Chapter Text
Attie didn’t even pretend to try and sleep in her own bed that night.
Jason felt kind of bad about that he invoked that, sort of…by not thinking that maybe the kids wouldn’t be cool with a surprise brother showing up unexpectedly…
But it was fine. It was fine. It… would be fine. Attie said she did want to meet Dick, just as long as he didn’t try and take them to Bruce.
“Is there anything else you’d kept from us,” Damian demanded at breakfast the next morning.
“What?” Jason asked, looking up from where he was reading the news on his phone. Clark had said it was a good idea to pay attention to what the competition was publishing…
Damian huffed. “You kept Father finding out about us a secret, is there anything else?”
“Uh,” Jason stammered, “I don’t think so?” He was pretty open with the kids, right? Maybe a little too open, sometimes. Was there anything he hadn’t told them yet? “Oh. You guys have to get shots.”
“Shots?” Attie asked skeptically, “What’s that?”
“Vaccinations?” Damian said, tapping his fork against his plate, “Why? The doctors kept us up to date.”
“Yeah, but I don’t have those records and you can’t go to school without them, so, we have to redo them,” Jason said with a shrug. He took a sip of his orange juice, then turned back to his phone.
He didn’t get to read a single more line, though, because Mara spoke up.
“Is that safe, getting them again?” she asked.
“Yeah I think so,” Jason said with another shrug, “I googled it and the CDC says it’s fine to get shots again.” Though maybe he could ask a doctor, just in case.
Leslie maybe? If Bruce knew about them, maybe it would be okay to contact Leslie? To ask her? And maybe get her to be their doctor…?
No.
He didn’t want to go to Gotham.
…Maybe he could still call her, though? She was the only doctor he’d ever trusted…
“What are shots,” Attie asked, a little more forcefully.
Jason looked over at her and said, “It’s, uh, like medicine they give you to make your immune system know how to fight off stuff like tuberculosis and, uh. I don’t know what all, actually. I don’t think we do small pox anymore, but like shots is what made small pox extinct. That used to kill people now no one even gets it.”
“But why is it called a shot,” she asked.
“Oh. Because it’s in a syringe and they inject it into your arm.”
“They shoot it into your arm,” Mara added.
“Yeah, exactly.” Jason kept his eyes over on Attie, because all she did was stare directly at him, almost blankly.
It took her a couple seconds, but finally she asked, “Does it hurt?”
“Yeah, a little,” Jason said.
With the most ridiculous pouty-face, Attie said, “I don’t want to,” then went back to eating.
Rolling his eyes, Jason turned back to his phone and said, “Well too bad, the government says you have to if you want to go to school.”
“I don’t want to go to school,” Damian said.
“Well too bad, too. You have to go to school, the government says that, too.”
“The government sounds stupid,” Damian grumbled.
“Okay. Don’t care, this is life,” Jason checked the time, then sighed, “I have to get to work. Be good, call for Superman, all that jazz, okay? I’ll be back by six.”
“Fine, but do try to think if there’s anything else you’ve failed to mention,” Damian said dryly.
Jason slipped his shoes on and tried not to sigh too loudly as he slung his bag over his shoulder and left.
He did feel kind of bad he broke Damian’s trust… he thought. Maybe. Mara and Attie both weren’t being as Damian about it, but it was obvious Attie was upset by it all, too.
Mara was too, maybe. Jason couldn’t tell with her.
But.
Yeah. He probably should have just told them. But. He didn’t even consider it. Not really.
He didn’t want them to worry. Jason had it handled… for now. Sort of.
Well. He would handle it if it became a problem.
It wasn’t a problem yet.
And. And.
Clark had basically used the same damn argument for why he didn’t tell Jason, and Jason hated it so much. Clark was wrong and should have told Jason. But.
Ugh.
Jason kind of sort of understood why he did it now. Jason was worrying about it, and there wasn’t anything to worry about. Since Clark had it handled and was keeping Bruce and everyone away.
The entire walk to the Planet, Jason kept warring with himself over that.
