Work Text:
Wandering around at night was probably not the best idea even with sky full of stars and a full moon, but he had to prove, if only to himself, that Robin was really Dick Grayson (which meant Bruce Wayne was most probably Batman). Tim knew he wasn't very prepared for a chilly Gotham night as he pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head, looking out for Robin.
"Hey, kid," a voice said from behind, and Tim tried very hard not to jump in fright; he had failed.
The person who owned the voice was now standing in front of him, and Tim almost breathed a sigh of relief until he noticed the kid carrying a lug wrench. Tim furrowed his brows as the boy, barely two years older than him, looked him over for moment, taking in Tim's scrawny form, before he grabbed him by his sweatshirt sleeve urgently.
"C'mon, kid. You be my lookout, and I'll give you some of the cash I make off the tires." The kid paused as Tim looked at him with wide eyes. "You look you need food, or I wouldn't be helping you out, get it?"
Tim wanted to explain that he wasn't a street kid, and that he had a home to home to Though, that would probably have pissed the boy off, so Tim just nodded and watched for people as the boy took off the tires from a fancy looking car, that really shouldn't have been in Crime Alley to begin with. Really, Tim shouldn't have been in Crime Alley to begin with either.
Tim glanced back when he heard the tires come off one by one, and the boy rolled them into the alleyway nearby. When the boy was done, he grabbed Tim by his sweated sleeve again, dragging him towards the alley.
"Help me lug these up my fire escape," he ordered, and Tim just nodded, really hoping that his hunch about Robin patrolling this area wasn't true; he'd hate to get caught by Robin committing a crime.
Once they got the tires upstairs, the boy rolled them into his apartment and motioned for Tim to come in. Tim climbed in quietly.
"Thanks. You new around here?" the kid asked, tilting his head and trying to get a better look at Tim's face.
Tim automatically brought the hood down further, hiding his face. "Yeah," he lied.
The kid nodded. "Won't ask about the family situation, but the name's Jason. You did good tonight, so if you ever need any help, hit me up, 'kay?"
Tim nodded. "Uh, yeah, um, I have to go though," he said quietly.
Jason grinned before tossing him a piece of fruit, which Tim fumbled but did eventually catch. "See ya around. Maybe I'll get your name next time," he said teasingly.
Tim bit his lip. He shouldn't give his real name, no matter how common 'Tim' was. "My name's Alvin," Tim said, Alvin being the first thing that popped into his head since the last thing he saw the way to Crime Alley was an Alvin and the Chipmunks movie poster.
Jason snorted, looking over the kid. "It works for you. You're definitely small and squeaky like a chipmunk," he teased.
Tim ducked his head. "Bye, Jason," he squeaked, not proud that he just proved Jason right, but he was kind of glad he made him laugh as he left.