle it if everyone just left.
“Fine.” Jason mumbled, pushing at his eggs. “You?”
“Fine.” His dad grunted as he thanked Alfred for the coffee.
This was painstakingly awkward, the silence around the table felt unnatural and heavy. He should fix it somehow. Peter thought of the similarities between his family before nodding to himself as Cass smiled at him.
“So can I be a vigilante now?” Peter grinned at his parents before turning to look at Jason. He already knew the answer… but he could at least make a point. “I didn’t die and you never caught me either, dad.”
“Oh, right. Mr. Williams will be over later today so we can discuss just what has been going on. Thank you for the reminder, Peter.” His dad smirked, leaning back in his seat.
“Yeah, how’d the kid sneak away from you, old man. Shorty here shouldn’t be wandering Crime Alley in the middle of the night.” Jason accused, faint amusement tinging his voice.
Peter had been training to sneak around with Cass for a few years by now. Are they all forgetting that fact?
“Oh you don’t know the half of it.” Dick snorted. “Wanna hear about how Cass came here? Or Peter’s first attempt at breaking into the Drake property? Or-”
“Okay! We don’t hafta talk about that!” Peter cut in, his face flushing at the mentions of all his little escapes. He wasn’t that bad! He ducked further in his seat as Jason urged Dick to tell him all about it. Maybe he should have run when he had the chance.
At least the air felt lighter now.
–
“Drake.” Damian hovered by the door, eyeing his Father’s ward. Drake stood by his mirror, locked onto his eyes where he stayed stock still. “Peter has noticed your absence and is concerned. I see you are standing so I would suggest joining the others for breakfast.”
He didn’t bother entering the room, staying just over the threshold. Peter’s concern was evident for everyone to see yet he couldn’t pry himself from Todd’s side. Damian couldn’t find himself to feel the same concern over their missing sibling but the chance to avoid that uncomfortable table was there.
“I’ll eat later.” Drake mumbled. He wondered yet again over the training of the previous Robin. He was too emotional, crumbling before a fight even began. This would never have been allowed within the League.
“Is this because Todd had attacked you? You survived, what is there to fear now.” Damian rolled his eyes. “You will only witness him eating breakfast as any other person.”
“Yeah. Any other person. Just get lost, demon brat. I don’t wanna talk.” Drake scoffed, falling onto his bed.
Damian eyed him from the doorway. Peter had talked about emotions before and Damian can only see the drawbacks here. Of course, speaking with civilians is another story entirely. Especially whilst maintaining your own civilian identity. Even Peter is the exception, though that is due to his own immaturity for the time being. However, everyone else here was aware of their other lives as well as the importance of compartmentalizing.
Drake cannot function properly if he fears Todd.
Peter would… coddle him. Damian did not plan to do anything close. All he was willing to offer to Drake were words.
“Then listen.” Damian entered the room, standing at the foot of his bed. “Todd will not harm you anymore. Peter had sought him out immediately upon your rather dramatic return. He wished to ‘tell him off’ or something along those lines. I can assure you myself that Todd will be entirely docile within Peter’s presence. If he is not, the entire family will be there to intervene.”
“He what?” Drake shot up, wild eyes staring at Damian. “He… when was this?”
“Peter had orchestrated a search for Red Hood after discovering the name of your attacker. His planned visit to the Williams’ was to search through Crime Alley and draw Red Hood out.” Damian drawled. Surely this was enough to reassure Drake of his safety. He was hardly in any danger in the first place.
Drake gaped for a moment before storming past him. Damian rolled his eyes without the other’s presence as he left the room to follow him. This is bound to be interesting, now.
–
Peter had given up. He stuffed his face with food to avoid everyone’s eyes as Dick and his mom regaled Jason with all his stories. Even his dad was openly laughing at them. (More of a hearty chuckle but the same enthusiasm either way.)
