Work Text:
Everything had been said and done with. The trial’s outcome had been decided the moment Joker had uttered the words condemning him to a fate worse than anything anyone could imagine. A weight had been lifted. An invisible burden that had been dragging down so many of Gotham’s citizens. As it was lifted many broke down in tears. Some in songs of their people, remembering those that they had lost but hopefully will see again when their own time came.
Daniel Fenton, High Priest of the Infinite Realms, stepped back up to the podium. He said nothing for what felt like a millennia, but when he did finally open his mouth, the most beautiful yet sorrowful music spilled from his lips. There were no words, no lyrics, but the meaning was still there. The sounds just as powerful as any words that could’ve been spoken.
A light surrounded him, a soft spring green that promised new life and health, healing those with broken hearts and weary souls. From the light came souls. Souls of those that had been taken from the world at the hands of Joker. They flit about, dispersing into the crowd to find their still living loved ones.
The Wayne Family watched in quiet relief, a wave of peace radiating through the space. Bruce knew that Jason wouldn’t be among them. He knew that yet desperately wanted and wished that the little boy would be there. He wanted to apologize to that little boy. The one that he had let die. The one he longed to hold in his arms again, to comfort both himself and the hurting teen. Yet Bruce knew that that would most likely never happen. And that was fine, his son had come back. Even if he hadn’t been the boy they had lost, Jason had still come back to them.
Soon the souls whispered their final goodbyes and made their way back to the light surrounding the High Priest. Well wishes and ‘I love yous’ and ‘I’ll miss yous’ being desperately called in the air from the living. The beautiful song coming to a close yet the light was still there.
Daniel turns to the light and offers a hand. He says something but no one can hear it. A small hand appears out of the light and takes the priest’s. A small gentle smile shows on his face as he guides this single soul out of the light.
Bruce’s heart stutters and threatens to stop. It’s Jason. His son, his little boy, the Robin he couldn’t save. Tears break from behind the dam that he had constructed.
The High Priest walks over to the Waynes with purpose. Tiny Robin Jason follows shyly behind, clinging to the priest’s hand and robes. The two stop a few feet shy of the Wayne family.
“Jason.” Bruce breaths. He’s afraid to reach out and touch him. He looks so fragile. As if a single grazing touch would dissipate the illusion.
“Little Wing.” Dick says to his left, tears thick in his eldest’s voice.
Instead of acknowledging either of them first, Spirit Jason ran straight to his revenant counterpart. Tears in the little boy’s eyes as he stared up at the Jason that towered over the tiny Robin.
“You left me.” Bruce and Dick choked a bit at the younger voice of their son and brother. “Why?”
Jason drew in a deep breath. This little Robin was someone he had tried to ignore and suppress for years. He symbolized all that Jason wanted to forget.
“I-I didn’t mean to.” Jason’s deep voice cracked. “I didn’t know that I had left you to begin with, or that you could have come with.”
“Then,” The second Robin looked up at Jason with hope filled eyes. “can I stay with you now?”
Jason just nodded. He couldn’t vocalize the emotions he was feeling. The tears running down his face only telling so much.
Robin smiles brightly and grips Jason’s hand. All of the wounds that had been visible before stitched themselves together. Broken bones mended and blood scrubbed from his skin. The ripped and torn Robin uniform disappeared; in its place was a young civilian Jason in comfy clothes, smile bright and eyes brighter.
The younger Jason then turned to Dick. His smile big and bright as he let go of his other’s hand to jump into his big brother’s arms. “Dickie! I missed you so much!”
Dick gives the young teen a wet chuckle as he hugs him closer. “I missed you too! Did you have fun wherever you stayed?”
“Mmm, not really. Most of the time I just missed you and dad a lot.” Younger Jason responds from where he’s tucked himself into the crook of Dick’s neck. “But everyone was really nice so I wasn’t as lonely as I thought.”
“That’s good. I’m glad you weren’t too lonely. Cause I missed you sooooo,” Dick hugs his little brother’s spirt tighter. “much. You wouldn’t believe how much I missed you.”
“But it’s ok now because I’m here!” Younger Jason pulls back and holds his older brother’s face in his hands. “And I’ll stay here for as long as you want me to be!”
“I’d like that.” Dick whispers soulfully.
Jason wiggles in his arms. “Let me down, let me down! I want to go see dad!”
So Dick hands the wriggling teen over to Bruce. Jason’s smile falls a bit but he still hugs his dad. Bruce hugs his second oldest and they stay like that for a moment.
“You’re not mad at me, right?” Jason asks, his younger voice sounding small and far away. His form flickers a little.
“Of course not.” Bruce responds. “Are you disappointed in me?”
Little Jason shakes his head, face still buried in Bruce’s shoulder, and takes a deep rattling breath. “I missed you. I’m sorry I ran away.”
“Shh, it’s ok.” Bruce comforts.
Little Jason catches sight of Alfred behind Bruce. He gives the butler/grandfather a watery smile. “Hi Alfie.”
“Hello Master Jason. I’m glad to see that you have been doing well.” The British man’s stiff and formal tone failing just a bit, betraying his true feelings inside.
The young spirit nods, “Can I help you make something in the kitchen when we get home?”
“Of course.”
Spirit Jason nods and buries his face back into Bruce’s neck. There’s another silent moment passes before the High Priest steps in. The full Wayne family turned their attention to him.
“I’m glad that you were able to reconcile, but I won’t be able to keep the bridge between our two dimensions open much longer.” His voice is world weary yet his appearance is still youthful.
Bruce puts his son’s spirit down and the boy walks over to his other half. Daniel takes either of their hands and says a quick prayer, maybe a spell. The younger spirit starts to fade as the revenant regains life he had been missing. Before fading completely, the younger turns and waves to his family.
Once the young spirit has faded completely, Daniel takes Jason’s face in his hands. He cradles the man’s face with gentle reassurance. He brings their foreheads together and whispers;
“With this, two halves become whole again. Two lives intertwine to become something new. May the Realms watch over and bless them.”