Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Maybe mid-fight was not the best time to be making a phone call, but Dick had three days remaining to find a gift and he needed a favour. 

“What's up, Dickie?” Roy asked, he could hear Lian somewhere in the back. 

“Roy! Hey man, I need a favour,” He said hurriedly, ducking under a punch, “do you know anyone that can make me a custom gun?”

Roy laughed a little on the other end, “what the hell do you need a gun for Grayson?”

Dick sighed, “it's for Jay’s birthday, look can you help me or not?” he grunted as he smacked one of the guys with his escrima.

“Yea, yea, I know a guy,” Roy said, “Jay used to go to him to get stuff modded out when we were working together,” something snapped on his end making Roy curse silently, “we helped him out a few times so he owes me a favour, I’ll make some calls and get back to you tomorrow, do you know exactly what you want? Cus he operates…lets just say he doesn't do things by the book, if you know what I mean.”

Dick flipped the switch on his escrima sticks, grinning when they crackled with electricity, “yea, I need two 1911’s with a new finish, nothing fancy,” he jabbed a guy with the live end of the stick before bashing him in the skull, “purely cosmetic, you think he can do that?”

“Oh yea he can do that no problem,” he said, making a small humming noise before saying “I mean, if all you need is a new finish, I can probably ask him to rush it if you’d like,”

Dick painted, looking down at the bodies of the henchmen he (probably) knocked out, “oh really? That would be amazing,”

Roy chuckled on the other end, “no problem bird boy, I’ll let you get back to patrol then?” 

Dick chuckled and rubbed the back of his neck, “it was urgent okay?”

Roy’s laugh was warm and indulgent, “yea yea,” he could see him waving his hand dismissively, “shoot me a message later with what you want done and I’ll get get back to you on when you can grab it,”

“You're the best, Roy!” He said, shooting his grapple line to get out of the way.

“I know I am,” he could hear the grin on the other side of the line, “see ya birdie,”

Dick punched the air, giving himself a silent celebration before immediately dialling someone else. He tapped his fingers impatiently, praying and hoping that she would pick up the phone. 

“Good evening, bluejay,”

“Selina!” he said relieved, “Hi, thanks for answering, I need a favour,”

He got his answer from Roy early the next morning as he was packing up to leave Blüdhaven for Gotham.

Thank god for his insomniac of a friend.

Back at their apartment, Dick raced to the bedroom. It was just shy of ten in the morning, meaning he had plenty of time before Jason supposedly got back, but he would really rather not risk being caught snooping. 

Jason was a very meticulous and organised person, he always had been; Dick assumed it was a side effect of growing up the way he did, where he needed to know everything he had and where it was or else it would get stolen (plus the whole assassin and mercenary training definitely helped), and that combined with his love of reading lead to him keeping meticulous notes and logs about the books he reads. He currently had two operating notebooks: one red where he kept a running total of all the books they (mostly he) owned, and marked all the books of that collection that he’d read and enjoyed or would want to re-read; the second notebook was black and labelled with a large 30 (the other 29 were on one of their many shelves) on the cover that was used as a comprehensive log of each book he’d read complete with a rating system (he would draw little doodles that related to the books in place of stars), the time it took him to read it, his thoughts on the book in a few sentences, and the part that interested Dick the most, if he would re-read it and if it landed a coveted spot on his favourites list.

He flipped through the red book first, going straight to the few pages dedicated to his favourite books of all time. The list wasn't very long but Dick managed to find five books he thinks Jason would especially love. To double check that he was right though, he quickly flipped to the black book, hurriedly paging through it until he reached the specific pages. Jason was fairly brief with his comments on the books, noting down that he did or didn't like the style, how easy it was for him to read and if any characters annoyed him or if he liked them. Jason's brevity could be a blessing, as he usually didn't sugar coat things, but right now Dick wanted to smack him with the books because he really wasn't giving him much to work with. 

At least that was until he spotted one line in the review area ‘this is a book i could reread forever, it's been one of my three favourites since i was a kid alongside…’ Dick punched the air again. 

“Jason Todd, the sentimental man you are,” He praised. Dick pulled out his phone and sent the books listed to Selina, telling her that whichever ones she could track down would be great even if it was just one. 

Selina’s reply of ‘don't worry bluejay, I’ll make sure he has an excellent gift’ made him both optimistic, and frankly more than a bit worried. He shook his head and put the journals away. There was stuff he needed to do anyways, no time to dwell on it. 

Cleaning didn't take as long as he assumed. It's not like they were slobs or anything, but doing what they do as jobs, sometimes the place gets messier than either of them particularly like. He supposed it must have either been a slow week or they’d just been particularly on top of cleaning. Regardless, one load of laundry drying, one bathroom cleaned, and one apartment mopped later and he was finished, leaving their place looking squeaky clean, right on time too because as Dick emerged from the bathroom after his shower, the front door opened. 

Jason was humming something to himself as he got his things settled. Dick leaned against the wall, just admiring his boyfriend who hadn't noticed him just yet, still turned away. His eyes scanned over his body, admiring the way Jason’s compression shirt clung beautifully to his arms and chest, how his baggy cargo pants accentuated his waist and ass, hell even his boots made him so much hotter: large, black, and Dick wanted them pressed against his throat, I mean what? Who said that?

“You having fun eye fucking me over there, pretty boy?” Jason asked, with a satisfied and lazy smirk, tilting his head as he shifted his weight onto one leg, hip stuck out the slightest bit, and far too muscular arms crossed under his chest so they cupped his pecs and lifted them the slightest bit more. 

He knew exactly what he was doing.

What a little bitch. He said knowing damn well he wanted those hands wrapped around his neck. Dick shook his head with a small smile, pushing off the wall and sauntering over to him. He didn't miss the way Jason’s eyes were tracking the movement of his hips. Jason’s hands reached for him when he was close enough, hands grabbing his hips and tugging him in the last few steps.

“I was having a great time until you so rudely interrupted me,” he said, wrapping his arms around Jason’s neck. 

Jason merely hummed, hands sliding to grab at his ass, squeezing. “I’m sorry for interrupting your fun, baby,” he said, leaning in closer so their lips brushed, that damned grin still on his face, “can you forgive me?”

He was using that sexy and deep fucking voice of his, god, Dick wasn't sure if he was gonna survive til tomorrow. “I suppose I can forgive you,” he leaned in the slightest bit more, “but you’ll have to make up for it later,” he could feel the heat bloom on his cheeks and something coil in his stomach.

Jason’s smile sharpened in the way Dick knew meant he was gonna get much more than he asked for, “anything you want my little dove.” His head tilted down those last few centimetres and connected their lips. Dick sighed, melting into the kiss and tangling his hands in Jason’s hair. There was no rush to the kiss, they had all day to do as they pleased, and besides, Dick missed him, he wanted to savour this for as long as he could. Jason backed him up into the wall, tilting his head and licking into his mouth briefly. A question, but also an invitation to play, one Dick was more than happy to accept as he chased Jason’s tongue eagerly, licking into the warm heat of his mouth. Jason pressed into him some more, shoving Dick further up the wall, making him gasp. 

“I missed you, little bird,” Jason whispered against his lips, voice the slightest bit hoarse. 

“I missed you too, little wing,” he smiled softly, “go on, go shower and I can make you something to eat,” Jason raised his eyebrows at the statement, making dick laugh softly, “we still have left over pasta, do you want that?”

“I would love that,” he pecked his cheek, “did you do laundry already?” they were slowly (and begrudgingly) starting to untangle themselves from each other. 

“Yea, but feel free to throw your stuff in the machine, we’ll be doing more laundry later this week anyways,” Dick’s hand slid from Jason’s shoulders to his chest as he pulled away. Jason, ever indulgent, let him have his fun as Dick grabbed and squeezed at the relaxed muscles, giggling when he suddenly tensed them under his fingers. 

“I’m gonna shower, okay?” he raised an eyebrow, smiling at Dick’s pout, “aww my baby, don't worry I’ll be back soon I just wanna get out of these clothes.”

“Do you have to?” he pouted more, batting his eyes at Jason. 

“Unfortunately I do,” he gently manhandled Dick so he was facing away from him and towards the rest of the apartment, “now go,” he smacked his ass, “let me get cleaned up and you get get all the snuggles you want,”

“You mean all the snuggles you want,” Dick shot back with a knowing smile. 

Jason simply shrugged as he kicked off his boots and grabbed his bags, “yea, that's what I said isn't it?” He asked, sauntering past Dick, who immediately dropped his gaze to his ass, watching the slightest jiggle of it though the pants. 

He needed to thank whoever convinced Jason to hit glutes more at the gym. No that it was bad before, but now? Even better. 

“Stop staring at my ass!” Jason shouted, not even turning around to look. 

“It looked at me first!”

Jason's laugh echoed down the hallway, loud and content until it was muffled by the click of the bathroom door. 

Jason liked to take long showers, especially after particularly draining missions which gave Dick plenty of time to fix up a plate of the leftover pasta they had in the fridge and make him a cup of tea. When Jason wandered back to the kitchen (in grey sweats and no shirt, the absolute demon) Dick had just finished taking out some of the frozen pastries they kept in the freezer out of the oven. 

“A whole pastry baked without supervision?” Jason mused with a sly smile, “I’m impressed congratulations,”

Dick rolled his eyes, setting the tray on the stovetop to cool down, “I am more than capable of watching an oven Jay,” he tossed the oven mit at him for added effect, Jason caught it effortlessly, annoyingly (attractive) smug smile not once budging from his (perfectly soft) lips. He threw the oven mit on the counter and pressed a kiss to Dick’s cheek, “thank you baby, it looks great,” he said, and every ounce of annoyance in Dick’s body melted. 

“Whatever, just eat your food,” he said, face red as he pushed Jason towards the set table. 

Post meal snuggles were his favourite; Jason satiated and perfectly content to laze around for a few hours with Dick. Usually he would be reading whatever book he was working through at the moment, laying across Dick’s lap as he played with the white streak in his hair, sometimes with the TV playing other times listening to Jason read to him if he expressed interest in the book. Today though he seemed particularly eager to have Dick in his arms, practically tearing the thin shirt Dick had on off his back, manhandling him on the couch so they were laying across it with Dick between his legs, laying on his chest as Jason ghosted his fingers over his spine. They both got like this sometimes, usually after missions or jobs where one of them nearly died, but sometimes it was just because a job took them far away from the other for too long. The comfort brought on from the skin to skin had been weird at first for both of them since they didn't really grow up with the most physically affectionate father, but after they’d gotten used to it, they’d grown to crave its comfort. 

“So you're gonna tell me what you got me for my birthday?” Jason hummed softly. Dick rolled his eyes, he’d been asking about it all week long and it was driving Dick nuts. At first he was denying him an answer because he didn't have anything, but not that he did technically have something it was harder not to tell him because God knows Dick couldn't keep a surprise a secret to save his life. 

“Like I’ve said every single time,” he groaned, massaging his fingers into Jason’s pecs absentmindedly, “I’m not telling you,”

“But I know you wanna,” He purred, “come on, just one hint,” 

“No,” he said again, staring up at Jason for a brief second before diving his head back to nuzzle between his chest. Jason chuckled softly, fingers ghosting over his back in that way that made Dick shiver and gasp into his ear. 

“What's wrong, little bird?” He cooed softly, running his fingers over lats and up the centre of his neck. Dick gasped again, making a noise akin to a whimper, pressing his hips into Jason’s as his body tried to get away, “J-jay,” he could barely speak as Jason’s fingers sent pleasurable little shocks all over his back and his breath on Dick’s neck made his eyes flutter. Jason smiled against his ear, nibbling a little at the lobe, canine catching in the empty piercing, revelling in Dicks whimpering and little moans and gasps as he inadvertently (he knew exactly what he was doing) rolled his hips into him. Jason was hard underneath him, Dick could feel the hard line if his cock press against his hips, but who is he to judge when he's no less aroused? He shivered when Jason's hands trailed down his spine one more time before dipping past the top of his sweats. 

“No underwear?” He was amused, “my, my, a little presumptuous aren't we? What would you do if I just left you here like this?”

“You wouldn't,” he gasped, hips now steadily rocking into Jason, eliciting a groan from the man, “go lower.”

Jason's fingers travelled lower, fingers pressing into the meat of his ass as one of his hands grabbed the flesh there and spread him out a little, the other pressed one inquisitive fingers against him, coming back wet and slick.

“Naughty little, dove,” he growled, landing a light smack to his ass, “what did you do to yourself, him?”

Dick shuddered, hips steadily rocking into Jason's, eliciting a groan from the younger man that Dick took as a win, “fingered myself open,” he whined into his ear, “three fingers in the shower and then in bed,” Jason was panting in his ear now, his hips rocking up into Dicks as well. 

“Aw did you miss me, little bird?” he asked, two thick fingers easily slipping inside him. 

Dick moaned loudly, muffling it into his neck as Jason slowly pumped his fingers into him. “Let's take this to the bedroom, Jay,” he managed between moans. Jason's fingers slipped out of him easily, and he barely managed to hold back his whine at the loss. 

Jason slowly stood them up, holding Dick’s waist to steady him as his legs shook. The walk to the bedroom was short but Jason's wandering hands made the hallway stretch on for miles, eventually though they breached the doorway. Dick was on Jason in a second, pressing against him in an eager kiss. His hands moved to the drawstrings around Jason's waist, tugging the little bow loose and shoving them down his legs. Jason merely smiled and returned the favour with an added shove that sent Dick onto the bed, splaying out on their soft covers. Dick kicked out of his pants and watched eagerly as Jason walked to his nightstand and threw some condoms and lube on the bed. 

“Not feeling messy tonight?” He asked with a small giggle. 

Jason shrugged as he tore open the packet and rolled on the condom, groaning slightly, “not particularly,” he flipped the cap in the lube and Dick watched his eyes flutter slightly as he spread it, “just wanna love you down, plus it'll make the shower faster,” he wiped his hands off in a discarded towel before crawling over Dick who eagerly spread his legs for him. 

Their size difference was much more noticeable here, with Jason over him as he slowly slid inside. Jason was all muscles and strength, built like a tank, he was designed to be tactical, efficient, and deadly. Dick on the other hand was built like an acrobat with sleek, lean muscle and a flexible body that was honed to manoeuvre around with grace. Dick wasn't a small guy, he's large by all accounts, but Jason's form always made him feel small in such a perfectly dizzying way.

Jason's hips pressed flush against him as he screwed his eyes shut, every muscle in his body pulled taught to keep from moving, always waiting until Dick gave the green light.

“Gonna keep me waiting all night, handsome?” 

That was all the permission he needed to slowly pull his hips back until just the head was still inside him and then sink back in at an equally slow pace. Ah, he was in this kind of mood tonight. Dicks hands wandered on their own, starting at Jason's hands braced on his hips, and then moving up to his arms and shoulders, tugging the man closer until he was caged in by strong arms and all he could see, hear, and smell, was Jason Peter Todd. Jason set a slow pace from the start, rolling his hips into Dick with care, like they had all the time in the world. 

“I love you,” he gasped, hands wandering all over his back. Jason shuddered, leaning down to capture his lips in a kiss. 

“I love you too,” Dick could feel his hips stuttering slightly as he restrained himself from going faster, and he wasn't sure if he wanted it slow or fast. 

“Been a while since we, ah!” His back arched as Jason rolled over that one spot he always amazed to hit perfectly, “since we've gone slow,” his legs were shaking and despite having prepped in the shower, Jason was still big, stretching him out in such a perfect way. 

“Missed my pretty swan,” Jason groaned into his ear, thrusts growing more powerful and the muscles in his back shuddered, “missed making love to you,”

A flare of pleasure shit through his whole body making his legs tremble slightly. Jason groaned over top of him as he cleaned around him, “keep talking like that and I'm gonna cum,” he laughed.

“Not too far behind ya, angel,” he grinned up at Jason as he put more power behind his thrusts. 

“You're so beautiful you know that?” He asked, and Dick was only looking at him, at his beautifully high cheekbones, at the way his hair fell over his face, the beautiful blue green of his eyes. 

“I could say the same about you,” he said between moans and gasps, hand coming up to stroke his cheek, “my good boy,” he purred, watching Jason shudder as he sped up, making any other thought in Dicks head go silent as his body went taught. The combined friction from Jason rubbing against his cock and thrusting in and out of Dick finally sending him over the edge.

Jason let out one last shaky moan before slamming his hips inside him and riding out his own orgasm, rolling his hips into Dick as they both let out weak moans as they grew increasingly sensitive. 

After a moment, Jason pulled out of him slowly, leaning down to kiss him one last time before rolling off him and flopping down on the bed. They're both panting, covered in a thin sheen of sweat and Dick can't help the big grin blooming in his face, turning to look at Jason. 

“Has anyone ever told you, you're the most beautiful man on earth?” He asked, slowly catching his breath. Jason laughed, full chested, deep, and genuine as he turned his head to look at Dick. His cheeks were flushed a stunning shade of pink that stretched over his nose and made his eyes pop. 

“You tell me that every time, you see me baby.”

“Well it's true,”

They laid in blissful silence for a little while longer until Jason opened his mouth and said “so, you gonna tell me what you got me for my birthday?”

His cackling laughter was muffled by the pillow Dick shoved in his face not two seconds later. 

One day until Jason’s birthday and Dick still didn't have the presents in his hands. He would be panicking far more but lucky for him all the presents were sorted, he just had to go pick them up. Dick would be lying if he said that he wasn't at least a little giddy with the prospect of seeing both his family again, and Roy. It had been ages since they were all together and Jason’s birthday was one of the rare times they all made time to be at the manor. At the same time, anyways. 

Jason was in the kitchen, bopping his head to whatever rock song he had playing while Dick went about setting the table. It was weird to not have Haley running around his feet, but they knew they were both gonna be away for a few days and Walley was always more than happy to take care of her for as long as they needed. 

Jason’s phone rang from its place on the coffee table, a shrill and annoying ringtone that signalled it was a ‘work call’. Dick grabbed it and went back to the kitchen, briefly glancing at the contact screen before handing it over, “it’s Gionnie,” he said. 

Jason sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, before nodding once and taking the phone from Dick, “what is it?” he asked, genuinely annoyed but forcing it into his ‘red hood’ voice. 

Dick sat himself up on the counter and watched as Jason, dressed in Nightwing sweats and a Red Robin shirt, angrily made them breakfast, “okay? How is this my problem?” he asked, cracking eggs into the tomato sauce he was making, “what do you mean he’s listening? Bust his kneecaps or something, I don't care,” he covered the eggs to let them poach and Dick honestly should not find him this hot while being this threatening, “why is he —” Jason started but was cut off, not something you want to be doing especially if he's already pissed off, “ fine ,” he spat, glaring down at the pan, “I’ll be down there in a few hours, keep him drugged up till I get there,” he hung up the phone with enough force that dick was worried he’d crack the screen. 

“Will you be sticking around for breakfast?” He asked after a moment, hopping down from the counter to back-hug Jason. 

“I will,” he said softly, gripping Dick’s wrist loosely as he calmed down, “one of the bosses was bragging about breaking some rules last night, wasn't listening to ‘corrections’ so now I have to take care of it,” Dick could imagine the grimace on his face as he took the pan off the heat. 