He could hear two pairs of feet approaching the dining hall and Peter immediately straightened as Tim entered the room. Damian convinced him to join them! He’d have to ask how Damian, out of all his siblings, drew out Tim.
“Peter Thomas Wayne-Kyle!” Tim stormed to the table, hands slapping onto it as he hovered over Damian’s vacated seat. “You snuck out to find Hood the day I came back half dead!?”
Oh. That’s how Damian encouraged him out of his room.
“No! It was… the weekend. But you were hurt!” Peter argued. He didn’t go the same day! He had to plan with Nate before doing enough research and memorizing a map of Gotham so he wouldn’t get lost. There was planning to do before he could search for the Red Hood. He had to wait a few days.
“He did what?” His dad cut in, his stance straightening. Peter groaned, leaning onto Jason’s side as everyone seemed to realize what Peter has really been up to for the past month.
“Peter here hears I get attacked and decides he’ll talk to the person after tracking them down in the middle of Crime Alley at night and alone.” Tim stresses, his eyes focused on Peter.
“He promised not to hurt you! And he hasn’t and he’s Jason! He wouldn’t hurt me!” Peter felt a little betrayed that Damian shared that information with Tim and subsequently the rest of the family. He knew it would come out once his dad talked to Nate’s dad and both of them would have to spill the beans on their scheme but he wasn’t ready for all that now.
Jason coughed, rubbing the back of his neck as he looked over the table. “I did hurt you, Pete.”
A collective hush washed over the table as everyone focused on Jason while Peter pushed to stand on his chair.
“He didn’t mean to!” Peter snapped at them, refusing to budge on his opinion of the matter. He was the one hurt, it was his choice to forgive Jason, the Red Hood, for it. He didn’t need anyone defending him for it after the fact.
“Wait, what happened?” Dick sighed, standing from the table to stare at both of his brothers. Peter eyed his surrounding family, everyone tensed over the new information. Why had Jason said anything about it? It wasn’t a big deal and Peter was fine.
Jason leaned forward, his head hung as he retold the moment on the rooftop when Peter first met the Red Hood. Peter frowned as he listened to the story. Jason told it as if he was already in trouble. He didn’t blame Jason even when he didn’t know it was his brother beneath the mask. He still doesn’t blame him for it because Jason hadn’t meant to.
Everyone stayed silent as he finished his explanation, another apology passed to Peter at the end. He could hear Jason’s heart, beating anxiously as he awaited some grand punishment that Peter refused to allow to happen.
“Jason-” Dick started before Peter tackled his returned brother in a hug. Everything was going wrong. This was supposed to be a nice breakfast to welcome Jason home. This wasn't supposed to go this way.
“No! I already forgave you. You didn’t mean to and I’m not mad! Stop saying it was your fault!” It wasn’t his fault. Just like Mr. Barnes, he couldn’t be blamed for reacting out of instinct. Jason had hurt him, yes but he apologized and he hasn’t done it again. Peter couldn’t hate him. Nothing Jason did could make him hate him. He didn't want to lose his brother again.
“Peter, he never should have hurt you.” His dad started, only his mom’s hand on his arm stopped him from walking any closer to them. Peter could feel his heart drop at the start of those words. “He isn’t the same Jason-”
“No, Bruce, stop that.” Dick cut in. “Jason’s still our Jason. He belongs here, with his family. We can help him.”
Everyone’s hearts beat louder as their voices raised. Peter could barely focus on one rhythm as Dick and his dad argued across the table. Their voices dulled as the rhythmic thump thump thump took over.
Jason’s raced as the argument continued. Thump-thump-thump.
Dick’s was erratic, anxiety rolling through his veins. Thump thump thu-thump.
His dad’s was deceptively calm. Only a hitch after every few words showed any emotion he otherwise hid. Thump…thump… thump thump.
Peter wanted to argue too. He wanted to scream and to shout. His dad didn’t get it. He didn’t understand that things happened to Jason, that he needed help. Peter wanted to say something to help.