He wanted to stay mad at Clark forever. Being mad was just easier.
But.
Ugh.
And it didn’t help at all that Clark jogged up to his side, just before Jason stepped into the front doors of the Planet.
Jason rolled his eyes hard when all Clark did was give him a giant grin.
“I hate you, you suck,” Jason said, as he hit the call button on the elevator, “but I think I forgive you. Maybe.”
Clark opened his mouth, and looked honestly thrown, but Jason cut him right off before he could get a single sound out.
“But you’re on thin fucking ice.”
“I take it your visit with Dick was—” Clark started, but again. Jason cut him off.
Because nope. “I’m not telling you shit. Take your wins where you can get them.”
“Okay,” Clark agreed easily.
“He’s allowed in Metropolis, though,” Jason said, as the elevator dinged open. He stepped inside and said, “Dick, is. No one else.”
Clark simply smiled at him again, then stepped further back as more people ran to catch the elevator. Once the doors opened to their floor and they stepped out, he said to Jason, “I’ve got a story for you today, want to hear about it?”
“Yeah, definitely,” Jason replied with a grin.
At least work could be normal.
- - -
The week went kind of okay.
Jason kept having a great time at work, and even got a write up a follow up story on his front news story from the other week. It didn’t make front page front page, but it was front of politics.
Perry still hadn’t promoted him, though.
Friday finally rolled around, and it was only then did Jason start getting really fucking nervous.
Dick was supposed to be there by 7, and Jason didn’t realize until he got home from work that they only had four dining chairs.
Four.
They couldn’t have guests over for dinner without enough chairs. What the fuck had he been thinking?
“What are we going to eat,” Attie asked him, as he just stood in the middle of the main room and stared at the main table like the dumbass he was.
Mara was playing with her beads again, but she’d promised to clean them up before dinner.
“Uh,” Jason stammered, looking over at Attie, sitting on the couch with Batsy, “I was going to make enchiladas.”
“Enchiladas?” she asked, “What’s that?”
“It’s a Mexican dish, you’ll like it I think. I’ll make them a little spicy.”
He’d long since learned Attie, in particular, liked spicy food. The other two definitely liked it, too, but Attie preferred it. He’d kept that in mind when looking through a budget meal idea list, and when he saw enchiladas it reminded him of his mom making those when he was little.
She sometimes added some jalapeños to them, to make them a little spicy, since Jason had been just like Attie.
“Can I help you cook?” Mara asked, looking up from her current little bead project.
That was what made him finally refocus on the kitchen and get his butt in gear. “Yeah,” he said after a second, “clean your beads up first.”
So what if they didn’t have five chairs? They could just eat in the living room. Without enough chairs.
It would be fine. He doubted Dick cared.
Probably.
He and Dick had been texting all week, which had been nice.
Apparently Dick was teaching gymnastics now, which was so different from being a cop, but Jason didn’t pry too much about why the career shift.
Jason could definitely see Dick teaching a bunch of kids how to do backflips and shit. Since he’d taught Jason all that, and really seemed to enjoy it.
With their texting, Jason had also been able to warn Dick about several things about the kids. Mainly, the them thinking he and Dick were both bio kids, and how important it was to not ruin that.
Thankfully, Dick hadn’t objected. Though Jason knew the lie wasn’t going to last forever. All it took was googling any of their names to destroy that story…
It was fine. Everything was fine. He’d cross that bridge when they got there.
Mara, like always, seemed to absolutely thrive while they were cooking together. She loved doing whatever task Jason put her on, and smiled so much while doing it.
Whether she was happy about the tasks, or about the, like, undivided attention from Jason, he really wasn’t sure. And. He really wasn’t sure what to make of it, if it was the undivided attention thing…
Obviously he knew she liked having attention since she never got it before, but like. Her liking Jason’s attention specifically…
At least she didn’t seem super nervous about meeting Dick properly.
Dick knocked on the door just before the timer for the enchiladas went off, and before Jason even had time to turn toward the door, Damian had leapt to his feet and ran to the door.
