Chapter Text
Jason didn’t know when it started. If he thought about it, he remembered the bright light that surrounded his mom in her last days. After that, he noticed the way some people lit up, outlined in a growing brightness that emitted from the edges of their beings. The brighter the individual, the closer they were to death. On the streets, he grew to expect it from the listless drug addicts in the alleyways and the street kids that would develop an unsettling cough in the harsh winters. He did his best to share what he had with the people who lit up around him. But, back then, Jason only had so much to give.
Now. Now things were a little different.
As Robin, he could do more to help the ones that shone the brightest at night. Save them from attackers, from accidents, from themselves. He relished the way the light would dim after he rescued someone. They were safe because of him. He had so much more to give now.
And at the parties and galas that Bruce insisted on dragging him to, he expected the dim light from the tired old businessmen who drank too much and were limping closer to their ends, glowing a little more every time Jason saw them.
He expected that.
What he did not expect was for the 12-year-old neighbor kid to light up like a damn Christmas tree the second Jason laid his eyes on him.
Jason’s mind halted and his throat tightened.
The kid and his family were exchanging pleasantries with Bruce that he was not listening to. All he could do was stare, the question of Why? Why? Repeating over and over in his mind.
Holy shit. Jason shook himself out of his stupor. The little family was about to leave and mingle with the rest of the snobby crowd at the party, but he stepped forward, reaching out, nearly catching the kid’s sleeve.
Why are you so bright?
“Are you ok?” Somewhere between a Robin voice and a choking sound escaped him. The boy turned and looked confused for a beat, but he covered it quickly with a smile.
“Of course!” He grinned. Jason swallowed down nausea.
He had never seen a kid so bright.
“Come along, Timothy,” the boy’s mother said and, just like that, he turned back to his parents and they made their way through the crowd. If Jason looked, he could see the glimmer of Timothy shining around the other partygoers. His distraction was obvious because Bruce pulled him gently to the side as soon as he had a chance.
“Jaylad,” Bruce leaned close, “what’s wrong?”
Jason chewed the inside of his lip. His eyes darted back to the kid, and he winced at the light. Bruce did not know about his adoptive son’s… abilities. The man acted weird about people with powers in Gotham and Jason never wanted the man to look at him differently or to think he was lying.
“I have a bad feeling,” he finally whispered.
“How bad?” Bruce asked as he smiled forcefully across the room at another partygoer who was waving and trying to get his attention.
“Not like sick.” Well, that wasn’t quite right, he did feel ill at the thought of a little kid being so close to death. So close that it might happen any moment. “Something is wrong with him.”
Bruce had come to appreciate that Jason had a knack for sensing when something was off with a person. He didn’t need to know the details.
“Something wrong with the Drake boy?” Bruce asked in a hushed voice.
Timothy Drake. That was the kid’s whole name.
“Yes,” Jason scanned the room. Staring at the kid as he spoke to other guests, a forced smile in place and fingers twitching slightly behind his back, like he was struggling not to fidget.
“I’m going to watch him,” Jason reported it with the same tone he would use if he was letting Batman know he would be staking out a roof, looking for drug lords.
“Let me know what you find.” Bruce clapped his shoulder and moved back to greeting the next group of businessmen, enthusiastic façade back in place.
Jason slipped away into the crowd, walking towards the light.
He kept his distance at first, but he was never too far away. As he watched, he realized the light would dim and then brighten again. As Robin, he had seen lights go out. It was one of the most satisfying things about being Robin. Seeing a bright light leave after he stepped in and fought off a victim’s attacker or after he pulled someone away from danger. The lights that flickered and then dimmed to nothing were always such a relief, letting him know he had done his job. He had saved people.
But he had never seen a light flicker, dim and then brighten again like Timothy’s. It took him a long time to see any kind of pattern to it. The kid turned to the refreshment table and Jason noticed how bright Tim grew. He almost couldn’t bear to look, but then someone would approach Tim and exchange pleasantries and the light would flicker, but not go out.