No.
He just needed to get away. He needed some silence. Peter has to think.
“Stop fighting!” Peter screamed. Leaping onto the floor, glaring up at everyone.
He just needed to think.
He raced for the door, passing into the foyer as the fighting finally calmed down. Their hearts continued to beat, the drumming echoing in his ears as his feet hit the tiles. Peter needed a minute. He needed to think.
–
Peter ducked through the bushes as Titus chased a path through the woods. The birds sang softly from the trees and Titus’ heart beat excitedly, happy. The Earth moved, breathing calmly through the trees as wind pushed the leaves gently. The silence was welcoming here as Peter followed his brother’s dog deeper into the woods.
He slowed to a stop over a small crest, Titus jumped down to sniff at a burrow below them. The small clearing opened up to a colorful blast of flowers, a log with moss sat under the sunlight that broke through the trees. Peter looked over the large rocks leaning against each other nearby.
The silence around them broke only to the sound of birds. If Peter really tried, he could just make out muffled conversation from the manor yards away. The forest connected to Wayne Manor was large, covering football fields of land that Peter only ever entered with his siblings or his dad by his side. He’s never gotten this far before and he was glad that he found this spot alone.
“Do you think dad’s gonna chase Jason out?” Peter asked as Titus came to his side, his tail wagging excitedly.
Titus barked before trotting to the rocks by the edge of the little clearing. No answer came to him from his adviser. Peter hopped off the ledge before taking a seat on the log. He watched Titus circle the rocks by his left as he thought over the breakfast.
His dad acted like Jason meant to hurt him. Like Jason would do it again. He knew if Dick hadn’t cut in, his dad would have tried to tell him that Jason was dangerous again. Peter’s heard his conversations about the Red Hood before. Eavesdropping on his siblings and dad let him hear their opinions.
Those opinions all revolve around the murder streak of one Red Hood. Of the bag of heads and corpses lining his path. Of criminals killed in cold blood and how they had to stop him. How they got hurt every time they tried.
But they didn’t get it.
Jason is Red Hood but he wasn’t bad. He couldn’t be. Peter refused to believe it. His brother was just struggling like Bucky Barnes did. Wherever he was, whatever happened, made Jason into the Red Hood. He only needed his family back. He shouldn’t be alone. He might be doing bad things right now but Jason wasn’t bad. His brother was just in trouble.
He shouldn’t be left alone.
Titus came to his side, curling up by his feet as Peter watched the shadows stretch as the sun crested over the trees. He had to go back. They would come looking for him and Peter had to make sure Jason was still at home. He had to make sure his dad hadn’t chased him out.
Hopping off the log, Peter trekked back towards the trees. He followed the distant beating of drums, the hearts of his family waiting for him. Titus took the lead, sniffing at the roots and bushes as they walked. Peter hoped Jason was waiting. He couldn’t have left, right?
Maybe he could tell them about the Winter Soldier. If his dad heard about one assassin turned hero maybe he wouldn’t be so quick to send Jason away. Peter wasn’t sure how to explain the memories from his past life but how strange could that be with this family? They all have died and disappeared before coming back.
His dad would listen and if not, his mom would make him.
“Wait, Titus!”” Peter took off as Titus veered left before taking off. He chased after the great dane farther from the manor and deeper into the woods. The enhanced stamina was all that kept Peter just behind the puppy as Titus ran after something.
He couldn’t hear anything other than the trees and birds. There was no one else in the woods besides them. Something caught Titus’ attention and Peter couldn’t call him back. Damian would actually kill him if he lost his dog.
“Titus! Stop!” Peter ran, scrambling over another log as Titus leaped past it. They raced downhill as the trees surrounding him drew in close. Bushes stretched out with thin lines of branches, slicing his cheeks as he pushed past them.
Shadows thickened the farther they ran. Leaves and branches stretched overhead, blocking any light from breaking through. Peter focused on Titus’ heart to keep up as he struggled to run around the undergrowth.