And Jason’s heart was hammering again, for no damned reason.
“Richard,” Damian greeted flatly, as he opened the door.
Jason rolled his eyes, but Dick grinned.
“Hi, Damian!” Dick said brightly, “Can I come in?”
“I suppose,” Damian said, stepping out of the way.
Athanasia found her way right to Jason’s side, even before Dick took a single step inside. And even though the timer was now going off, and Jason needed to get the enchiladas out of the oven.
“Hey Dick,” Jason said, setting a hand down on Attie’s head, “Dinner’s almost done.”
Dick practically bounced over to the kitchen area and said, “I’m excited to eat your cooking. Alfred always said you had talent, there.”
"He did?" Jason asked, a little thrown. He hadn’t cooked much, with Alfred… he didn’t think.
Well. He helped out sometimes.
“Oh yeah. He said you were the only one he’d allow in the kitchen, the rest of us are banned.”
Jason chuckled, then turned down to Attie who was legit hiding behind him. “Okay. You have to move so I can open the oven.”
“Mara, right?” Dick asked, as he stepped over to where Mara was now sitting at the table, reading her latest book.
As soon as they’d finished all the prep and the rice and enchiladas just needed to sit for a while to cook, she’d gone straight to reading.
“Yes. Hello,” Mara said, barely glancing up Dick’s way.
“Whatcha reading?” Dick asked, leaning over the back of the chair next to Mara.
“Seriously, Attie, you gotta move,” Jason said, looking back down at Attie because she still hadn’t moved.
Instead of move, she pushed herself further into Jason’s side.
Mara and Dick went back and forth about Mara’s book, while Damian was already sitting on the couch again, watching TV.
And Attie was being annoying.
Jason knelt down and pulled her away from him enough so he could look her right in the eyes, as he whispered, “Dick is your older brother, remember?”
Attie nodded at him, but curled forward, clearly trying to get Jason to hug her.
But he didn’t give in. Instead, he kept her at arms length as he said, “So there’s no reason to worry, right? If you don’t want to talk to him, why don’t you go sit with Damian so I can finish dinner.”
“But, Jay,” she whined.
“You’re fine, Attie,” Jason said, as he stood to his feet. He pat her head while she tried to cling again, then gently pushed her away. “Go sit with Damian.”
“Whatever you’re making smells delicious,” Dick said, as Attie raced around him and ran into the living room.
Damian scowled in Jason’s direction, but he didn’t do a damned thing when Attie sat right next to him and Batsy on the couch.
Because she was his sister and he loved her.
“It’s enchiladas,” Jason said, as he finally was able to open the oven and take them out.
Thankfully, they weren’t burnt.
“One of my favorites,” Dick said with a grin, “Need any help?”
Jason pulled the dish out of the oven and shook his head. “I think it’s done. Mara helped make it.”
“Really?” Dick asked, looking back down at Mara, “Do you have a talent for cooking too?”
Mara didn’t reply, but she did smile faintly.
So.
Dick had probably already won her over.
Dinner passed….kind of awkwardly, actually.
They did eat on the couch, and Dick didn’t say a word about it. He just sat criss cross on the edge of the older couch and dug straight in.
Attie squeezed herself between Jason and the armrest, even though Jason had chosen to sit on the edge seat… Mara sat on Jason’s other side, and Damian chose to sit with with Dick on the other couch. Mostly because, Jason assumed, the dumb cat was napping on the couch, and Damian was sitting between Dick and the cat.
To, like, protect the cat from Dick or something.
“You should ask Damian what the cat’s name is,” Jason said, after they’d all been eating for a minute and Dick had profusely praised Jason and Mara’s cooking abilities.
Attie had nodded when Jason asked if it was spicy enough for her, and Damian was eating without complaint, so it seemed like the meal was a hit all around.
“You are not worthy enough for her name,” Damian said, before Dick could even ask.
Dick faltered slightly, but then smiled again. “What do I need to do to be worthy?” he asked.
“I have not yet decided.”
“It’s Batman,” Mara said, which was just. Fantastic.
