Chapter Text
Robin found himself once again with Superboy waiting outside crime alley on the night Schrodinger was to be released from his punishment. Though superman and batman had been disappointed to know the punishment had not been for the maiming. Jon had shared he had been given orders from his father to prevent any such actions in the future.
Jon had also gone on to explain his father's rantings of why a cannibal was not a good babysitter to his mother. Which damian found to be an unwarranted complaint. Schrodinger hadn't ate the man's limb.
Damian didn't turn his head towards the direction he knew Schrodinger was coming from but also knew that Superboy hadn't noticed him yet either. For training purposes, Damian decided to flare his cape in that direction making out the batcode for being spotted with his now visible hand. It would test Schrodinger's ability to catch the cue and let him fully direct himself on Superboy. Hopefully Jon would catch on before contact was made. But he doubted it.
“Superboy you need to work on your observation skills.” is the only warning he gives Superboy before turning and making a grab for his invisible assailant, to his shock though as he grabbed the invisible target to flip over him jon goes down hard against the rooftop. But his own assailant catches him off guard wrapping their legs around his middle and the wrist he knows he was holding disappears to wrap around him to pinning his upper arms. It takes all of his skill to keep upright. But Schrodinger has never touched him without permission before and he finds himself both a bit speechless and uncomfortable. However he is able to hold back from snapping immediately as a little girl comes into view smiling up at him from his chest. He does however glower at the glowing smile directed at him.
“Hi i’m Duplicat!” Schrodinger slowly appeared helping pull Jon to his feet from where the boy had taken down the super.
“Sorry she wanted the hard one of you guys to sneak up on.” Danny said with a sheepish hand on the back of his head. “And you lost! I pick breakfast! You’re not hurt right? I didn’t want you to swing on her by mistake.”
“Hello, I am Robin, release me now.” Damian said very slowly and clearly trying to sound calm but firm. The girl giggled but let him go and dropped to her feet.
“I’m fine.'' Jon said dusting himself off till Duplicat walked up to him with a hand extended. Jon went to take it. “I’m Superboy”
“Do not fake him out. They aren’t ghosts.” Danny warned her before she could grab Superboy's hand.
“He feels like a parker.” Ellie thumbed over her shoulder at Robin.
“Yeah but he’s not. He’s human and squishy. And doesn’t like hugging.”
“He does, he just gets overwhelmed.” Ellie announced Jon's gaping.
“I do not!” Robin snapped.
Schrodinger laughed, but did try to scold his sister. “Duplicat, we talked about this, you have to respect their verbal words, not the emotional ones. Human rules.”
“Blarg boring! So where are these bat people we are hanging out with?” Duplicat whined looking around with her hands on her hips.
“I am a member of the bats.” Robin informed her.
She tilted her head sideways at an almost broken looking angle. “I thought you said your name was Robin?'' She turned to look at Danny. “A Robin is a bird right?”
“Yes, a Robin is a bird. However the Robins hold a long tradition of being the apprentice to batman.”
“Batman is Hood’s Plasmius right?” Ellie asked Danny.
He gave her a so-so motion. “Close enough. I don’t think he’s a fruitloop outright. Everyone says he has a sugar daddy.”
“Batman doesn’t have a sugar daddy.” Robin corrected sharply. “Do not spread such false allegations.”
“Fine. fruit loop then. Yes. that’s his Plasmius, just like i guess if he had actually forced me to be his son. And without the cloning replacement. Unless… none of you guys are clones of the early Robins are you Hood hasn’t said any of you are but just checking for clarity..” Danny asked.
“No! None of the Robins are clones! Father doesn’t have nor will he ever have cloning technology!" Damian said sharply. “Who is this Plasmius you speak of? Your comparisons normally lack any type of accuracy.”
“My mom.” Ellie said easily. “He’s a nut job fruitloop obsessed with my template.”
“Batman is not a villain! Nor obsessed with teenagers!”
“Hood says Batman kidnapped him as a kid and made him into Robin after the first one refused to do it anymore and made him his son. Sounds like mom to me.”