Finally breaking through a large overgrown hedge, Peter came to a stop at the edge of another clearing. This one was just as shaded as the rest of the woods he raced through. Trees lined a path ahead towards a worn down house where Titus stopped to sniff around. Peter made his way forward cautiously despite the silence in the area.
The house must have once been a manor as large as his own. The left wing had crumbled away over the years, half raised walls just barely peeking out from overgrown vines and moss. The right wing was entirely gone, trees sprouted from what must have been tiled floors and walls. Peter edged towards the large oak doors, a crack split through the right door as it barely clung to rusted hinges. Titus pawed at it as Peter approached.
“Wow…” Peter wished he had a camera with him, or Tim and his camera. The abandoned house would have come out beautifully through the lens. In person, it looked far more haunted.
He could feel the hairs on his neck tingle as he stopped before the doors. Something was wrong here. Someone was here. Peter tried listening for a heart beat, stretching his senses over the area for the sound of anyone nearby. Still, he couldn’t hear anything.
Titus whined again, his claws scratching at the door. Peter eyed it for a second before he reached for the handle. His senses didn’t spike any more than they already have so he gave the door a hard push. It creaked before falling back, hinges snapping after years of disuse.
How long has this been here?
The old entrance hall had been left to nature as weeds and dirt coated the ground. An old drawer left by the right wall had nuts and dirt coating above it, rabbit droppings littered the top and the floor as Peter stepped inside.
Titus took off once again as they entered, speeding down the hall and past the stairwell. Peter took a moment to take in the space they entered. Old frames, torn and worn, hung on the walls. People staring out with vacant eyes from each frame.
Peter stepped towards the shelves just inside the room to his left, the outer wall half crumbled as bushes stretched inside. A bust of an owl stared at him, wings spread out as if mid-flight. The stone bird looked angry with its beak opened in a silent screech.
Something was wrong here. Peter heard Titus above the room as the house creaked around him. Soft, calm heart beats echoed in tempo outside. A perfect circle of people encroaching onto the abandoned manor. The unfamiliar heartbeats rose Peter’s own. Did they live here? Did they see him go inside?
The door was broken out front, Peter couldn’t make a break for the stairs without being seen. Peter eyed the hole above him, keeping an ear out for the approaching crowd. He rushed to the old wall, his fingers finding purchase easily as he began to climb. One heartbeat approached, calm and collected, towards the front door.
He climbed upwards, scaling the wall before going horizontally onto the ceiling. Reaching the hole, he pulled himself over the opening and onto the second story. Heels clacked against the ground as the person approached.
“I only wish to talk, Peter.” A woman spoke, her voice calming. There was an accent there that Peter recognized in Damian’s voice. “There’s no need to hide, I’m a friend.”
Peter ducked as he saw black hair enter the room. Titus joined his side, panting excitedly as Peter tried to push him back. If she saw him then she would know he was up here. Maybe she knew Damian but that didn’t mean she was good. His brother was raised by assassins, in a league that his dad even said were bad.
“Very well. I only wished to offer my knowledge. I hear you want to learn how to fight. My Beloved coddles you, I can help you with that. I will be here a week from today at the same time. I hope to see you here for your first lesson, Peter.” The woman spoke, her head moving upwards just as Peter ducked out of the way.
He waited a while longer until the hearts disappeared. Until the woman was far enough away from even his enhanced hearing.
Who was she? How did she know?
Could she teach him? Jason already taught him some things… but he couldn’t be sure he’d still have lessons after this morning. He’ll have to wait on it and see.
–
“I know you never meant to hurt him.” Dick sat beside his brother, his Little Wing, on the couch. Selina had dragged Bruce out to find Peter and the others finally dispersed with a few words from Alfred and himself, leaving Jason with him. “Sometimes we hurt the ones we love without meaning to… please, don’t beat yourself up over it.”
