Heart and Home

For: bastet_in_april

It was a cold December day; the steam engulfed the railway platform, thick white mist. Short and tall figures scurried around, getting on and off of the train that had just come into the station, parents bidding farewell to their teary children who hung on to them for dear life.

"Grayson, Richard?"

"Present, Miss."

"Gardener, Tom?"

"Here, Miss."

"Right, well, that's everyone," Said the old women with the clipboard. "Everyone now, onto the train, come on hurry up, quickly! We hadn't got all day." She made a shooing motion with her hands, and the children all flooded onto the train in their groups.

The conductor sounded the whistle; time to go.

The train started moving; it was large, one of the old steam trains to the countryside. Dick was lead down the corridor by the organizer, with a bunch of other children, and saw his parents out of the window. He stopped and started banging on the glass to try to get their attention.

"Dad! Mum! I'm here!" he shouted, banging harder when they didn't respond.

"Mum! Over here!" He saw his mother look his way, he waved at them again, and they followed the window he was at, blowing kisses and waving back at him. His mother's face was slightly wet from tears.

"Mum!" He saw their lips move, ‘Dick'.

"C'mon lad, over here. Don't keep us waiting." Dick turned and looked out the window again, and the platform was gone. "C'mon, C'mon." Dick reluctantly pulled himself away from the windowsill and made his way to the box. "Sorry."

"Right well, you're in here, number 13, and you're to stay in here until called, alright m'boy?"

"Yes."

"Good, on we go."

Dick watched the man leave with the other children down the small corridor. He sighed to himself, then sucked in a breath and opened the door. He ducked his head in side and saw a little boy huddled by the window, his wide blue eyes staring at Dick; he was younger and much smaller than himself. He stepped inside a little more.

"Hello. I'm Dick," he introduced himself but the boy remained silent, so he tried again, "Are you alright? What's your na-"

"If he don't wanna talk, stop yappin' at him and shut up," Said a voice from the left side corner of the small room. Dick hadn't seen him when he walked in; he was just sitting there quietly. His coat looked old and about a size too small and his shoes looked worn. He was wrapped up very tightly.

"I don't believe I was talking to you. If you don't want to get along it doesn't mean the rest of us can't." He tried to sound reasonable but the other boy just gave him a nasty look.

"Bloody posh boy," he muttered under his breath. Dick still heard him but ignored him and went to sit opposite the smaller boy. He looked a little scared, and he was very, very small indeed. Dick held his hand out.

"So, I'm Dick..." The small boy looked him over a little, and then took his hand slowly and gently.

"Tim."

"Hello Tim." Dick smiled broadly at him. He smiled back; the simple action lit up Tim's whole face. "Nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too, Dick."

The boy in the corner glared at their newfound friendship and pretended to ignore them. Jason turned his face away from them, but listened.

"Are you ok, Tim?"

"I miss my parents."

"So do I." Dick looked over at the boy in the far corner. He thought that that must be the reason why he was so cranky. Dick's parents had to leave the circus and make many other sacrifices for Dick's sake; life had become hard for everyone.

"Want one?" asked Dick, holding out a packet of gobstoppers.

"No thank you, they're bad for your teeth." Dick was Slightly taken back, but didn't give up.

"But you know you want one, right?" he said, tempting him by moving the packet closer to Tim.

"Well..."

"It's ok as long as you brush your teeth later."

"Alright then." Dick plopped one on his hand. Success. Tim held it up to eye level and then popped it into his mouth.

"Fang yoo," he said, mouth full of gobstopper.

"Your welcome," Dick said, giggling, then Tim joined in after. Dick ate one, and pondered whether he should ask the other boy if he wanted one too. So he did.

"Do you want one too?" Holding out the packet again.

Jason looked back at Dick. "Leave me alone." Then turned his head back to the wall. They'll get there soon, until then all Jason had to do was ignore them, and their fun.

***

They arrived at an old station in the countryside. Everywhere was so... green. Dick and Tim got off the train, with Tim firmly holding onto Dick's hand as they walked to the registration desk with the group.

