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Jason huffed. He’d kidnapped Timothy Jackson Drake almost sixteen hours ago. Using a sedative that was supposed to last an hour.
One. Singular. Hour.
His replacement blinked blearily.
“Finally, you’re awake.”
“Wuh?”
“The sedative was supposed to last an hour. What the hell, Replacement!?”
The imposter stared up at him. “Jason?” Jason flinched back. He wasn’t supposed to know, no one was supposed to know yet. “How long was I out?”
“Over sixteen hours.”
His replacement paled. “But that means my parents are getting home in two hours. I haven’t even cleaned my room yet.” What the actual fuck?
1) Jason had seen his room, it was already clean. 2) Why was he more concerned about his parents than getting kidnapped?
Wide eyes caught on Jason’s helmet. “Look, Jason, can we reschedule, whenever you want. But I have to get home now. I promise next time the sedative won’t last so long.”
Jason numbly let him go.
The next time, the replacement did not wake up any faster.
It was his fifth time kidnapping the kid only to realize a couple hours into it that they would be rescheduling again, that he shoved food at the kid before he could make it out of the building.
This time it was one of his safehouses instead of another abandoned warehouse.
Tim stared at the food. “What?”
“If ya haven’t been sleepin, ya haven’t been eatin. Eat. You’ll have more energy.” At least this week it had only been eleven hours.
Tim hesitantly sat back down on Jason’s couch, taking a bite of the turkey and cheese sandwich. He finished it in less than a minute. Jason resolved to make sure the kid ate something whenever he came over.
It was the eleventh time Jason had kidnapped him when Tim woke up in the middle of the night (Only eight hours this time).
Tim made for the exit after talking about rescheduling. Jason wasn’t entirely sure what they were rescheduling at this point.
Jason grabbed him by the back of his school uniform. Tim squawked.
“It’s one in the morning in Crime Alley. You’re not going home in your rich kid uniform. Ya can at least wait till mornin.”
Tim pouted and argued that he’d be fine. Jason threatened to tie him up (He hadn’t since kidnapping number eight).
Tim whined about being bored while sitting at his kitchen table eating the spaghetti Jason had made. Jason caved half an hour after the dishes were done and asked if Tim wanted to watch a Disney movie. He did. They watched Mulan.
It was attempt number fifteen when Tim pointed out that Jason always kidnapped him on Thursdays, and asked if he should keep his schedule clear in the future.
Jason took him on a Wednesday next time. Just to be petty. After that they were back to Thursdays.
The routine was nice.
Tim would stay late at school, like he always did. Jason would knock him out (they had tried just having Tim walk with Jason, but then he wouldn’t sleep). Tim would sleep for four to five hours, during which time Jason would make dinner. They’d eat a late dinner together before Jason would fill Tupperware up for Tim. Jason would help Tim with any homework he had. And then they would cuddle on the couch, watch a few movies, and Jason would put Tim back to bed. In the morning, Jason would drive Tim to school on his motorcycle.
At no point would Jason provide Tim with coffee.
Bruce, Alfred, and Dick had long since stopped expecting to see him on Thursday nights, easily (and happily) accepting the explanation of ‘self care day.’
Well, Tim had said, “Care day.” They had added the ‘self.’ But it meant they didn’t pry about what Tim did, which was good.
The Red Hood had stopped threatening Robin two months ago, but Bruce was still on edge, refusing to let Robin patrol anywhere near Crime Alley.
But there had been an Arkham breakout. Thankfully no Joker, but Harley was making noise down near Crime Alley. Which, of course meant The Red Hood had joined the fray, to Bruce’s dismay. Harley was giggling like she knew something he didn’t. Which she probably did, since she was known to be friends with Hood.
“Aunt Harley,” Tim cut in suddenly. “While you’re here, I need you to settle this for me. Hood says we should watch Sleeping Beauty next, but I say Beauty and the Beast. You think I’m right, right?”
Bruce stopped moving abruptly. What?
Harley frowned, “I mean… you lot watch like three movies at once, right? Why not both?” She dodged a bullet from Hood, rubber bullet thank you.
“Because we already agreed to binge the first season of Avatar afterwards,” The Red Hood snarled, dodging a bo staff sent his way by Tim. “The good one, not the blue people one.”
Harley clicked her tongue as her mallet came down towards Tim. “Then Beauty and the Beast. At least the princess has some agency in that one.”
Tim whooped, sparing a moment to pump his fist. “Take that Hood!”
When they got back to the cave, after returning Harley, Scarecrow, and Hatter back to Arkham, Bruce turned to Tim and said flatly, “You have movie nights with Red Hood. Who has threatened to hurt you.”
Tim shrugged, an odd expression on his face. “I told you, Thursdays are Care Days.”
“Why? How? Who?”
“Because movies and cuddles are nice. Because he kidnapped me enough times to get concerned for my health. And not telling you,” Tim ticked off the answers on his fingers before grinning up at Bruce.
Bruce groaned. He hadn’t thought Tim was an innocent goody-two-shoes ever and he hadn’t thought Tim was any more obedient than the other Robins since he found out about the Batmobile incident, but this was not helping.
Tim had mentioned that Dick was coming over on Saturday. To spend the day with Bruce and Alfred. To celebrate and to mourn.
Jason had decided to come back from the grave.
He knocked on the door and smiled at Alfred when the old man opened it. “Not sure what the etiquette for coming back from the dead is, but I’m pretty sure you're supposed to visit your family at some point.”
He was in the cave, running five different tests to verify his identity when Tim wandered down into the cave. “B? Are you down here? I can’t find any… one… Jason. What are you doing here?”
“Visitin’ my family. Like someone’s been tellin’ me to.”
“You two- know each other?” Dick sounded... well, he didn't exactly sound thrilled.
Tim winced. “Yeahhh… sorry for not saying anything. It’s just- it was his thing to tell, you know?”
“How do you know him then?” Bruce demanded.
Jason realized exactly what Tim was about to do as the little shit let a shit eating grin spread across his face, “Care Days.”
Jason groaned. He knew Tim had told their family that he spent ‘care days’ with the red hood.
“Jason…” Jason braced himself for Bruce’s anger. “Are you dating the Red Hood?”
“Yes- wait- what?”
Tim began to cackle and Dick just looked confused. Alfred hid a smile behind his hand.
“It’s okay, Jay Lad. You can like whoever you like, so long as they make you happy. Next time, please don’t go for the Crime Lord.”
Tim leapt over to Jason’s side and elbowed him. “Hey, hey, Jason, I’m going to tell Hood about your crush on Roy, and he’s gonna break up with you.”
Jason shot him a glare that did nothing to wipe the shit eating grin off Tim’s face.
“Roy!” Dick shrieked.
“No dating anyone related to Oliver,” Bruce snapped at the same time.
Jason glared at both of them. “I am not datin’ the Red Hood. And I am not datin’ Roy.”
Realization dawned on Dick’s face. “You’ve been back for a year!” He pointed an accusatory finger at Jason. “You’ve been back for at least a year, and only now do you come see us!”
“Yes, Master Jason, I would like an explanation for that too.”
“How do you know Red Hood?” Bruce demanded.
Jason sighed. “I don’t know him, B. I am him.”
The kidnappings continued. Even after Tim moved into the manor.