“Do you need me to come along?” 

“No, don't worry about it baby,” he sighed, plating their…Shakshouka, dick things Jason called it, “you go ahead to the manor, I’ll deal with business and be back later,”

“If you're sure,” He nodded and pressed a kiss to the back of his neck.

The manor was livelier than usual, what with everyone finally benign under the one roof for the first time in months. Seeing all their bikes lined up in the cave (except Jason's) was funny, but nostalgic, reminding him of times in the past when they all lived in the manor more times than not.

He spent the rest of the day bopping about from room to room, as he tended to do when he was in town. Always making sure to catch up in person with as many siblings as possible. He first spent some time with Damian down in the cave, half chatting and half sparing with the kid, easily trading jokes back and forth and even getting a few laughs out of him as he caught Dick up to speed on his life at school and as Robin. 

Next, he found Steph and Duke playing games in the cinema. He played with them for a little bit before tapping out and sitting back to watch them for a while, relaxed and happy to poke fun at them or egg on an argument he knew was brewing. 

Cass was practising her solo for an upcoming recital in one of the ballrooms, so he watched her for as many repetitions it took for her to be happy with it, and clapped after every attempt, happy to see his little sister slowly gain more confidence with every reaction. 

Tim has been in the library when he wandered in, initially intending to look at the books. It looked like he was going over some casework, a large pot of coffee still steaming next to him. As much as he wanted to keep out of work for the weekend, he looked like he could use a fresh pair of eyes, so dick stepped in to help. Happily chatting away between looking at evidence and notes as they shared a coffee. 

After he had spent the majority of the day with all the siblings currently residing in the house, he wandered down to the kitchen where Alfred was busy preparing Dinner. He was initially kicked out, but after reassurance that all he wanted to do was talk, Alfred let him sit at the small table in the kitchen. 

“Alfred, how do you always know what to get people for their birthdays?”

The butler paused for a moment, before answering “it's a skill that comes from years of working with Master Bruce, and all of the children in the house,” he shrugged, going back to his cooking, “after a while you start to learn their tastes.”

Dick sighed softly, he's known Jason for years, but it was still never easy to think of anything for him, or for anyone else, “Jay and I have been together for nearly two years now, and we’ve known each other for way longer than that, and I still can't ever think of something that's good enough for him,” he made a broad gesture. 

“Master Jason has never been much for sharing himself with the world,” Alfred said, gently but Dick could see the small smile on his face, “his interests are not what is expected of him, and he tends to keep them close to his chest, so it's not out of the question that you may struggle to find him gifts,” 

“Everything I think of never feels right,”

“And it likely never will,” Alfred said simply, “you both care for each other deeply, and in turn want to make the other happy in any way possible, correct?”

“Correct,” 

“Then it makes sense that anything you think of will never be ‘good enough’, because your perception of Master Jason deserves a high quality gift based on something he likes but does not consider the idea that anything you gift him will be of that standard in his eyes, simply because it is from you, Master Richard,”

Dick was stunned into silence as he processed his words. 

“Now, if you want to know about his book tastes, I would recommend the library,” Alfred continued after a brief pause, “Master Jason took it upon himself to read though most of the books there, and he would mark all of them with a small J on the copyright page, you should find more information about his tastes from that,” 

“Thanks Alfred,” Dick smiled. 

Alfred turned around and gave him one of his soft, grandfatherly smiles, “of course, now, shoo off you go,” he said, grabbing one of the little dessert cups off the counter and handing it over, “Dinner will be ready in a few hours and I believe Master Jason arrived not too long ago,” 

It was a clear enough dismissal, and Dick smiled widely at it, “thank you Alfred!” 

Dick rolled his eyes. Fine, he’d play along he supposed. Jason liked to spend time in very few parts of the house, so it always narrowed down his list of rooms. Dick’s first stop was the library, an obvious place where Jason would be, but after a quick peek into the room, it was quickly removed from the list. Next stop, the conservatory. Jason liked it because it was quiet, and the smell of the flowers always calmed him down. But he wasn't there either. 

Dick could feel pinpricks of annoyance start to bleed into him as he stood in the doorway. His phone dinged with a familiar text tone.

Dick nearly threw his phone across the room as he stormed out of the conservatory. If Jason was all the way in his bedroom he was going to strangle this man. Normally a game of hide and seek would be fine, but their bedrooms were all the way on the other side of the house. Initially he saw it as a blessing, when they first got together they could do things in relative privacy, but now that he had to traverse the entire house he was cursing out whoever gave them these rooms in the first fucking place. Eventually, after much searching and trekking, he made it to Jason’s door, opening it so hard he was surprised it didn't rip off the hinges as he stormed in. Jason was standing in the middle of the room, pulling back his covers as he prepared his bed for when he was going to sleep, a habit he’d had since he was a child. 

“You found me,” he looked dick up and down with an approving smile and a hungry stare. His grin only grew as Dick stalked closer, grabbing the collar of his shirt (a thin dark blue garment that was 100% Dicks favourite oversized shirt). They stared at each other for a split second before dick pulled him into a kiss. It was nothing like the ones they’d shared the night previous, or even this morning. This kiss was hungry, it was angry, it was raw and thirsty, treating Jason’s lips like he was an endless spring to quench his thirst. Jason was the one that pulled away first. He did so with a laugh, pressing a hand to Dick’s chest to keep him from chasing after him. 

“I should frustrate you more often,” he said with a smug smile that made Dick want to shove him to his knees. 

“Not unless you want to pay for it, angel,” He threatened, low and slow as a hand slid up Jason’s chest to wrap loosely around his neck. The action was barely more than a display of dominance but it still had Jason shivering the slightest bit. 

“Let's go loverboy,” he jutted his chin to the open door, “I wanna show you something,”

Dick followed him out the room. He was chatting away as he followed Jason, occasionally bumping into him and knocking him around which got him playfully shoved back more than a few times. Eventually they came to the end of the hallway. More specifically a window. Dick eyed Jason as he opened the window, turned around and sat himself in the window sill, looking at Dick with a look that read ‘watch this’, before he repositioned a little and leaned back so his upper body was hanging out the window. Dick watched him reach up to effortlessly pull himself up and out as his legs disappeared from frame. He rushed to the window and stuck his head out seeing Jason scale the side of the building, motioning for him to follow. A moment later he was also pulling himself out the window and using his well, admittedly he’d never actually scaled the side of the manor before, but Jason seemed experienced enough to be able to do it with relative ease. 

Dick was slightly out of breath when they finally reached the top of the house, Jason looked like a rose next to him, “how often do you do this?” 

“Often enough,” he shrugged, sitting on the edge of one of the rare flat surfaces amidst the sloping roofs of the manor, “when i figured out how to climb without risking killing myself, I came up here a lot when I was robin,” he looked up at the sky, “it's peaceful, quiet, sometimes I just needed to be alone,”

A distant twinge of hurt squeezed his heart as Dick imagined that small boy he once knew, once trained,  sitting up here on the roof alone and sad, hurting and staring up at the sky for comfort with no one there to sit with him. 

“Don't look at me like that,” Jason said, soft and vulnerable, “I was a broody kid and lived for the dramatics of it all, I was up here being angsty about nothing half the time,” he tried to brush it off with a joke like he usually did, but Dick wasn't having it tonight. It was an overdue conversation anyways. 

“You were lonely, Jay,” he said, sitting next to him but giving some space for the time being, “you were hurting, and lonely, and had no one there to help,” he stressed, “and I know it's well overdue, but I’m here now if you wanna brood to someone,” someone who definitely caused a lot of hurt in the past.

Jason continued staring up at the sky, and when Dick looked he was taken aback by all the stars that were visible now that they were well outside of Gothams light pollution, “I never felt good enough,” he said quietly, “you were…are, Bruce’s golden child and I looked up to you for it, you were my Robin after all,” he smiled briefly but dick could see it was laced with past hurt, “when I got the chance to be a Robin, be like you , I was ecstatic, and when I met you it was like meeting a hero you know?” Dick knew where this was going, and as much as it hurt him, he knew they both needed it out in the open, “and you…hated me,” Jason looked down at his lap, head bowed in shame, “I know that you didn't hate me as a person but for what I stood for,” Dick saw how he was gripping the edge of the roof, trying to keep himself composed, “and I tried so hard to be good, to fill the shoes you left behind but it never felt like it was enough to please either of you,” Dick blinked away tears gathering in his eyes as he listened, “I know Bruce loves me as a son and I know you love me as a brother, as fucked up as it sounds given current circumstances,” they both chuckled a little, “but back then it felt like no matter what I did, how well I took to training, it was never enough to to fill the shoes Bruce expected, it was never enough to make you like me try as you might to hide it.”

In the pale light of the moon Dick saw a single tear land on Jason’s pants. He knew what he was talking about, and, “you're right,” he said quietly. 

“What?” Jason asked, “Dick —”

“No, Jason,” he interjected, “you're right,” he nodded, “I was hurt, angry at Bruce for firing and replacing me, and I resented you for that because you took the only stability and purpose I ever had in life and I have no excuse for that at all, what I did was fucked up,” he looked at Jason who was trying to blink tears out of his eyes, “you were a child, Jason, and I could see you trying to prove yourself to me, trying to be better and it made the hurt so much worse because you were better than me, but you never deserved the hatred you got from me and I never deserved the love I got from you,” he took a shaky breath, “and I know we’ve had variations of this conversation before, but please know that I am so sorry for everything I did, for how I treated you,” he warily reached out and gripped his wrist in a loose hold, “I’m so sorry for ever making you feel anything but loved,”

Jason snuffled and let out a small chuckle as he reached up to wipe his cheek, “christ, look at what you’ve done,” he laughed with no real malice in his words, “I forgive you Richard,” he said, hearing his real name come from Jason’s lips was…strange, “I will always forgive you, and I will never hold those feelings against you because I know what it's like to feel expendable and I see everything you’ve done to prove to me that you love me,” it was Dick’s turn to cry, even as he was tugged closer by Jason, “I know you love me, and that’s enough for me,” he said, cupping Dick’s cheek before leaning into kiss him, soft and delicate and like he was sealing his words. Dick reciprocated easily, promises sealed with kisses were nothing foreign to them, they’ve been doing it ever since their relationship turned more physical, less platonic. It was a way to keep themselves accountable, attaching feelings and expectations to a promise encouraged them to keep it. 

Dick would change it for the world. 

It was the day of the party and Dick was getting antsy. Roy had messaged him earlier that he had the guns and Dick could swing by whenever he wanted to grab them. Selina still hadn't gotten back to him, saying that she had run into some issues grabbing it but that it would be ready in a few hours. 

Needless to say, he was kind of freaking out. 

So of course he was neck deep in the family library, grabbing every single book he could possibly think of that Jason would like. He'd been at this for a while now, having gathered up  a large pile of books as he started checking the inside cover for the little J Alfred was talking about and before he knew it, he had two neat piles in front of him. He hurriedly wrote them all down in a note on his phone and quickly tucked them all away. Distantly he had the feeling of being watched, but that was probably the camera in the corner. 

He left the library with a renewed pep in his step, humming happily as he walked past the adjoining study room, stopping for a moment before walking backwards and into the room, “Morning, Timmy!”

Tim glanced up at him with as cool a smile as he could muster, “Mornin’.” 

Dick rounded the table and leaned over his shoulder, glancing at the screen with a small grimace, “geez, still doing paperwork?” he shook his head, “so glad I never took a place in the other family business,”

Tim chuckled and nodded solemnly, “I regret it every day.” Dick laughed slightly at the response. 

“What were you up to by the way?” Tim asked, “you’ve been skulking around the past few days.”

 Dick sat down across from him and pulled out his phone, shrugging, “Just looking for something, and I was not skulking ,” he said in air quotes. He scrolled through his phone for a moment before pulling up Jason's messages, mouth lifting into an amused smile at the messages.

“Did you need help with whatever it is you're looking for?”

“Hm?” he looked up, “oh no don't worry about it, you're busy anyways,”

“Trust me this isn't urgent, this house is massive, if you lost something it's better if two of us look,”

Dick blinked at him for a moment, “what? No, I didn't lose anything, I’m looking for a gift, admittedly a little late but I want it to be perfect,” he waved dismissively, “I don't wanna bother you with it,”

“A gift?” he smirked, “who’s the unlucky bastard?”

Dick rolled his eyes, glancing at his phone when it dinged with a notification, “and they call me forgetful,” he muttered, shaking his head as he checked the message, mood immediately doing a 180 as he stood up in a hurry, “gotta run, Timbit, see ya later!” he waved, already jogging out the door. 

He barely got a chance to say goodbye to Alfred as he raced to get his jacket and keys, buzzing with excitement and renewed energy after his and Jason's morning run and uh...other activities. He practically leapt into the car and drove off grinning widely as his music blared from the speakers. 

Selina’s place was closer to their own apartment than he originally thought. It was a lovely apartment on the border of Bruce’s territory, edging into where Jason tended to patrol. It looked to be a converted office or retail space that had been abandoned ages ago. He's Glad it’s getting used. Maybe they can do the same some time soon.

He parked his bike where instructed and quickly climbed up the stairs of the converted fire escape, and knocked on the door bouncing on his heels. 

Selina opened the door enough to see her face, “hello blue jay,” she smiled warmly, “come in, but be careful, Hades like to try and escape sometimes.”

Dick quickly slipped through the door, making sure to stick out a foot to gently push back a grey cat that made a break for the open door. “Nice to meet you Hades,” he chuckled softly, leaning down to scratch behind his ears. 

“Oh good he likes you,” Selina smiled softly, “come, I have your things in the kitchen,” she said, spinning on her heel and wandering deeper into the apartment. Dick followed her, looking around at the unfamiliar apartment. 

“This place is nice,” he commented, “was it an office building? Or retail space?”

“Retail space,” she answered, “I had the loft put in to maximise space for me and the kittens,” he smiled, scratching one of the cats under the chin, “why? You interested?”

“Actually kind of,” he laughed, “we’ve been wanting to get a bigger place for a while now,”

She gave him a lovingly sweet smile, “that's cute, you two are perfect for eachother, you know?” She handed Dick a stack of three items wrapped in black paper, “here you are,  gotta say these were so much fun to get, next time you need something like this, please call,” 

Dick gratefully took the items from her and laughed, “sure, Jay might be the one calling though when he catches wind of this, speaking of, are you coming down to the party?”

“I wish I would, little birdie,” she looked disappointed, “your father invited me actually, but I got caught up in a job right before he asked, I leave in an hour,”

Dick made a small grumbling noise, leaning against the counter as the cats rubbed up against him, “that's shitty, we would have loved to have you there, maybe you can join us for dinner some time?”

Selina smiled softly at him, “I’d love that, you let me know when to come and I’ll be there, for now take this for me will you?” she smiled, handing over a rectangular, cream coloured box with black edges, wrapped in pretty black ribbon tied into a perfect bow, “my present for the little warbler,”

Dick carefully took the box and nodded, “I’ll be sure he knows it's from you, thank you again for your help, I assume you took your payment already?” 

She smiled widely, “of course, little canary,” she walked over and pressed a kiss to his cheeks, “now go, you don't have much time,”

He nodded and slipped out of the door and ran down the stairs to his car, making sure to secure them before speeding off.

Roy was up in Boston, why? Not sure because last time Dick checked he was living in Titans tower, but whatever, four hours was better than flying over to Cali and back. The address came from a quaint house in one of the suburbs. Dick suddenly felt very out of place with his expensive car, slacks, and white button down, looking every bit the rich kid he was. He knocked on the door and raised an eyebrow at the litany of shouting that came from the other end, with Roy’s very distinctive voice quickly approaching the door. 

“Hey tweety bird,” he greeted, opening the door for Dick and stepping inside, “come in,”

Dick nodded, stepping in and closing the door behind him, “hey Roy,” he smiled, pulling the man in for a big hug, “where are we anyways?”

“Uncle Richard!” Lian’s voice came from the end of the hallway as she sprinted towards him. Dick leaned down with wide open arms, catching her and lifting her up with a big smile, “look who it is!” he exclaimed, “my favourite niece.”

Lian laughed, weakly protesting as he kissed her cheeks in a dramatic fashion, “stooop, I'm too old for this now,” 

“You're never too old to be loved by your uncle, missy,” Dick laughed. 

“Wait here, I’m gonna go grab your stuff,” he said and vanished up the stairs. 

“What did dad get you?” Lian asked, looking up at him with big eyes. 

Dick smiled down at her, “it's not for me, it's for Uncle Jay, it's his birthday today and I asked your dad to help me get him his gift,”

Lian’s eyes widened, “I didn't get him anything,” she pouted. 

“Don't worry, princess,” Roy said as he came down the stairs, “Uncle Jay already got his present from us,”

“Oh my god, will you quit it already,” he laughed as he handed his coat to Alfred with a polite ‘thanks’, “theres a reason it's called a surprise ,” he rolled his eyes, balancing the items in his hands.

“Oh come on, it's my birthday, you're not gonna be mean to me on my birthday,”

“I have to go now, Jay,” he sighed, checking the time. 

“Aw, no fair,” he whined “fine, bye little bird, love you,”

Dick smiled, “love you too,”

“See you in thirty minutes,”

“See ya,” Dick ended the call and sprinted upstairs. He was running out of time. 

Thankfully all he needed to do was throw everything in a box, tie it in a pretty bow (which he was exceedingly good at thank the heavens), and hand it all off to Alfred before hopping into a quick shower. The outfit was going to be one of his more simple ones: fitted jeans and a white linen button down. All perfectly simple and everything that Jason loved to see him in.

Dick was in charge of fetching Jason for his party. It wasn't strictly a surprise party but he knew the others were gonna do something to surprise him anyways. He walked over to the all too familiar door and knocked on it in the same pattern they used on their safe houses. It opened after a moment revealing Jason, hair damp from a shower, in a pair of black jeans that fit him way too well and a black shirt with a simple gold chain around his neck. God he looked delectable. 

“You gotta stop with the eye fucking, baby,” he laughed, tilting Dick’s chin up with his thumb (oh god that's so hot!), smirking down at him. Dick blushed red, looking away. 

“Alfred sent me to fetch you for dinner,”

Jason laughed softly, leaning down to press a kiss to his cheek, “well, let's go then Prince Eric,”

They made their way down in relative silence, Dick consumed by nerves as they neared the dining room for some reason. Jason pushed open the door into the all black room. Though it was only black for a moment before the lights flicked on. 

“Happy Birthday!” they shouted in unison, big smiles on everyone's faces.

Jason stood frozen in the doorway, eyes flicking all over the room, but slowly he started smiling until he was fully grinning. Not one of his violent grins either, a genuine and happy grin. Dick placed his hands on his shoulders and gently steered him inside, unable to help the loving little smile on his face.

“Wow you guys really went all out huh?” Jason laughed, walking into the room.

“Of course!” Steph said, “it's not every day a Wayne celebrates a birthday,”

Bruce walked over to him with a warm and inviting smile, “I believe it's almost time for dinner,” he motioned to the table, and that's when Tim noticed that the head chair was decorated, “will the birthday boy join us at the table? I hear Alfred made your favourite,”

They all watched the exchange, standing at their assigned places as per birthday tradition. Jason looked up at Bruce saying nothing for a moment before he hugged him tightly. If they saw Bruce tear up, everyone knew not to mention it.