"Name?"

"Tim Drake."

"Well, Timmy, you're going to be going with Mr Wayne," the young lady told him.

"Don't want to go," said Tim.

"Timmy, you have to, but don't worry, were both staying in the same town. I'll make sure to see you again."

Dick hugged him and then Tim nodded his head reluctantly, but held on tighter anyway.

"And you?"

"Grayson, Richard," he said, standing up straight.

"Well, what luck, you'll be with Mr Wayne also."

"Really? Can he keep more than one child?"

"Well I'd expect so, he is quite rich mind you, and a very kind man, so you two best behave. Go on and wait on the benches, he'll be here to pick you up soon."

"Yes, Miss, thank you," answered Dick.

Tim's smile was full of joy at the news. They walked over and sat on the benches with the other kids, but it wasn't long until a car pulled up. An old man walked over to the lady at the desk and she pointed to Dick and Tim. The old man walked over to them.

"Master Richard, and Master Tim, I presume?"

"Y-yes. Are you Mr Wayne?"

"No, I'm his butler, now come along, let's get you both to the manor before supper."

They followed the man named Alfred to the car, and arrived at 'the manor' just before dark. When they arrived they were gob smacked. The house was HUGE. Dick must have counted at least twenty or so windows on the front of the house as the car drove up the gravel path. The grounds of the house were marked with a thick border of trees. A little way back, Dick thought that the old man had tricked them and brought them into the forest or something. It was amazing.

They entered the house; it smelt of polished wood and silver, old and a little scary. Alfred took their coats and led them to the study. He knocked on the door and after a minute or so, someone replied.

"Come in."

They went in and saw a man sitting at a large desk; he had his head down and was looking over at some documents.

"Yes, Alfred?"

"Master Bruce, the boys that will be staying in our care have arrived."

The man at the desk, Mr Wayne, looked up at them for a moment and then walked over to the two boys.

"Well, hello boys, I'm Mr Wayne, but you can call me Bruce. I hope you'll have a nice stay here. What are your names?"

"Good evening Sir, I'm Richard, but you can call me Dick, Bruce." Bruce chuckled and shook his outstretched hand. "Good to meet you Dick, and what's your name?"

Tim stood there for a moment then worked up some courage and answered him, "Tim."

"Hello, Tim." Bruce crouched down a little and patted him on the shoulder. "Alfred,"

"Yes, Master Bruce."

"Show them to their rooms. I won't be here for dinner, I'm afraid. I'm going out, I won't be back till much later this evening."

"Very well, Sir." Alfred ushered them out of the study and showed them to their rooms. They had one each, right next to one another.

***

Later that evening before they had to go to bed, Alfred allowed them to play downstairs in the living area. It was a very big room, the Christmas tree was already put up and beautifully decorated, there was silver and gold tinsel lining the windows, which lightly sparkled in the dim light from the fireplace.

"Dick."

"Yes, Timmy?"

"Why are there four Christmas stockings hanging on the fireplace?"

Dick looked up and counted them. There was a green one, a red one, a gold one and a silver one.

"Huh, I don't know. Maybe there are more people living here."

"Nu-uh, I checked. Maybe they're for us?" Offered Tim enthusiastically.

"I don't think so Tim, it's probably just for decoration. Why would we get-"

There was a loud knocking on the front door. Alfred emerged from one of the many rooms in the manor and answered it. Dick and Tim could hear the conversation.

"Yes, constable?"

"It's the police!" Whispered Tim.

"Shhh. Let's listen to what they're saying, we might be able to go home."

"I hate to bother you at this time of night Mr Pennyworth," said the officer, "but we found this one wondering around half frozen. One of the evacuees you see, and there's nobody left to take him in, I was hoping that Mr Wayne would be so kind as to do so."

"Well, since you are already here, we might as well. Mr Wayne, I don't think, will mind. Thank you officer."