It was brighter when the kid was on his own.
Jason threw his shoulders back and approached the boy at the dessert table. He watched as the light dimmed as he neared.
“The little chocolate cakes are good.”
Tim jumped at his voice, but he turned with that smile in place. The soft glow fell across his features, highlighting him.
“Oh, you startled me,” Tim moved his hands behind his back and Jason imagined he was fidgeting.
“Sorry.” Jason shrugged.
The light wouldn’t leave. Jason looked at the dessert table. Was the kid going to choke or something?
“Are you feeling okay?” He picked up a dessert plate so he could have something to do with his hands.
Tim blinked, the smile faltered slightly. “I’m okay.”
“You’re not feeling sick or anything?” Jason plopped a chocolate cake onto his plate.
“No?”
Change of tactics.
Jason smiled wide. He had a fake smile for these things too after all, he just didn’t bring it out very much. “So we’re neighbors, right?”
“Yeah,” Tim’s eyes started to dart back and forth, seeming nervous, but the light around him faded ever so slightly, so Jason went on.
“We go to school together too, right? I think I’ve seen you in the library.”
Tim’s eyes widened briefly before he shifted his expression into something more natural.
“You’ve seen me at school?” The kid practically squeaked out. Jason shrugged, trying to remain calm as the light dimmed, but never went out. A dim light meant death was days and days away, but this kid’s kept changing.
“Yeah, in the hallway a few times. You skipped a grade, right?”
Tim nodded.
“So you’re in 8th now, yeah? Who do you have for history?”
“Ward.”
“Really? He’s nice. Boring though.” Jason scanned the room, was there a threat he wasn’t seeing? An exposed wire? A slippery floor? “I still have my notes for everything. If you ever need them.”
“English,” Tim blurted out. Jason’s attention snapped back to the boy. Tim cleared his throat, and his ears turned a bit red. “I’m having some trouble with it. English. I’m not good at metaphors and stuff.”
Jason gave him a genuine grin.
“I can help with that.”
The evening passed away with the two chatting about mundane, boring things. But Tim was grinning for real when he talked, lighting up in a different way now. Jason learned a lot about him because the boy talked like he had just been waiting for someone to notice him.
They even exchanged numbers so that Jason could send him homework help and the occasional meme.
The night was wrapping up before they knew it and Tim was now only emitting the softest glow.
It was something Jason saw in older men several days from a heart attack and drug addicts in the street and little old ladies always so unsteady on their feet. No immediate danger, but marked still.
Tim’s mom called for him and Jason watched him go, making sure he didn’t grow brighter. The boy settled into step next to his parents and, satisfied enough for now, Jason went to find Bruce.
“Report?” Bruce asked softly, his hand landing on Jason’s neck and giving a brief squeeze before resting there.
They were making their way out of the main hall and stepping out into the cold night air towards the waiting car.
“I’m not sure. All I got is that he’s lonely.” Jason frowned. “But something is wrong, I just know it.”
Bruce hummed. “Well, he is our neighbor…”
“He can come over?” Jason turned with wide eyes. Bruce had always told him it was okay to have friends over to the manor, but Jason knew that meant Bruce would be running background checks and, despite what the man said, having strangers at the manor was anxiety inducing.
Between their unusual night lives and the fact that Bruce still did not seem comfortable with letting people in, Jason hadn’t bothered inviting anyone over. He had casual friends at school, but…
Well, maybe Jason still wasn’t used to having a home to invite people over to anyway.
Bruce wasn’t the only one with some anxieties.
“I don’t see why not. Maybe he just needs a friend, Jay.”
Jason nodded and looked back. He caught the very edge of Tim’s light silhouette following along his parents as they left.
“Yeah, I think he does.”
Jason didn’t wait long. He texted the next day, asking if Tim would like to just come over and look through his notes himself. That way Tim could pick out exactly what he needed.
The younger boy responded to the text in less than a minute. And Jason felt a swell of relief at knowing the kid was still okay.