Jason took his spot at the head of the table, Bruce and Dick on either side of him, and smiled at all his siblings before sitting down, everyone following. 

Dinner was nice, peaceful in their own chaotic way as they non-stop chatted about everything and anything, trading sweet and embarrassing stories, jokes and banter flowing easily between them. It was something that was relatively rare in the house, with someone usually being injured, or there being some threat looming over them. 

For now it was just them as a family. 

Around an hour after they finished their meals, Dick remembered, “Oh we nearly forgot!” he exclaimed with a big smile, looking right at Jason who turned to him quickly, “you still gotta open your presents,”

Jason tried to stand up but he and Bruce placed a hand each on Jason’s shoulders to keep him sitting. The siblings started handing down the presents until there was a neat arrangement in front of Jason, who still looked rather shocked at the treatment.

“Go on little wing,” he said with a reassuring smile.

Steph and Cass got him a custom Red Hood riding jacket and bike helmet. Duke gifted him a spectacular collection of limited edition Wonder Woman merch. Selina’s gift was a collection of expensive perfumes that Dick knew were not only of amazing quality but would also sell amazing on him. Alfred's gift was a finely made golden ring with the Wayne insignia engraved on top, a family ring that Jason eagerly slipped on his finger with great care and Dick eyed with reverence, knowing exactly how much this meant to Jason.

Damians’s gift was perfectly ‘Damian’ in every way: two katanas of stellar build quality, he was no expert like Jason, but Dick had been privee to enough lectures by his boyfriend to be able to spot a good blade. Dick watched as Jason stood up to examine the blades, testing their straightness and sharpness, humming happily when he came away with a cut to his thumb. He licked his lips as Jason started showing off a little more, swinging the blades around into different positions effortlessly, ending it by pointing one of them at an eagerly observing Damian (it would be far too close for comfort if it were anyone else) who lit up when he said that he loved them. 

Tim’s gift was a new helmet with updated designs (more modern looking) and a half face muzzle style mask. He explained that he’d made the new helmet design (with the help of Luke of course) and had updated the systems inside to give him an integrated comms system, a new HUD that integrated some of the more experimental Wayne Tech systems, and a more versatile voice modulator. The half mask was similar, just with a different layout due to the design change. Jason looked touched, staring down at the helmet like it was a priceless artefact. 

Bruce’s gift was interesting. A pair of rings. They were made of a dulled silver metal and looked sturdy, Dick couldn't quite make out the details but they seemed to have some form of etching on the surface that revealed some colours. Jason looked awestruck as he held the box in his hands, mouth hanging open the slightest bit as he closed the box and stared up at Bruce who didn't speak, only gave him a single nod and an encouraging smile. 

Dick was so going to be asking about this later, but that would have to wait because now it was his turn. 

He watched as Jason slid the box closer to him, glancing at Dick as he pulled the black ribbon loose and lifted the top. He took out the three brown paper wrapped packages and slowly opened them, eyes widening with every book he pulled out. Pride and Prejudice, The Three Musketeers in the original French, and Don Quixote in its original Spanish, all of them first edition copies from some rich fucks private collection. Selina had really outdone herself with this one. He recognized the other part of his gift almost immediately, scoffing slightly as he took out the dark wood boxes. He opened one to reveal a spectacular pair of 1911’s customised in red chrome finishes and black body pieces. He didn't do much other than inspect them before returning the guns to their display boxes. He looked over at Dick with the most delicate expression he's ever seen and it was a herculean task to stop from kissing him right then and there. 

“Happy birthday, little wing,”

Chapter Text

Jason hated the heat. 

He wasn't sure if there was anyone in the house that actually liked it other than Dick, and even then that was dependent on what they were doing. Like right now, as they were laying side by side in Jason’s room in the manor as close together as they could get without actually touching, Jason was sure he was loathing the heat. The summer breeze was coming in through the open windows, gently swaying the fairly lights strung up around the room and doing a moderate job at cooling them down as they sprawled out on the ample bed space but even that wasn't enough to let them cuddle.

“When they entered, they found hanging upon the wall a splendid portrait of their master as they had last seen him, in all the wonder of his exquisite youth and beauty. Lying on the floor was a dead man, in evening dress, with a knife in his heart,” Jason said, slow and dramatic, “he was withered, wrinkled, and loathsome of visage. It was not until they had examined the rinds that they recognized who it was.”

“What?” Dick exclaimed, as Jason shut the book, “that's it?!”

Jason laughed and set aside the book with a nod, “that's the ending,” he confirmed with mock sympathy, “what did you expect?”

Dick made a strained noise from where he lay staring at the canopy of the four poster bed (bougie as fuck but great for decorating), “I don't know, something more dramatic I guess.”

Jason nodded in understanding, having been on that exact same side of this conversation before, “I suppose, but consider it this way, do men like this in real life get their comeuppance?”

Dick shook his head. 

“Then that's why it ended that way,” he shrugged, grabbing his journal off the nightstand, “what did you think of the book though?”

“It was entertaining, a bit wordy, but it was good,” he grunted as he sat himself up in bed, “is it weird that I feel kinda bad for Dorian?”

Jason raised an eyebrow, briefly glancing up from jotting Dick’s thoughts in the notebook, “continue,” he prompted, suddenly more interested than before. 

“Well, I mean remember back to the beginning of the book, Dorian was what? Twenty at most?” Jason nodded in confirmation, “and he was described by Basil as being, like, pure and innocent, at least that's how he comes across right?” he took a small breath, “and the only reason that he even started to be such an asshole was because of fucking Harry and his misogynistic ideas,” Dick was gesturing more now and Jason was getting progressively more amused at Richard ‘I’m not a nerd’ Grayson’s book rant.

Jason let him continue his ranting, occasionally jotting down his thoughts under the review section of his notebook until he filled the page with his thoughts and reviews. 

“You know for a guy that says he's not that into books and nerdy stuff, you sure are passionate about this,” Jason hummed with a small smirk, setting his book aside and leaning back on the bed. 

“Oh shut up,” Dick said, from the other side of the room where he had been pacing as he rambled on about his analysis of the book. Jason was honestly impressed that he was able to form such an articulate argument, not that he thought Dick was dumb, he’s actually quite smart, Jason simply didn't expect him to have absorbed so much of the actual story. 

Is this what it's like to be proud of someone? Damn it feels nice. He couldn't help the grin on his face, perfectly fond and overwhelmingly in love. 

Dick smiled sweetly at him, walking over to press a kiss to his lips. He was about to pull away when Jason shot his hand out to grab the back of his neck to keep him there, briefly deepening the kiss before allowing Dick to pull away. 

“What was that for?” Dick asked with an airy laugh. 

Jason shrugged and rolled off the bed, “wasn't quite satisfied,” he grinned, stretching out his muscles from being on the bed for so long, “I’m gonna put this away then run those errands I told you about so I’ll be gone for a bit,” he grabbed his headphones off the nightstand, “you gonna hang out here or are you heading home?”

“Duke and Dami wanted to show me something so I’ll be around for a bit,” he then furrowed his eyebrows and hummed, “I think there was something else I needed to do, I can't remember right now but whatever, either way I won't be home til later,”

Jason nodded and popped his headphones in, grabbing the book as he left the room. 

He was bopping along to the pop music he still had queued up from his run, stuff he would make fun of Bruce for if he heard it playing. Honestly he’s pretty sure he has made fun of him for it. He was humming along to the music as he entered the library, eyeing the shelves as he searched for the empty spot where he took the book. For as awful as the lingering heat was, it had left their week relatively peaceful. The criminals were taking a break from causing mayhem and instead hiding from the heat. He enjoyed the relative quiet and it was nice to have a taste of civilian life for once; to see what it would be like if he and Dick were just normal people doing normal couple things, their family was still annoying, but nothing that they couldn't put up with. 

“TODD!” A shrill voice shouted from behind him, nearly sending him out of his skin. 

He whipped around with the most aggressive glare, “What?”

 Steph, who apparently had been lying on the floor this entire time, sat up and rolled her eyes, “whats up?” 

“What do you want?” he asked immediately, not in the mood to play games with her. 

Steph faked a gasp and placed a hand over her heart, “what? I can't ask my dear brother how his day’s been?”

Her commitment to the bit was impressive and Jason’s amusement over it was detracting from his attempt to come off as unimpressed. “You never ask unless you want something,” he leaned back against one of the shelves and crossed his arms, “so, what is it?”

Steph huffed and rolled her eyes like the dramatic teenager she was, “I’m bored,”

He couldn't help but laugh because god, they really were related huh? 

“What? No crime fighting for a few days and the bats get antsy?” he raised an eyebrow, recalling how much pent up energy Dick had after a cancelled patrol, “you don't have a hobby to keep you busy?”

Tim, who he hadn't seen by the window, muttered something along the lines of ‘that's what I’m saying’ and Steph threw her flip flop at him, hitting him square in the shoulder.

“I happen to have many hobbies thank you very much,” she glared at Tim and turned back to Jason who watched her with an amused but indulgent smile, “but they don't really do well with the heat, so… you need help with anything?”

“You mean do I have plans that you can forcefully add yourself to?”

“Perchance,” she said with a sunny grin, not even bothering to hide her true motives. 

Yea, they were definitely all related somehow.

“You can't just say perchance,” he scoffed, “but yes, I do actually have plans today,”

She perked up immediately, “really? What are we doing?”

Jason raised an eyebrow at ‘we’ as he pushed himself off the shelf, “ I ” he stressed “have errands to run, things to buy.” He could feel something tug at his chest as he walked out (it was the feeling of ‘brotherly love’), making him pause and let out a small, defeated sigh, “front door, fifteen minutes.” He left without another word, smiling faintly as he heard Steph’s squeal that sounded like Barbras, and Tim’s cackle that was almost too similar to Dick’s. 

It took him no time at all to get ready. It helped that Dick had slinked off somewhere and Jason could get dressed in his usual outfit of cargo pants, comfy and well worn shirt, combat boots, and riding jacket without being distracted by his handsy boyfriend allowing him to spend a little extra time on his hair and gave him time to swap out his earrings and industrial for a nicer bar.

Steph still had five minutes to meet him in the foyer but he didn't need to wait long for her to bounce down the stairs dressed like she was going to a tennis tournament. 

 “You going like that?” he asked, eyeing her outfit, eyes lingering on her skirt before looking back up.

Step rolled her eyes and frowned, “got a problem with my outfit, Todd?”

He put his hands up in surrender and kicked open the door, “no problem with me,” he said as he slipped out the door, “but you might.” 

“Oh,” Steph said when she spotted his bike lingering out front.

“Yea, oh ,” he mocked, “you need to change or not?” he asked, drumming his fingers on his helmet. Steph shook her head and lifted the edge of her skirt a bit to reveal shorts underneath. He wasn't very convinced but he was not gonna mother her and her clothing choices. He pushed his bangs back and slipped on the new helmet he was given for his birthday, smiling a little bit when he heard the apparently teched out helmet buzz to life.

“Aww, did you get a custom helmet for me, Jay?” Steph cooed as she admired the purple helmet he had waiting for her, laughing delightedly when he slammed down the visor to obscure his face, “just put the damn thing on.” 

He swung a leg over the bike and settled in his seat, grinning when the HUD blinked to life and connected seamlessly to his bike’s systems. Steph settled in behind him, shifting around to get herself settled. 

He gave her a second to finish situating herself but when she didn't, he leaned forward and shrugged off his jacket, letting it fall between them.

“Take it,” he said through the mic, playing up his annoyance, “it’ll be big but it should cover you enough,”

He looked at her in the mirrors as best he could, leaning forward when she wrapped her arms around his middle.  A soft, “thanks Jay,” filtered in through his helmet making him smile as he pushed off and sped off. Steph laughed loudly and clung on tighter to him as he sped up, lifting up the front wheel the slightest bit as they sped through the estate, dick’s driving playlist (still queued up from when he borrowed the bike) cheerily playing through their helmets.

He would rather be caught dead than ever admit that he genuinely enjoyed Dick’s music or that he would sometimes listen to his playlists if he needed a pick me up, and besides,  ABBA never failed to put Jason in a good mood and going off the way Steph’s voice was harmonising with his as they sang along to ‘Money Money Money’ she was also victim to the feel good vibes. 

It was nice to hang out with Steph like this — like proper siblings — weaving through a city he knew like the back of his hand. She’d occasionally ask him about it, about the different alleys and strange turns they were taking to avoid the ever-present Gotham traffic and he would answer easily, telling her that he learned them as a child, that it made it easier to traverse the city safely and unseen, even now as an adult. It was something he didn't like to admit to the others for fear of judgement, but he found that when the baby bats were separated they were more…understanding. Her amazed responses were also helpful in easing his apprehension.

 Their first stop was an auto parts store. 

The rare lapse in crime had finally given Jason a chance to properly work on the vehicles in the cave more thoroughly than the quick repairs he and Bruce would do between patrols. It was a mystery to him how any of them hadn't died yet with all the parts he’s had to replace. Good thing Bruce gave him a copy of the car maintenance credit card.

“What are we looking for?” Steph asked with a happy sigh as they entered the store. 

He pulled out his phone and scrolled through his list, “nothing too hard to find,” he hummed, scanning over the items, “sparkplugs, lights, new footpeg, oil filters,” he listed off, knowing Steph had no idea what those were, “and I need to order a new piston, new alternator, and shock absorbers for the,” he stopped talking abruptly, “for dads car,” he continued carefully.

Jason handed Steph a basket from the front door and took the lead, moving through the store efficiently. Steph followed him around diligently, sticking close and with her head on a swivel like they were on patrol. She would ask questions here and there about the parts he was grabbing, what they did, how he knew it was time to replace them but she kept them relatively brief.  Jason didn't mind answering her questions, but he could tell that she was being cautious about how many questions she asked to keep from potentially annoying him. He appreciated the thought, even if he was in a particularly good mood today.

He was chatting with Caleb, the parts clerk he always went to, though it was more catching up than it was actually ordering the parts he needed. 

Can you blame them though? They hadn't seen each other in ages now.

Caleb trailed off in their conversation as he peeked around Jason, grimacing a bit, “oh come on.” 

Jason turned around to see a guy talking to Steph. He was clearly trying to chat her up and she was very clearly not interested, “you know this guy?”

“Unfortunately,” he rolled his eyes, “let me get security, before he creeps out your sister,”

Jason could tell Steph was about a second away from smashing her basket upside the guys head, and he didn't wanna deal with security or her outburst so he waved Caleb off, “I got it, don't worry about it,”

“If you’re gonna punch him do it outside,” Caleb said with a knowing grin, “I don't wanna deal with the paperwork,” 

Jason chuckled and shook his head. He rolled his shoulders back and made sure to flex his muscles a little but more as he stalked up behind steph. He stopped a few inches away from her with his arms crossed over his chest and levelling a menacing glare at the guy.“Can I help you?” his tone was low, the same dangerous authority he used when dealing with his boys in the Iceberg Lounge.

“Not at all man, just giving her some pointers,” they guy laughed nervously, trying to keep his bravado but the way he was eyeing Jason was pure fear,  “she's got some mixed up parts is all,”

Jason scoffed, clenching his fists to keep from shoving the guy’s head into the floor, “yep, that's what I needed to buy.” he placed a hand on Steph’s shoulder, squeezing lightly in reassurance as he glanced down his nose at the man like he was nothing but scum.

The guy bowed his head quickly, muttering something about not knowing she was with someone before he scampered off with his tail between his legs.

“I totally had that,” Steph complained as they went to the register.

“Oh I'm sure you did,” he nodded, watching as Vivian rang up their items, “but I didn't wanna deal with you punching him in the jaw,” “He would have deserved it,” Vivian said casually, giving Jason a lopsided grin, “he comes in sometimes and always tries to chat up the staff, you punching him would have been so deserved,”

Steph grinned at her and held her hand up for a high five, sticking her tongue out at Jason, who stuck his out in retaliation.

“Come on, we have other things to do today,” he said, “see ya around Viv,” he smiled at the cashier as he gathered their bags. 

“Why don't you get the parts delivered?” Steph asked as they were midway to their second stop. 

Jason turned down the music slightly before answering. “I prefer to inspect them before buying, and it's easier to pick them up than have to explain why I need specialised car parts delivered to Bruce Wayne’s house.” It must have been a satisfactory enough answer for her, the only response Steph made was a small hum and a ‘makes sense’ before going back to singing along to the next song on the playlist.

The final errand he needed to run was clothes shopping. 

If he were on his own, he would be in and out in less than twenty minutes, but one look at the glint in Steph’s eyes and he knew that they were going to be here for a lot longer than he really wanted to be. 

He wasn't super sure when Steph split off from him, but Jason took his brief moments of peace to look through the clothes. The store was one he and Dick often got a lot of their nicer clothing pieces from. If it were any other store, he would have been jumpy at the feeling of the staff’s looks burning into his skull as they assessed him from head to toe and gauged how likely he was to be able to afford the clothing he was looking at.

He never really understood how Dick ever got so used to playing the rich kid role. Tim and Damian were born into luxury; Steph, Cass, and Duke never had to act like a proper Wayne heir. He and dick did though, they were forced to play the part for the rich fucks at parties and Dick always seemed to be a natural at it, while Jason was too confrontational for his own good. He knew how to look the part, sure, hell the clothes he was wearing now were worth close to four thousand dollars despite looking relatively mundane and had been chosen specifically so that the staff would leave him alone. He had it down to a science at this point, what to say, how to act, when to smile, but despite all that it was still a considerable effort for him to act the part. 

After a small while of browsing he had put together a rather nice outfit for Dick when a blur of purple started approaching him from the corner of his eye. 

Steph had a veritable mountain of clothes with her and the biggest grin he had ever seen on her face.

 “I am not trying on all that,” he said with a firm shake of his head.

“Of course you are, you need a new style,” she protested, shoving him in the direction of the fitting rooms.

“What's wrong with my style?” Now he was a little offended because he had it on good authority that many people liked his style.

“Nothing,” Steph said, walking up to the lady standing out front the fitting rooms and handing her the clothes, “but you have so much potential and would frankly look far better in anything other than cargos,”

“They're functional,” now he was just being regular defensive. 

Steph and the sales associate shared a look he’d seen too many times on Babs and Kori to count before they were ushered inside the private dressing room. 

 “Did you need to try these on as well, sir?” 

Jason looked down at the clothes he’d forgotten he was carrying and shook his head with a small, easy smile, “No, it's okay thank you,”

“Would you like me to take them up to the front for you while you try these on?”

“That would be great thank you,” he gave her a charming smile that had the lady blushing as she took the clothes in her hands, “oh, actually, would you mind packaging them up nicely? I’m hoping to give them to someone,”

She smiled and gave a single nod, hurrying out of the room with red ears. Steph whistled and turned to him with a wide grin, “look at you, putting the moves on her,” she laughed, “if you can do that dressed like this” she gestured broadly to him, “imagine what you can do dressed nicely,”

Jason rolled his eyes and threw his jacket on the couch next to her, “I dress plenty nice as is, and besides,” he grabbed both sides of the curtains, “I'm not interested,” he pulled them shut in one dramatic motion.

