The police come two days later. Bruce, who had been at Wayne Enterprises, is called down to Gotham General Hospital, where Dick and Tim have been with Jason all morning. At first it seems as though the officers are simply following procedure by asking questions about what had happened between Jason and the Joker. Jason gives them some generic story about how he had left Wayne Manor grounds on his own, just to get some "fresh air" when Joker's men grabbed him. The officers ask him why he thought he had been a target and Jason just shrugs, saying that he's the adopted son of a billionaire; kidnapping him would definitely get Batman's attention.
It's the next question that throws Jason's otherwise calm demeanor off.
"And what about when you had been tortured before?"
Dick, Jason, and Tim's faces all seem to drop slightly at that. If Bruce is surprised, he – as usual – doesn't show any visible hint of it.
"…what?" Jason finally says, his voice shaky.
The taller of the officers – Officer Hadley, according to his name tag – gives Jason a grim look. "The doctors who had treated you for your recent injuries – they noticed a multitude of previous scars covering your body. Ones that are far too deliberate to be accidental. The wound on your cheek that was supposedly inflicted only last night was also determined to not be recent. There is old scar tissue around the edges it, and the doctors concluded that it had originally been a burn wound, not a knife one." Officer Hadley glances at Bruce, who only stares back with a hard glare. "They were concerned, and contacted authorities."
"Shit," Tim mutters under his breath.
"So," says the other cop, Officer Daniels. "Why don't you tell us what had happened before all of this? Did it happen during your time at Wayne Manor?"
Gritting his teeth furiously, Dick begins to rise from his chair. Bruce quickly holds out a hand, stopping him.
Knowing that looking at Bruce would only worsen the matter, Jason keeps his gaze locked onto the officers. "No," he says darkly. "It didn't. It happened while I was studying abroad."
"Were you kidnapped then too?" asks Officer Hadley. He gives Jason a doubtful look. "That seems to happen quite frequently."
This time it's Bruce who has to be steadied by Dick.
Jason glares at the officer. "Don't you have access to this information in your records?" he challenges.
"We're asking you."
Jason studies the man coldly. "I was at a party," he says, his voice tight. "It wasn't exactly…the safest party. I unknowingly drank a spiked drink and some group of guys grabbed me and pulled me out back. I don't remember much after that; I kinda went in and out of consciousness as they were doing their…work."
"Your medical records say that you were in a car accident," Officer Daniels says.
Jason nods. "Yeah. After a while some of the group got into a van, dragging me along too. They were all high and drunk, and so it's not exactly a surprise that we got into an accident."
"It says you were the ones hit, that it was another driver's fault."
Jason gives the officer an are you an idiot? look. "Yeah, the other driver was drunk too."
Officer Hadley doesn't look convinced. "Crazy night." He nods to Jason's cheek. "The medical records say it's in the shape of a J. Why is that?"
"Why does that matter?" Dick says angrily.
"We're asking Mr. Todd," Officer Hadley says, his voice firm. "If you cannot control yourself, you may leave the room." He turns back to Jason. "Well?"
"How should I fucking know?" snaps Jason. "I wasn't exactly coherent enough at the time to ask."
Officer Daniels frowns. "We did happen to check up on this incident before coming here today, and found nothing in police records about your previous attack. Did you report any of this to the authorities in…your medical records say you were in France at the time?"
Jason scoffs. "Why would I? It's not like they could have done anything; I didn't know who those guys were."
"Were they not taken to the hospital after the car accident as well?" Officer Hadley asks.
"I don't know," Jason grinds out. "I was almost immediately flown back to Gotham after it happened."
"And you were taken care of at Wayne Manor?" says Officer Hadley. "Why not here, at the hospital?"
"Because I am a close friend of the Wayne family," breaks in a new voice. Everyone turns to see Dr. Leslie Thompkins standing in the doorway, glaring at the officers. "And I had been in England during Jason's attack. I personally treated him, and I was with him when we were flown back to Gotham. Bruce wanted Jason at home."
Officer Hadley narrows his eyes. "And you are…?"
"Dr. Leslie Thompkins," Dr. Leslie states, walking briskly to Jason's side and laying a hand on his shoulder. "And I vouch for everything Mr. Todd here has stated. If you need more verification on the matter you may speak to me later. But you've done enough harassing of a boy who is still recovering from a brutal attack he received less than four days ago."
The officers glance at each other. Officer Daniels straightens, trying to look dignified. "I suppose we're finished here," he says. "But we will check in with you later, Dr. Thompkins."
Dr. Leslie frowns at the officers, not bothering to answer. Pressing his lips together, Officer Daniels leaves the room, closely followed by Officer Hadley. The moment the door clicks shut, Dr. Leslie turns to Jason, brushing his hair back comfortingly.
