It started that summer

The night it started

He jumps on me with a smirk, I throw him over my shoulders. He peers down at me from above, "Take me on patrol with you and you will no longer have to serve as my temporary cat handler."

I jump on the bed and he falls off, "No way Jose! You're still on Batman house arrest buddy."

"You are a cop, are you not?"

"Ohhhhh, you got me there." I stroll around the corner as he carefully watches me move past him. "But," I lung towards the bed frame, "I got you here!" He quickly tried to scurry away as I wrapped my arms around his waist and flipped him upside down. He snatched a pillow and started to beat the crap out of me. I held up my hands, "I surrender! I surrender!" I notice Bruce's car pulling in.

He stands up then quickly bashes me one more time, "Hey, how about you go hide those water balloons we talked about?" I wink.

A devilish smile spreads like butter across his face, "Okay!" He runs off in his Batman PJs and I move to the window. I sigh, Bruce does not look happy.

I stood there, transfixed, as Jason angrily hurled his belongings to the floor. The sound of shattering glass echoed through the room, followed by the heavy thuds of books as they hit the ground. "Feel better yet?" I leaned against the door frame, watching him. I had been standing there for fifteen minutes, and every second was filled with his rage and frustration turning into broken objects.

He finally turns around and thrusts a book my way. I quickly duck as it hits the wall behind me. "Fuck off." He growls at me.

"Language." I pick up the book and walk in, "Pride and Prejudice?" I gasp. "You read this-" He snatches it from my hands and tosses it on his bed. "Nice talk," I sigh. "Look, your secret is safe with me, but what's not safe is you leaving the kids alone! What were you thinking?"

His head whips around, and he rushes towards me. He opens his mouth to yell back but stops himself. His anger fades away, and he frowns. He sits on his bed and picks up the book without looking at me. "Were they okay?" He asks.

"They were fine, Damian is a strong kid. But Jon lost control of his powers." I sat next to him, "Why did you leave Little Wing?" He stays silent. "I may not be on Tim's level of detectives but it's obvious something has been going on with you. Dad told me some of it but honestly Jay, I don't buy it, I think it's more. Is something going on?" He doesn't move or say anything, I can't read him. "Did something happen on a patrol? Is it a new villain or gang?"

"It's nothing I can't handle Dick," He huffs. "Things have just been catching up to me."

"Like what?"

"My past," he moves the white strip of hair from his eyes. "It's like I'm two steps ahead then move a hundred steps back." He laughs sadly, "I've never seen a foldable phone, I've never seen a curved TV, I'm behind," He clenched the book threw it at his wall, and stood up. "I'm always behind!" He shouts.

"But you're not alone, and you've got all of us behind your back, Jay. I know you don't want to stay here but while you are, I'll stay with you. I can help update you all on the things you missed out on. How about that?"

"Thanks," He sighs.

I toss him a broom, "In the meantime let's clean this up before Alfred kills us."

He bent down collecting the shards of glass while I put the books back on the shelves. "Don't you ever get tired of the Joker?"

"I do,"

"I just don't get it. It's not just about me, I know that's what you all think. But I thought I'd be the last person Bruce let the Joker hurt. But I wasn't. He's killed so many innocent people and hurt all of us. He almost got Bruce too. We can all try as hard as we want, but as long as he's alive how is anything we do making a difference?"