He’d always wanted to do that.

“What do you mean you're not interested?” Steph prodded from the other side of the curtain, making him raise his eyebrow at the question, because come on seriously?

“I mean exactly that,” Jason said, assuming she just wanted to hear him say that he’s happy and in love with Dick, probably to call him soft later which he just couldn't put up with, so he settled on saying, “I’m not interested in dating anyone at the moment, I’m very happy with my life as it is.”

If she was going to say anything else on the matter it died on her tongue when Jason parted the curtain with the most ridiculous outfit he’d ever seen. 

Despite his general aura of disinterest in the little fashion show Stephanie had somehow orchestrated, he loved it. Deep down he lived for the drama and he did actually like dressing himself up for events, especially in outfits that he knew would have Dick’s hands all over him, and from a glance at the selection of clothes that Stephanie picked out for him, he could make more than a few outfits that will definitely get him mega laid. 

They cycled through nearly endless outfits, some more tolerable than others in Jason’s opinion. An opinion that he made exceedingly clear led to them arguing about certain outfits that Jason called stupid and Steph insisted were trendy. 

They ended up settling on more outfits than Jason would ever really know what to do with (other than having them stripped off him of course). He insisted on paying for the items they settled on, but was very quickly bodychecked out of the way by Steph, who insisted she pay for it instead. He didn't argue with her much on it, and just paid for Dick’s gift instead. 

“I thought I told you I'd pay for it!” Steph shouted as they walked back towards his bike.

Jason raised an eyebrow before looking down at the box in his hands, and chuckled, “this isn't for me, don't worry about it,” he waved dismissively

“Who's it for then?”

Jason packed up their things on the storage boxes on the sides of the bike internally thanking every deity he knew that this was the last stop, “Dick,” he said casually, throwing a leg over his bike and jamming his helmet on his head, leaving Steph to scramble on the bike and get settled in as Jason revved the engine. 

He drove them back to he and Dick’s apartment. If he had a choice he would have dropped Steph off at the manor and then rode back, but he’s got too many things and a second pair of hands would be useful. He walked them up to the door and right as he was reaching for his key, his phone pinged with a message. 

“Everything alright?” Steph asked from behind him. 

He nodded, “yea, just gotta make one more stop,” he said and started walking again. 

Steph followed diligently, surprisingly silent until she asked, “Where are we going, Jay?”

“Relax, pipsqueek,” he glanced back with a roll of his eyes, “we’re here,” he said and pushed open the door to the flower shop near his house. 

 “Jason!”, the owner of the flower shop shouted, he was a hulking and tattooed beast of a man, smaller then Jason but only just.

“Ramon!” he opened his arms wide to accept the hug and double cheek kiss from the man, “it’s nice to see you” he grinned before taking a half step back “meet Steph, my sister,” he motioned to her, “Steph, meet Ramon, former street rat and amazing florist,”

Steph smiled widely and extended her hand for a handshake, her first mistake.

Ramon made a ‘pah’ sound and pulled her into a hug, “no hand shakes for family,” he said cheerily before pulling away and turning back to Jason, “your order is ready, thanks for coming by so soon,”

“Of course, I’d never leave you waiting, and you caught me at a good time too,” he said, taking out his wallet as Ramon disappeared into the back room.

“You never do, pretty boy!” Ramon shouted, “and I gotta say, this was the most fun of your orders to make, you have a good eye for combinations,” his shouts were getting closer, “even nicer meanings,” he winked and Jason felt his face go red hot. 

“Don't make fun of me,” he said defensively though without any real threat, “last time I checked we were your best customers,”

Ramon laughed, familiar and brotherly, “I’m not making fun, don't worry,” he shook his head, “I think it’s really sweet that you two put so much thought into the flowers, and it's always a treat when people know what they’re getting,”

Jason nodded with a small, rather shy smile, “what can I say, he deserves only the best,”

Ramon gave him a deeply fond smile, “you know,” he said, turning to the register as he pressed some buttons, “after all these years of knowing you I’d never think I’d see you finally propose to someone,”

Jason suddenly froze, hand hovering over his wallet as he stared at Ramon, who had the biggest shit eating grin spread across his face.

“Shut the fuck up,” he said and slapped the money on his hand. 

“Hey, I’m happy for you man,” Ramon said, squeezing his wrist as he took the money, “he's a good guy, and you two are clearly head over fucking heels, you deserve it, you’ve been through enough,”

Jason smiled warmly at him and nodded, “thanks, Ray,” he nodded, “means a lot coming from you,” 

Ramon winked at him and slid over the flowers, “you're doing a civil ceremony right?” 

“Yea why?”

“Let me know the date, yea?” he asked, sliding over a small white envelope. 

“Sure, Ray,” he nodded, “thanks again,”

As they were entering the apartment building Steph piped up with a question. “What kinds of flowers are those?”

“Baby’s breath,” he said pointing it out, “white carnation, red chrysanthemum, and red tulips,”

“Soooo,” she grinned, rocking back and forth on her heels as they waited in the elevator, “what's up with that?”

“A man can't like flowers?” Jason shot back quickly with an offended look on his face, “that's fucked up.” They argued back and forth about it, bickering the rest of the elevator ride up, across the hallway and even into Jason’s apartment.

As he was filling up a new vase with water he let his mind wander slightly. It was strange to have Steph in their apartment during the day. Normally the only people going about the place in daylight were him, Dick and Haley (who was sequestered by Kon this time). The other bats, if they were ever in their house at all, usually came through in the middle of the night post patrol when the manor was too far for them to be able to make it back safely. 

 He shut the faucet and turned to the bouquet on the counter, lifting up to inspect the handiwork properly. Ramon had really outdone himself with it, there were definitely far more flowers than he actually paid for and they were arranged to paint an abstract mosaic of red and white rather than artfully clumped together. Plus the stems were already cut too. 

That mother fucker, Jason thought with a laugh as he carefully undid the brown paper wrapping and placed them in the vase, keeping the arrangement as best he could. 

When he emerged from the kitchen steph was looking around his apartment with the detective look they all surely got after spending enough time around Bruce. 

“Dicks birthday isn't any time soon,” she blurted out as he set down the flowers next to the clothing box on the coffee table.

“I know,” he said casually, taking the shopping bags and briefly disappearing down the hallway to their bedroom.

“Then why did you buy something?”

“I just wanted to,” he shrugged, emerging again, “no other reason really,” there was in fact a huge reason, but he was scared enough and he didn't need Steph giving him more nerves.

She squinted at him, “that's awfully nice of you,” she said suspiciously, “you're not my brother are you?”

Jason laughed loudly, happy to be done with the topic. He grabbed his keys from the coffee table and his jacket from a chair, “I am perfectly capable of buying random gifts whenever I please,” he motioned for Steph to follow as he opened the door, “I am capable of being nice you know?”

“You never get us gifts out of the blue,” she said flatly.

Jason merely shrugged, glancing back with a small smile as he locked his door, “cus I don't know what you little freaks like,” he started walking down the hall again, “and if you can get the twerp to admit it, I’ve gotten Damian things he's quit enjoyed before,”

He was pleasantly surprised to see Dick still at the manor when they arrived, he figured that surely he’d be gone back home by now, but no, the boy wonder was in his gym shorts and a far too alluring tank top. 

“Hey jay!” he beamed when they walked in through the front door, “oh, Steph, hi! I didn't know you were running errands with Jason,”

“Neither did I,” Jason muttered, “but it was fine, she behaved well enough.”

Stephanie laughed and bumped into him before walking toward the large centre stairs, “yea, yea, you say that now but just wait til you wear those new outfits,” she wagged her finger, ascending the stairs backwards, “you’ll be thank me then mister,”

He and Dick watched as she disappeared up the stairs and presumably into her room. 

“You coming back with me, pretty boy?” he stalked towards Dick, hands reaching out to grab his hips. 

Dick let himself be pulled forward and into Jason’s chest, hands coming up to place on his shoulders, “well, I was going to wait for my boyfriend,” he said quietly, staring up at Jason from half lidded eyes, “but I think I can go home with you,”

Oh he was in one of those moods tonight it seemed. Jason smirked and tightened his grip the slightest bit, “then go get dressed, doll, my bikes waiting outside,” he said leaning close enough to nip at his lips before letting go and sauntering out the front door again. 

Jason wasn't entirely sure how they actually managed to make it into their apartment. Dick’s hands seemed to have a mind of their own, wandering over any part of his body that they could reach. Normally Jason would be revelling in the attention and the needy touches, but given that he was in charge of driving them back home it was hard to enjoy them. They did arrive in one piece though, and Jason practically corralled Dick into the elevator before the man could jump him in the parking structure though it didn't stop him from leaving a good few hickeys along the column of Jason’s neck. 

“What's gotten into you today, pretty bird?” Jason half asked, half gasped as he fumbled for his keys to unlock the door as Dick kissed greedily at his neck and jaw. He didn't really reply, simply opened the door and pulled Jason inside by his belt, sparing a few seconds to kick the door shut before he was crowding Jason up against it to seal their mouths in a hungry kiss. Jason responded slowly at first, cautiously tasting the inside of his mouth for the strong flavour of alcohol or the telltale tingling from any poison or dust, but when he came up with nothing, he leaned fully into the kiss. 

Jason’s hands tightened around Dick’s hips as he took a step out from the door, using the slight stumble in Dick’s footing to lift him up and press his body into the wall to their left. Dick let out a small yelp as his legs came up to wrap around his hips and his hands grabbed at his shoulders instinctively, head leaning back into the wall with an airy laugh, “look at you, so forward,” he teased as he fingers began wandering Jason’s body again. 

Jason huffed out a small laugh and pressed more into him, “as much as I would love to continue this, I have something to give you actually,”

Dick lit up at the idea of a gift, “really?” he asked with a big smile, “what is it?”

His excitement made Jason laugh as he carefully set the man down and spun him towards the coffee table. Dick let out a small gasp and walked over, gently touching the soft petals of the new bouquet sitting on the table, “they’re beautify, Jay,” he said as he leaned over to smell the flowers, “what do these ones mean?” 

Jason shrugged, “you’re gonna have to figure that one out on your own later, open the box,” he inclined his head to the other gift on the table as he approached him. 

Dick stole a quick glance at Jason before carefully skilled fingers unravelled the ribbon holding the box closed. He shook his head when he saw the clothing, an amused smile dancing on his lips, “if you keep getting me more clothes we’re gonna need to move just for a bigger closet,”

“So you don't like them?” Jason asked with a raised eyebrow and a knowing smile. 

Dick rolled his eyes and leaned up to kiss his cheek, “you know I like anything if it's from you, the fact that it's clothes is a bonus,” he smiled and pulled Jason into another kiss. Unlike the ones they were sharing previously it was softer, less hungry and more appeasing, it was a grateful kiss. 

“Go change,'' Jason said between kisses, restraining himself from touching Dick more than just holding his waist. He had plans that needed to be executed and a distraction was not part of them.

“What's wrong with what I'm wearing now?” 

“Nothing, you look good in anything,” Jason smiled and carefully separated them, “but I wanna see you look good in those clothes right now, so go change,”

Dick grumbled but ultimately grabbed the box and went off to their bedroom as Jason sat himself on the couch to wait. 

It wasn't long before Dick emerged from the hallway. Jason’s eyes widened as he took in his outfit. Dick had apparently taken the initiative to add his own little flair to the clothing. He tucked the black linen button down Jason got him into the pants and left half the buttons open to show off his chest and the gold link chain with a J charm he’d taken to wearing almost everywhere after Jason gifted it to him (he received a matching one not two days later). Jason swallowed heavily as his eyes kept wandering down; the pants were a good fit, maybe a little too good of a fit as Dick turned slightly to show him the back and Jason caught a look at how they perfectly cupped his ass, fitting tightly across his thighs and hanging a little looser towards his feet. His eyes flicked up again, catching the glint of the bracelets hanging around his wrists like golden cuffs and the rings adorning his fingers, the gold complementing and deepening his skin tone. In a futile attempt to maintain his sanity he looked up at Dick’s face and nearly keeled over right then and there at the sultry and self satisfied smile on his face, the corners of his mouth pointing Jason to the cuff earrings he wore. 

He knew that Dick was gonna look good in the outfit, he looks good in anything, but he didn't expect it to be this good. Jason’s heart was racing at half a mile a second and he was sure that he was gonna succumb to a heart attack at any moment. He looked radiant like this, the colours complementing and contrasting his skin, the jewellery adding that little touch of Grayson elegance and seduction that Jason loved was only reserved for him. Jason felt like he was falling in love all over again. 

“Marry me,” he said suddenly, eyes widening immediately after the words tumbled out of his mouth.. 

Dick stared at him, eyes wide and completely frozen, “what…what did you say?” he stammered, his hands were shaking so imperceptibly that no one else but he would have noticed. 

Jason’s heart leapt into his throat and buzzing filled his ears. This was not how this was meant to go, this wasn't the plan, he took a small breath and looked up at Dick, locking eyes, “I’m asking if you’d like to marry me, Richard Grayson,” he said again, more serious but with far less confidence after Dick’s reaction. Dick’s silence spurred him to continue talking, if not to convince him than to keep his mouth busy so he didn't run out of the apartment to get away from the suffocating fear and ruin this for them, “I know we’ve only really talked about it hypothetically, but I’d really like to make it…not, hypothetical?” he finished it more like a question, kicking himself for his own nerves, “we don't have to do anything grand, it can be a small thing, civil ceremony, we don't even have to do rings if you don't want to,” he rushed out to say, looking away from Dick, feeling like the room was closing in on him, “but I would love to spend the rest of my life with you as my husband…if you’ll let me of course,”

Gentle fingers touched his chin and tilted his head up from where it was staring at something in the distance. At some point during his little speech Dick had come closer to him, and he was looking down at Jason with a big smile and red rimmed eyes, sniffling a little as he nodded, a few tears escaping the careful hold he’d had on them, “yes,” he laughed, “yes, yes, a million times yes, Jason,” he nodded and grabbed Jason’s jacket, pulling him up into a kiss. The kiss was salty with tears, but Jason wasn't sure if they were his or Dicks anymore as he leaned into him some more, holding the man like he was going to disappear if he let go. Dick pulled away from the kiss, pressing their foreheads together, “you sure do know how to make a fucking announcement,” he laughed, holding Jason tighter, “how long have you been planning this?”

“Long enough,” he whispered, leaning in again to connect their lips into another kiss.

Chapter Text

Dick groaned as he rolled out his shoulder, still a little off from when he grabbed a railing after his line detached during patrol, add to that the few bruises he knew were forming and he never understood more why Jason always avoided patrol with the bats unless they desperately needed him. He dropped down heavily onto the fire escape and sighed softly as he tried to open their window, smiling a little when it gave way and easily opened up for him. Jason must be home. He practically dropped in through the window, looking around at the dark apartment. He was about to call out when a door opened down the hall and the jingling sound of Haley's collar slowly grew louder. 

“Baby bird found his way back to the nest I see,” Jason said as he leaned against the door frame. 

Dick looked up from where he was playing with a very excited Haley and gave him a small, tired smile, “what can I say?” he shrugged, wincing a bit as his shoulder pulled awkwardly, “I missed my little cardinal,”

Jason was freshly showered judging off his still damp hair, probably only getting back at most twenty minutes prior to Dick, but he too looked tired.

“Let me see your shoulder,”

Dick knew it wasn't a question, so he stood up and let Jason strip off the top half of his suit, biting his tongue to keep from making any pained noises that would only worry him more, “it’s fine Jay,” he tried, “you’re tired you don't need to fuss over me,” 

Jason shook his head, “who’s gonna do it if I don't? Cus it sure as hell isn't gonna be you,” he carefully moved Dick’s shoulder around, testing the range of motion and keeping a careful eye on Dick’s face as it twitched from the mild pain. 

“Good news, you’ll live,” he said flatly, though the kiss that he pressed to his shoulder washed away any impact the statement was supposed to have, “go shower and I can wrap it in some tape for you before we go to bed,”

“That sounds lovely, baby,” he smiled, “but we’re heading to the manor tonight, remember?”

Jason groaned and leaned into Dick with a whine, “why’d you have to remind me?”

He laughed softly and pressed a kiss to his temple, “because you love your family, now let me shower and we can go, it's not too late,” he said, craning his neck to look at the clock on the wall, it was barely eleven, “you can wrap my shoulder at the manor of you’d like,”

Jason didn't say anything else on the matter, simply waved him off in the broad direction of the main bathroom as he himself wandered to the kitchen, no doubt to make them some tea. 

Dick was ever thankful that he let Jason convince him to use this apartment as their main house, it was a little smaller than the one he'd been pitching to him, and it was a little further out from the cave and Blüdhaven and the other if them would have preferred, but the water pressure and the seclusion were worth it. He dressed slowly, mindful to grab loose clothes that were easy to slip into, if only for the sake of his shoulder. It would be fine in a day or two but he'd need to be careful with it till then. 

He found Jason sitting on the couch with his face in whatever book he’d started last night, Haley in his lap and half asleep as he scratched behind her ear. There was a red cup waiting for him on the coffee table and a blue one on the side table, loosely held in Jason’s hand. Dick smiled at the scene from the entryway, taking in the sight of Jason in domestic bliss, the smile only softening more as his fiance (what a word) turned his head to look at him with that same love sick smile.

“I made you some of that lavender tea you liked, should be cooled down enough by now,” 

Dick smiled, affection bursting in his heart at such a simple gesture. He rounded the couch and took his mug, sipping at the tea and finding that it was, as Jason said, the perfect temperature. 

“Did you put all the clothes in the car already?” he asked, settling into the couch next to Jason, gently running his hand over the length of Haley’s little body as she happily dozed off. 

“I did,” he nodded, not looking up from his book, “figured I’d give us some extra time at home.” Dick could have died right then and there and he would have been happy. They didn't say anything else on the matter and Dick hummed softly as he settled further into the couch and against Jason.  Without thinking much of it Jason’s hand settled around his shoulders and he started reading out loud to him as Dick kept an eye on the time and sipped his tea, letting the warmth settle in his body and spread as it relaxed his tense muscles and eased any adrenaline and anxiety left over from patrol.

By eleven thirty, he had long since finished his tea and Jason closed the book after finishing off the chapter he was reading. It was time to go, and Dick was a bit ashamed to admit that he was rather reluctant as he shot Wally a text to let him know they were leaving. 

“Come on, let's get going,” he said, slowly disentangling himself from Jason and scooping up Haley in his arms to get in some last minute cuddles before —

Three hurried knocks came from the door, and Haley yipped happily as she smelled her uncle here to pick her up. Jason was the one to open the door, easy smile on his face as Wally chatted his ear off. The exchange was relatively quick, they were supposed to meet up at the cave by midnight so there was little time to talk.

Dick must have been more tired than he thought, because it seemed that he checked out at some point soon after Wally left, only coming back to full awareness when they were pulling out of the garage, Jason's large hand sitting comfortably on his thigh.

They arrived before the others. On a normal night he might have sat himself at the computer and done a little check in with the others, get information on what happened after he split off to nurse his shoulder, and then wait for them to get back before heading off to bed. Tonight his fatigue was bone deep, his limbs were heavy and pulsed with a dull soreness, and all he wanted to do was crawl into Jason’s bed and snuggle into the mountain of fluffy blankets he liked to hoard.