He became uneasy, waiting for Tim in the den, not sure what state the kid's light would be in. He forced himself not to go running for the door when he heard the bell ring. Alfred let Tim in, greeting him politely.
Jason held his breath.
Tim was ushered into the den and Jason’s face broke out into a careful smile. The kid looked overwhelmed and he supposed even though the boy came from money, Wayne Manor was still impressive.
A soft light glinted around Tim’s edges and Jason was relieved and frustrated at the same time. No immediate danger. But not out of danger.
Was it going to be some freak accident? Tripping down the stairs or something? But then the light wouldn’t get brighter and then dim like that. Right?
Jason bit the inside of his cheek. He forced the smile to stay in place.
“Hey, let’s go up to my room, I’ve got all my notes there.”
“Okay,” Tim nodded and followed along eagerly, sticking close like he was Jason’s personal shadow.
Jason flung open his door and glanced back to see Tim’s eyes opened wide, looking shocked by this average room. Jason glanced around. He kept it pretty tidy, but he had accumulated quiet a collection of bookshelves, maybe that’s what had grabbed the kid's attention.
“You’re reading Fahrenheit, right?” Jason pulled the book from its place on the shelf. “It’s not my favorite, but I appreciate the dude’s love for books.”
Jason smirked as he saw the kid’s face shift into a more polite smile instead of the look of shocked awe.
“I can see that.”
Jason laughed. “Yeah, I’m kind of hoarding them. Are you not much of a reader, Tiny Tim?”
He shrugged. “I like nonfiction more.”
Jason grinned. “I’ve got some of that too.”
They passed the afternoon away looking over books and notes and Tim talked and talked and talked. Jason hadn’t been lying when he told Bruce the kid was lonely. It was apparent in the way he latched onto attention, like he thought he was going to lose it at any moment.
The sun was setting and the light was just starting to grow brighter around the boy when Alfred knocked on the door to enquire if young Timothy Drake would be joining them for dinner.
Tim looked like he was about to fall out of his chair.
“Oh, no. You don’t have to- I should have left already!” He stood up and floundered with the book in his hand, unsure where to set it down. “I’m sorry for taking up so much of your time…”
“I invited you over. Want to stay for dinner?” Jason plucked the book from the younger boy’s hands.
Tim paused from his scrambling to get his bag together.
“I don’t want to impose.”
“You’re not an imposition in the least.” Alfred smiled gently. “As long as your parents are not opposed?”
“My parents left on a business trip this morning.” Tim bit his lip.
No parents home. Jason filed the information away, adding it to the growing mental file he was accumulating on his young neighbor.
“Then, if your caregiver finds the arrangement suitable, you are more than welcome to stay.”
“It’s the housekeeper. And she won’t mind. But are you sure?” The kid fidgeted before neatly tucking his hands behind his back. The glow around Tim faded further as the kid considered the offer of dinner.
He needed to stay.
“Yes,” Jason watched the light fade to almost nothing. “Stay. You can even spend the night if you want. We can watch movies and play games. Anything you want.”
There was barely a hint of light framing Tim’s dark hair. Jason felt relieved and desperate at the same time.
Stay. Stay here. Stay safe.
“Well, if you’re sure?” Tim’s eyes darted to Jason and then to Alfred.
Jason had never been more sure of anything.
“Absolutely.” Jason reached over and ruffled his hair.
Tim grinned. The dim light flickered.
Jason held his breath.
But the light did not go out.
Jason exhaled and forced a wide smile.
He had time.
Tim had finally fallen asleep a few minutes before midnight. Jason had suggested they camp out in the den with an assortment of blankets, snacks and movies. Alfred reminded them that young Timothy Drake was twelve and not to watch anything that would be inappropriate for his age. They ended up watching the original Star Wars trilogy until Tim fell asleep before the very last battle.
