From Gotham to Miami

Put That in Your Pipe and Smoke It

"I'm sorry, Bruce.  I know that we shouldn't have been seen."

The brothers had just gotten home and Dick was trying to explain to Bruce why they were on GCN at that very moment.

"What?!  Okay, I'll tell them," Dick said dubiously as he hung up his phone.

"What did Father say," Damian asked immediately.  He was on the edge of his hotel bed, swinging his feet back and forth like the eleven-year-old he was.

"He said that the Gotham Q.R.T. is coming to Miami."

"Grayson, what is the 'Gotham Q.R.T.'?"

"The Q.R.T. is the Quick Response Team.  Every city has a Q.R.T. but since Gotham is the home of the Bat, Miami police thinks Gotham Q.R.T. will have more experience in fighting against us," answered Dick, a worried frown crossing his face.

"Wait, the authorities have tried to apprehend Batman?" asked an astonished Damian.

"Yeah, the police commissioner before Gordon was Commissioner Loeb.  He was on Salvatore Maroni's payroll.  Under Maroni's payroll, Loeb had the Q.R.T. hunt Batman.  Loeb was later arrested for his involvement in the Maroni human trafficking charges," concluded Jason.

"Then who is leading our hunt?" asked Damian.  He had gone very still as he listened, ears all but pricked with attention.

"Detective Harvey Bullock is leading the Q.R.T. for our hunt," Dick replied heavily.  He looked out the window, eyes narrowed against a headache, then went over to briskly jerk the curtains closed.

"But I thought that Gordon was trying to end the G.C.P.D. hunting us down," said Damian confusedly.

"Gordon can't tell Miami's police commissioner to stop hunting us down.  It's out of his jurisdiction."

"But he has final say over the Gotham Q.R.T., doesn't he?  If he doesn't want them to leave Gotham to search for us, they can't."

"They can," Jason put in darkly.  Which, him being Jason, was pretty dark.  "Some hotshot in the Senate overruled Gordon's attempts to stop his Q.R.T. in arresting Batman."  His nose twitched in irritation as it always did when he discussed politics.  He had a very love-hate relationship with politics; he hated it for its dirty, nasty twisted ways but at the same time, admired the ambition and power behind it.  Dick just out and out hated it.

"So how did Batman get out?"

"Well, at that time, we were just finished having a war with Thanagar," Dick recalled.  "Batman got a presidential pardon for his part in the battle."

"Who is the Miami commissioner?  Maybe we should pay him a visit," Jason suggested mischievously.

"Todd, don't be ridiculous.  Going after the Miami co-"

"No, Jason, that was a good idea."

"What?"  Both Jason and Damian said in unison.

"Before Bruce became Batman, he was a low level vigilante.  His first move as this vigilante was to get Lieutenant Gordon on his side.  Maybe we can convince Miami's police commissioner to stop the Q.R.T."

"Who is Miami's police commissioner?" asked Jason.

Dick looked into one of his notebooks before saying, "Commissioner Randal Lee."

"We should properly introduce ourselves," Jason mentioned slyly.

Dick gave him a wary look.  "Jason, I agreed with this.  But at the same time, I want you to let me handle this."

"No way!"

"Yes," Dick said firmly.  "I don't want you...mucking things up."

"I don't muck things up," Jason argued indignantly.

"No, you fu-"

"Damian, don't swear," Dick interrupted.  He glared at Jason.  "This is all your fault.  You taught him these swear words."

"I did not!"

"Yes, you did!"

"No, I swear, it was Babs," Jason said bluntly.

"Babs would not..."

"Well, she did.  So.  Put that in your pipe and smoke it, Dickie!"

Before either Dick or Damian could react, Jason scooped his clothes up to get changed into his suit.  "Don't just stand there, Littlewing, get dressed!"

Owned, owned and owned, Jason thought smugly at the looks of mingled annoyance and incredulity on his brothers' faces.