Chapter Text
Jason was small.
That wasn't how anyone would describe him not since he'd clawed his way back from the dead. But right now, he was small.
Fuck magic users.
Jason had intercepted a shipment leaving Gotham after getting a tip about human trafficking.
The traffickers had planned to de-age them before selling them.
Jason had ruined everything for them. The captives escaped, but the douchebags managed to use the spell on him instead.
And now….
Jason was trapped inside what felt like a steel drum.
He planted both tiny feet against the lid and shoved with everything he had, but his little legs were useless. The metal barely rattled.
It was dark. Cold. The air smelled of rust and damp concrete. He knew they'd moved him after the spell. He wasn't in Gotham anymore.
This was scar…ridiculous. It was completely ridiculous.
Jason Todd wasn't supposed to be scared or weak.
He wasn't supposed to be helpless. Not after everything he'd survived.
This tiny body betrayed him anyway. It trembled uncontrollably, his lip quivered, and before he could stop himself, tears spilled down his cheeks.
God damn it. He was crying.
Perfect.
Jason immediately bit down on the oversized shirt they'd thrown over him, trying and failing to muffle the sound.
Someone probably heard him because he could hear footsteps.
Fuck He refused to let some motherfuckers see him cry. He wasn't helpless.
He wasn't some terrified little kid.
The lid above him began to turn with a loud metallic scrape.
His entire body locked up.
They'd taken everything: his helmet, his guns, his knives. He had nothing left to defend himself with.
Suddenly Blinding light poured into the drum. Jason squeezed his eyes shut, more from the sudden brightness than fear. He wasn't afraid.
He wasn't.
"Hey there, are you alright, kiddo?"
That voice.
Jason knew that voice so he slowly opened his eyes.
Nightwing was staring down at him.
Before Jason could force out a single word, Dick reached in and scooped him into his arms.
"It's okay buddy," he soothed, bouncing him lightly. "You're safe now."
Jason's brain stopped working.
The golden boy was holding him in his arms.
Correction not arms ..one arm.
He was only using one arm.
The golden boy was carrying him with one arm. Jason felt his face heat up in humiliation.
This was worse than getting fucking auctioned or whatever plans the traffickers had for him.
Jason reeled his tiny fist back and punched Dick straight in the face, twisting and kicking as hard as he could.
"Let go!" he yelled, his words coming out high-pitched. The sound was foreign to his own ears.
Dick didn't even flinch. Instead, his grip tightened just enough to keep Jason from slipping.
"You're safe, kiddo, I'm Nightwing, don't you know me?" Dick continued with a reassuring smile. "I never hurt kids."
"Fuckin put me dwn!"
Jason's frustration only grew as his fists bounced uselessly off Dick's chest. Every punch that should have hurt barely registered, and every kick felt pathetic.
Dick simply sighed sympathetically, mistaking the fight for fear. "Shhh… Don't be scared. It's okay."
"I'm not scared!"
Dick smiled warmly. "Thats right you're a very brave boy."
He reached up and ruffled Jason's hair.
Jason slapped his hand away like it had burned him. To his surprise Dick winced maybe he was injured in that arm…good.
"Fuck off."
Dick let out an amused huff.
"Heh... I thought that this shipment came from Gotham." He shifted Jason higher on his hip before continuing, "Still, it's not nice to curse."
"Fuck. Off." Jason said.
"Message received," Dick said with a grin. "But before I go, can you tell me your name?"
"No!" Jason almost screamed it.
He couldn't let Dick figure out who he was. It was already embarrassing enough.
"M’mom says not to tell strange freaks my name."
"Hmm." Dick glanced around the warehouse as if expecting this mysterious mother to appear. "Your mom sounds pretty smart. What's her name?"
Jason glared at him. "I am no idiot."
"Clearly," Dick said, laughing.
Jason's eyes twitched. He was going to kill him.