“Help me put these with the rest of the clothes and then we can head to bed,” Jason offered, taking out two canvas sacks with their names painted on the front from the trunk of the car. Dick gave a silent nod and wandered over, grabbing the bag set at his feet and robotically walking toward the elevator. Honestly he wasn't even sure if Jason was following him, he assumed he was, but his thoughts were drowned out with images of Jason’s canopy illuminated with the soft glow from his fairy lights, the feeling of his soft mattress and heavenly pillows, and being enveloped by his strong and solid arms. 

He unceremoniously dumped his bag into one of the washing machines when he heard Jason’s soft laughter from behind him. 

“That tired, huh?” 

“Mn,” he grunted as a response, taking Jason's clothes from him and throwing it in with his laundry. Alfred knew they lived together, and usually he would roughly divide their pile anyways so it's not like it mattered. He poured detergent into the machine and pressed the buttons needed for it to start humming to life. He didn't get a chance to move before strong arms were wrapping around him and making his world tilt sideways. The shock was enough to bring him back to reality for the moment as he gave Jason a wide eyed stare before laughing and letting his head fall to his chest as he was carried upstairs. 

“Who’s room are we using tonight?” He asked. 

“Yours,” he said with a small sigh, “cosier than mine,”

He could feel Jason’s laugh vibrate deep in his chest and shake his bones as it seeped into his body, as he said “if that’s what my prince wants.” Said to anyone the nickname would have been mocking, but Dick had been on the receiving end of it enough times to know that it was a genuine show of reverence. It made his body grow just that much warmer. 

As soon as Jason set him down on the mattress it took more willpower than he would ever be proud to admit to keep him from immediately burrowing under the blankets and passing out right then and there. The only real thing keeping him awake and alert were Jason’s hands as they started tugging at his clothes. Truthfully he was doing nothing more than helping Dick out of his street clothes, hands caressing every inch of skin they touched with care and affection. Dick shook himself out of his fatigue induced stupor and gently took hold of Jason’s face after his shirt had been discarded and his fingers were beginning to tug on the waistband of his sweats.

“Don't worry, my prince,” he said slowly, voice low and soothing, “I’m just helping you get ready for bed and making it easier to tape your shoulder, nothing more,”

Dick hadn't been particularly worried about that, not consciously anyways, but the confirmation that there were no expectations of him, that there were no other motivations, relaxed the part of his brain that tended to worry at times that he wasn't fully aware of himself. He smiled and pulled Jason’s into a kiss, it was brief and barely anything more than a press of their lips, but Jason melted into it nonetheless. 

“Mind if I keep going, my prince?” he asked. His hands didn't move from where they braced on the mattress on either side of his hips until Dick nodded with what he hoped was a ‘yes’ and for the second time that night Dick swore he fell in love all over again. 

Taping his shoulder didn't take long. It was something they did often enough and only took a few minutes to properly place the tape in the correct spots. Jason slipped out of the room soon after and Dick busied himself with setting up the room for them. He pulled back the covers, opened the window enough to keep the room nice and cool, turned out the lights and flicked on the fairy lights. He slipped under the covers and sighed happily, whole body relaxing and consciousness slipping more and more by the minute. 

“Oh, Jason,” Tim said, voice slightly muffled through the door, “is Dick in his room? I wanted to talk to him about something,”

“He’s asleep,” Jason answered before Dick could get his words together, “is it urgent?” 

“Not really,” Tim’s voice trailed off into a yawn. 

“Then ask him tomorrow,” Jason said, “go get some sleep.” After a moment the door slowly opened and Jason’s head peaked in before he slipped inside with a smile. 

“You could have told him I was awake,” Dick said with a yawn. 

Jason shook his head and stripped down to his boxers, “you both need to sleep, he can ask tomorrow,” 

Dick looked at him as he undressed and for the first time that night he saw how truly tired Jason was. It showed in the droop to his shoulders, the way his eyes were half lidded no matter the expression, how his movements were slightly slowed. He shuffled a little and gave Jason a few seconds to settle into bed before curling around him, resting his head on his chest. 

“Good night, Jay,”

He slipped away into sleep with the feeling of lips pressing into the top of his head and a quiet, “Good night, my price,” whispered into his ear.

Dick wasn't too sure what time it was when he woke up. The light streaming in from the window was weak as it struggled to illuminate the small area around the curtains and Dick wasn't sure if it was the sun or from the lights around the manor. Dick propped himself up on his elbows and scrubbed a hand over his face. Despite ditching his cop job when he and Jason started living together it seemed he could never quite shake the early morning habit. Normally he would go on a run or head to the cave and run simulations until he was sufficiently awake enough but this morning he had no desire to do any of that. 

He turned to look at the man next to him. At some point during the night Jason had turned over onto his stomach and had an arm thrown over Dick’s hips, fingers curled loosely around his hips. Jason had kicked the duvet down his legs, leaving him with the thin white sheet tangled around his legs and hips, waistband of his boxers peeking out over top. He trailed his gaze up, following the sloping curve of his spine as his eyes danced over the ridges and valleys of his back, watching the muscle shift slightly with every breath he took until he reached the slightly overgrown hair at the base of his neck. He carefully moved Jason’s arm off his hips, being mindful to fold it out of the way as he leaned over him. 

He debated on his next actions for a moment until he couldn't take it anymore and dipped his head towards the skin his mouth had mapped countless times. His kisses started as light, airy things that made Jason shiver in his sleep and slowly grew to more firm and resolute kisses as he caressed each familiar scar and blemish over the broadness of Jason. He lost himself to his thoughts with the knowledge that Jason likes to be woken up like this, loves to be revered, likes to be praised for the body he’s taken time to craft, and Dick is nothing but willing to indulge him. He moved to straddle him properly, movements still slow and careful to not rouse him, and ignored the growing problem in his boxers in favour of attaching his mouth to Jason’s back once more, hands touching the parts his mouth couldn't reach at the moment. He caught a brief glance of himself in the mirror opposite the bed and he couldn't help but think the scene looked borderline religious, Dick taking the role of a parishioner kneeling before their deity, whispering praises and expressing their devotion. It was an apt metaphor.

Jason’s shaky breathing told him he was awake, likely had been for a while. Dick grinned against his lower back, letting his tongue slip past his lips and drag a slow line up his spine, nails scratching at the skin the slightest bit. Jason muffled a groan into the pillow, back arching and hips pressing against Dick’s as he shook in pleasure. 

He looked like a fucking dream. 

He looked delectable. 

All of this belonged to him. 

The surge of possessiveness drove him and his mouth up until he was draped over Jason and sucking a bruise onto his beautifully soft skin, finishing off by sinking his teeth into the tender flesh of his traps. He revelled in the moan Jason let out, clamping down the slightest bit more just to feel Jason shake beneath him as he was held and claimed. 

Jason only spoke after Dick released him, sitting up to admire the deep red bite mark he left behind, surely to bruise for more than a few days.

“What’s got you all riled up, dickie?” he asked, satisfied and out of breath. 

Dick contemplated on how to answer, truthfully he didn't know the answer to the question, but he knew one thing, “that’s not my name,” it was low, said in warning, “tell me, little dragon, what's my name?”

A shiver ran through Jason’s whole body, making his eyes flutter and his lips pull back into a smirk, “my prince,” he breathed out, “how can I be of service?”

Dick gave a satisfied hum, leaning over Jason once more and bracing his hands on either side of his head to cage him in, asserting his dominance over him. “I want you to ride me,” his voice was a deep, low drawl, “I want my big, strong dragon bouncing on my cock like a whore,” the grin on his face was wicked as he presses his hips forward in Jason’s ass, before asking, “is that what you want?” because he needed to know, wanted to hear the way those words were gonna come out of his mouth. 

And he got them in the form of a shaky, almost frantic, “Yes, yes,” he gasped and his lips quivered like he was starving for air, “I would love that, my prince.” 

There was desperation in those words, and the unconcealed desire made a dull thrum of anticipatory pleasure coursed through him. 

“Good,” he eased off him, “let's get you prepped then shall we, little dragon?” 

Dick slid off him and let Jason slip out of bed to grab the lube as he wiggled out of his boxers and leaned back against the headboard, lazily stroking himself as he watched Jason's fingers shake as he slid his boxers off. It was barely noticeable, hardly anything more than a twitch but Dick was familiar with Jason's little tells, and that little tremor paired with the hunger in Jason's eyes forced him to stop his hand if he wanted any hope in lasting more than three seconds. 

He hadn't asked Jason to do anything in particular, and had intended to prep him himself as he usually tended to whenever he was the one on top, so when Jason set to do the work on his own the surprise made him ask, “what are you doing?” 

Jason didn't stop, rather he shifted to give Dick a better view and sped up, “my job is to serve, make you feel good,” a smile crept onto his face but Dick was far more focused on watching his hand, “a prince should only be worried about enjoying himself,”

Dick took a sharp inhale, forcing himself to give Jason a minute or two more to prep himself, even as his breathy moans echoed around the the curtains draped on the canopy and his hands clenched in a white knuckle grip to keep himself from touching his cock even as it twitched and leaked against his stomach. 

“That's enough,” he said after a moment, reaching for the lube as he shuffled down in the bed. Jason watched patiently and only moved when Dick nodded to him with a smile. 

Jason swung a leg over his hips and straddled him easily, muscles of his thighs flexing as he got comfortable, reaching behind him to line himself up and then looking towards Dick, watching, waiting. It was rare that Jason was ever this obedient, this patient when he took the role of the submissive. There was always a quip, or a witty remark on his tongue as he dared Dick to punish him or force him to obey. Tonight he seemed more willing to give Dick most of the control and to listen for permission.

Dick inclined his head, “go on, little dragon,” he took gentle hold of his hips as he said this, slowly pushing Jason down onto him, “ride me like the good boy I know you are.”

 He was hot and tight, squeezing him the whole way down as Dick’s eyes fluttered and he tilted his head back, the feeling all consuming. 

“Fuck,” he breathed, fingers squeezing desperately as his hips twitched, making Jason gasp as the movements as he clamped down even more.

It took no more than a few seconds for Jason to begin moving. He started off slow, gently rocking his hips back and forth as he set a rhythm that slowly picked up speed as his movements became more intentional as he leaned back to brace his hands on Dick’s thighs and started properly riding him. Dick was lost to pleasure, hands wandering and grabbing at whatever bits of skin were within reach as he threw his head back in pleasure, mouth hanging open the slightest bit as breathy, gasped moans escaped him. It took far more concentration than he would have thought to keep from being loud. It was rare that they had sex in the manor, even more so that it was when most of the family was present and close enough that that would hear if they were any louder than a hushed speaking tone. Jason knew this fact,but he was always far better at controlling himself and his volume than Dick was, and despite how good and obedient he was being, dick knew that he was making it hard for him to check his volume, especially when he leaned forward to brace his hands on either side of his head, lifting himself up and then quickly falling back down onto his cock. Dick took some additional pleasure in the knowledge that it affected Jaosn just as much, that his breathing was ragged and shaking and a never ending stream of desperate moans and curses flowed past his gorgeous mouth.

Dick shifted a little underneath him, feet bracing against the mattress and hands grabbing Jason’s hips with enough force to bruise, “you’re such a good boy, my little dragon,” he purred, snapping his hips up into the younger man and revelling in the way his elbows almost gave way, “riding me so well just like I asked,” he was trying hard to keep his voice steady as he fucked up into Jason, “look gorgeous bouncing on my cock like this, making your prince feel so good,”

Jason was starting to become incoherent as he babbled out ‘thank you’ and other similar phrases between his moans. He was getting close to finishing and Dick simply wouldn't stand for that. He quickly stilled his hips, nearly slipping out of Jason before roughly pulling Jason down onto him, watching with a sadistic smirk as he clenched his jaw to stifle a small scream. Dick didn't move, didn't say anything for a moment and gazed at the man above him as he stared down with desperate eyes, begging without needing to open his mouth. 

“Flip over for me,” he said. It wasn't a question, nor a suggestion, it was a command and it was voiced as such. 

Jason whined as his eyes glazed over briefly and Dick worried that he was about to cry, but without another word Jason obeyed and slowly eased himself off. Jason was a furnace inside, all wet heat and tightness that when he slipped out from inside him the chilled air of the room made him hiss. He sat up and moved behind Jason, sliding a pillow under his hips before he could settle on his stomach. If he wasn't so desperate to get back inside of him, Dick might have watched Jason for longer. He had a beautiful arch in his back as he buried his face into the pillows and spread his legs for Dick to fit between them, presenting himself fully to Dick. He didn't hesitate to slide back inside, pushing in slowly, watching himself disappear inside of Jason, drawing out a long moan from the both of them. Jason was always tighter like this, bordering on vice-like, the angle making his walls press into the sensitive underside of his cock as he pressed their bodies together. If Dick were a weaker man he might have cum right then and there, but he wasn't so took a firm hold of Jason’s hips and slowly pulled out again, very slightly pushing Jason away before snapping his hips forward and pulling Jason’s whole body back onto his cock. The muffled scream Jason let out was marvellous, feeding into the pit in Dick’s stomach that wanted more, that wanted Jason to cry, and beg, and feel nothing but pleasure. He let himself dip into that desire the slightest bit, fucking Jason with ferocity, tugging him back on his cock like he was nothing more than a toy and Jason just took it. He gasped and moaned, he babbled praises and words into the pillow, telling Dick how good he felt, how much his prince took care of him. He was somewhat aware that they needed to be quiet, that as much as he wanted to, he couldn't have Jason screaming his name for the whole house to hear but he felt like pushing Jaosn just a little bit more. 

He sped up even more, hips snapping quickly as he fought the fatigue in his abdomen and legs, needing to cum inside Jason with an almost primal ferocity. Jason was getting close as well, he had gone lax underneath him but he was clenching around Dick like a vice. He reached out and curled his fingers around Jason’s shoulder, tugging him up and leaning back on his heels, still fucking up into him. Jason’s head fell back onto his shoulder as Dick changed the angle, pressing in deeper and grinding his hips to give him a small reprieve. 

“Prince,” he gasped, “so good,”

Dick smiled, lips pressed right against his ear as he kept rocking in and out of him “have I ever told you how good you look, little dragon?” he hummed, spreading their legs out and exposing more of Jason, “all that muscle and strength, so useless now as you let me use you however I want, my precious dragon, my protector, reduced to nothing but a moaning whore,” his voice morphed into a growl as he started bounding Jason more and more, muscles straining as he moved him. Jason for his part, remained mostly silent as he covered his mouth and held onto Dick with a bruising grip. 

“Go on little dragon,” Dick prompted with a grunt, “touch yourself, cum for me,” he stopped jostling Jason, the coil in his stomach wound up far too tight for him to ignore it. 

“Yes, my prince,” Jason managed before dropping one hand to his cock, stroking it with practised ease. Dick started fucking up into him with the remaining energy he had, leaning forward to clamp his teeth around his shoulder again as he chased his high. 

They came together, with long drawn out moans and shuddering muscles. Dick kept fucking into Jason, slowly pushing in and out as the either man trembled and went limp. 

“Such a good boy for me,” He whispered finally stilling his hips and beginning to slowly lay them down again, “you did so good baby, such a good boy,”

Jason smiled softly, spent but satisfied, “anything for my prince,” he nodded, “I’m at his service,”

Dick pressed kisses all over his back and slowly pulled out, trying to minimise the mess he had made inside of Jason, spilling out, “let me get something to clean you up okay?” he said softly. 

Jason hummed and pointed to the bathroom, “towels under the sink, theres water and snacks on the desk I think,” 

Cleaning didn't take too long. Dick took a moment to wipe himself down with a warm cloth, getting all the sweat and lube off him before taking another damp cloth to Jason, making sure it was as hot as he could make it. The heat helped, relaxing all the tense and sensitive muscles on Jason’s body which was especially helpful when he got to all the cum that was leaking out of him. He tried to be fast, pressing constant apologetic kisses as Jason whined from sensitivity. After the cleaning was done and Dick got them both back into boxers he got them the bottles of water and the protein bars Jason liked to have on hand. Dick sat against the headboard as he worked through the small snack, letting sleep slowly take hold as he admired Jason next to him as he basked in the afterglow. 

“Take a photo, it’ll last longer,” 

Dick smiled and shuffled down into bed, snuggling up to Jason again, “I’ve got plenty of time to stare at you,” he kissed his chest, “about the prince thing though, did you like it?” 

“Hm? Yea I did,” Jason nodded, voice starting to slur from fatigue, “I didn't think you would be that into it though, you're not one for being called titles,”

Dick shrugged, letting his eyes droop closed, “I didn't expect it either, guess I just really like that one,” he yawned. 

“We’ll talk about it when we wake up, it's…” Jason shuffled to check the time, “Jesus, it's five in the morning, let's get some rest before breakfast.”

Dick gave him a sleepy ‘hn’ and what he assumed was a goodnight before he drifted off. 

***

Dick was woken up with kisses being pressed all over his face. As nice as the feeling was, he was not remotely in the mood for it, gently swatting Jason away after catching his lips briefly, “what time is it?” he asked groggily, sitting up and running a hand through his hair. 

“Breakfast time,” Jason replied, pressing one last kiss to his shoulder before slipping out of bed. 

Dick groaned softly, throwing his legs over the edge of the bed and pressing them into the cool floor in hopes the shock would wake him up. Jason had disappeared into the bathroom, humming softly and way too chipper. He felt around half blind, grabbing the first shirt he got his hands on and stumbling to the closest to grab a pair of shorts that fit him well enough to assume they were his. Dick was not a morning person, there were very few people in the house that were. Jason, Damian, and now Duke were the exceptions. Duke had morning patrol so he was up and back in the house by the time breakfast was ready, Jason and Damian always said it was a result of their time at the League, needing to be up at specific times gave them internal alarm clocks. 

Dick wandered into the bathroom as Jason was brushing his hair, splashing freezing cold water on his face in another failed attempt to bring alertness to himself. He did have enough consciousness to glare at a laughing Jason through the mirror as he brushed through his hair. 

“Come on, little robin,” he said, taking Dick’s hand as he left the room, “we’ve kept the others waiting long enough,” 

As Jason said the others were already at the table when they arrived, Dick with a yawn and heavy eyes, and Jason with the skip in his step he’d become accustomed to. 

“Took you long enough,” Damian rolled his eyes and dug into his breakfast now that everyone was present.

“Well excuse me,” Dick snapped, patience far too short to even consider being polite, “I don't have the luxury of a natural body alarm clock,”

He heard Jason snicker as they took their seats, and Dick turned a menacing glare at him, the fatigue had lifted from his eyes but his humour hadn't come back to him just yet.

Jason raised his hands in mock surrender, still laughing, “don't look at me like that Dickie,” he wiped an invisible tear from his eye, “it's not our fault it was trained into us,” 

Dick stared him down for another moment but whatever comment he was gonna say was interrupted when Steph loudly said “you look stupid.” Dick turned his gaze towards her with all the ice it had before.

