The Wrong Genes [ open ]

[jimmyg]

School had only been in session for a grand total of one day, and already Jimmy hated it. Not only did he just hate it on principal for being a waste of his time, but he hated his classmates, and his teachers, to him, were all unqualified for their positions. Immediately he was singled out as the Commissioner's son. By the other kids who avoided him or made fun of him for it, and even by the teachers who more or less just made it known to the class that the Gordon boy was with them, and to draw attention to him.

That feeling in his gut that he disliked being a Gordon returned at these moments. Fleeting feelings that came and went as he was given a hard time in differing situations, but at the moment it was quite strong. He didn't find it fair. So what if he was James Gordon's son? So what if he shared his name? He was his own person, and hated to constantly be compared to him, especially at the age of fourteen. It was different when he was younger. Every little boy liked to be compared to his father, depending on who it was. James Senior was a good, kind, strong, honest, hard working man; of course he liked to be compared to him when he was a quiet, somewhat socially awkward, bookish boy.

Now was the time that he was devleloping his own identity however, and it was proving to be exceedingly difficult by no fault of his own. Over the course of a year or two, he began to see that he really wasn't much like his father. Where James was outspoken, Jimmy was almost painfully quiet. James had a temper at times, but it was reserved for the criminals he fought against. Jimmy, especially the past year and more especially in the recent months, seemed angry or at least troubled with practically everyone at times. Call it a young teenager being a teenager, but he didn't feel 'normal.' Let alone comprable to dad.

Instead of heading home after school, Jimmy wandered a bit further away. To the Amusement Mile, though he had no intention of going into the park. He just didn't want to go home and have to explain his day to mom and dad; if dad was even around. Probably not. Mom would be though. Thinking on that, he knew she'd be worried when he didn't come straight home, but quite honestly he didn't care at the moment. He wanted some time to think things over, some way to either be less annoyed with the people at his school, or a way to stop them from annoying him.

He favored the second option, but that would require more thinking on his part.

Standing around just outside the park, Jimmy kept his hands in his pockets and scuffed his feet against the cemented ground, looking up and seeing the ferris wheel that he'd never ridden before. This place used to be a hangout for the Joker'; that much he remembered. But his dad and the other heroes of Gotham had pushed him out of there. Still, the stigma remained, and Jimmy was no different from the others that were skeptical of the park's safety.

Instead of heading in for anything at all, Jimmy headed over to a bench that was placed just outside of the entrance, and sat down. He let out of huff of breath, took off his backpack and set it at his side, leaning back in the bench until the back of his head rested against the back frame, and looked up at the sky. It was still midday, four o'clock at the latest. He figured he could be out here for a half hour, at most, before mom really lost it.

[jason]

School had been a drag for Jason. All day it was just going over what they were to start to study for the beginning of the year. The day seemed like it would never end. And to Jason it had felt even worse. He hadn't been to school for sometime since he's parents pasted.

Jason had to test into his grade to be able to get into school after avoiding it all this time. He hated though that he had had to study just about all this summer and since Bruce Wayne had taken him in. But if he wanted to fight crime as Robin he had to do as he was told. Though he did have a tendency to not listen, he had listened this time and study. He didn't want to be placed in a grade lower than his own age group.

All the studying for the entry test had payed off. He had placed in the junior class. So, he had only two years of schooling to finished though. Jason may be seen as a good for nothing punk by some, but he was quite intelligent. Though the training, he had picked up quickly on the skills he needed to be Robin. He may not be like the first one. He was not acrobat like Dick Grayson. but Jason had his own style from living off the streets.

Before Alfred had dropped him off at school, he told Alfred that he was going to stay after and see what sports teams he might be able to join. It had been a lie, but at least it would buy Jason some time to be out on his own for a bit in the city. He had gone to school that morning, but after lunch period, he had slipped out of the school uncaught. Not exactly something Bruce was going to be pleased about when he found out, but the intro in each classes for the first day had been boring him to death.

He had been wondering around town and left his backpack at the school. He'd have to return there to get it before he made a call to Alfred to pick him up. He figured the school would still be opened considering the sports teams were indeed running meeting for interested students.

After school hours were up, he had noticed the other kids getting out. So, Jason just blended in and continued on his way wandering about the city a bit. He had been wandering for some time now and in south Gotham, near the old amusement park. He knew this place. He had learned all about the Joker's history and the other crooks in Gotham. He made sure he would be ready for anything even if Batman didn't think he was.