“Yeah, easy for you to say. You didn’t hurt him.” Jason growled, hands fisting in his hair.
Jason had grown a lot over the years. Dick wanted to know everything. How did he survive? Where did he go? What happened to him? He wasn’t the same kid that read to Peter and flipped through the city as if magic really did cling to him.
He might have changed but Jason was still Jason. Dick had seen how he let Peter pull him into hugs; how Peter clung to him in the cave and even when Jason’s eyes glowed green, he never once turned it on to him. Jason might have grown up without his family, but he still cares. Especially about Peter.
Dick smiled at his brother, Peter had been right again. Jason just needs to be around them. Being alone won’t help him, isolating himself would only punish him more.
“No, but Damian had. You’ve seen how close they are, right? Damian nearly broke Peter’s ankle after he first arrived and Pete forgave him, too. He won’t hold it against you.” Dick tried, thinking back on those earlier days when Damian was still a feral assassin. Granted, Damian attacked Peter because he asked for training. Still the incident happened and Peter had been hurt.
It was a miracle how the two have grown. Damian might not show it often but he had taken the big brother role to Peter faster than Dick had expected. He cared in his own way without coddling him like everyone else did. Dick knows Peter doesn’t want to be coddled all the time but it was hard to see his baby brother as anything but the newborn learning to crawl in the manor.
“It’s different.” Jason growled, green seeping into his eyes.
“How is it any different, Todd?” Damian walked into the room, arms crossed. “Peter has made his choice about you, are you planning to force him to change it? How would you do that, exactly?”
“Dami…” Dick frowned, glancing between the two. Bruce was still on the fence with Jason, Peter’s pushing was the only thing keeping the peace at the moment. If these two broke into a fight now…
Jason stood, towering over Damian as the green overshadowed his blue. “If you think I’ll hurt him, you’re dead wrong. Kid doesn’t know better and none of you shits are doing anything to help ‘im.”
“You know Peter won’t change his mind. So what will you do? Finish what you started with Drake? Perhaps that will show him who you really are.” Damian scoffed.
“Guys, let’s not fight. Yeah? We can just sit down and talk this out, no one’s killing anyone.” Dick tried for a smile, stepping between the two. Bruce should be back with Peter soon, everyone knows he hides in the attic when he wants to be alone. Peter's presence would diffuse the fight instantly, if he was here.
–
Tim glared out the window, his mind trapped in the Titan’s Tower. A place that should have been safe and where he could let his guard down. A place he went to after putting up with Damian for too long and Bruce’s return. The Red Hood’s mask hovering over him as he bled out on the floor with a blade cutting into his arms and chest.
He couldn’t be mad at Peter but… he wished the Red Hood was anyone else.
“Tim, you don’t have to forgive him if you don’t want to. What he did…” Steph tried, tugging him from the window. Cass sat on his bed, a plate of cookies balanced on her knees. Steph dragged him towards her, climbing onto the bed to settle in. “He won’t hurt you again and we won’t let him.
“We protect each other.” Cass signed before plucking another cookie off the plate.
Peter would be devastated if he ignored Jason. Tim had a hard enough time trying to settle into the manor years ago with Peter’s hate hovering over him like a rain cloud. When Peter had finally accepted him, Tim had hoped that would be it. He had a little brother and they got along great. Even now, they spend time in the labs together and Peter seeks him out for science conversations.
He knew Peter always loved Jason most. There was never competition when the victor was already decided. Jason didn’t even know just how much Peter wanted him back. How much his escape attempts, his hatred for Tim, was because of him.
Jason got a free pass from Peter just because he’s Jason.
“I don’t know how to live here if he’s staying.” Tim sighed. He couldn’t go back to the Towers, not with what happened there. He couldn’t live here if Jason moved in.
He was there to help Bruce after Jason died. He helped fill the role left behind and now there was nothing for him to fix. Maybe… maybe he didn’t have to live in the manor anymore. Drake Manor was still there and empty. Bruce didn’t need him, Damian has taken up the mantle now. Peter has Jason back and all the others in the manor.