Jason made sure the kid had a blanket covering him and then went in search of Bruce. He found the man in his study, typing something on his laptop. Without a word, Jason flopped down onto the couch closest to Bruce’s desk.
The sound of typing paused.
“How did everything go?” Bruce’s casual way of asking for a report. Nosey man.
“Okay, I guess.” Jason rubbed at his eyes. He wasn’t going out tonight; he was actually tired and he had a guest after all. He needed to be there if the kid woke up. B would be patrolling alone.
Bruce hummed. “You think he needs help.” Not a question. Jason sighed.
“Something is just off. I don’t know what, but trust me, okay?”
“I do. You have good instincts.”
Jason felt his face heat up at the praise. “It’s a gift,” he smirked. And it was a joke, but also true.
Bruce’s mouth curved in an almost smile before he turned back to his laptop. The smile was gone when he spoke again.
“Is he in danger?” Cautious, voice bordering on something between Bruce and Batman.
Jason turned that thought over, waging how much he could let the man know before he gave away too much. So many times, Jason had almost told Bruce about his ability, but in the end, he felt safer keeping it to himself.
“I think,” Jason swallowed. “I think he is, yeah.”
“Do you suspect his parents of harming him?” Bruce wasn’t even pretending to work at his computer anymore. He was eyeing Jason, expression carefully neutral.
“No. Well, it crossed my mind, but- well, shit.” Jason sat up and turned to look at Bruce fully. “Do you suspect his parents? You’ve spoken to them more than I have.”
“The Drakes are opportunistic.” Bruce shut his laptop. “But they don’t strike me as particularly violent people.”
Jason crossed his arms. “They’re not even in town right now. It’s something else.”
Bruce hummed again.
“Keep an eye on him, Jaylad.”
Jason stood up and stretched. “That’s what I’m doing,” he said with a yawn.
“Get some sleep too.”
“I know, I know.” Jason let out another yawn. “Good night, old man.”
“Good night, Jay.”
Jason didn’t have to look to know that Bruce was aiming a fond smile at him.
Surprisingly sappy man.
Jason made his way back to the den and stretched out on the couch adjacent to the one Tim had passed out on. He watched the boy’s flickering light until he couldn’t keep his eyes open any longer and he slipped into a troubled sleep.
The next day was Sunday and Jason kept Tim at the manor for as long as possible. All through breakfast and lunch, they read and played games. In the late afternoon, Tim finally insisted he needed to go home, claiming he had to make sure all his assignments were done for school the next day.
Jason walked home with him, watching the glow around his friend grow in the light of the setting sun.
He was brighter today. Maybe even growing brighter with every step.
“Is your housekeeper nice?” Jason tried to sound nonchalant as he ground his teeth together and scanned their surroundings.
“Yeah,” Tim responded slowly. Hesitation? Was it hesitation?
If it wasn’t his parents and it wasn’t the housekeeper…
Jason looked around. The kid didn’t seem clumsy. It didn’t seem like he was going to trip on the sidewalk and bash his head open. There were trees lining the street, none looked in danger of toppling over. A few vehicles made their way past, keeping to the residential speed limit. No danger there either.
It had to be a factor at the party and here as well. But the only factor was Jason and, well, Tim.
Tim.
“Do you want to come over after school tomorrow?”
“After school?” The kid’s feet faltered and he slowed, staring at Jason like the older boy had said something truly extraordinary.
“Yeah.” Jason shrugged.
Don’t be alone. If it’s you. Don’t be alone.
The light noticeably dimmed around Tim.
“Sure, I guess. If it’s really okay.”
Jason breathed out.
“Awesome. I can help you with more homework if you want.” Jason grinned broadly. “You can stay for dinner.”
“If you’re sure…”
Jason nodded. “Yeah, of course.”
Tim smiled back, the light glowed faintly like a soft halo around his head.
“Okay. I can come over tomorrow.”
Jason ruffled the younger boy’s hair and was only mildly disappointed that the action did nothing to get rid of the light.
I’m going to save you, Timothy Drake.