There outside the park sat a short blond haired boy, staring up at the sky. Jason thought he recognized that kid. He had probably seen him wandering around the halls at the school this morning. Jason continued down toward the kid's way. Getting a better look at the kid, he did recognized him. It was Commissioner Gordon's kid. He had seen him a couple of times before but had never said anything to him.

Jason decided to speak up when he got closer. It wouldn't hurt. Besides, the Commissioner was a friends of Bruce. At least, Jason could say something good about this day even if it was only a few words to the kid. "Hey, aren't you the Commissioner's kid? Jimmy, right," he asked out loud as he crossed paths with the kid. It was the best way he knew to get the kid's attention and to cut to the chase. He stood a few feet away from the park bench and the kid. His blue eyes glancing over the kid.

[jimmyg]

Being all the way out here was relatively relaxing. He was away from home which meant that he didn't have to immediately start on his chores or on his homework as he was certain his mother would insist. Nor was he at the school where he was barraged with a constant feeling of annoyance at the other children. The ambient sounds of the city during mid-afternoon were enough to keep the boy awake, but just barely. That's what he could use. An hour or so of just sleep to help him relax after hours of feeling frustrated.

He hadn't been paying too much attention to his surroundings. Which in Gotham was a danger in itself, but he was confident he'd be okay here. As unsafe as the park's attractions might've been, there were still adults nearby, and he was the Commissioner's son. Though in essence that painted a target on his back, it still offered the option that perhaps someone, if they saw something happen to him, would actually help.

Jimmy was anything but paranoid though. He'd grown up here and hadn't had anything particularly bad happen to him while he was out during the middle of the afternoon. Plus, the FBI was all over the place. Just another contributing factor to his sour mood. With them around, dad had to stay out later than he usually did; and he already had to stay out pretty late.

The sudden voice of someone addressing him caused Jimmy to look up from his spot on the bench and squint his eyes a little to re-focus them. He'd seen Jason around the school, but just as Jason had never said anything to him, neither did the Gordon boy. Furrowing his brows just a bit at the question that was asked, he just barely nodded, and gripped his backpack a bit tighter.

"Yeah.. why?"

[jason]

Jason could tell by the boy's reaction to his words seemed to be one of annoyance. It wasn't that hard for Jason to notice. It was either he didn't like having Jason around or it was the way Jason had phrased his words. Maybe it was bother, but he felt it was more of being call the Commissioner's kid.

Though it seemed like the easiest way to show that Jason had recognized the kid from school. It's not like he was trying to label him or anything. Sure he may be the Commissioner's kid, but he did have a life of his own. Jason just looked at the kid right back, a some what bored expression on his face. He was nothing like Bruce and no where near to putting on the pretend you enjoy someone's company act like Bruce seemed to at the charity events.

"No reason in particular," Jason shrugged at his questioning. "Saw you this morning wandering around the school. You're a freshmen?"

Jason didn't really have anything else to do that afternoon and wasn't one for always striking up conversations with some kid from school. But heck, he had nothing better to do and the kid looked like he had had a rough day. Jason knew all too well what that could be like. Hence the reason he had cut afternoon classes. If he didn't want to stay, Jason would find away to get away from something he didn't want to do.

[jimmyg]

Jimmy's annoyance didn't lay specifically with Jason. In fact, the majority of it came from exactly how his day had gone previous to that. Aside from instantly referring to him as the Commissioner's kid, Jason hadn't done anything to him. Still, he kept the annoyed expression on his face as he sat up slightly, still clutching his bag close to him.

Quiet by nature, Jimmy didn't verbally respond yet to Jason's question, Instead, he just nodded. Yes, he was a freshman at the school now. He didn't know what grade Jason was in, and quite honestly he probably didn't much care.

"Yeah, I am." Jimmy muttered finally, and glanced down at his backpack, messing with one of the straps to distract himself from having to think about eye contact with the older kid. He had a hard enough time retaining eye contact with his own father, let alone a complete stranger.

[jason]

He noticed the kid didn't like eye contact. He wondered what was up with him. Jimmy didn't seem to care to have anyone around. Jason knew that Jimmy's father was a very well spoken man. The guy practically had the whole city breathing down his neck over what the police would do about the crime in Gotham.

If it weren't for the Batman's help this city would be a loss cause. Jason finally heard the kid answer he guessing after a bit. He did nothing more than just stand there. After working with the Batman and training, you learned to read people's body language. And Jimmy didn't quite seem to be annoy, more of uncomfortable with possible talking to a practical stranger.

