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“You know how Jason has so many safe houses littered all over Gotham?” Tim begins, trying to balance a pencil on the tip on his nose.
It’s been a slow day.
“So?” Damian scoffs from his place on the floor, oil pastels scattered around him. Alfred (the cat) wasn’t the greatest model, he struggles to sit still.
“Do you think he has a favorite one? Like his number one, ‘I go here to sleep and be human’ type of house?” Tim drags his feet along the ground after mastering the art of nose balancing, settling to find something more challenging.
Damian glances up, perplexed. “I never really thought about that,” He states as Alfred takes a neat swipe at Damian’s artwork, claws perfectly adding indents where his whiskers should go. “Thank you, Alfred.” He rewards his cat with another nibble of cat-gogurt. Apparently Jason found them at the pet store and laughed so hard he had to buy them.
Oddly enough the cat(s) loved them.
“I know! He has to, I mean have you seen the conditions of some of his houses? They’re rough, barely suitable for a rat, let alone Jason.”
“Todd does have many similarities to a rodent,” Both boys lock eye contact before breaking out in a giggle fest, stuffing their hands over their mouths to stifle the sound.
“Why are you two laughing without me?” Dick walks down the manor stairs, parcel in hand. Probably something to eat, hopefully.
Alfred (human) and Bruce (semi-human) were out for the day, leaving the three boys to their own devices.
Dick, although a wonderful brother, was not the best babysitter. He could cook, as long as it didn’t get much more complicated than the microwave or toaster.
“What’s in the bag?” Tim sat up, placing his pencil on the desk. Dick rolls his eyes, pulling out a chew toy for Titus. At least, Damian assumes so, since he hasn’t been informed of Drake beginning to teethe at his old age.
Groaning, Tim slides out of his chair, flopping on the floor.
“Well jeez, remind me to never be kind to you. I got this for Titus because he’s currently my favorite brother.” The bark behind all three boys sounded proud. “Thank you buddy!”
Damian watches Tim on the floor, suppressing his want to do the very same. He loves Grayson, but he’s not sure he can stomach another microwaved dinner. Curse Father and Alfred (human) for going out for the entire day.
Abruptly sitting up, Tim looks at his brothers with crazy, starved eyes. “Jason.” He breathes, and Damian immediately stands and yanks Tim up from the ground, the two of them stumbling to the cave.
“Guys?” Dick is stuck in place as the two boys race down the halls of the manor until Alfred (the cat) purrs and rubs his head against the man’s ankles. “At least you love me,”
———
“Barbara, you have to know of a place Jason frequents regularly, and for a long period of time,” Tim is crouched over the batcomputer, back beginning to ache. Damian has multiple maps of Crime Alley laid out on the battable (is that a thing? Tim doesn’t know. He doesn’t care. He’s starving.)
“I know of a few places,” Her voice crackles through the phone. “Why do you care anyway?” Damian sighs, and Tim echoes him.
“Like I said, a million times, we’re hungry.”
“Then go to a restaurant. Ask Dick to uber eats something. Why do you need Jason?” Damian yanks the phone from Tim.
“Because Gordon,” He sneers, mouth twitching. “Todd has a palate that rivals my own. He makes food fit for my grandfather. I am famished. I need good food, not some crap from Gotham.”
Barbara laughs and both boys take immediate offense. Her laughing continues for a good minute, sharp inhales and wheezes.
“Fine, fine.” There’s the click of a keyboard while she talks. “But if he doesn’t welcome you with open arms, do NOT tell him I helped you find his house.”
“We promise!” Both of them scream, Tim holding a pen and paper to write the address down.
“I sent the directions to your phone. Don’t contact me again, unless you’re on your way over to give me left overs.” A slight pause. “You two gremlins better bring me food.”
A quick glance at each other solidifies their positions. “Of course, Gordon. We are not monsters.” They hang up, switching the screen over to the map.
It’s not a long drive, maybe thirty minutes out. Stuffing his mouth with crackers, Tim gets a garbled “Less fo,” out, Damian copying his brother before striding over to Bruce’s cars. They take the cheapest, stealthiest one, and turn on the ignition.
———
Jason Todd is a very simple man. Leave me alone, and I’ll leave you alone. Generally, his neighbors never talk to him, which he appreciates. Even when he lugs bags of food and other things up the stairs of his apartment complex, he never gets more than a wave or smile.
So when his buzzer rings for the fourth time, he assumes that someone has the wrong address.
“Hello?” He asks, and he’s polite, because people mess up all the time.
“Jason!” The voice exclaims, young and male. “Please let us in, it’s cold.” Us? Who the fuck-
Oh.
Dear God.
“What on Earth are you two doing here? You know what, no.” He punches the bridge of his nose, exhaling. “I’m going to give you two minutes to explain yourselves.” He unlocks the door.