Because Damian scowled incredulously and looked like he was about to draw a knife or something to start fighting her.
“And Jason calls her Batsy,” Mara added. She looked down at her dinner, and slowly took a bite as if she wasn’t even aware she’d just provoked Damian
But obviously she was aware. Because she wasn’t stupid.
Just.
Suicidal.
“Damian I swear if you pull a knife out…”
“You’ll what,” Damian demanded.
Jason didn’t have to say anything. He just glared harder at Damian until he slumped backward and started outright pouting.
Dick, of course, was just grinning his stupid head off next to him.
“I think Batman is a great name for a cat,” Dick finally said, “it fits a cat much better than a grown man.”
Mara of all people snickered, while Damian scowled harder.
“I hate all of you,” Damian grumbled. He turned to Dick and asked, “Why does Father like you if you disparage him in this manner?”
Dick spluttered, his eyes quickly darting over to Jason.
“Damian,” Jason sighed.
“It is a valid question,” Damian shot back, “You must not say this to his face, and he is unaware.”
“Actually, I make fun of him to his face all the time because I am hilarious,” Dick said, “he always sighs in his I’m-pretending-to-be-annoyed way because he secretly thinks its funny, too.”
“Yeah, yeah, shut up Dick, you’re not that funny,” Jason grumbled. Bruce only sighed at Dick’s jokes. He actually laughed at Jason’s.
Therefore, who was funnier? It wasn’t Dick.
“Why don’t you tell them what you do for work,” Jason said, before the conversation could continue down the Bruce path, “I bet these brats would be impressed.”
“I teach gymnastics to children,” Dick said, “Next month I’m starting an intermediate class, too, since so many of my students are progressing so quickly.”
“Are your students normal children like Jonathan?” Damian asked.
“I don’t think Jon counts as a normal kid,” Jason drawled, “He’s literally half alien.”
“Well if I said pathetic you’d get angry,” Damian shot back.
“Yeah, normal kids,” Dick said with a grin, before Jason could snap back at Damian, “if you meant untrained kids. It would be so cool to start a class for super-kids, though. There’s certainly getting to be enough of them. You three, Jon, the Flash kids, Lian. Those are just the kids I know personally, I bet theres many more that I don’t know.”
“Lois wouldn’t let me teach Jon a front flip the other day,” Jason scoffed. He highly doubted she’d let Dick go teaching him full on gymnastics.
“Well you can’t start with a front flip,” Dick exclaimed.
“I am not a child,” Damian pipped in, “Do not lump me in with children. I would not join your childish gymnastics class, nor would I need it. I mastered gymnastics and acrobatics before I turned five.”
“You did not,” Mara said, rolling her eyes.
“Yes I did,” Damian snapped, “Do not contradict me. You have no idea what sort of training I got—”
“Guys knock it off,” Jason said tiredly, “We have company.” Jason shot Dick an apologetic look, but he was grinning even wider like a freak.
Apparently this all was amusing to him.
The kids at least stopped fighting. Jason looked down at Attie just to make sure she was like, still alive. She hadn’t made even a squeak all dinner long.
Of course. She was still there. Focused entirely on her dinner, silently eating it.
Dinner after that was… better.
Attie never did warm up to Dick. Not enough to speak to him, at least, which kind of really sucked. She warmed up to the Kents super fast, but for whatever reason wouldn’t even speak to Dick. Not even to say bye to him, when Jason sent them off to bed.
Damian and Mara at least kept up friendly conversation with both Jason and Dick, even if Damian was a little more… accusatory.
Whatever. No one seemed to outright hate Dick. Jason would ask them in the morning what they thought of him, and see if they’d be cool with him visiting more often. And if they weren’t, well…
Jason would figure that out, too.
“They’re super cute,” Dick said, once Jason shut their bedroom door after tucking Attie in.
She was crying when he did so, but really there wasn’t much he could do about that. He promised her he’d check on her once Dick left.
“If that’s code for ‘super annoying and giant pains in the ass,’ I agree,” Jason said, as he turned the TV on and put the volume up. He didn’t want any nosey little eaves droppers, if he could help it.