"Alright, well was just wondering," Jason replied. He wasn't sure if he really felt like wasting his time if it was going to take this long just to get a simple answer from the kid. Then again, what was he doing sitting outside the old amusement park?

Everyone in town knew about it being the old hide out of the Joker. And it wasn't often anyone would have wanted to just sitting and hang out around it since then. Most people just seemed to walk right by it, not wanting to see if anything still might be there.

Jason looked over at the old park behind Jimmy. He wonder just what might still be in there. Growing up on the east side of Gotham he had not really gotten the chance to look around a lot of the places in Gotham. He had leaded the lines of the gangs around here and avoid them if he wanted to live. "So, what are you doing out in this park of town? I know the Joker's gang don't hang out around here in the evening, but it isn't the best place in the world to just sit and daydream," Jason commented. He was a bit serious, but was wondering what he was up to.

Call Jason noise, but he really didn't have anything better to do. He had avoid people most of the day to make sure no one would call him in for skipping school or anything like that. And if he went back to the manor he would have to start on his homework and studies that were set up for him as part of his training. He rather just skip right to patrolling that night.

[jimmyg]

The littlest Gordon didn't like to talk about his family very much. To him, what little time he had with his father and what other time the rest of the Gordon clan had to share with Jim was something akin to sacred, and wasn't anyone else's business. In his mind, the world got their fair share of time with Jim, and he was being cut short. Him, his mother, and his sister if she cared about such a thing.

But just because he didn't like to talk about Jim very much didn't mean that he didn't respect the man. As his father, yes, but also as a hero to the city. Jimmy wasn't blind to what was going on around him. Willfully apathetic most of the time yes, but he was well aware of just how much time and effort his father put into rescuing the city whenever it was in peril. Batman always seemed to get the spotlight because of his theatrics, and perhaps Jimmy was slightly bitter of that. But, Batman did his own share of the work as well.

Regardless, Gotham was taking his father away from him. He didn't like Gotham. He didn't like most of the people of Gotham. Especially not complete strangers. Especially not strangers who recognized him only for being the Commissioner's son. So far, Jason wasn't very high on Jimmy's list of liked, or even trusted people.

'Just wondering' didn't warrant a response from the boy. Instead he looked away, plenty content with just letting the conversation drop and having the older kid go on his merry way to wherever it was he was going. But, more questions followed. At first Jimmy didn't respond, and didn't even look back up. But after a few seconds' pause, he did.

Shrugging at first, Jimmy gathered his thoughts and let out a quiet sigh. "I'm not scared of it or anything.." He stated first, just so that Jason was aware that he was not, in fact, scared of the reputation that the place held. His father got the Joker out. Dad made it safe, so there was no reason to worry. "I just wanted to sit and think, and there aren't many people out here." He said, and shifted his eyes over at Jason. "..Usually."

[jason]

"Alright, no need to get defensive," Jason replied, not really sounding all that concerned if he had offended Jimmy all that much. So the kid was a loner. Seemed a bit odd for a Gordon to be so isolated from others. Such Barbara seemed to work by herself and Commissioner Gordon as well, but they could handle small interactions with people.

Jimmy seemed to be acting like Jason had invaded his personal space. Maybe he had in a way. He didn't seen Jimmy going around school talking all that much with other in the school or when they had had lunch. Come to think of it, he didn't recall seeing the blonde haired boy down in the cafeteria. Then again, why would he care.

At the last part of Jimmy's words, Jason looked at him. He notice the look saying 'and that means you'. Jason gave a slight smirk to himself. Alright so he was annoying the kid. Jason hadn't intended on being that much of a bother to someone.

Sure Jason could an instigator, but he wasn't necessarily trying to both the kid. He had only stopped more or less to say hello to the Gordon boy. "Well some people pass by and some stop to take a look around the place," Jason started in. He ignored the look and went on. He'd leave when he wanted too. "Have you ever went in there to check the old place out?'

[jimmyg]

Narrowing his eyes into a glare and tensing up just a little bit, Jimmy continued to mess with the strap of his backpack as somewhat of a nervous habit. "I'm not being defensive." He muttered, knowing mentally that denying defensive action in his tone actually admitted defensive action.. but, oh well. Maybe the older boy wouldn't know that. From what he could tell from outside appearances; which wasn't much, he didn't look so smart. Jimmy's glasses helped him look smart. Or so others said. Jason? No glasses. No smart appearance.