"And thank you, Mr Pennyworth. Evenin'"

Dick and Tim watched as the other boy entered the house. Jason stood there next to Alfred shivering as he waited for him to finish talking to the policeman. He took Jason's small bag in hand and took him over to Dick and Tim in the living area.

"Boys, we have a new guest, his name is Jason. I'll leave you all here to get better acquainted while I go and sort out his room."

Tim and Dick looked at each other with furrowed brows, then smiled for Alfred's sake and replied in unison, "Yes, Alfred."

"Good. Go on now, boy, nothing to be afraid of, sit by the fire and warm up, it'll be time for bed soon." Alfred disappeared out the wide open doors. It was just Dick, Tim and Jason left alone. Jason still stood by the door shivering.

"Umm, hello, you look cold. Here," Dick got up, "You can sit in my spot by the fire and warm up." He tried to sound as cheerful as he could, but Jason just walked right past him with a glare, and sat by the wall, at the edge of the fireplace. Dick tried to glare back at him, but Jason's head was turned away.

He looked sad and lonely, so Tim put his pencil down and went over to Jason.

"Here, you can have my candy cane if you want, Alfred said we could each have one after dinner, we got it from off of the Christmas tre-"

"Ugh! Don't you two ever shut up? Just leave me alone!" He pushed Tim aside and moved to sit on the sofa.

"Hey! What's your problem? He was only being nice," shouted Dick. He helped Tim up and held his hand.

"Shut up! I don't want to bloody be here! Ok? Just shut up you stupid snobs, and leave me alone!"

Tim started to cry and held on tighter to Dick. "Who are you calling snobs? You don't know anything about us," replied Dick.

Jason didn't answer.

"Look, I know you miss your family, I know you want to go home, but it's too dangerous-"

"I DON'T miss my family, because I DON'T have one." Tim stopped crying when he heard Jason, "I want to go back to London, I hate it here!"

"You don't have a family?" asked Tim.

Jason looked at him angrily, and Tim went back to hiding behind Dick.

"Playing mama are you?" teased Jason. Dick scowled at him and picked Tim up into his arms.

"Why are you being such an asshole?"

Jason looked at him in the eye and tried to get the upper hand, but Dick wouldn't back down.

"Just, leave me alone..." Jason turned from them on the sofa and gazed into the fire. He didn't need to make friends; he didn't need kindness or sympathy. He didn't need them.

Dick watched Jason sitting there silently, flicking the tassels on the armrest. Alfred came in shortly and silently herded them all upstairs, Timmy in Dick's arms, Jason following at the end.

***

It was late at night. Dick was sleeping in his room when he heard a small voice calling his name in the dark.

"Dick."

"Timmy? What's wrong? Are you alright?"

"Yes. Jason is awake, I could hear him moving in his room, it woke me up. Should we go and see if he's alright?"

Dick thought for a moment. He didn't have a clue as to what Jason might be doing at this time of night, he didn't really care, and Jason had been a complete ass for the entire time they'd known him.

"Please?"

"But what if he gets angry again and starts shouting and being an idiot?"

"I won't mind, I just want to see if he's alright. Please Dick?"

"... Ok."

Dick got up and took Tim's hand. He ruffled his hair and they both walked down the corridor to Jason's room.

It was quiet. Dick knocked quietly on the door.

"Jason?" He was expecting a ‘go away' or ‘get lost' but there was nothing. He tried again a little louder.

"Jason?" Nothing. Tim looked up at Dick worriedly and bit his lip. Maybe he wasn't exactly awake? Sleepwalking? Night terrors? Possible. Tim stepped forward and opened the door. They walked in and saw a dim lamp on the table; Jason was standing on the window ledge holding a bed sheet that was tied to the bedpost, which he was using as a rope. His face was a blank, just staring out the window as if contemplating whether or not to let go of the bed sheets.

"Jason! What are you doing?" cried Dick. Jason only then noticed them both and was stirred from his daze. Tim ran up to him and hugged his leg, which was the only part he could reach, and gazed up at him with his fearful eyes.

"Jason, no! It's dangerous! Please, come back, don't go."