“Aw come on, they can’t be that bad,” Dick said, as he flopped down on the good couch right next to where Jason sat.
Jason crossed his arms and said, “Sometimes I’m convinced they’re the devil incarnate. All of them at the same time.”
“No you are not,” Dick said with a laugh, “you wouldn’t even be here with them if that were true.”
“Yeah well,” Jason grumbled, “Something about running from people trying to kill us for two weeks really makes a bunch of brats grow on ya…”
Dick smiled, and leaned his head down against Jason’s shoulder for a moment. “I’m so glad you’re here Jason,” he said almost wetly.
“Thanks,” was all Jason could think to say. He did drop his shoulders, slightly.
He couldn’t say he wasn’t glad he was there, either. He was glad Dick was there, too…
After a moment, Dick looked up at him and asked, slowly, “Can I ask you a question about Bruce? You can tell me to fuck off and refuse to answer it and I’ll never ask it again.”
Jason hesitated for a long moment, but dropped his shoulders further and said, “I guess.”
It probably wouldn’t be hard to guess what Dick wanted to ask. It was probably the same damn questions Clark had asked, but.
Still didn’t keep Jason’s heart-rate from picking up a little.
If Dick started arguing with him about his perception of Bruce…
“Why won’t you go to him?” Dick asked bluntly. He still had his shoulder pressed against Jason’s, a steady pressure that was sort of comforting.
“Because he sucks,” was all Jason said.
“Well, okay,” Dick said, “But why specifically?”
The pressure against his shoulder felt a little less comforting.
“Clark didn’t tell you?” Jason snapped. He wasn’t gonna rehash shit if he didn’t have to.
“No?” Dick said, as if he was appalled Jason would even think Clark would have told him, “Clark hasn’t actually told me anything. He said it was between you and Bruce and told me to butt out.”
“Clark Kent did not say ‘butt out,’” Jason scoffed. There was no fucking way.
“Yeah fine okay, but he did tell me he wasn’t going to tell me anything you’ve said.”
“Really?” Jason asked. His voice sounded small even to himself…
But. Had he really been wrong about Clark?
Dick slung his arm around Jason’s shoulders and said, “Yeah, Jay. Clark can keep secrets.”
So.
Maybe Jason did actually forgive Clark then… maybe.
If he really hadn’t told anyone anything. If he just told Bruce and everyone to fuck off and stay fucked off until Jason changed his mind.
Which would be never, by the way. Never.
Jason supposed he couldn’t blame Clark for Bruce finding out if Tim was the real problem.
Though he definitely could have given Jason a heads up…. And like. Asked if Jason wanted hand outs from his freaking dad.
Yeah. Okay. He was 80% forgiven, then.
“I just,” Jason started, “I don’t want the kids to have to deal with him.”
“Damian called him Father,” Dick started, but Jason scowled and scooted away from him, pulling away from his arm.
Dick retracted it, thankfully, so Jason didn’t have to elbow him.
“I know,” Jason snapped, “but that doesn’t give Bruce rights. He wasn’t fucking there from the start, he can’t just butt in now.” If Bruce really cared about his damn kids, he’d make sure the lady he was fucking didn’t have his kids in the first place.
“Plus,” Jason continued, “Bruce has made it pretty-fucking-clear he hates kids.”
“How, what?” Dick stammered, “How?”
“He couldn’t stand me being anything but perfectly obedient,” Jason exclaimed, jumping to his feet to pace, “He couldn’t handle anything from me to resembled anything like attitude or brattiness or anything. Newsflash, Dick, kids are fucking brats and they’re disobedient and they’re pains in the ass but that’s just how kids are. You can’t tell them you hate them over it and then not talk to them for two weeks.”
And if Jason did shit like that to these three brats, it would likely result in them stabbing each other to death.
Or just ending up back with Ra’s.
Because they ran away.
“Jason,” Dick said way more calmly than Jason felt. He’d sat forward, and was now leaning on his knees, his hands clasped together, “Hang on. What are you even talking about right now? What did Bruce do?”
