Jason held his bowl with both hands and drank three full servings, filling his hollow stomach with thick, rich porridge. Around him, the other children had started burping contentedly.
The chef tapped his shoulder. "I heard them call you Jason?"
"Yes, sir. My name is Jason."
"I'm Jude." He smiled. "So my full name is—wait, what's your full name?"
Jason hesitated.
Jude's face lit up. "Hey, did that movie inspire your name? The one with the big guy in the hockey mask?"
"Sir." Jason stared at his empty bowl instead of meeting Jude's eyes. "Why are you helping me?"
The question hung in the cold air.
Jude considered it. "I wanted to help. I could help. So I did." He shrugged. "And I'm guessing I'm not the only one who's helped you before."
Jason immediately thought of two figures. A woman who moved like a cat, dressed in black, who'd given them money once. A man who looked like a bat, who'd beaten up thugs trying to hurt the younger kids.
"I think what you're really asking," Jude said quietly, "is why I'm not holding you accountable."
Jason nodded without raising his head.
"Because you didn't do anything extreme to survive, Jason."
Jude ruffled his hair gently. "Most people look normal in normal times. They follow rules. Support themselves. Don't commit crimes. But during hardship?" He paused. "During hardship, people are just people. They have weaknesses. They cross boundaries. The worse the situation, the harder it is to stay good."
"Jason, when you were facing death, the worst thing you did was steal a car. And you did it to save your friends, your family" Jude's voice was warm. "That makes you kind. Brave. All of you are."
"If I were in your situation, I wouldn't necessarily be as kind or brave as you."
Jason kept his head down. His nose burned. His eyes stung. He refused to cry in front of the other kids, so he stayed very, very still.
Since his mother died. Since his father got arrested for drug trafficking. Since he became effectively an orphan. He hadn't heard recognition from adults. Just scolding. Ignoring. Lying.
This felt like a hallucination.
Jude didn't push. He turned to the other children instead. "Are there other kids like you around here?"
The Orphan Gang exchanged glances, reading each other's expressions.
One boy stammered, "Yeah, there's three in—"
"Zebby!" A smarter-looking kid shouted. "Shut up!"
"Colin, don't be like this." Jason raised his head, eyes dry now. "They're not doing well either."
"But Jason, they bully us all the time!"
"They've also worked with us before." Jason's voice was firm. "It's freezing. We can't just watch them die. Besides, who else will we partner with later?"
Very smart, Jude thought. Smart kids were rare in Gotham.
Wait.
His name is Jason.
Jason.
Jason Todd?
Holy shit. JASON TODD. Batman's second Robin. The future Red Hood.
Jude's brain spun through fragmentary DC knowledge. Multiple origin versions existed, but he vaguely remembered one where Jason had a terrible temper. Impulsive. Violent. Stubborn. Aggressive to the point of recklessness.
But also powerful. That version of Jason had removed two tires from the Batmobile by himself. No Gotham supervillain had ever accomplished that feat.
Could this be him?
But his temper seemed... fine? Maybe he hadn't developed that aggressive edge yet. Maybe trauma and Robin training would shape him into that person later.
A person's character came from their experiences. Jason probably wasn't naturally violent. Right now he seemed like a good kid. Like Tim Drake, even.
But he'd almost definitely become Batman's Robin eventually.
Which meant getting too close was probably a terrible idea. Principle of seeking profit and avoiding harm: don't befriend future Bat-family members. They attracted chaos like magnets attracted iron.
Jude shook his head.
No. Whatever. Future problems were future problems. Right now there were freezing children who needed help. He could worry about Batman later.
First priority: get these kids through winter.
That night, Batman spread his wings over Gotham City once more.
The winter cold didn't affect him. Wayne Tech's suit design combined with his own enhanced physiology provided excellent environmental adaptation. He barely felt the temperature.
Tonight he felt better than he had in weeks.
He'd gone for a private check-up that afternoon. Seven of his dozen fractures had healed. The newer breaks were recovering well. According to the doctor, two months of rest would return him to normal functionality.
But he couldn't rest.
Batman didn't take vacations. Bruce Wayne didn't take vacations.
Gotham needed constant vigilance.
He patrolled the East End neighborhoods where homeless children congregated, checking usual hideouts, monitoring gang activity, watching for—
Wait.
Fire. A large gathering. More children than he'd ever seen in one place.
Even during gang fights, the crowds weren't this big.
He adjusted his cape angle and dove.
The closer he got, the stronger the smell.
Like... porridge?
Someone was cooking porridge in the East End?
Who would do that?
Batman spread his cape at the last second, slowing from terminal velocity to gentle landing with practiced ease. He rolled silently onto a low rooftop and peered over the edge.
Below, in a makeshift outdoor shelter, a man wearing a red coat, black boots, and a Christmas hat stirred a massive pot with a wooden spoon. The smell of cooking grains wafted up in fragrant clouds.
The man had a long white beard.
Obviously fake.
Batman's detective training cut through the disguise instantly. Despite the costume and the ridiculous beard, he recognized the build. The stance. The movements.
Jude Sharp.
The same Jude whose apartment burned down yesterday. The same Jude who was now technically homeless. The same Jude who'd helped Harvey Dent for reasons Batman still didn't fully understand.
"What is he doing now?"
Batman's thought process always started from suspicion.
"Is this part of a larger scheme? Does he have an agenda here?"
He watched Jude ladle porridge into bowls for children, smiling beneath his fake beard, distributing food with practiced efficiency.
"Or..."
Batman's eyes narrowed.
"Or does he simply want to help homeless children in the East End?"
Batman fell silent, watching from the shadows.