What an awful mistake.
———
They are gathered at Jason’s kitchen table, Tim and Damian guiltily looking at the floor. “You’re gonna tell me you found out where I live because you were hungry?” He scoffs, looking at his brothers while they nod.
“Don’t make this a regular thing.” He huffs out, pushing his chair out to stand. “I’m only cooking for you this once, just like text me or something, is it so hard?” Tim smirks to himself while Damian busies himself with tracing the pattern of the floor.
“Todd.” He says softly. “Why is your tile covered in fur?” Jason’s back goes stiff.
“What?” He turns, ears a light pink. His brows are weirdly tight on his forehead, one of his tells. You have to know him well to see it.
“You have animal fur all over your legs too,” Tim points out, Jason’s black sweats deceiving him.
“Fuck,” He spits through gritted teeth. “If you two tell anyone, I will have your heads on a stick.” Both look at him, terribly unimpressed.
“Fine. I have two cats.” Damian nearly flew out of his seat.
“Bring them out immediately, I must meet them!” His cheeks were flushed with excitement, and Tim nodded in agreement.
“God.. fine. Just know, they’re biters AND scratchers.” Holding out his hands, they were covered in different marks, all in different stages of healing.
“What have you named them, Todd?” Damian trots after his brother, while Jason wipes his palms off on his pants.
“That’s classified,” He lets a small smile break through his usually stoic look. “You coming, Timbers?” Tim gets up slowly, following the pair through the never ending apartment.
“Alright, one of them is Princess, and she’s a bitch and a half, but she’ll be sweet if you don’t touch her first.” He drags his hand over his face, opening the door. “The other fella is Stinker. He shits when he gets nervous, so if he does it’s your duty to clean up after him. I’ll start whipping up something to eat.” He ruffles both boys hair, closing the door behind him.
The cats reside in what they assume to be Jason’s bedroom. The bed is neatly made, in the center of the north facing wall. It’s spotless, the only mess being the two fuballs curled up on two cat beds. One cat is a sweet orange, the other being a dark brown.
“Oh my,” Damian squats, slowly making his way over to the cats. “You both are beautiful,” He’s in awe, hardly able to comprehend Jason having such adorable cats.
Tim sits himself onto Jason’s bed, undoing some of the blankets. He was still hungry, and a little tired, so a nice nap would be appropriate.
Damian spent his time trying to coax the cats out, but they blinked at him blearily. Tim was softly snoring.
Jason came back in twenty minutes later balancing three plates and two glasses. “Alright kiddos, get up. Tim, wake-up.” He scoots some things around on his desk, placing the plates down, shaking Tim awake with his now freed hands.
Damian was oddly jealous. Jason was weirdly.. Domestic? Kind? Relaxed even? He wasn’t sure what word to use, but seeing his brother oh so calm was different. He sometimes forgets about the man behind the red helmet.
“Have either of them even moved?” Jason laughs, kneeling to let the brown cat. They lazily claw at his hand, before purring as he scratches under their chin. “Alright Princess, dinner will be served soon. And you too Stinky.” He looked so at peace with these two cats, relaxing with his younger brothers.
A loud crunch knocked Jason out of his moment. Tim, barely conscious, was munching on the sandwich that Jason us made for them, causing another hearty laugh to break through. He apologized for the lazy meal, promising them a better one another time. Neither boy cared, it was real and fresh food.
“So how long until you have to go home? Why are you with Alfred anyway? He okay?” Tim gulped down the lemonade before squeaking.
“So we maybe were being watched by Dick because Alfred and Bruce were out..” He lets out an awkward giggle, watching Jason begin to seethe.
Smoke was ready to curl out of his ears before Stinker rubbed his head against Jason’s face, somehow the cat climbed his back with ease. “Jesus fucking Christ. You even tell Dick you’re here?” Tim shakes his head. Damian finally started his sandwich, letting Princess nibble at the lettuce. “Well, you two are on your own-“
A loud, angry buzz came through his apartment. “Oh fuck no.” Jason stands, leaving the bedroom, his cats trailing behind him. Damian protested slightly, before continuing to wolf down his sandwich.
“Richard.”
“Jason, do you know where-“
“Yes, the hooligans are in my house right now. Come up here before I regret it.” Dick quickly runs up the stairs, a cherry knock signaling his presence.
“Jason! I want to be mad but you guys are all hanging out without trying to kill each other!” He hugs his brother, for a bit too long. “You have cats?!” He screeches, falling gracefully to the floor.
Jason just sighs, giving Dick the third sandwich. His brother looks like he’s been blessed by God, so he can tell none of his brothers have eaten real food in far too long.
“Alright. I’m making lasagna, I don’t care if you don’t want it, I do. You can stay for dinner but then you have to leave.” He turns his back to his siblings, covering his smile.
Things are getting better, slowly.