Gritting his teeth, Jason seethed, “I’m talking about how Bruce practically disowned me and started ignoring me because I gave him, and I quote, ‘teenage rebellion’ when I was fifteen-years-old.”
Dick’s eyes went wide as he asked, “He did what? When?”
“When I was fifteen!” Jason exclaimed. He was trying not to shout. He didn’t want the damn kids to hear him.
“Before you…” Dick asked, slowly.
Though the coward couldn’t even finish the damn question.
“Died, yes. Before I died,” Jason said, “He said, I’m not your father, Jason, ‘I don’t need your teenage rebellion’, then basically ignored me for weeks.”
“Jason, I—” Dick stammered
“Don’t you fucking dare tell me Bruce loves me or whatever else the fuck propaganda you’re about to spill,” Jason snapped, “Clark’s already tried that and I will just—”
Dick cut Jason right back off, raising his voice just slightly over Jason’s to say, “I wasn’t going to say that.”
“Then what? I don’t want to hear you defending him. I won’t listen to it.”
“I wasn’t going to defend him,” Dick scoffed, a slight scowl settling on his face, “I thought you knew me better than that.” Dick huffed. “I wish I could say I can’t believe he said that to you but unfortunately I can. He’s a complete and total jackass and super immature. He doesn’t think about what’s coming out of his mouth when he’s angry and it sucks being his kid when he gets that way.”
Jason nodded, and wasn’t really sure what to do, now. He felt… a little weird.
Staticy, maybe? Hot and cold all at once.
And.
Dick looked him straight in the eyes as he said, “He said so many horrible things to me when I was younger, and honestly I frequently considered just forgetting about him entirely over it.”
“Why didn’t you?” Jason rasped. Had it been Jason, he absolutely would have told Bruce to fuck the fuck off after the third blow up fight in the cave.
If he even let it go that far… after he was eighteen, of course. And capable of caring for himself.
Well. Maybe not. He had really wanted Bruce to pay for his college. So. Maybe he would have stuck around for that and put up with whatever Bruce did, had that been an option. But Dick dropped out of college, and that had been one of the topics of their fights… and. Yeah. Maybe Jason wasn’t sure how he would have reacted, had all this not happened…
Jason swallowed, and slowly made his way back to the couch to sit down next to Dick again before Dick finally responded.
“Because,” Dick sighed, as Jason sat, “It’s complicated, I guess. I loved him, he’d been like an older brother and best friend to me for years and I missed him when I wasn’t there. But he never seemed to be sorry for the shit he said. I at least said sorry when I said stuff over the line.”
“I saw you two go at it a couple times,” Jason said numbly. Like. Really badly. Bruce flat out punched Dick in the face once…
“Yeah,” Dick said, nodding, “I usually started it, to be fair.”
“I don’t see how that matters,” Jason said. Dick was the son, Bruce was the father. That just wasn’t… good. And. That. That had maybe scared him a little.
Okay. A lot. The fact that Bruce could be pushed that far…
Dick shrugged. “We’ve made amends, and he hasn’t done anything like that in a long time.”
Jason looked over at Dick and asked, almost accusingly, “You have?”
He knew, obviously, that Dick had to be getting along with Bruce better than he did when Jason was there, but. He’d assumed Dick was just hanging around because of Drake, not because of Bruce.
“Yeah,” Dick said softly, “After you… died. He, uh, well. It made him realize he’s made a lot of mistakes, and I think he took us for granted.”
Jason huffed and rolled his eyes. “Well I’m glad my death made him realize you’ve always been his favorite. I coulda saved everyone the trouble and told him that myself.”
Dick let out a startled laugh. “Are you kidding me? I’m the favorite? He hasn’t even adopted me. You he adopted the second he got the chance and he tried his best to keep me from seeing you all that often just so I couldn’t corrupt you, but I’m the favorite.”
“What are you talking about?” Jason asked, furrowing his brow, “Is this one of those Mandela effect things, because you’re definitely adopted.”
