Burned Bridges

Reunion

Christian and Michael ran into the house, Chris said "Guess what we found?"

Jason stopped sorting mail and set it down, "Uh, I don't know. What?"

"There's a bat in the alley."

"What kind of bat?" asked Jason, hoping they meant a real one.

"Red Bat." Really? Jason thought Bruce stopped with Robins after he nearly killed Replacement but no, he just rebranded and kept going.

"Let's get him in the car so I can take him home." The two teens led him to the alley, Jason quickly checked for a pulse then saw the damage "Michael, get the first aid kit."

An hour later, Jason left Harley in charge of the house while he drove to the Batcave. He stopped at the cave entrance and grabbed Red Bat's emergency communicator, "Bruce open the damn door. Your son was found in an alley near my house." After a moment, he added "It's Jason." He could just see Bruce's hand move from the defense to opening mechanisms. Driving the SUV into the cave, Jason's hands trembled with rage. Of course the only time any of them come into his neighborhood is when they need help. He stopped the car near the Batmobile and climbed out, slamming his door then wincing as he thought of the potential damage he'd have to repair.

Bruce looked happy to see him. "Let's get Robin to the medbay before we have this out."

Bruce nodded, "It's Red Bat, Tim-"

"It's still Tim, good. Least you're not getting any more kids involved in your war." Bruce helped him carry the boy to the medbay before they met by the Batcomputer "Bruce, just tell me why. Why is the only time any of you show up in my neighborhood because you're dying? Do you really hate me that much?"

"I don't hate you, you said to stay away."

"I meant leave me alone, don't drag me into your drama." He waved to the case "That thing makes it pretty clear that I'm still dead to you." Jason took a few calming breaths, "I wasted a lot of anger on you, I still am wasting anger on you it seems." He put his hand over his face "There was a time, Bruce, when I would've given anything to be where Tim is. To be here, getting patched up, with you to watch over me. When I came to my senses, when the last ugly effects of the Pit wore off, I thought about being a hero, using Red Hood to do some good. I got halfway back here, I tuned into the comms and you know what I heard?" He dropped his hand from his face, looking Bruce in the eye "I heard a family, you were happy, you let them talk on comms in a way you never let me. I knew I had no place then, this display just drives the point home. You don't want me so I don't want you but please, don't let innocent people suffer because I happen to live among them." Jason started walking away.

"I never-"

Jason stopped to speak, looking down not back "You never meant to make me feel unwelcome, you never meant to single me out, to cut me off. Bruce, I really don't care. Clean up this mess you made of my home before I lose everything for helping your son."

"You're my son, Jason."

"Then why are you acting like I'm still dead?" Jason detoured from the cave doors to his car.

"What happened to the motorcycle?"

"I'm a family man, Bruce, something you never really were. Now open the doors for me." With a sigh of grief, his old guardian did.

Jason stopped at the threshold "This doesn't change things, Bruce. I still don't want you in my life but I won't stand by and let my whole neighborhood suffer because you take things too literal. Fix this."

Bruce nodded "I understand."

"No, you don't but maybe you will. It's a request not a threat." Jason drove home and found another stray as his partner calls unofficial orphans he takes in. Following the stray to its pack, he made himself known "You know you can stay in the Park Row House, right?"