“Says you?” Jason cut in, nudging a mug of coffee into his hands, “you look like a joker reject,” he scoffed and titled his head towards her, “maybe a shiny Riddler, whichever pisses you off the most,” 

Dick smirked a little behind his mug, letting the others argue and bicker amongst themselves for the time being as he defrosted his personality. An advantage to habitual early rising was that he had more than enough time to wake himself up and look presentable for his family. Back home they had a routine, Dick would go on a run or take Haley out for a walk around the neighbourhood as he enjoyed his coffee and when he got back Jason would be awake and nearly finished with breakfast. In the manor he would train in the cave for a few hours, but today the routine was interrupted by their little early morning activities that left them both so tired Dick didn't have time to shed the snark and bad mood.

“Is that my shirt?” Jason asked quietly, knocking their knees together to get his attention.

He looked down, much more awake and sniffed the collar, “yea, was the first one I grabbed,” he laughed, smelling Jason’s cologne, “must have gotten mixed up with my stuff last night,” He looked over at Jason, properly taking in his clothing and then scoffed lightly, “I'm pretty sure those are my pants,” 

Jason didn't even look down, nodding once with a smug smile, “should be, took them from your closet, they’re comfy,”

“Not even gonna deny it?” Dick asked incredulously, an easy smile on his face as he finished his coffee, “do you have no shame?”

Jason got that look in his eye that made Dick both interested and nervous for the answer, “you of all people should know the answer to that question is always no,” his voice dipped lower and a hand settled on his thigh, making Dick swallow heavily. 

Maybe he should wear Jason’s clothes more often.

Shit. 

Shit. 

Shit. 

Oh god, Duke was gonna kill him. 

He was supposed to be meeting Duke at the cave to go over some moves he’d been practising, but given that he was currently weaving through the back alleys of the city, he was notably late. He wasn't going to be horrendously late, but enough that the guilt was building with every minute that went by. He would always deny it, but Dick had come to use Jason as a way to keep time in the mornings. He was usually put on the same items and he always ran the same routines. Today Jason had slipped out of bed early, saying that he needed to go take care of something in the Iceberg Lounge, and Dick had hummed and rolled over and gone back to sleep. 

He roared into the cave in a frenzy, kicking out his leg for balance as he skid to a sideways stop that he bet looked sick as fuck. He hopped off the bike and took off his helmet, “sorry I’m late,” he chuckled running a hand through his hair, “slept in,”

Duke waved his hand dismissively, “don't worry about it, most of you aren't morning people, I’ve gotten used to it.”

Dick scrunched up his nose a little but didn't push him on it. He motioned over to the mats as he grabbed a bo staff off the wall, “come on,” he grinned setting his feet into a defensive position, “show me what you got,”

Duke grinned confidently, grabbing another staff and setting himself up in Tim’s familiar starting stance, “you get ready, I’m taking you down this time.”

Duke did not take him down. Not the first time, or the second. 

This last round was the closest he’s gotten to actually matching Dick, extending the fight past the usual few minutes it took for Dick to lay him out on the mat. Close was good, but not good enough though. Dick ducked under Duke’s swing and stuck his staff between his open legs. He turned the staff the slightest bit and pulled back and up as he stood , hooking it behind Duke's knee and sending him flying on his back. From there it was as easy as placing his bare foot against Duke’s chest and holding the staff at his neck.

Every iteration of their sparring had ended the same way, with Duke face up on the mats staring at the end of Dick’s bo staff as he towered over him with a self satisfied grin. He couldn't blame the kid though, it's not like Dick was going easy on him and it wasn't like it was a fair fight either. Tim and Bruce had clearly been the ones to show him how to fight with a staff, and Dick was intimately familiar with both their fighting styles, having sparred with them often enough to know all their tells and movement combinations.

Dick let the staff fall away and took his foot off his chest, leaning over and extending out a hand, “good job!” he beamed, “you almost got me this time,”

Duke took his hand and grunted as his poor muscles no doubt protested against even more movement, “you don't have to be nice, you can say it sucked.”

“I'm serious, you got closer this time,” he offered the best smile he could, a little difficult as his body felt the fatigue of a good workout. They’d been sparring for a while now, both working up quite a sweat as his shirt, once white and now almost transparent, suctioned itself to his body. They took a minute to cool down as Dick wiped his face with the last semi-dry spot of the shirt before peeling it off himself and chucking it aside to land in a heap next to his water bottle. 

He put the staff back on the rack with the other training weapons and instead grabbed a pair of padded escrima sticks as he readied up again, grin wild when he asked, “ready for another round?”

“Stop trying to kill each other for a second and explain what the fuck you did to your bike?” Jason’s all too familiar (and all too annoyed) shout interrupted them. Dick tilted his head and glanced towards the man as he loomed over his bike. He had his arms crossed over his chest, the muscles straining against the all too familiar GCPD shirt Dick owned. He took a deep breath, “god, not this again,” he muttered under his breath, closing his eyes for a second before walking over to him, “Jay I already told you what happened,” he sighed. 

Jason was still staring at the bike, eyes flitting over it with a scandalised expression, “you told me you were chased down and got banged up,” he finally looked at Dick, “not that you clearly either fell or smashed into something,”

A small surge of guilt rolled over in his stomach, he hadn't told Jason to not have him worry, especially since his shoulder was still taped up. He’d gotten away with a few bruises and a torn up riding suit, well aware that it could have been much, much worse, “I didn't want you to worry,” he said because it was the only thing he could. 

Jason was silent as he stared at him with that same complicated expression that only broke when he sighed, shoulders dropping the slightest bit, “I’m always gonna worry, I’d rather you just tell me the full story from the go so we don't have to do this,” he motioned between the two of them, “when I eventually find out,” his jaw tensed as he looked back to the bike, “you're not invincible Dickie, but you’re allowed to feel pain, you're allowed to mess up, as much as I’d rather you not, you can and will get hurt and there’s nothing wrong with that, I just wanna know when it happens,”

This wasn't anything new, a conversation they’d been having for years as they got used to the whole ‘trusting each other’ thing, but that didn't mean things like this didn't still happen, “I know,” he said quietly, still looking at Jason, “and I’m sorry, I shouldn't have hidden that from you,” and then, because he needed to know, “are you…mad?”

Jason looked down for a moment before turning back to him, “do you want me to be?”

“No, but I would understand if you were,”

“I’m not, not anymore anyways,” he shrugged, “I get it, I understand why you did it, doesn't mean I liked it but I’m not mad at you,”

Dick nodded, taking a hesitant step forward until he was close enough to press a kiss to Jason’s cheek, “I love you,”

Jason smiled at him for the first time today, gentle and lovely, “I love you too,” he nodded towards the showers, “go shower, I think your training session is finished for the day,”

Dick turned to look back at the training area and found it was indeed deserted, when Duke escaped he wasn't sure but there was nothing he could do about it now. 

“You coming?” he asked, already walking to his things.

“I’ll wait for you, but I already showered,”

Dick gave him an exaggerated frown as he picked up his water bottle and shirt, “fine,” he sighed, “I’ll be fast,”

Dick didn't usually spend too much time in the caves showers, not that there was anything wrong with them really, he just preferred the one in his room or their apartment. Today though he couldn't get the image of Jason in his shirt out of his mind. Stealing each other's clothes was nothing new, they’d been doing it since well before they were even dating but Jason’s usually only taken pants, shorts, or hoodies. 

Things that fit him. 

Dick was not a small guy, he was big and muscular, sure, but Jason was bigger and far more bulky than he could ever hope to be so shirts were usually off limits if Dick had any hope of keeping them in good condition. Maybe that was why he was panting into his hand as he worked three fingers into himself to the image of his shirt moulding perfectly to Jason’s body. It was more of a compression shirt on him, the fabric stretching and cupping his pecs, hugging his biceps beautifully, and sitting so deliciously short along his narrow waist, leaving a tantalising sliver of skin exposed around the waistband of those god damned cargo pants he wore whenever he wanted Dick drooling over him. They even weren't anything special , just generic military fatigues but Jason wore them slung low on his hips to expose the elastic of his boxers, tied them with a black leather belt to accentuate his waist even more and Dick wasn't sure how he managed to get them to be loose in some areas and tight in others, all he knew was that they made his ass look great and that he needed to expend conscious mental effort to not ogle at him as the pants prominently displayed a part of him that Dick would spent the entire day wrapped around if he could.

“Need a hand in there?” Jason asked, taunting but clearly unaware of what Dick was doing. 

He stopped his fingers. Truthfully he had half forgotten Jason was waiting from him by the lockers, but how he had an idea, “actually, yea,” he called, making sure his voice sounded fucked out and breathy, “but why don't you come and give me something else, baby.” Dick shut off the shower and grabbed his towel from the hook just outside the shower stall, wiping himself down and wrapping it around his waist right as Jason rounded the corner. Dick was doing nothing to hide the fact that he was hard, and Jason was doing nothing to hide the fact he was staring. 

“How can I help?” he asked, licking his lips as he rested his hands on his belt buckle, making his pants lower even more along his hips. 

“Bend me over,” he said plainly and without an ounce of shame, “theres condoms in my bag,”

Jason smirked, stalking closer, “no lube?” he hummed, rummaging through the bag until he pulled out a shiny black square. He tucked the packet between his lips as his hands swiftly undid his belt. 

“Took care of it already,” Dick said unsure of where to look, “come on, we don't have all night,”

Jason huffed out a laugh as he dropped his belt onto the bench with a clatter and opened his pants, “yea? That's how you want it today? Fully dressed?”

Dick let Jason spin him around and bend him over until he had his forearms braced against the wall and the towel was taken off him. 

“I mainly just want the shirt,” he said turning his head to look at the mirror on the far wall (they’d been fucking in front of those a lot lately), “but the pants are a plus,”

Jason just shook his head and shoved his pants and boxers down enough for his cock to slip free, sliding the condom on with practised swiftness, lining up and pushing in without hesitation. Dick groaned as he was filled, watching Jason’s hips press flush against him and wait. They both knew that Dick was the one in charge this time around, so Jason only moved when he saw the nod. 

Jason didn't start slow, gripping Dick’s hips tightly and snappinghis hips in and out of him. They thrusts were shallow, Jason staying deep inside of Dick as he tugged him back the slightest bit, waiting to see how long it would take for Dick to snap and say “you can do better than that,” he gasped, “fuck me harder,” and that was all the permission Jason needed. 

Dick watched through half lidded eyes as Jason’s arms and stomach flexed as he fucked into him, jostling his whole body with the force he was using and filling the echoey space with the sound of skin on skin. He could see every shift and flex of his muscles in that shirt and at this point, if Jason tore it while fucking him Dick my cum on the spot. 

“You like the shirt that much?” Jason asked, voice rough as he got desperate. 

Dick nodded, mouth hanging open as he moaned, “course I do, you look hot,” he reached a hand down to stroke himself in time with Jason, “and it's all mine, every fucking inch of you, isn't that right baby?” 

Jason’s eyes fluttered the slightest bit and his stomach tensed, “that's right my prince,” Dick groaned at the name and sped up his hand. 

“God you're such a whore, especially in that shirt and pants, leaving nothing to the imagination at all,” he was getting close, mouthing off to try and get Jason to cum inside him, “you wanna be looked at? Want everyone to know you take it as good as you give it?”

“Yes, yes, fuck, Dick, AH!” his hips suddenly slammed into Dicks as he came, fingers squeezing his hips in a vice grip, and rolling his stuttering hips into him. His muscles and contracted and the knowledge that eh could see all of that, that he got fucked by Jason in his own shirt, that Jason was his was enough to send Dick over the edge and cuming between his legs. 

They stayed together for a moment or two, Jason taking most of their weight as Dick’s legs shook with the strain. They were panting but satisfied, and would probably need another shower but that was for later. 

“Wear that fucking outfit again next time,” Dick smirked at him through the mirror.

The third time Dick got Jason into his clothes was not in the circumstances he would have wanted.

When they regrouped at the cave it was deadly silent. Aside from the roar of engines no one spoke over the comms, and when they all started to put away their gear an uncomfortable tension floated in the air between them. Jason only stuck around long enough to drop his belt onto a table before he stormed off towards the elevator. Bruce didn't even spare him a glance as he sat stone faced at the computer. Dick looked between them, wanting to say something, defend Jason in any way he could, but he’d been dealing with Bruce’s moods for long enough to know that the best thing he could do was to leave it be and let them sort it out on their own.

He followed Jason deeper into the house. He considered heading to the shower with him but ultimately decided against it knowing it was better to give Jason some time alone to cool off. Dick went towards his room, pausing outside Jason’s door for a moment before continuing next door. 

He stripped off his suit and examined himself for any injuries he might have missed with all the adrenaline, only finding old bruises and the rare scratch but nothing else. He turned the shower to the hottest it could go and stepped under the water, hissing at the sting. Tonight had been a shit show; it had started out well enough but then they stumbled across a drug shipment, purely by chance and had needed to formulate an impromptu plan for dealing with it. That was when the problems started. 

Jason had one idea for how to deal with the operation and Bruce had another. He’d immediately shot down Jason’s plan, calling it too risky, too reckless, saying that it had too many variables, openly dismissing Jason’s insistence that he knew the types of people they were dealing with and how they operated, how they did things and what their blindspots were and ignoring any of the kids attempts to but in.  

Jason only relented when Batman told him to ‘stand down’ and levelled him a stare Dick hadn’t seen since he stopped mourning Jason’s death, it was pure anger and filled with unspoken threats. He could see how much it had truly shaken Jason, how his breathing stopped for five agonising seconds, how his hands started to shake the slightest bit, and the fear that flashed through his eyes as he took a half step back. He didn't say another word on the matter. Dick was furious, anger crashing over him like a tidal wave as he turned to Batman with a rage he hadn't felt since he was Robin. If he noticed, he didn't say anything, simply turned his gaze and started speaking. 

Batman’s plan had, unsurprisingly, gone to shit almost immediately, Bruce getting himself apprehended and separated from them in a fight with the boss. They’d tried to recover as best they could but with Batman preoccupied, all attention turned towards him as the lead but this wasn't his fight. Jason might not have said it but Dick knew these guys; he’d seen the boss last time Jason needed to make an official appearance at a meeting and wanted Dick to act as his arm candy. He wasn't sure if they were his guys exactly, but he knew Jason would know how to deal with it. He diverted attention to Jason stating that he knew this run better than any of them did, telling him to take the lead and that he trusted him to get them out in one piece.

And Jason did.

He managed to get them out of trouble with nothing but scratches. He barked orders through the comms, keeping the kids as far out of danger as he could and taking the brunt of it himself because he was the most physically prepared for it, bullets whizzing past too close for comfort and leaving him with a few grazes that bled worse than they were. He would have more than a few nasty bruises in the morning, but everyone had gotten out in one piece and that was all they wanted.

Dick dressed in his comfiest sweatpants and was about to slip into his favourite hoodie when he paused, staring at the garment. Jason had gotten it for him ages ago, a limited edition run of his merch that even Dick didn't get a chance to snag, an electric blue hoodie with a black Nightwing logo across the chest whose wings went down into striped over the arms, the thumbhole in the sleeve gave the illusion of the finger stripes. Dick went for a regular white shirt, keeping the hoodie in hand as he popped over to Jason’s door. 

He only needed to knock twice before the door opened and Jason revealed himself. He was shirtless, a few bandages littering his chest and more than a few spots were red. He looked tired as well, features sunken and defeated, he didn't smile at Dick. 

“What is it, little robin?” he was still so sweet as he spoke that it made Dick sadder.

Dick presented him the hoodie with a small, hopeful smile, “thought this might make you feel a little better,”

Jason stared down at the garment for a few long seconds before nodding, “thank you,” he said with his best attempt at a smile. 

“Come on, I heard Alfred made us tea and cookies,” he said, watching Jason slip the hoodie on, wincing when his body pulled in ways it didn't like. He wanted to reach out and hug him, touch him, card fingers through his hair and whisper that everything was gonna be okay, but that wasn't what Jason needed right now. Right now he needed physical space and Dick respected that, keeping his hands in his pockets and leaving a slight space between them as they walked downstairs. 

The lounge was unsurprisingly empty. The others had more complex costumes to take off and tended to use the showers in the cave after missions so they’d be taking a while. Jason sat on the loveseat and poured them some tea. Everyone in the house had a designated cup and saucer, Dick’s was simple white with illustrations of wild strawberries and strawberry blossoms in differing shades of blue ink around the outside, Jason’s cup was white and purple with various delicately painted vines of peonies along the outside and inside, it used to be a jade green one with white chrysanthemums but Jason wouldn't touch it after returning and Alfred swapped it out for this one. 

“Do you wanna talk about it?” Dick asked, taking the cup and saucer from Jason’s hands, still unsteady.

“He scared me,” Jason said quietly, staring off somewhere, “the way he looked at me, it…it was so hateful” Jason didn't need to say who he was talking about, “for a moment I was worried he was gonna hit me like…” he trailed off but Dick knee he was talking about Willis.

Dick frowned, desperately wanting to cradle Jason in his arms, “I know you hate it when I ask but,” he bit his lip for a second before continuing, “did it make you…go back?” 

Jason shook his head, “no, I didn't have a flashback or anything like that,” he leaned forward to pour more tea, “when we got back I think I had a…I think it's called an emotional flashback, but I'm fine, just a bit shaken,”

Dick was about to speak when Jason suddenly went rigid as he looked up, giving Duke a small smile.

“If it means anything,” Duke said, settling back into his chair and cradling his teacup, “I trusted your plan far more,” 

Jason nodded to him with the slightest smile, before he looked down at his cup, “tell that to the others,” he laughed into his tea, eyes cold.

“Oh trust me, all of us knew yours was better,” Tim said as he sauntered into the room, “and besides Dick had a point earlier,” he sighed as he flopped into his chair and melted into the cushions, “sure, you got more experience with drug runners than we do, but you know that arguing with Batman ” he made the clear distinction, “is pointless when he's dead set on a plan.” 

Tim was right, he and Jason were more than familiar with how Batman dealt with things, but sometimes when a particular situation was dangerous, urgent, and most importantly new, the line between Bruce and Batman would blur and he would formulate a plan that focused mostly on working from the shadows, keeping them out of sight as much as he could. It was his way of trying to protect them, trying to keep them safe. That's exactly what tonight was and they all knew it, but that didn't mean Jason had any less reason to be upset and Dick had any less treason to be mad at him. 

Jason, for as much right as he had to be angry at Bruce, he clearly wasn't, not as much as he could have been. He was more shaken up than mad, and so Dick could put aside his anger for now, it was a conversation they could have later. Right now as everyone slowly filled the room and apologies were shared, he was happy to just let the dust settle.

Chapter Text

Jason wasn't sure why he was so indulgent to Dick’s wishes. 

That's a lie really, he knows precisely why he was so willing to drop everything for the man, but that didn't stop him from complaining. 

“Remind me again why I agreed to come here with you?” he asked, holding the door open for him and Damian to enter. 

Dick simply beamed at him and shrugged, “cus you love us.”

Jason grumbled but didn't say anything further, choosing to slip inside behind them. Dick and Damian went out for food once a week if they could help it. Dick always called it ‘brotherly bonding’ and used it as an excuse to try new food places around the city. Dick always took photos and it was refreshing seeing the little brats face not set into a permanent scowl, honestly Jason found it quite endearing but he never tagged along, mostly out of respect for Dick and his want to spend quality time with their siblings, but because they both liked having time apart every once in a while. Jason spent his time working on their various vehicles, reading, playing with Haley, or occasionally with their siblings if they needed his help. It was a system that worked for them nicely, what with spending so much time together as is, it was nice to have new things to tell the other. 

