𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑮𝒊𝒇𝒕 𝑰 𝒓𝒆𝒄𝒊𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒅 (Batfam FanFic)

30. Jason's Luxury Crib!

A/N: Not my art.

Call it curiosity. Call it stupid. Call it whatever you want. Okay, we might as well call it stupid at this point. But, come on. I couldn't pass this chance up. Maybe I'll be able to help mend the relationship between Jay and the others. I mean, it's a slim chance, but slim's better than none.

"So, I have a question for you." He looked down and gave me a look that said he really didn't wanna hear it. We've been walking for a good ten minutes and quite frankly, it's been dull and a waste of my time. We're heading to the poor part of Gotham where crime is a lot higher and snitches get stitches. So there's no way that someone's going to go rat on us to Batman. Why would they do that when they probably don't even know who I am? I don't know. And why would they do that when they'd probably be giving themselves up too since most of them are criminals anyway? I don't know. But, at the same time you also never know. So, it's usually better to be safe than sorry.

"Listen up short stuff, before I say yes, the question can't have anything to do about my past, present, or future." Huh? This man just basically told me to not ask any questions about him at all. Like, the only questions I can ask are one's like 'how's the weather?' So lame.

"Come onnnn. You don't even know what I'm gonna ask yet." As we started getting more deeper into town among the tall apartment buildings in the disgruntled part of Gotham, I began walking backward and facing him to see if I can read him. But, that's a little hard to do when he still has his mask on. I only saw him without it on once, and I'm not gonna lie, I wouldn't mind seeing it again. At the time, I only had the kitchen's light to help me see him, but with the afternoon sun shining down, I bet he'd look even better. Ugh, no Lucy! Stop it! Stay on task!

"Let me guess, you were gonna ask why they're all so adamant on finding me. Well, looks like little miss knows it all, doesn't know it all after all." He stopped walking and leered down at me from under his mask and it was very intimidating. After about 10 awkward seconds he turned away and started walking down a dirty alley between two crusty musty buildings.

"Well, since I can't ask any kinds of questions relating to that, can you at least tell me the date and the season we're in?" 

"You mean you've been here for almost 1 and a half months and you don't know?"

"It just kind of slipped my mind. It was still summer where I came from and when I arrived here it was colder so I assumed it was somewhere around fall or winter. Then, Bruce enrolled me in school so I assumed it was around August."

"Well, you were right in assuming it's winter, and the day's date is December 9th 20XX." Wow, so I was around right at least in my assumptions. Except for the August part. I was a little off with that one.

"Bruce was right in not killing you or having you locked up somewhere. You've got some pretty nice detective skills. Pretty quick to think on your feet as well. Your skills could use some polishing, but besides that, you'd make a good sidekick." I didn't know whether to be flattered or insulted. I tried to at least take it as a compliment though. "Maybe that's why Bruce kept you around. Maybe he's finally replacing old Tim."

"There's no way that's the reason." I wouldn't believe that even if you paid me too.

He studied me a little more before turning around and continuing on into the alley towards a dead end.

"Come on. We're wasting time. Let me show you my crib."

"Please don't tell me it's some underground layer."

"Don't worry, nothing that extreme." As he kept walking, I just remember thinking that maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

He finally made it to the end of the alley, moved some trash and junk out of the way, and revealed an opening in the brick wall with a latter going up.

"Well, didn't expect that."

"No one ever does. That's the whole point." He gave me a smug look.

"Touché." I had to admit, he got me there.

He moved aside and swung his arm towards the opening and said, "Ladies first."

I just gave him a confused look. I mean you know, it could be a trap. Aww, what the heck. I started up the ladder and I could hear him moving the trash and junk back in the way of the hole behind him as he also started climbing.

I made it up and it was just a really dark room with just one dim light hanging on the wall.

"What now?"

"Hold on. Good thing's come to those who wait you know." I didn't really mean for the words to come out of my mouth, but I whispered nonetheless, "Yeah, and look where that's gotten you."

I'm not sure if he heard me or not. He made a slight pause in his actions but just continued on. If he did hear me, he didn't say anything about it.

As we walked a little farther, we finally came to a door. Honestly, this wasn't a bad idea. I would have never found my way to it without holding onto the back of Jay's jacket. Unless I had night vision. Which is probably how he makes his way around.

"Alright, here we are." I let go of him and he walked through the door. I walked in after him and saw a fairly nice-looking apartment. With little furnishings but a great view of the good part of Gotham. It clearly wasn't at the very top of the building, but it was defiantly close. Maybe 1 or 2 floors below.

"Welcome to Jason's Luxury Crib! The one and only of its kind. And you get to be the first one to experience its awesomeness." I just turned to look at him after inspecting the apartment a little and after I heard him say that, I couldn't help myself. I bust out laughing like a banshee.

To this day I don't know if he was being serious when he said that, or just trying to make me laugh. I'd like to think it was the ladder. It was really sweet if it was. I needed a good laugh after the crappy day I had. 

That day, I finally got to learn more about Jay, even though he said he didn't want me to ask questions about him, I still did. And I certainly don't regret it.