“Is that how your dad got Hood?” Jon asked, a bit shocked.
“No!”
“Then how did Jason end up as Batman's son? And Robin?” Danny asked, hands on his hips all smug.
“I do not know! But that can not be correct. There is a file though and I can access it and read it to you.” The three other teens gathered around Robin as he pulled up his wrist computer.
“Dude! Tuck would die to have that!” Ellie said excitedly. “Can you guys build that?”
“I have no idea, with what we have access to probably not. It’ll be too bulky.” Schrodinger answered honestly.
“Here is the report from Hood’s first meeting with batman.” Robin said reading quickly to get ahead of the others. Frown deepening.
“That looks like a nice way of putting kidnapping.”
“He was taken in for his own well being.”
“Uh Robin…” Superboy said in a strained tone, “that is kind of…”
“It is not kidnapping.”
“What’s it say happened to the first Robin?” Danny and Ellie both asked, arms crossed looking smug.
“Nightwing was needed to lead the teen titans. He did not refuse to be Robin.”
“Are you sure about that? I think we should ask him.” Danny asked smuggly.
Robin glared him down. “Fine.” Robin hit his com.
“What’s up baby bat? Everything ok?”
“Nightwing, please inform Schrodinger and Duplicat that you passed the mantle of Robin down to Hood.”
“Duplicat? Is that Schrodinger’s sister?” nightwing asked.
“Yes.”
“Oh, turn on your tracker. I gotta meet her. Schrodinger! Why didn’t you tell me she got here safe and sound? How much did Hood hate that name?”
“He said he was gonna drown us in the gotham river.” Ellie laughed out. Superboy gasped out in shock at her words.
“Enough, nightwing, tell them…”
“No can do baby bat. Cause I did not.”
“Then our grandfather…”
“Nope. big b did.'' Nightwing cut his brother off sharply. Robin’s frown deepened. “What’s this about kiddos?”
“Hood said Batman kidnapped him and made him Robin because you refused to be Robin anymore and made him his son. Robin says that’s not true.” Schrodinger said smile growing and sharp teeth poking out. Ellie was looking just as smug.
“I mean that is a very unnuanced take. But that tracks. He did like being Robin though. And being Batman's son at first. I have been told multiple times that me moving out on my own had nothing to do with Hood becoming the second Robin but I'm not sure how much truth is in that. Can’t prove it either way.”
“Tsk.” the kittens broke off into laughter.
“I like you already nightwing.” Ellie said, holding her sides from laughing.
“Why? Where did this come from?”
“Batman is just like Duplicat’s mom.” Schrodinger said.
“The Fruitloop? Wha… no… no… Hood didn’t mean it like that!” both kittens started laughing. “Ugh, no! I’m coming to you guys! Don’t go too far.”
Damian looked done already with tonight's dramatics. They haven’t even started patrol yet. “Wanna make him work for it?” Schrodinger asked.
“Nightwing is Hood’s Jazz right?” Duplicat asked.
“Yep,” Danny answered with a pop of a p.
“Who’s Jazz?” Superboy asked.
“Our big sister. She can be overbearing in trying to be helpful. And muck things up.” Duplicat said.”this city is way bigger than your old one. We can probably drag out hide and seek for days.”
“Weeks probably.” Schrodinger laughed. “But we have a curfew.”
“Considering nightwing didn’t correct you both, I am ok with avoiding him.”
“You’re mad he told the truth?” Superboy asked.
“He admits it’s the not the full truth.” Robin said. Making sure his tracker is off. “Let us patrol and see how long we can evade him. It will be good training.”
“Sweet! Let’s do this!” Duplicat cheered.
“Their parent’s don’t like how Hood does things. So no punching humans. We play like we do with our friends. They just end up in cuffs.” Schrodinger informed his sister. She went to open her mouth. “Human friends.”
“Fine! Party pooper!”
Superboy gave Schrodinger a look of concern. Danny just waved him off. “She’s fine. You want to lead the way Robin?”
“Yes, before nightwing shows.” Robin pulled his grapple ready to leave the start of the night behind. All three teens followed his lead without further prompting.