Jason shook his head; he was confused, "What? Why do you care?" he asked defensively.

"Because he's a good child, and he doesn't want to see you hurt, you idiot, even though you've been mean to him and an all-round pain." Jason looked at Dick who was walking closer to him. "If you jump down from there you'll fall and break something, get down before Alfred hears."

Dick was using a stern expression, which Jason completely ignored, and looked back down at Tim. He really was anxious.

"No one's ever been worried for me..." Tim's face grew sad as Jason spoke, his wide blue eyes looking deeply at Jason, "... I..." He swallowed hard, "I just... I'm sorry, Tim."

Jason reluctantly climbed down off the window and Tim took the opportunity to throw his arms around his neck. A smile spread across Dick's face as he watched them both. Jason wasn't all bad; his life just wasn't like Dick's own, he didn't even have parents, or maybe even a real home. The thoughts slowly made the smile grow weaker.

"Come on Tim, back to bed."

"Ok, Dick. Good night Jason, promise you'll stay and not try to run away again."

"I promise." Tim hugged him one last time and went off by himself to bed.

"And what do you want?" asked Jason. Dick was still in the room. He wasn't expecting any niceness from Jason, but he was happy that Jason was willing to get along with Tim.

"What are those?" asked Dick, pointing at the purple bruises peeking out from under Jason's collar.

"Nothing." Jason pulled his collar up, and then went to bring in his bed sheets and close the window.

"Jason-"

"I'm fine. It's nothing."

"..."

"My mother. She's dead now. She... Didn't like me... neither did the people in the orphanage, the children and the bloody ‘carers'. Nobody wants a person like me, I'm just... nobody cares about another little shit that-"

He didn't know why, but he hugged Jason, and held him tightly, petting his hair slightly. He didn't care if Jason pushed him away and cursed at him. Dick held him tighter.

"I'm sorry, Jason."

"I don't need you to feel sorry for me." Jason's voice was a little shaky. Dick could hear the tears as he spoke.

"It's ok, Jason."

Jason rested his head on Dick's chest. He held on tight to Dick.

"What about your parents?" asked Jason.

"They're ok."

"...Good, that's good..." He sobbed a little, but it only made Dick hold on tighter. Jason raised his head and looked Dick in the eye, "... I'm sorry, Dick."

"It's ok."

Their noses touched a little. Dick could see the tear lines running down Jason's face.

"Thank you."

"It's ok."

Dick brought his face closer to Jason's. Their lips slightly brushed one another's, Jason's ajar and wet with tears. He closed the small gap between them, Dick sighed into the kiss and let his hands cup Jason's face, wiping away a damp tear.

Dick pulled away, but rested his forehead on Jason's.

"I should go back to my room, I should check on Tim too." He tried to move away, but Jason's hands dropped down to take hold of Dick's hips, pulling him closer, not wanting to let him go.

"No, please stay, Dick. Tim's fine, please stay with me don't leave me alone, everyone leaves me alone. Please, Dick... Stay."

"... Ok."

They remade the bed; Jason finished changing into his pyjamas, and then they both climbed in, arms and legs entwined, Dick holding him close, and safe.

***

"Dick! Jason! Wake up! wake up! It's snowing outside! It's snowing!" shouted Tim jumping up and down on Jason's Bed.

"What?" said Jason sleepily.

"It's snowing!" shouted Tim again.

"Tim! What are you doing?" shouted Dick, which earned him a giggle from Tim as he tried to pull the covers over himself. For some reason he'd lost most of his pyjamas in the night.

"10 more minutes," snored Jason.

"Come on, Jason! Get up Dick! Come on! You can't miss this!" yelled Tim one last time, then ran off down the stairs.

"Dick?"

"Good morning, Jason."

"Morning. Dick-"

"Jason, things will be fine now, I'll help you no matter what, ok?"

"Promise me."

"I promise."

"Good. Now let's go bury Tim in snow."

"Alfred will kill us."

"So what? Little brat foiled my escape plan."

THE END

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