Bite Sized Bits of Fic

"This… What the fuck?"

Jason stared out over Gotham, trying to figure out what the hell had happened while he'd been gone. He'd been one hundred percent certain that he'd finally found his way home after the others up and left him behind. After being gone so long he'd expected changes but this wasn't what he'd been expecting. The papers he'd checked were full of strange heroes and horrible events.

His life had apparently been taken over by some crazy-ass duplicate from another world. Bruce seemed to be dead. Dick of all people was pretending to be Batman. The demon-spawn was Robin, which was damned near the capper of all the weirdness. Hell, even Superman appeared to have gone off somewhere for some God-forsaken reason.

"Just what the fuck," Jason murmured.

Even the familiar buildings had changed during his time away. The little hideouts he'd had in various places around the city were shifted or gone, probably taken by his double though there was no way to be sure about that. He'd have to track that fucker down and deal with him but first he needed to get his bearings.

"Didn't expect to see you here," a very familiar voice growled behind Jason.

"Hey, kiddo," Jason said without turning. "So what's my double been up to to make you growl at me that way?"

"…What?"

Jason turned. It was damned near impossible to contain the smirk that wanted to erupt. Even with a (weird for him) black cowl hiding his face, Timmy's surprise showed. Rather than risk getting beaten up when all he wanted was some information, Jason kept his moves small and quiet. Timmy looked way too on edge and way better at fighting. Whatever he'd been up to had done him some serious good.

"The others grabbed some other Jason and brought him back instead of me," Jason explained with a casual shrug that held too much tension in his shoulders. Timmy saw it and narrowed his eyes. "Been trying to get home ever since. It was a lot harder without Donna along."

"You seriously expect me to believe that?" Timmy asked.

"Believe what you want, kiddo," Jason said. "Want to fill me in on what happened since I left other than the real world version of Rocks Fall, Everybody Dies?"

Timmy snorted and smirked. It was a rueful smirk that came with a little nod that acknowledged the truth of Jason's words. He sighed, looking out over the city for a long moment. He'd grown into one hell of a man while Jason was gone. The creepy little stalker-boy had turned into something a hell of a lot more interesting and possibly much more dangerous. Which was good. Jason liked dangerous. He always had.

"It'll take a while," Timmy said eventually.

"Think Alfred would let me in the mansion?" Jason asked. "Haven't exactly had the best food lately. I've missed his cookies. They aren't the same in other worlds. I think that'll be the real proof that I'm home: Alfred's cookies will taste right."

"You complained that he'd changed something after you got back," Timmy whispered. His cowl shifted around the eyes as if they'd just gone wide as saucers.

"That's not me," Jason said. "I'm not the best person in the world but I'm not like that crazy fuck."

"I'll let him know you're coming," Timmy whispered.

He stepped close and reached up to run his fingers into Jason's hair. Everything in his body tensed as he found the long scar that marked the blow that had ended Jason's life. A moment later all the tension left him and Jason had an armful of Timmy clinging to him.

"It is you," Timmy whispered. "I thought…"

"Yeah, it's me, kiddo," Jason murmured. "I'm back for good."