batman and red hood

"Master Bruce"

Alfred's voice interrupted the slightly awkward atmosphere in the Batcave, and Barbara and Bruce turned their heads to look at the elder at the same time.

"What happened? Ah Fu"

"I'm not sure sir. I just think it's kind of weird"

Alfred didn't know how to describe the disobedience he felt from Jason.

The polite and well-educated honorifics are heard from a street child, and it feels so inconsistent, and there is an inexplicable sense of incongruity.

After listening to Alfred's words, Bruce fell into deep thought.

Barbara spared no effort to persuade Bruce to give up Jason. If it was just out of sympathy, then as Bruce Wayne, he could easily find a reason to send Jason to boarding school instead of using this A rather dangerous method for their status.

The Batcave's alarm suddenly sounded, interrupting Bruce's thoughts.

The eyes of the three people were attracted by the monitoring screen that jumped out of the computer at the same time.

A boy in casual clothes is struggling to climb the outer wall of Wayne Manor.He didn't know that his behavior had triggered the most stringent monitoring system in the manor. The walls of Wayne Manor were a bit too high for the boy's physique. The boy struggled to hang his left foot on the wall, And when his reluctant posture climbed over the wall, a shiny thing slipped out of his pocket.

The boy sat on the top of the wall and glanced at the falling object, as if hesitating whether to pick it up, but in the end he gave up on the object and turned over the wall, his figure getting smaller and smaller in the surveillance video.

"...I don't think he needs you at all"

Barbara said unhappily, if she read correctly, the thing that fell out should be tableware made of sterling silver from Wayne Manor.

Bruce ignored Barbara's words and asked Alfred a question instead:

"Ah Fu, have you prepared clothes for him?"

"Yes, Master Bruce, I have prepared a set of casual clothes, a pair of pajamas, and a set of formal clothes for Master Jason's entrance."

Alfred's preparations are always so fast, and all the preparations are ready before Bruce acts.

"……I go out for a while"

Bruce takes off his bat helmet and prepares to go out as Bruce.

"Bruce! You can find another way, why do you have to take him by your side to take care of?"

Of course Barbara understands Bruce's purpose, but she really can't trust the kid who has been struggling at the bottom of Gotham.

"Barbara, what do you think of Jason?"

Instead of contradicting Barbara's words, Bruce asked her a question.

"……Forehead……?"

Not understanding why Bruce asked, Barbara could only look for the answer with her eyes.

"That kid is smart enough, and also has enough vigilance and perseverance. If he is allowed to grow up in Gotham's environment, it's hard to say how dangerous he will become in the future. I can't let that possibility happen."

"...Okay, but the child's vigilance is also effective for you. He doesn't trust you. What are you going to do?"

For Bruce's analysis, Barbara didn't refute, the kid was so shrewd and annoying.

Bruce didn't answer her question. After taking off his armor, he has changed into a casual outfit, from the terrifying dark emperor to the well-known Gotham baby, and then driving a car that is very suitable for Gotham baby Leaving Wayne Manor.

"Cut, dropped one, only these are left"

Jason hid in a corner, took out a silver knife, fork and spoon from his pocket, and counted them one by one.

When the tableware collides with each other, it makes a crisp collision sound, indicating that its ingredients are very pure.

"...If these are sold, they should be able to last for a while. As expected of Bruce Wayne, the tableware at home is made of sterling silver... Maybe I should buckle a few gems inlaid on the head of the bed, forget it Things are not easy to handle..."

Jason muttered and put the cutlery back in his pocket, pulled up his hood and carefully walked along the alleyway he was familiar with to the small underground shop where stolen goods were always sold.

This kind of black shop is everywhere in the old neighborhood of Gotham. Jason knows his situation. He doesn't expect the tableware made of sterling silver to give him back the equivalent money, but at least give him a guarantee for a few days. It shouldn't be a problem to eat, Jason opened the door of the small shop while praying...

"Tch, old man!"

Coming out of the black shop, Jason cursed.He didn't miss the greedy look in the black shopkeeper's thin eyeballs as he pulled the silverware out of his pocket, but even so he only got fifty dollars in his hands.

Jason, who had stolen all kinds of things, knew quite well that those silver tableware definitely cost more than this, but what else could he do?He's just a kid, and it's good that the old man is willing to give him money. He has met the kind of bastard who took things but didn't give money more than once.

With the money he just got, Jason began to look for a place to stay tonight.

"Hey, do you need a ride?"

A car stopped beside Jason, its gorgeous body was out of place with this dilapidated alley.The glass window rolled down a crack, but it was enough for Jason to see the people inside.

He turned around and wanted to run, but the visitor dispelled his plan of running away with just a word, making his footsteps firmly nailed in place.

"It was easy for me to find you"

The man in the driver's seat smiled at Jason with a harmless face.

"...Are you going to take me to the police station?"

"...Well, can you come up first? You know, it's...well...not safe here"

Bruce's smiling face made Jason feel very uncomfortable, but he got into the car obediently.Bruce kicked the accelerator and drove his car away from the dark alley.

"...how did you know I was there?"

"……you guess"

The Gotham baby had a mischievous smile, which made Jason feel very, very uncomfortable. He had seen that face a lot, it was like a perfect mask blended with the face, it was hypocritical.

"Okay, stop teasing our little friend, Batman asked me to take care of you"

"You know that vampire??!!"

Bruce's answer really surprised Jason.

"...Haha, vampire? Well, it has something to do with him. I heard about your situation, so I can't transfer you to an orphanage. Therefore, I arranged a boarding school, and you can live there all the time. I will be responsible for all tuition and fees until you graduate and you should be an adult. By then... um... you can do whatever you want... what do you think? You... really want to get rid of this situation."

"……real?"

Jason couldn't believe it. He never believed that these so-called philanthropists were really caring. They must have a conspiracy, just like that guy...

"...What benefits can you get by doing this??!!"

"...Well, if I say it's because I'm a caring person, you won't believe me. Well, please Batman. If you don't believe me, at least believe him."

Bruce turned his head and smiled at Jason, and Jason found that he didn't hate Bruce's smile this time...