The next day, Deacon gave Tim a tour of the mansion, waiting outside the library while the tutor tested him and answering most of his questions. Meanwhile, Jason and Dick were sitting in the basement lounge with a glass of blood each. Deacon only allowed them to feed directly on special occasions. Jason asked "Why were you stalking the twerp?"
"I had a bad feeling about the Drakes as parents."
"You wanted him to join us, why?"
"Truth is, I was running around Gotham when I saw him standing in the Narrows with a nice camera."
"What?"
"My thoughts exactly so I stopped and did a double take. I looked where he was pointing the camera and saw Batman."
"Kid was stalking Batman?"
"Yeah and I'm sure his parents are oblivious so I started spending an hour watching the kid every time I was out. Eventually, he stopped tailing the walking stereotype."
"Stereotype? You mean to tell me Batman's a vampire."
"Bruce Wayne himself."
"Shit, I knew the suits looked like super suits but damn."
"Yeah. Tim figured it out, probably why he stopped stalking but anyway. Last night his parents crossed the line from blatant neglect and emotional abuse into physical abuse. I'm not sure which one did it, because I don't underestimate girls, but he was thrown into a table so hard, the wood legs broke and a vase crashed down on top of him."
"Shit."
"Yeah so I burst in, knock both his parents down and run for the door but then I gotta stop because Deacon told me not to even approach Tim and if I just bring him back here, Deacon will have to return him so I asked who Batman is and explained that I can't get him out of there without a life debt. He tells me and it makes sense, the Waynes are one of Gotham's founding families. Like I said, walking stereotype. Now I gotta wonder about the Wayne murders, 'cause vampires are usually immortal but if they want to maintain a presence in the human world then they gotta die every once in a while."
"Man, I didn't think of that."
"Yeah, well, I just thought of that."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I've known Batman's secret ID longer."
"Right. Think Deacon will ground you?"
"No," answered the man himself "Both of you, out."
The pair obeyed, finding their new brother looking around the underground facility. "Hey, man."
"Hi, Jason."
"So you do remember me?"
"Jason?" Dick said "You saw him less than a week ago."
"Oh, right."
Tim asked "Are you a vampire too?"
"Yeah. Unlike Dick, I didn't hesitate to accept the offer but Deacon waited until I got healthy to offer. What do you think of the whole vampire thing? And don't worry, you don't have to kiss up to us, bro."
"Bro?"
"Yeah. Didn't Deacon explain? We're a family and since Deacon's like our dad, we're brothers."
"Oh, okay."
"So what do you think?"
"It's interesting."
"How so?"
"I mean, vampires are simultaneously public knowledge and the world's best kept secret."
"So you're cool with us being-"
"Oh, yeah."
"Cool."
Tim asked Dick "Could you teach me some moves?"
"You mean gymnastics? Sure."
Jason asked Deacon "What do you think of Dick choosing your kindred?"
"He chose you, didn't he?"
"Yeah but still, you told him to leave the Drakes alone."
"I never expected kindred to be easy."
"Me neither but Dick makes it easy."
"Yes, he does."
"You chose well for your first, I guess."
"Thank you, Jason."