It was rather odd of Jimmy to be so intent on being alone whenever he could, but he simply never did get along very well with other children. Not that he was bad, he was just quiet. It put some people off, he knew, but he couldn't help it. He couldn't force conversation like the rest of his family, it just felt unnatural and weird. Plus, he didn't like most of the people that he'd be forcing conversation with anyway. Jimmy felt that if someone was really worth talking to, they'd talk to him first. Jason was an exception to this rule, so far.

Keeping his eyes up on Jason for a moment longer, he noticed the smirk form and sighed quietly to himself. All the boy wanted was to be alone with his thoughts for a while. He couldn't go home and do that. Mom would be there asking a million questions, and when dad got home he'd do the same. Then it'd be off to bed, and then off to school. No time to think. It was enough to irritate the boy further, just imagining that scenario playing over in his head.

"No." He said plainly, looking away from Jason and staring off in no direction in particular, at nothing in particular. Just.. away. In fact, by now he was miles away, trying in vain to block out the older kid no matter what .There were other places to go to think, but as far as he was concerned, he was here first, and he wasn't going to leave.

[jason]

"What ever you way," Jason shrugged at Jimmy's comment about not being defensive. He knew that Jimmy was being defensive. Jason wasn't just trained to reaction to attack in combat, Bruce had made sure Jason was skilled to be able tot take on the job as Robin. Jason hadn't spend all those hours studying and training for nothing. Come to think of it he probably knew more languages than most kids his age.

He had been reluctant to study it all, but if he wanted to continue on with his new life, he was going to have to do what he needed to stay ahead in the game. And Jason was learning more and more as he went on.

Jason could tell the other boy was not longer there mentally. He was tuning him out. Rolling his eyes at the boy's reaction to try and ignore him. Like Jason couldn't read that.

"Suit yourself. I'm sure there are quite a bit of interesting artifacts left behind from what had remained there when the Joker had been around," Jason started in. "Well, at least the stuff the cops never collected." Jason looked off toward the old fair ground. He was tempted just to try and have a look around the place himself now. Not that he really cared. He had nothing better to go.

[jimmyg]

There was nothing about the conversation that Jimmy wanted to take part in, and apparently, the older kid wasn't getting the hint. Despite trying his hardest to look away, there was a kernel of anger that with each syllable uttered to him, was beginning to grow. Glancing back over at Jason, Jimmy kept his eyes narrowed and scoffed quietly.

"Then why don't you go in there and look for yourself?" He asked, though his tone was more or less telling him to do so. In other words, to go away. The littlest Gordon had no interest in the amusement park. Simply the bench outside of it. To be alone, to think, perhaps to catch up on some homework so that he didn't have to do it at home.

Jason was ruining his decently thought out plan of action, and it wasn't sitting well with the younger boy.

[jason]

Jason knew every well that the kid didn't want him around. This only satisfied Jason's amusement at working on the kids nerves. He was just more or less waiting for a reaction. Sure the kid was giving him dirty looks, but he was staying quiet and not lashing out over any of it.

At Jimmy's response, Jason held back from rolling his eyes. This was indeed getting boring for Jason. Sure it was funny trying to work on someone's nerves, but to get no reaction? Jason was losing his interest in trying to pester the kid any more.

Shrugging of the glare and the comment, Jason just said,"Suit yourself. If you expect something interesting in life to happen or charge by sitting around, good luck with that. Let me know how it goes for ya." Jason had only said what he did because now he felt like he had wasted his own time trying to get a reaction out of the kid.

Heck, if the kid would have come along to check out the old hang out, it could have been more interesting than just trying to argue over anything. Jimmy was nothing like his older sister it seemed. Sure the kid was smart, but he was quiet. Really quiet. Jason's fun was being wasted just standing there now.

Jason didn't care whether or not if he left a bad impression on the kid. If he was just going to sit on park benches in the afternoon to kill time, he was just wasting it. That was just Jason's thoughts.

Finally after long ago wearing out his welcome, Jason turned and headed toward the park without hardly giving a thought what might still be lingering in the park. He'd do a patrol tonight to get away from the Manor later. Things have been quieter than what they should be within the Bat-family of late.

"By the way, if you see your sister any time soon, tell her I said hello," Jason turned and said before he headed into the grounds. He had only said that to ruffle the kids feather one last time. Jason knew Jimmy knew that his sister was dating Jason's adoptive brother. He just said because he felt like it. Not like Jimmy was going to say anything to any one about their run in at afternoon. Jimmy didn't seem to be the type to talk much at all, let alone he didn't seem to be one to talk about how school had went with his parents. Not like Jason did anything wrong.