Maybe Tim really did outgrow his place.
He's overstayed, hasn't he?
-
Peter rushed to his dad after leaving the abandoned building with Titus at his side. He considered asking him if he knew about the lady that talked to him but… his dad might be mad that he had gone that far from the manor. He was pretty sure his dad was already mad enough about Peter sneaking out to meet with Jason, it's probably best he doesn't know about the lady.
She didn’t say anything about telling him so Peter hoped that meant his dad wouldn’t find out about it. Besides, he has Jason to teach him now.
“Dad!! Jason didn’t leave, right?” Peter asked the moment he reached them. His mom took his hand gently, brushing leaves and dirt from his hair as Titus bound past them.
“He’s still there, kitten. What did you get up to?” Peter only grinned as she plucked a twig that got knotted into his hair. “We’ll have to give you a haircut soon.”
His dad hummed, holding a hand out for Peter. “He’s back in the manor.”
“You won’t scare him away. Promise?” Peter took the offered hand with his free one, following between his parents towards his home. “Jason’s back. I don’t wanna lose him again and he didn’t do anything wrong.”
He watched his parents share a look over his head. He’ll just have to work harder to show them that Jason wasn’t bad. He made some mistakes but he’s his brother and his dad’s son. They can’t hate him for that.
Peter followed them back to the manor, releasing their hands when he saw Alfred waiting at the door where Titus must have run inside already. He raced in, listening for Jason’s heartbeat before following it. Damian and Dick were with him, too.
“Shut up!” Jason yelled, causing Peter to hesitate in front of the door. Were they already fighting? How!?
“Go on, enrich us with your grand plan.” Damian snarled. “Tsk, hate yourself in your own mind but do not put such pressures on Peter to alleviate. He is not your minder. Perhaps grow up before claiming that he is the child in this situation.”
Alright, they were fighting. Peter scowled, shoving the doors opened as his parents finally joined his side.
Dick stood between the two, Damian’s back to the door with his arms crossed. Jason stood behind Dick with bright green eyes, his body held taut as if he was ready for a fight. Peter watched as their heads turned towards the door where he stood. He watched as Jason’s green eyes flickered like an old neon sign, the green pulling back and raging forward simultaneously.
“Why’re you guys fighting?” Peter frowned, walking into the room. It sounded like Damian was digging in on Jason, did he start it?
“We aren’t.” Damian huffed, passing him as he left the room. Dick only sighed, falling back onto the couch as he quietly thanked God.
Jason stayed standing, his eyes darting up and down to his dad and himself. “Nothing. Look, I appreciate all this, but I’m not stayin’.”
“Wha-why not?” Peter’s voice cracked as he rushed forward to take Jason’s hand. “You just came back!”
Jason looked over his head, meeting his dad’s eyes while Peter pulled him to look back down. He couldn’t leave. Did Damian do this? What happened?
“I’m sorry Peter, I’m just… I’m not ready. I can’t be here.” Jason’s eyes looked behind him again, green seeping into his eyes. Jason couldn’t be here because of his dad. Peter’s noticed it since Batman dropped into the gym, how his eyes were always on his dad. How he was always watching him, the anger that bled into his eyes and how still he would go.
Peter had to do something. He had to fix this somehow. But... what could he do? What could he say?
He stood, watching as Jason walked past him and into the hallway. Dick rested a hand on his shoulder but he barely felt it. For once, he couldn't hear anyone's hearts but his own. He stared past his dad to where Jason disappeared. He just had his brother back. He... he couldn't lose him again. Not after just getting him back. What if Jason got hurt? What if he wanted to talk to them? Will he visit?
"He'll come back, right?" Peter turned to Dick, his eyes watering. Maybe Jason just needs a few days. He could wait. Peter will wait if Jason comes back soon.