"I'm sorry I was out of town, Jason," she says. "We could have avoided this whole mess otherwise."
Jason smiles up at her. "It's okay."
Dr. Leslie looks up and down Jason's body, fury flashing in her eyes. "If I ever see Joker in person, I swear I'll kill him myself. I don't give a damn about your rules, Bruce."
Bruce frowns slightly at that, but Jason's smile only widens. Giving Jason a gentle pat, Dr. Leslie pulls up a chair to his bedside. "Bruce told me about your hip bone being replaced. I know it sounds terrible right now, but I don't want you to fret yet, Jason. I promise, I'll do everything I can to make sure you can do all of the insane stuff that I'm sure you'll want to get back to doing once you've healed."
Jason gives her a look of overwhelming gratefulness. "Really?"
"Of course," Dr. Leslie says. "It will take time, but it's certainly not impossible."
Suddenly, Jason's grin dies, a spark of panic instead lighting his eyes as he remembers something. "Bruce," he says, turning to look at Bruce. "I completely just made up all that new stuff about that party in France. The wasn't part of the cover story before."
"I know, and you were brilliant," Dick says. "Maybe you should ditch the whole vigilante thing and become an actor instead."
Jason flashes Dick a smirk, but desperation quickly dominates his face as he looks back at Bruce. "But if the cops investigate further into the medical and police documents…"
Tim snorts. "You're all a bunch of amateurs," he mutters. He holds up his phone. "I had texted Barbara almost as soon as the interview started. I started recording everything live for her, and she's been fixing all the documents ever since Jason started adding onto the story." His phone vibrates, indicating a new text. "She's done." He texts back a thank you and then grins at Jason. "She says nice acting."
Jason laughs. And that sound gives more ease to Bruce's mind than anything else possibly could have.
/
The cops don't come back to bother Jason again; apparently the records Barbara had altered, as well as a final discussion with Dr. Leslie, was enough to satisfy their investigation. And so a week and a half later, Jason is released from Gotham General Hospital and, under the watchful care of Dr. Leslie, transferred back to Wayne Manor. The days that follow after are peaceful enough, despite Jason's nightmares having come back with much more strength and frequency. Bruce continues to sit by Jason's bed every night.
Now, almost three weeks after the attack, Jason stands in front of his bathroom mirror once again, leaning heavily on one of his crutches. He's staring at the bandage covering his cheek, debating.
"Jason, you in here?"
Jason glances over to see Dick standing in the doorway. Upon seeing Jason at the bathroom counter, Dick pauses, no doubt remembering the last major incident that had happened in Jason's bathroom. "Um…Tim and I were gonna go hang out in the game room. Do you wanna…?"
Jason taps his finger against the countertop, quiet for a few moments. "Yeah, I'll come up. Just…give me a second." He turns back to the mirror.
Dick hesitates. "Do you want me to go?" he asks, though it's clear he doesn't want to.
Jason is still, thinking. Then he shakes his head. "No." He reaches a quivering hand up to the bandage on his cheek.
Anxiety coiling within his chest, Dick makes his way to Jason's side. Jason doesn't look at Dick, keeping his focus on the bandage. With almost excruciating slowness, Jason pulls it off, revealing the now closed – but not quite fully healed – brand mark. Dropping the bandage to the counter, Jason's jaw tightens as he stares at his reflection. He grips the edge of the counter and breathes slowly.
Dick stares at the horrific J as well, but only for a second. Then his attention is only on Jason himself.
I'm not broken, Jason thinks. I'm bruised. I'm bent. I'm not broken. Dick's words run through his head over and over as he squeezes his eyes shut, giving a faint shudder. Letting out a low breath, he opens his eyes and stares at his reflection with a firm determination. He shifts his gaze so it locks onto Dick's reflected in the mirror. "He can't break me, Dick. He won't."
Dick's breath leaves him in a choked rush, and he grabs Jason, turning him around so that they're facing as he crushes Jason against him in a fierce embrace. "I'm so proud of you, Jay," he whispers.
Jason tightens his arms around Dick, smiling weakly. With the bandage off, Jason suddenly feels much lighter. As though some of the darkness surrounding him has faded, and a weight has been lifted from his very soul. Tears well in his eyes and he gives a breathy laugh. Dick brings a hand up to the back of Jason's head, entangling his fingers into the thick locks as he pulls his brother closer.
A few minutes pass before Dick finally pulls away. "Now," Dick says, leaning back a bit to get a better look at Jason. "Let's go upstairs and team up against Tim to kick his ass at Mario Kart. He always wins and I'm sick of it."
Jason grins. "Sounds good."
Dick ruffles Jason's hair. "Sweet. Maybe we'll get Alfred to play too."
"He probably is secretly a master at it," says Jason, grabbing his crutches and leading the way out into the hallway.
"Probably practices when we're all out on patrol."
