If Souls Return (Then Tell Them I Say Hi) - Tony Stark's Daughter in Gotham

Chapter 10: Analyzation Complete

Bruce and Tim were hovering over the Bat computer talking in hushed tones when Jason rode in on his motorcycle parking by the batmobile.

"Jason," Bruce greeted when he noticed him setting his helmet down on the bike. "How was patrol?"

"Depends, no one died like Timmy suggested, but you definitely have a meta problem."

Bruce pulled off his cowl and crossed his arms. "Explain."

"Some new Spider-Woman is running around town with super strength and weird webbing." Jason shivered at the thought. That stuff looked gross. "She should be calling herself Spider-Kid the thing's tiny."

"Huh that tracks with some weird reports that Oracle and I have been picking up," Tim chimed in. "Someone's been going around helping people during daylight hours. I asked Cass if it was her chipping in on the day shift, but she's out of the country again. I'll look into it more and see if this Spider-Woman has any sort of history."

Bruce grunted adding his contribution to the dwindling conversation.

Jason was surprised it was just the two of them in the cave after patrol. "Where's everyone else?"

"Dick took Damian back to his apartment, Duke's asleep, and Alfred's busy patching up Steph. Wasn't serious enough for the med bay so he let her clean up and meet him upstairs," Tim explained.

Bruce wandered off so Jason took a seat next to Tim. He thought he'd been getting along better with the family lately, even managing to have a relationship with Tim that wasn't based solely in violence. It was dare he say nice. Alfred had even mentioned how pleased he was that Jason was coming by the manor more often.

Despite all the progress Jason thought he'd made, Tim seemed antsy when he sat beside him, and it stung. He thought he had repaired his relationship with Tim as best he could but maybe there was still something bothering him.

"Look I know. . ." Jason started but was cut off by a beep from the bat computer.

"Analyzation complete." The computer stated. Below were options to proceed with an antidote blinking at them.

Tim quickly typed something out on the keyboard removing the alert from the screen.

"What's that about?" Jason asked, unable to keep up with the pop-ups that Tim was getting rid of as soon as they appeared.

"Nothing. Bruce asked for my help with something."

"Doesn't look like nothing." Jason got a glimpse of the words laughing gas flit across the monitor.

He turned to Tim who met his eyes with fear, and it was all the confirmation Jason needed. No wonder the kid was nervous when he sat down.

Jason immediately stood and pointed at the computer. "Why are you analyzing Joker's laughing gas?"

"It was just something we came across."

"Don't bullshit me!" Jason shouted and Tim flinched. "Where the hell did you come across that?" Someone better tell him the Joker didn't get out of Arkham and no one in this family had the decency to tell him, or Jason was going to be pissed.

Bruce reappeared in civilian clothes, and Jason went for him.

"This was your doing, wasn't it?"

"I didn't want you to be worried," Bruce admitted. His face was full of regret, but Jason was seeing green.

"Fuck." He racked his shaking hands through his hair. "He's out? How long?"

"A month."

Jason could feel his heart beating faster. It felt like someone had knocked the wind out of him. Bruce knew the nightmares Jason still had of the night the Joker had beaten him. He had promised Jason that he was safe with Joker in Arkham where he couldn't escape. Now to know he'd been lied to.