The only reason Jason was tagging along today was because he and Damian had planned on sparring after their little date and when Dick caught wind of it, invited Jason to tag along, stating that it would be easier for everyone since there would be no set time to wrap things up. Jason had been rather reluctant to agree but Damian’s borderline enthusiastic (if not a little indifferent sounding) support for the idea was what swayed him. And so here he was, lingering semi awkwardly behind the other two as Dick ordered them something from the newest little cafe he discovered a few days ago and trying not to encroach too much on their usual activities.

“If you didn't want to come, you didn't have to, you know?” Damian said, voice laced with his usual disinterest but his eyes were more revealing, a lingering disappointment he couldn't hide. 

Jason took a step closer to him, keeping his voice hushed as he spoke, “it's not that I didn't want to come,” he explained, head bowed slightly towards him, “I know that despite what you say, you enjoy spending quality time with him and I would rather not intrude,”

Damian huffed a small laugh, a small smile tugging at one corner of his lips as he fell back onto Jason’s chest, relaxing his posture the slightest bit as Jason took most of his weight, “you should know best of all that if I didn't want you here I would not have agreed, especially not to appease Grayson,”

Jason looked down at him and wrapped an arm loosely around his shoulders, humming deep in his chest as Damian’s head fell back to rest against him as they waited for their order. Damian had gotten taller, every day looking less and less like the little kid he was instructed to care for all those years ago. Jason preferred him this way, more confident in what he wanted and who he was, shunting away from the influences of his mother and grandfather and allowing himself to feel and to love. 

“Aren't you two just adorable,” Dick smiled, turning around with a tray of drinks and a small stack of baked goods put into bags. Damian tensed against him the slightest bit but Jason only gave Dick a smile, loosening his grip to let Damian slip free from him. 

They found a booth in a far corner of the cafe, giving them enough privacy to talk about what they pleased and still let them have a good vantage of the whole shop. 

“What did you get?” Damian asked as Dick dolled out drinks and baked goods. 

“I got you a white hot chocolate, a raspberry and cheese danish, and a pecan tart,” he said glancing over the items, “got Jay a London fog, blueberry scone, and a cannoli, and for me I got a coffee, cannoli as well, and a slice of cheesecake,”

Jason felt a small smile tug at his lips and a little bit of warmth blossom in his chest at the thought that Dick not only ordered for him but that he had gotten his prospective order correct. It was such a small, insignificant detail, but it showed that he cared, that he listened and paid attention to Jason enough to note the little things that he did and that he liked. Even after two years, Jason was finding new ways to fall just that much more in love with his fiancee.

Their drinks and food were had with more chatter than Jason expected. He himself had never been particularly chatty and Dick usually made up for any silence that he might bring; Damian was much the same, especially when around other people he preferred to be silent. They both blamed it on League training but Jason had a sneaking suspicion it was because they felt they had nothing of note to add. 

Jason already knew that Dick could make even the most stone faced person crack a smile and engage him in conversation, hell it was something he used against Jason when he was feeling particularly moody or was too in his head, but it seems that his weird powers also worked on Damian. It had been a while since he had seen Damian fully ‘defrost’ around anyone other than him, it was nice to see the tension in his shoulders ease and his eyes light up with amusement as he talked. 

Dick split off from them as he and Damian were prepping to spar saying there was something he needed to take care of at home and that he would be back later. Jason assumed it was Haley and her vet appointment later that day. 

Jason tightened the wraps on his hands and kicked off his shoes as he stepped onto the mat, “you ready to go, kid?” he asked, grabbing one of the swords off the training rack, checking the blade to make sure it was a harmless training sword and not a misplaced and very sharp actual sword. 

“Will you ever stop calling me that?” the kid scowled as he tightened the wraps on his hands. He looked like the spitting image of his mother, right down to the little S shaped crease between their brows. 

Jason shrugged, tossing Damian one of the swords, “beat me first and then I’ll consider it,” he smiled, sharp and mocking, “you gotta earn your titles,”

Damian stared at him for a long moment, weighing his words before giving a single, determined nod. Jason watched him walk to the centre of the ring, posture tall and confident, in total contrast to his own relaxed and cocky one. They stood an arm and blades length away from each other, bowing in synchrony and muttering the familiar phrase “may the blood spilled be hard won” . Jason set his stance and sunk low, holding his blade in a faux defensive position. He watched Damian and the way he held himself; his stance and handling were textbook, firm and strong, but much like the bad habits Jason learned to break he held his legs too far apart. Jason lunged at him.

Damian expected a blade attack and Jason knew that, so he let the blades clash and slide together, tightening his hold so as to not lose his grip as the vibrations crawled up and down his arms. Still moving forward he turned his body slightly and practically fell into Damian, his too wide stance yielding easily from the force of their bodies colliding. Damian went flying back, his sword flinging in the opposite direction as Jason got himself on top of him in a pin, holding the sword threateningly to his neck.

“Again,” he said, standing up and offering Damian a hand, “your stance is too wide, makes you easy to topple,” 

“That was a dirty play, Todd,” Damian practically spat as he walked over to his discarded sword. 

“Criminals aren't gonna play by League rules, grunts aren't gonna be smart enough to win against you, but anyone worth their salt is gonna take any opening they see,” he waited a second to let Damian catch his breath and reset, “so I intend to play as dirty as I want, your job is to either knock this sword out of my hand or pin me,”

It was surprisingly easy to fall back into their old routines. In the League, Talia kept a close eye on her son, Ra’s did as well but he wasn't nearly as involved in his training as Talia who always the final say on what he was taught, who taught him, what his goals would be, how quickly he would be expected to meet said goals and what types of punishments should be doled out if something wasn't done to her standard. When she took Jason in, she took a step back from her son’s training to focus on him (as far as he understood it anyways) and only returned when she was sufficiently happy with how she had moulded Jason, assigning him as a guard dog to her son and indirectly as his teacher and primary sparring partner. It was unfair, Jason thought both then and now, Damian was young, far too young to properly be able to win any fight against Jason let alone come close enough to actually being able to hurt him in any way, but he persisted and over the time he was in the care of the League, he and Damian grew close enough to consider each other something like friends. 

He wasn't very sure how long they were sparring for, long enough to work up an annoying sweat, but Jason was so lost in the easy back and forth between them, Damian attacking and Jason correcting mistakes he noticed, that he had lost track of time. 

In the end, Damian never actually managed to do either task assigned to him and always ended up in one form of submission or another. There was no risk now, failure was an option and Jason was certain that knowledge was the cause of the look on Damian’s face as he stared down the end of Jason’s blade as the tip pressed into the base of his throat.

“Is that all you got, Todd?”

The cockiness made Jason scoff in amusement, “that's rich coming from the guy on the sharp end of the sword.” He pressed it in a little more just to prove his point before raising it up and away, extending a hand down towards him. 

Damian scoffed lightly and let himself be pulled up to his feet “we have the same training,” he said with slumped shoulders as he picked up his blade, “I am far more experienced than you by all means, how could I have lost again ?”

Jason smiled at him, seeing the little kid he knew was hiding deep under his frosty exterior, “couldn't tell ya, Dami,” he hummed, leaning down and scooping Damian up into his arms. He had done it to make the kid a little annoyed, but Jason was a little glad that he didn't fight back and let himself be carried, let Jason relive their times in the League, when things were simpler.  

“He's got like a foot of height and nearly 100 lbs of muscle on you,” Dick’s voice suddenly echoed. Jason looked up at where he stood on the platform, seeing the toothy white of his smile from all the way on the training mats and finding himself smiling as well. He set Damian down and laughed lightly when he ragdolled onto the ground, handing him his water bottle as Dick joined them. Jason slid down to sit against the wall, Dick sitting himself next to Jason and knocking their knees together playfully. Jason let out a breathy laugh as he let his head fall back on the wall, taking a few breaths to calm himself down, “you ready to go again?”

Damian shook his head and made a shooing motion with his hand, “spar with Grayson,” he said, “I’ve had enough losing for the day,”

Jason looked back at Dick and gave him a wicked smile, jutting his chin towards the mat, the gesture a question and an invitation. Dick’s eyes flashed a little as he nodded and Jason knew he was gonna be getting a good fight today. 

Jason had grown past the need to impress those around him, no longer needing the approval of those around him to feel like he was doing the right thing; the one person that was always exempt from that was Dick. Jason wasn't sure why he always wanted to impress him but it was a desire that came deep inside him, a carnal need to show off and prove himself worthy of Dick’s attention and affection, even now as they were getting ready to fight each other, that need flared in his chest as he took off his shirt and flung it across the room. He gave Dick the lopsided, cocky grin that Jason knew would get him shoved to his knees later and stood in the centre of the ring, arms spread out the slightest bit, daring the other man. 

It got him the reaction that he wanted. Dick licked his lips and Jason could see the slightest blush on his cheeks as threw off his shirt, eyes wandering briefly down Jason’s body before flicking over to the weapons in a silent question. 

He shook his head, setting himself up in a defensive stance. He didn't want to fight with weapons, not right now anyways, he craved the feeling of skin on skin, and the tender violence that came from sparring with Dick. 

His whole attention was on Dick, watching him pad over, confident but wary. Watched him crouch down low and hold his hands over his face like a boxer would. His eyes were obscured by his fringe, but Jason caught a brief glimpse of delicious violence and adoration before he was forced to block a punch aimed at his ribs. Dick moved like a blur, attempting to distract Jason with a low punch, so he wouldn't notice the one coming right for his face, but this wasn't his first rodeo and Jason was faster than Dick, easily blocking him again. He tried to get Dick on the floor but he slipped away easily, forcing Jason to defend more than attack. 

It was easy to get into a rhythm with him, easy to let all his worries, responsibilities, thoughts, and everything else just fade away into the back of his mind as he hones in on the man in front of him. All he needed to focus on right now was playing this game of give and take with Dick, a dance they practised time and time again, and one that they would continue to do for many more years to come. 

Right as their dance crescendoed, Dick tripped over the edge of the mat, and the split second break in concentration was enough for Jason to pin him, ending their first round and cutting their dance short. He had Dick underneath him, one hand around his neck and the other holding Dick’s wrists above his head, his knees keeping Dick’s legs firmly together so he couldn't use his flexibility to get him out of the hold. Jason watched him struggle before he relented, accepting that there was no way he was getting out of the pin.

“You’re enjoying this a little too much,” Dick gasped from beneath him, though he wasn't nearly as upset as he wanted to seem, a coy little smirk playing at his lips and the brazenly flirty wink sent his way.  Jason’s fingers twitched around his neck for a second before he decided better of it and got off. 

Starting their little back and forth again was easy. He could hear the humming of Dick’s’ body as it harmonised with his, making it easy to fall back into step with him as they grabbed weapons and lunged at each other once again with renewed vigour and an eagerness that only came about when they were allowed to tap into that well of power and anger they both stored away from prying eyes. 

Jason wasn't sure how long they were sparring for, cycling through weapons every few rounds as they got bored and wanted to up the steaks, moving on from dulled down training blades to very real and very lethal weapons. The addition added an element of real life danger that was notably absent whenever they sparred with anyone else. In the end they always ended up practising on each other, a little habit they formed in their younger years as their hero lives got a little more dangerous, and one that bonded them far more than they would have thought. Maybe that was why Dick wasn't scared, even as Jason managed a pin on him and pressed the razor sharp knife to his throat. Maybe that was why there wasn't an ounce of fear or doubt in his eyes as he gazed back at Jason’s,  whole body relaxed and confident in the knowledge that he would be fine, that he wouldn't be hurt because it was Jason on the other end of the blade. Maybe that was the reason Jason was gazing back at Dick with the same intensity in his eyes as their bodies pressed together in ways that made their heads spin. 

This was as much an act of trust as it was an act of foreplay and from the way Dick was holding his gaze and bearing his throat, he was just as aware of it as Jason.

Eventually exhaustion did creep into their bodies. It made their holds weak and their arms shaky and if Jason were feeling any less exhausted he would have easily been able to knock the quivering staff from Dick’s hands, even as the ends crackled with electricity, but, as it stood, all he could do was gasp, “who won?” as he tried to get air back into his lungs.

“It's a tie,” Damian’s familiarly soft voice chimed in startling both of them enough to make them jump and whip their heads to him. The kid was curled up on a bean bag chair he had snuck down here ages ago (and everyone pretended not to notice) with a sketchbook in his lap and a pencil delicately moving over the page. 

“How long have you been here?” Dick panted, dropping the staff and falling limp on the floor next to Jason.

“The whole time,” he shrugged, glancing up from his sketchbook, “well I did leave briefly to shower but other than that, I've been here the whole time,”

Jason’s body went rigid, eyes wide as he turned to look at Dick who was just as horrified. Jason thanked any and every deity that was watching over them for keeping the sparring session tamer than usual; neither of them particularly horny enough to do anything more than tease, shamelessly stare, and occasionally grope. Despite their relationship being public knowledge, there were some things they did not want their little brother knowing about, much less seeing even the start of, god knows they’ve had to wipe footage from the cameras multiple times because they got too carried away.

“Boys!” Stephanie's shill shout cut through their panic as she ran down the stairs, whatever she was going to say dying on her tongue as he caught a good look at he and dick heaped on the floor, “what the fuck happened to you two?”

 “They were sparing,” Damian answered for them.

“For how long?” Duke asked as he leaned over them with a raised eyebrow, “they’re soaked,”

“Few hours or so,” Damian shrugged. Jason grunted in agreement as he heaved himself up off the floor, sticky and uncomfortable.

Duke’s eyebrows raised as he shook his head with a small, amused huff, “I always forget those two got crazy stamina,”

Jason couldn't help the small smirk that tugged on his lips as he helped Dick stand, raising an eyebrow at him to silently say ‘you would know’. Dick chuckled and bit his lip, eyes widening briefly and eyebrows raising slightly to reply, ‘intimately’.

“Dinner plans,” Cass reminded from behind Damian, peering over his shoulder. She dodged the elbow he sent back instinctively, apologising for scaring him.

“Right!” Steph said, “go shower,” she said making a ‘shoo’ gesture at them, “we’re going out to dinner,”

Their dinner plans in question were an all too familiar restaurant just on the edge of town. He and Dick came here on anniversaries or other special occasions when they wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of Gotham and enjoy a meal without the threat of a villain or reporter stirring up trouble for them, but Bruce choosing it for a family Dinner was interesting. He and Dick had discovered the quaint place independently; Jason being good friends with the owner and recommending a good portion of the kitchen staff, and Dick because he’d been looking for somewhere nice to take out one of his girlfriends that was far enough away from their family while still being in Gotham. He knew Dick had brought Bruce once or twice but it was interesting to be coming back with the whole family. 

They’d arrived a little earlier than the others who were currently stuck in the late night traffic while he and Dick avoided it though some shortcuts and roundabout routes. 

“You know,” Jason said, shutting the car door, “I never considered bringing the others here,” he glanced over at Dick as they leaned against the hood of the car. 

He gave a one shoulder shrug, tucking his hands into the pocket of his slacks, “me either, always felt more like our place,”

Jason smiled softly and hummed, leaning back on his palms and giving Dick a slow once over. He was wearing the same outfit Jason got him when he proposed and looking even better than before. Dick looked good during the day but Jason always thought he transformed at night, maybe it was because he accessories more, wore rings and bracelets, maybe it was the way his eyes glinted in the artificial lighting, maybe it was how relaxed he looked in his rich boy clothes, maybe it was something else but either way he looked gorgeous. 

“Would you believe me if I said I kinda wanted a smoke?” Dick asked casually, tilting his head to look at the glittery city over the horizon. 

Jason laughed, shaking his head, “you're right I wouldn't believe you,”

Dick bumped their shoulders together as he smiled, “feels fitting given the outfits,” he said looking Jason up and down, eyes lingering at his neck, no doubt staring at the gold chain around his neck. 

“I’ll give you that,” he nodded, popping another button on his shirt, “it would really complete the sons of a millionaire look,”

“Don't call it that,” Dick rolled his eyes, “not when this is your work outfit.”

“I thought you liked when I played into the young, hot, and rich schtick,” he teased. 

“Not when you have to play as my brother,” he grimaced, “I prefer it when you’re my young, hot, and rich fiance,”

Jason laughed loudly at the admission, “you're not that much older than me fucker,” he gave Dick a light shove, “you make it sound like you're a fucking cougar.”

Dick’s no doubt witty retort dies on his lips as Bruce’s car finally pulls into the lot and parked next to them. 

“How’d you two get here so fast?” Duke asked as they filed out of the car. 

“Jason knows a shortcut,” 

“Right,” Steph nodded, “now let's go, I’m starving,”

That was enough of an excuse for Jason to turn around and start walking towards the doors, trusting the others were following him inside. 

“What's up man?” Devin, the host, beamed at him and Dick, “family dinner?”

Jason smiled warmly and knocked their fists together in greeting, “something like that, you got a table for eight?”

“Devin,” Dick beamed as he came up beside Jason, fist bumping Devin as well, “been ages man, how've you been?”

“Been good,” he said, looking down at his screen for a second before motioned for them to follow him, “took some time off to go on vacation with Lylla and the girls for their birthday,” 

Jason hummed softly, briefly glancing at he and Dick’s usual table as they went to the back of the restaurant, “give them our love, how old are they now anyways?”

“Maria’s sixteen now and Nicole is turning twelve next month,”

“Damn, you're gonna be one busy guy soon,”

Devin laughed softly, giving Jason a knowing nod, “so I keep being told,”

Jason looked next to him expecting to see Dick but finding empty space, looking a little more behind him to see the man lagging back, head turned to listen to hear Cass as she asked, “how’d you find this place?”

“Oh I brought him here once,” Dick said with a shrug, speeding up his pace again, “guess he liked it,”

Jason had never actually been this far back in the restaurant where the larger tables were placed to keep large parties and their noise away from the bulk of the patrons and offer some privacy. Everyone dispersed themselves as usual, sitting next to their respective seatmates. Jason had just pulled out Dick’s chair when he froze, hand hovering over the back of his own chair. “Oh shit,” he said, craning his neck to get a better look at the person at the far end of the restaurant, “is that Emily?”

Dick hummed next to him and followed his line of sight, “I think it is,” he said with a surprised laugh, “I didn't know she’d had a kid,”

“I’ll be right back,” he said as he stepped away from the table, figuring he had a bit of time before they had to order and belatedly remembering that he was there with the rest of the bat family.

“Tell her I say hi,” Dick said cheerily as he walked away. 

He kept to the edges of the dining room as he moved about the space, not wanting to interrupt others evenings as he approached Emily, Haley’s previous vet, her husband Travis, Dick’s close friend from his cop days, and their new baby. 

Emily spotted him when he was a few tables away and started waving happily, “Jason, hi!” He waved back, unable to keep the big smile from his face as she got up and hugged him tightly, “ooh it’s been so long,” she was just as cheery as ever. 

