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He first looks for Jason in his room.
At everyone’s surprise, apparently, Jason has been staying pretty consistently at the Manor since Peter came. Bruce seems delighted with having him home, even if he knows how to hide it well.
He’s not there so he goes for the second option, the kitchen.
Jason spends a lot of time helping Alfred with cooking, his dad told him they bond over complicated desserts and traditional meals catered for each kid under the Manor’s roof. Peter has fallen in love with every bite.
He’s not in the kitchen either so he turns to the third option, the Batcave.
In a sea of training equipment and technology, the cave chirps in silence, only cut by sharp keyboard smashes coming from the main computer.
“Is everything alright, Peter?” Bruce asks without turning to see him. Extremely creepy but he can’t judge when just a few hours ago he scared his pops into dropping his drink by hanging from the ceiling with his webs.
“All good, grandpa.” The man stiffens for a second and Peter doesn’t know if it’s because of his lie or the name.
“Hm.” He lets out and continues typing.
Peter’s brows furrow when the unease starts settling on his stomach. Third time’s supposed to be the charm but Jason is not there.
He doesn’t like the implications of not finding him.
He goes up in the elevator and starts his search. Not frantic nor fast but with a little edge to it.
He’s not in the theater nor in the second kitchen. The occupied rooms are no luck and the guest rooms aren’t either. The second living-room is empty as it is the main one each time he passes by. He checks every bathroom and little room in the Manor and comes up empty.
The house is huge and there’s no sign of Jason.
He grabs his phone in concern and sends a text, or several. They all get delivered, not read. Peter waits a few minutes and calls. No answer.
He does something he’s not proud of.
“Karen, can I get live feed from Uncle Jason’s apartment?” He hasn’t been there yet and knows it’s totally not cool to spy on his family but he’s worried. Besides, it’s not a crime if he doesn’t get caught.
The apartment is empty and has been for the last few days.
Peter’s debating whether or not it would be a good idea to bring it up to the other members of the family when his dad yells from the other side of the Manor (they found out pretty quickly that they can communicate that way thanks to Peter’s super cool mutations, something that was not needed in his and May’s small apartment).
“Food’s ready, Peter!”
He makes his way to the dining table and sits next to his Pops, who's rapidly recounting his day. He looks around and Jason's not there. Everyone is pleased with calm heartbeats and they’re not worried.
Peter decides not to point out the absence.
Dinner is finished, they watch a movie and Peter goes to sleep hoping his uncle will be there when he wakes up.
He’s not.
He decides to ask around this time.
“Oh, he disappears from time to time. Did no one tell you?” Tim answers while munching on some toast Alfred prepared for breakfast.
“Oh, okay.” Peter tries to sound calm.
Tim leaves for work not long after without explaining why Jason does that.
“He’s a loser who doesn’t like us.” Steph says when she comes to visit. Cass nods at her side.
They don’t elaborate more and Peter’s shoulders slump. Cass notices but Peter makes an escape before he's bombarded with questions.
“Don’t know, man. Could be anywhere.” Is Duke’s only response.
He doesn't ask Bruce nor Damian and Alfred just gives him a tired sigh, Master Jason enjoys solitude, sometimes.
No one knows where he is, they know that he’s disappeared and they aren’t worried. Peter would love to be like that, too, but his mind is filled with late nights, pop sounds and blood. So much blood.
His parents notice.
“What’s got you so down, kiddo?” His pops asks after having failed to answer anything coherent at dinner.
Peter sighs.
“Where is Uncle Jason?” He sounds too dejected so he quickly adds. “I wanted to show him a funny video yesterday but couldn't find him anywhere.”
The whole reason it all started, a funny video he wanted to show the man that unraveled a full day of mild panic.
“He’s probably out there beating people up.” His dad shrugs. “He does that. Jason needs some me-time after spending time with us for too long.”
He talks like it’s a common occurrence and Peter understands, but the feeling of wrongness doesn’t leave him.
“I’m surprised he lasted this long. Normally he’d be out after a few days, especially if he spends the night, but weeks? A new record.” His pops adds.
Their words relax him somewhat. If this is a normal thing Peter will just have to get used to it.
“He doesn’t answer the phone when he leaves?” He asks.
His parents seem to notice the problem and give him a knowing look.
“Not normally, no. But he will for an emergency. If you're worried we can use the comms, he answers those.” His dad offers.
Absolutely not, Peter thinks. He’s not going to bother Jason because of his neediness. It’s something he’ll just have to get used to.
“No, it’s alright.” He dismisses his parents’ worries. “I'll wait for him to come back.”
The words echo in his mind.
He has to come back.
“You can ask for things, Peter.” His pops chimes in and reaches out to squeeze his hands.
Peter nods and stares off to the side, his parents give him a sad look but let the topic go.
That night, Peter can’t sleep and goes down to the Batcave. Babs is not there since most times she prefers her own set up at the Clocktower. No one is there but Tim, who’s working on something and doesn’t spare Peter a glance.
Peter walks to the computer and opens a window. He stares at the tiny dot in the screen labeled Red Hood, that's moving fast from street to street. He doesn’t leave until it stops and Batman comes back from patrol.
He’s fine.
Days later, Jason comes back all smug smiles and snarky remarks. Everyone treats him the same and Peter’s whole body relaxes for the first time in a week.
Soon they’re alone and his pops’ words resonate in his head. He can ask for things.
“Uncle Jason?” He starts and the man quickly gives him his full attention. “Do you think you can give me a heads up next time you disappear?” Peter doesn’t look him in the eye.
“Hm.” Jason hums.
“Y-You don’t have to, of course!” He quickly backtracks. “I-I mean, you're an adult! And you can do whatever you want, so you don’t have to tell me if you don’t want to–” He sees Jason's slightly annoyed face and stops rambling.
He’s about to apologize again when the man’s face changes abruptly and looks at him with understanding.
“Shit, sorry. Guess I’m too used to this family and didn’t think to tell you. Fuck, of course I’ll tell you next time.” He seems apologetic.
Peter is pretty sure his uncle figured it out pretty quickly why he wants to know where he is and a slight pink flushes his cheeks.
“You don’t have to, you don’t owe me anything.” He says, barely a whisper.
“It won’t kill me to give you a heads up, kid.” Peter cringes at the choice of words but huffs out a laugh anyway. Jason seems to notice and laughs with him, apologising between chuckles.
“Thank you.” He whispers and clears his throat immediately. “I have a funny video to show you.”
The next time Jason decides to leave for a few days, he passes by Peter’s room first.
Still, the boy checks the tracker late at night, just in case.