He'd smiled that lopsided smile one more time at that quick agreement to dance with him, but as much as he wanted to push his way into stealing all of Tim's social battery, he made himself back off. True to his word, he stayed close, always just on the peripheral of Tim's bubble of activity. He mingled a little, though most barely gave him polite nods before finding someone more socially suitable to talk to, but he always kept at least one eye on Tim and the socialites who followed him around.

The exception to his hovering came during the speeches. He'd charmed the woman tending to the hors d'oeuvres table into giving him a rather generously loaded plate, then settled in the back to work his way through his meal while speeches were given. One by one, he mostly ignored them all...until Tim walked up to that podium. Every time the boy glanced his way Jason smiled right back, even winking once just to see if he could make that smooth brilliance stumble at all.

Thanking a vigilante crime lord with a deadly reputation was perhaps a little more unusual than Tim might have planned, but honestly it wasn't that different from someone thanking Carmine Falcone. There was a murmur of surprised that rolled through the attendees, a hushed surprise that was easily covered by applause as Tim stepped away from the podium.

Almost at once, Jason's bulk was at Tim's elbow. A quiet, looming presence that kept the more timid of the vultures at bay. It didn't stop some of the older, more arrogant of the flock from their questions, however.

"How long have you worked with the Hood, Mr. Drake?"

"Is Mr. Wayne aware of your dealings with the Red Hood?"

"Are you two really working together, Mr. Drake?"