"I wouldn't put it past him."
/
Determination burns through Jason like a rekindled flame; he is incredibly adamant about healing as quickly as possible and returning to the original strength he had a year ago. Hours are spent exercising his body and mind, preparing for the day when he would finally be free of the limitations put on him by his injuries. Weeks turned into months, and as his body grows stronger, so does his spirit. The nightmares become less frequent, though Jason doubts they'll ever fully go away. Yet somehow, whenever there's a particularly bad one, Bruce seems to always be right there to comfort him until the shadows retreat from both the room and his mind.
Seasons pass, and for the first time in a long time, Wayne Manor holds happiness again.
/
"You'll need a name, you know."
Jason looks over at Tim. They're sitting on Wayne Manor's western balcony with Dick and Barbara, eating ice cream and watching the sun set over the Gotham skyline. Jason's leg cast had come off four months ago, and though he's doing extremely well for the condition his body had been in, he still has a few months to go until Bruce will let him go on patrol again. It's torturous for Jason to wait, but Dr. Leslie frequently makes it clear how important it is to completely heal before doing anything "rash." Jason has tried to sneak out a few times in an attempt to do some lone vigilantism, but an incredibly irritated Batman always seems to find him before he gets too far.
"For your identity, when you can join us out there again," Tim continues. "Do you have any ideas for one?"
Jason grins a little, scooping up a large chunk of Neapolitan ice cream and stuffing it into his mouth.
"You do then," Dick says. "Well come on, tell us!"
Jason continues to eat, looking smug.
Tim rolls his eyes. "He thinks he's being coy." He narrows his gaze at Jason. "But really he's just being annoying."
A smirk spreads across Jason's lips.
Barbara raises her eyebrows in curiosity. "Come on, Jason," she says. "What is it?"
Jason stirs the remaining lumps of ice cream thoughtfully. Then he lifts his gaze to Barbara's, giving her a meaningful look. "Gotham Knight."
Understanding flickers in Barbara's eyes, and a warm smile spreads across her face. "I think it's perfect," she says softly.
"That sounds so much cooler than Robin," Tim grumbles.
A laugh bursts from Jason. "Glad you approve of it."
Dick smiles. "Now you just need a uniform to go with it."
Jason tilts his head thoughtfully. "I have a few ideas. None of them involve spandex, so don't even bother bringing it up."
"Fine by me," shrugs Dick. "I'm the only one of us boys who can pull it off anyway."
Jason snorts. "Please, keep it."
"I will," Dick says proudly, grinning as he swallows another bite of ice cream.
As they watch the sun dip below the horizon, all Jason can think is, despite everything that's happened to him, he has never been more grateful that Bruce Wayne decided to take a chance on a snot-nosed kid from the streets of Gotham.
/
Eight months have passed since Jason had been released from Gotham General Hospital. Due to his hip being shattered and replaced, Jason's recovery took longer than he had been hoping for. But now, Dr. Leslie has finally given Jason her blessing to do what he's been longing to do for almost two years now.
The night air is cool, and a light breeze rustles over the building tops of Gotham city. Clouds and light pollution make it difficult to see many stars, but the masked man standing on the edge of a bank building doesn't mind – the city lights below are his stars. Resting his arm on a propped up knee, he leans forward, gazing down at the streets below.
Having heard them long before they swing onto the rooftop he's currently standing on, he turns as two caped figures land, watching coolly as they approach him.
"Nightwing," Batman greets, his voice as professional as always.
"Batman," says Nightwing. He grins at the shorter figure. "Robin." Turning his gaze back to Batman, he holds out a hand inquisitively. "So, is he coming? You said that tonight –"
"He's coming," answers a new voice. There's a heavy thud as a new figure lands on the edge of the rooftop and straightens to his full height.
His uniform is much more military-looking than everyone else's. He wears dark gray armor over a leather jacket, and red and gray camo pants tucked into black combat boots. Over his head is a red and silver helmet. It's smooth in the front, except for two glowing slits over where the eyes are. Silver bands go up the sides of it, forming into short bat-ears on top.
Nightwing's grin widens. "What took you so long? Admiring yourself in the mirror?"
The new figure gives a short laugh. "Sure, something like that." He looks at Batman. "Ready?"
A small smile slides onto Batman's mouth. "Let's go, Gotham Knight." Batman turns and runs towards the edge of the rooftop. His three sons immediately follow, and together they jump, shooting their grappling hooks and soaring off into the night.
/
/
/
The end, my lovely readers! I'm sorry if it seemed a bit abrupt, but I had already done my story's climax, and I didn't want to drag out my story to the point of it becoming repetitive or boring. So hopefully this is an adequate ending. :) I hope it wasn't too cheesy, but I had to give Jason a happy one – he deserved it after all he had gone through.