Shaking his head, Dick said, “No I’m definitely not. I was his legal ward until I was eighteen. Now I’m just… his former ward.”
“If you’re not adopted, how are we brothers then?” And why did Dick always say they were brothers? Right from the beginning.
With a shrug, Dick asked, “How are you and Mara siblings?”
“Well, I mean, strictly speaking,” Jason stammered, “Mara is Damian’s sister in practice, and since Damian is my brother by law, it’s not a big leap that—”
“So you’re saying it’s because you guys love each other, that’s why you’re siblings.”
“If you wanna be all mushy about it,” Jason scoffed, “Bruce is an asshole if you really aren’t adopted. Like. Grade A asshole.”
“Bruce loves me and I love him,” Dick said, shrugging again, “So that’s enough for me to consider him my dad. Even if when we were younger he acted more like my brother than my dad, and we had a really rough patch for a few years after I moved out. He raised me nonetheless, therefore his kids are my siblings.”
Jason stared at Dick for a good long minute, just trying to process everything Dick had even said.
So.
Dick and Bruce were on good terms again. Great terms, it seemed. Bruce had somehow made amends with Dick, though Dick still agreed Bruce was an asshole, and Dick wasn’t fucking adopted apparently.
And.
“Did you say Bruce tried to keep you away from me?” Jason asked. To keep Dick from corrupting him?
Bruce never did anything but sing Dick’s praises to Jason. Not once, even when they were doing nothing but screaming at each other.
What the actual fuck was that??
“Yeah,” Dick sighed, “Really early on when you were, like, twelve. He got over it eventually, but he told me you were a good kid and I shouldn’t corrupt you with my insolence.”
“Oh fuck him” Jason said. Bruce had more insolence than Dick-fucking-Grayson.
Dick half grinned as he leaned back against the couch and tossed an arm back behind Jason again. “That’s why I crashed your case that one time and gave you my number. Remember that?”
“Yeah,” Jason said. He crossed his arms, but also leaned back, so maybe Dick’s arm was around his shoulders again. “How do you think I knew your phone number to text it this week?”
“Jay,” Dick said, almost a little wetly. Jason wasn’t able to look up and check, because Dick looped his arm around Jason’s neck and pulled him into a tight hug, sideways.
“Dick,” he complained, but he didn’t push Dick away too hard.
“Jay,” Dick repeated, “I love you. Thank you for letting me come over.”
Freeing an arm from Dick’s squeeze, Jason wrapped it around Dick and replied, “Yeah, Dick. I love you, too, okay? Just. Don’t make me go back to Bruce. I don’t want to go back to him.”
“That’s fine,” Dick said, without even twitching, “I support your decision. He’s an asshole and is reaping what he sowed right now.”
Jason nodded into Dick’s shoulder.
Bruce was reaping what he sowed. Good.
“I can still come around, right?” Dick asked.
Shrugging one shoulder, Jason said, “Depends on if you passed the kids’ vibe check.” He wasn’t going to let Dick completely invade their, like, personal space or whatever. Safe space, if they didn’t like him.
They deserved to feel happy and stuff in their own home.
Attie specifically he wasn’t sure was okay with this…
But Jason would figure out a way for him to see Dick anyway. He would.
Dick barked a laugh as he finally let go and sat up. “You’re ridiculous. Their vibe check,” he said, the widest grin on his face Jason had seen thus far, “Jason. I cannot even describe how relieved I am that you’re alive. I’ve missed this so much.”
“Don’t make fun of me. I can kick you out,” Jason said, half heartedly. He couldn’t think too hard, because if he did he might start crying. He didn’t want to cry about people actually caring that he’d been dead and gone.
All he wanted to do was hang out with his older brother.
“No,” Dick said, though he was still grinning so obviously he hadn’t taken Jason too seriously, “I’d rather kick your ass at Mario Kart like old times. Please?”
“You remember the old times much differently than I do,” Jason laughed, “but fine. Mario Kart. Be prepared to suck.”
Yeah. Jason was going to enjoy having his older brother again.