He hugged her back, reaching out to shake Travis’ hand as well, “tell me about it,” he said glancing over at the pretty stroller, “I won't stick around for long, just wanted to come and say hi,”

“Don't worry about it, you’re not interrupting anything,” Travis shook his head, “we were actually just talking about you and Dick,” he said stepping over to the strolled and delicately scooping up the very elegantly dressed baby.

Emily nodded as she smoothed out her dress and sat back down, “we were talking about inviting you guys over to meet Eddy and catch up,”

“We’d love to,” he nodded to her, “I’ll let Dick know and you guys can sort out a date, he’d love to meet Eddy,” he turned his attention back to the baby being gently rocked in Travis’ arms. 

“You wanna hold him?”

Jason flicked his eyes up to Travis and gave him a small, wary nod. He took the baby carefully, a part of him afraid that he would hurt him if he didn't guard his strength enough. Eddy babbled a little as he stared up at Jason with wide, shiny brown eyes, simply looking into his eyes before giving a gummy smile and a cute laugh. The approval made Jason relax, dropping a tension he didn't know he'd been holding and making a warmth bloom in his chest. “Aren't you the cutest little thing,” he said softly, “Dickies gonna love you,”

Eddy smiled at him again, laughing like he understood as he reached a little hand up to him. Jason shifted his hold and gave him one of his fingers, cooing softly when he wrapped his chubby fingers around it. He heard a camera shutter go off and snapped his head up to see Emily with the sappiest smile he’s ever seen on her as she held her phone up to them, “that one’s going in the photo album for sure.” Jason flushed pink.

“Speaking of,” Travis chimed in, teasing smile on his face, “where’s Dick? He’s usually never very far from you,”

Jason could feel himself blush the slightest bit more as he turned to look at their table, “oh he’s over there, family dinner night,” he explained. 

“You didn't tell us,” Emily glared at him, all motherly and concerned, “go back to your family, we can catch up later,” she shooed him off with a smile, taking the baby back from Jason.

“You heard the lady,” Travis shrugged as he sat down, “go spend time with your family, and tell your boyfriend we say hi,”

Jason nodded to them, “you guys enjoy your dinner, sorry for interrupting,” he turned around and then stopped, “oh, and he’s not my boyfriend anymore, if you know what I mean,” he winked before walking away, catching Travis’ wide eyes and Emily’s delighted gasp before he was slipping back to their table with warm and fuzzy feeling in his chest. 

“Did you guys order already?” he asked when he reached the table again.

 “Yea, the waiter came around right after you left,” Dick answered easily, “I just ordered for you,”

“Oooh, what do you order?”

“Spinach and tomato pasta,” he listed off, using his fingers to count the items, “the one with the chicken,” he clarified, “greek salad on the side, oh and garlic bread,”

“You know me so well,” Jason’s smile was cheesy and borderline lovesick (he blames the Eddy), “Emily says hi by the way, she wants to get together sometime so you can meet Eddy,” he grinned, subtly gloating that he got to meet their new nephew before Dick did and knowing that he wouldn't be able to go and say hi now that their meals were being placed in front of them, though knowing Dick, he’d be slipping away at the first possible moment.

If Jason knew one thing, it was his fiance. He watched with mild bemusement as Dick tried his hardest to causally excuse himself from the table and walk over to their friends, acting like he hadn’t been practically vibrating the entire evening. 

He ended up ordering desert for him and was met with silence and intense staring from his siblings. 

 “How do you two know each other's orders so well?” Tim asked, leaning forward a bit in his chair with the detective look in his eyes.

Jason furrowed his eyebrows, “why wouldn't I know his order?” he asked, “he gets the same thing every time,”

“I thought you'd never been here before?” Steph cut in, talking like she’d caught him in a lie, the tone making Jason’s defences rise instinctively.

“What are you talking about blondie?” he asked, baffled at the idea the he wouldn't know Dick’s dessert preference, “even if I didn't know what he was gonna order, he loves anything cake adjacent and overflowing with chocolate, lava cake is the obvious answer”

“I didn't know you and Dick were so close,” Duke said, making Jason raise an eyebrow at the comment but getting his train of thought derailed as his eyes wandered over to Dick stood at Emily’s table, cradling Eddy in his arms and chatting the poor baby’s ear off as he laughed and wiggled around in his hold. He smiled softly at him and leaned back in his chair as the others faded to background static as he continued their conversations.

Maybe they would get their white picket fence one day, but even if they didn't, Jason didn't particularly mind, he was happy as they were in their quaint lives away from the hustle and bustle of their hero lives. 

Dick was more than enough for him, and far more than Jason ever thought he deserved.

Chapter Text

Dick was not having a good day. 

He was wrapping up some business in Blüdhaven, a small-time gang that was gaining far too much influence for his liking.

It should have been a simple in and out type of job. Go in, scare them a little, maybe rough some guys up, and let Jason deal with the rest since he had more of an interest in this than he did. Of course, nothing in his life was ever that easy and nothing ever fully went to plan, no that would be far too easy. 

“Looks like we caught ourselves a birdie,” a voice leered from the darkness, it was masculine and made the hairs on the back of his neck stand. Dick kept his head lowered, fingers subtly working at the binds in his hands. He just needed a little bit of reach.

Footsteps circled him slowly, whatever shoes the guy was wearing were stiff and made his footsteps bounce off the concrete. He had to give it to him, it was certainly a good intimidation factor but now he knew that whoever it was, wasn't ready for a fight. 

“You're awfully silent,” the man said, now in front of Dick but still keeping to the shadows, “I heard you never shut up,”

“What can I say,” he said casually as his fingers slipped under the binds holding his wrist, “this whole situation isn't very inspiring,” he pressed into the small button sewn into a small catch in the sleeve of his suit.

The man scoffed and went back to pacing around him, prowling like an animal and Dick honestly could give a fuck less, “I don't take kindly to people sticking their noses where it doesn't belong,” 

Dick couldn't help himself now, “and I don't take kindly to gangs crawling around in my city, but we all can't have what we can't now can we?” he finally raised his head and smiled off into the darkness. He tapped the button incessantly, knowing Barbra was gonna have his head for it but the fact that he hasn't been hit, threatened, or harmed in any way yet was starting to make him nervous. 

“We have plans here boy blunder,” a hand yanked his head back, “the gangs here need guidance,”

“And let me guess, you’re the one that's gonna give it to them?” he didn't drop his sarcastic smile, forcing his pain aside, “hows that working out for ya so far? Cus like I checked you were the laughing stock of this city,”

The man shoved his head forward and kicked the back of the chair, sending it flying forward. Dick had just enough time to turn it so he didn't land face first on the ground, still hurt like a bitch but he could fight with a few bruises, a concussion, not so much.

“Why can't you learn to mind your fucking business,” a foot collided with his stomach, making him cough, “we wouldn't have to do this if you’d just looked the other way and let my boys do their work,”

Dick coughed, pain spreading through his abdomen as another kick landed to his ribs, “not exactly how a vigilante works dude,” he strained his ears for any sign that someone was coming but he couldn't focus past the blood rushing in his ears, “it's kinda my job to stop you,” he struggled against the ropes holding him down but the knots were too tight and too high up for him to try and undo. He knew he was running out of time and despite his best efforts to keep up his grandiose confident act, he could feel his hands shake under the thick leather of his gloves. 

A sharp ringing cut through the sounds of the room and the man stopped his beating to pick it up, “yea boss?” dick still couldn't get a good look at him, vision swimming from the pain radiating through him but he looked older and muscular, “yea I got him right here, what do you want me to do with him?” There was a brief pause before the man laughed, something sick and delighted that struck fear right to his core, “sure thing boss.”

Dick struggled harder, rescue be damned, he was not sticking around to find out what the guy was gonna do to him if he could help it. 

“No use little birdie, you're not getting out of there unless you cut yourself out,” 

“Fuck you,” he spat, facade dropping as he tried to free himself. 

There was a distinctly metallic sound from above him, a sound Dick was all too familiar with. He froze, eyes wide as he stared off into the darkness, his heart was hammering in his chest and his breathing was erratic. 

“What can't look me in the eyes?” He was digging his grave even deeper now, but he couldn't help himself. It was easy to fall back into his persona, it made facing death just that much easier, “if you're gonna kill me, at least give me that much dignity,”.

He heard the hammer get pulled back and a footstep taken closer to him. Dick closed his eyes and let his head drop to the concrete, defeated. 

“I’m sorry, Jay,” he whispered, barely audible even to him as one tear slid down his cheek.

BANG

Dick heard the shot ring around him and echo in the space, he waited for pain, for his life to flash before his eyes, for anything at all, but there was only silence. Footsteps hurried towards him and he shook even harder than before, thrashing in his restraints when a hand touched the binds holding his wrist. 

“Hey, hey, calm down,” a soothing voice said, “just breath okay,”

He shot his eyes open, craning his neck to look behind him. Jason was crouched behind him, knife in hand as he cleanly sliced through the ropes holding him down. Dick scrambled to sit up, hands slipping on the floor in his panic. He needed to get out of here as quickly as possible. Strong arms caught him before he could hit the ground again and pulled him into a firm chest. 

“It's okay, just breathe,” Jason said, voice distorted from the mask. Dick clung to him like a lifeline, shaky fingers reaching up to fumble with the clasp before they were knocked away and Jason was sliding it off his face.

“Jay,” he sobbed, tightening his grip on the man, “the others where are they?” It was a stupid thing to ask, but the fear of his family seeing him like this was suffocating. 

“Not here,” he replied, “they're on the other side of Gotham, and I killed our com lines, we can hear them but they can't hear us,” he gently ran his fingers through Dick’s hair, “it's just us,”

Any remaining resolve crumbled with the words and a broken sob left his lips before he could so much as muffle it. He ripped off his domino mask and allowed himself to cry, allowed his fear to dilute in his veins.

“I was so scared,” he whispered after his sobbing at died down, “I thought I —”

“You didn't,” Jason cut in, “you're alive, and you're safe,”

“I'm safe,” he repeated softly. 

A kiss was pressed to his hairline before he was rearranged to curl up sideways in Jason's lap as he leaned against a wall, “do you want me to take you to your apartment, or do you wanna stay and wait for the bats?” he asked, crossing his legs and settling Dick in the cradle of his hips.

“I should stay,” he said with mild detachment, the only thing keeping him somewhat grounded being Jason's steady heartbeat.

“I didn't ask about what you should do,” Jason said, “I asked what you wanted, is that what you want, darling?”

He hesitated. If he didn't stay then he'd be hunted down by the rest of the family and make their worrying worse, but if he stayed then he'd have to tell them what happened without crumbling his calm, cool, and collected big brother image and making them bench him. 

“I want to let them know I’m okay,” even if they both knew he wasn't, “I just don't think I can talk about what happened, not without…” he stared down at his still trembling hands, the suffocating fear crawling up his throat as he remembered what just happened.

“Then don't,” Jason said simply, stroking his hair, “you're not obligated to tell them anything you don't want to, you don't owe them shit,”

“They’re gonna ask,”

“Tough shit,” he shrugged, “they can ask all they want, if you don't wanna tell them then don't,”

Dick nodded, reaching out to take Jason’s hand, “can you stay?” he whispered, ashamed that he needed to ask. 

“I didn't plan on leaving,” he nodded, “so if you wanted to be alone sucking sucks cus I’m not letting your pretty little ass out of my sight.”

He laughed, soft but genuine, leaning up to press a light kiss to Jason’s lips, “thank you,”

When the rest of the bats showed up, Dick had managed to put himself together enough to not draw too many questions about himself. Jason was standing off to the side, arms crossed over his chest and ready to jump in if anyone got a little bit too aggressive in their questioning. 

“Nightwing!,” Tim shouted as he, Damian and Bruce burst into the room, “are you okay? What happened?”

Despite knowing they were coming, he still jumped at the sudden rush of sound, “ah, don't worry guys, I’m fine, just a little roughed up,” he smiled, slowly sliding himself back into his big brother persona. 

“Are you hurt?” Damian asked, shocked enough to drop the formal language. 

“Just a little roughed up but I’m fine otherwise, don't worry,”

“I swear to god,” Jason suddenly spoke up from his spot against the wall, glaring at Tim when he opened his mouth again, “if you ask him what happened one more time I’m throwing you out of this room myself,”

“Where is the person responsible for this?” Bruce cut in, shifting focus before Tim could start an argument with Jason. 

Jason jut his chin towards the room Dick had been held in, “in there with a bullet in his skull,”

“Why would you think—” Bruce started one of his lectures, clearly angry at the idea of Jason killing anyone but Jason was having none of it.

“Don't you fucking start,” he shook his head, “you weren't here, you don't know what I saw, and you don't get to say shit about how I dealt with it,” his voice was alarmingly calm, the modulator was turned off on Dick’s request but it did nothing to tone down the deadly calm in his posture, “you want the reason? Go look for yourself, you’re smart enough to put two and two together,”

Bruce looked surprised at his reaction, well as surprised as he allowed himself to be when he was Batman, “did you have no other option?” The question was more human sounding than Bruce had likely intended. Jason was right, he was a smart man and Dick would bet good money that he knew precisely what was being implied.

“No,” he was doing a good job at keeping his emotions stable but Dick could see the twinge of fear in his actions, the fear that he nearly lost him, “not with what he was gonna do to Dick.” 

He pushed off the wall and looked towards Dick, who had moved towards the door at the beginning of the argument, ready to disappear if his anxiety decided to kick in again, “let’s go, we’re done for the evening,”

“You have no right to dictate what Grayson does in his city,” Damian tried to argue but stopped when Jason removed the domino mask portion of the muzzle and turned to him. 

“You wanna finish taking care of the city be my guest, but he’s done for the night, you got a problem with that take it up with your dad,”

“You didn't need to do that,” Dick said as he clung to Jason, eyes closed as he weaved his bike through the familiar paths back to Dick’s apartment. 

“I wasn't about to let him lecture me for what I did, and I wasn't gonna let them pressure what happened out of you,” his voice was cut with a bit of static, but it was gentle and sincere, not angry or annoyed, “how are you feeling? Still a little spacey?”

“Not as much no,” he opened his eyes again, watching the water as they crossed one of the many bridges in the city, “I kinda feel…nothing, honestly,”

He felt more than heard Jason’s hum, “yea that's…thats pretty normal,” he sounded sad but the familiar tug in his chest was notably absent, “it’ll pass eventually,”

Dick nodded and let his head rest on Jason’s back, “will I be okay, Jay?” he asked, though it boarded more on a plea. 

“Do you want the honest truth or the comforting one?” 

Dick huffed a small laugh. It was something they would ask each other all the time back home when they did something stupid, or were wearing a dumb outfit but they had never actually used it when talking about something serious. Dick was honestly a little glad that Jason had though, as it eased a bit of the tension in his body. “The honest one, please,”

“Physically, you be fine in a day or so,” he paused briefly, almost like he was going to change his mind but carried forward,“mental recovery is gonna take longer, shit like this likes to stick around in ways that you might not expect,” he sighed, and Dick knew he was being more vulnerable than it sounded, “and I can't guarantee that it’ll ever fully go away, but it will get easier and eventually you’ll be feeling good again,”

Jason bullied dick into the shower as soon as they got back to his apartment, corralling him like a sheep as he redirected every single protest that he could have had leaving him no other option but to comply. 

The water in the apartment wasn't as hot as back home but it did the job of soothing the bruises that were forming and working out the tension in his shoulders. He stopped shaking around the time they got back, but the numbness that was originally trapped behind his throat and chest, had spread to his whole body. He's tried to elicit any emotional reaction or feeling, and he couldn't even bring himself to be horrified when nothing happened. 

“You alright in there, sunshine?” Jason asked from the other side of the door. His tone was soft, softer than he'd ever let it be around anyone except Dick, and despite the lack of familiar warmth in his chest, he still smiled at the concern and affection in his voice. 

“Still standing,” he replied, shutting off the water and grabbing his towel from the hook next to the shower.

“Do you mind if I come in?” 

His tone made Dick pause; it was hesitant, careful — more so than even Dick had ever heard and so unlike the person that Jason liked to portray himself as. He belatedly realised that he'd been silent for too long when Jason spoke up again.

“If you don't want me to, it's okay,”

“No!” He said quickly, “no, I mean yes, please,” he wrapped the towel around his waist hastily and swung open the door, “please come in,” 

Jason gave him a small, relieved smile and stepped inside, “I grabbed you some comfy clothes, and I made something to eat before we leave,”

He looked down at the small stack of clothes and nodded, “thank you, jay,” he smiled, “you didn't have to do this,”

“I wanted to,” he shrugged, turning his back Dick and motioning to his clothes, “and don't think it's from pity, it's not,” he stressed, still turned away as Dick changed, “you've been through something shitty and it fucked with you, it's me doing my job as your fiancee and taking care of you,”

Dick was glad that they weren't sticking around, he really wanted to snuggle up with Haley and be as far away from the city as possible so he really didn't feel bad about leaving. He's done enough.

The ride back to Gotham was the same it always was but the familiarity of it helped ease his mind a bit and Jason’s firm and solid body pressed into his chest, radiating heat that could be felt even through the thick riding jacket helped give him a tether as he let himself process the events of the evening. He let his eyes close and his mind drift back.

He was back in the room again, but this time he wasn't tied in the chair…well he was in the chair, but he was looking in on himself from a third person’s view. The room was smaller than it seemed when he was tied down, barely more than ten foot by ten foot, it had felt night on infinite when all he could see was shadows around the spotlight that shone down on him. The man's voice still made the hairs on his neck stand on end, it was menacing as he bounced around the room as he circled Dick. He could see the man's outline this time when he crossed  in front of him and obscured the lights. He looked predatory, like he knew the night was gonna end with him putting a bullet between Dick’s eyes. Dick could feel the inky tendrils of fear start to paw at his skin but he shook them off and moved closer to himself in the chair. His mouth was moving but none of what he was saying was intelligible, not that it needed to be, Dick remembered all he had said.

He looked far more confident that Dick remembered feeling. He remembered being overcome with fear and urgency, but looking at himself now as the man would have, he looked sure of himself, at ease even, as he carried himself like a man who knew he was getting out of his restraints, at times it even seemed like this whole scenario was nothing more than a minor inconvenience to him. Maybe that was what set the gangster off in the first place, his bravado, the persona he adopted every time he donned his suit. 

The memory snapped forward violently and dick looked down at himself on the floor right in front of his feet. He still looked brave, even bruised, bloodied, and defenceless, he still masked the bone deep terror that coursed through his body, he still looked death in the eyes with a blinding smile and a snarky comment on his lips. He saw the exact moment he realised what the man wanted to do to him. At that moment, he saw the hairline crack in the mask. He saw as any rational thought he could have had, any words he could have said to buy himself more time, any hope he had that he would be saved, were all forgotten as he clawed at his restraints and kicked his feet out like a feral animal in a hunters trap. He was animalistic, dangerous, and desperate.

The click of the gun was quieter than he recalled, it didn't echo around the room like he thought it had but it still made all the fight leave his body as he went lax and accepted his fate. 

They stopped moving rather abruptly, dragging Dick’s awareness back to his surroundings. They were back at their apartment building, the hushed sounds of the Gotham streets buzzing around them, even at this time of night. Jason didn't say anything as they dismounted, Dick didn't either as he grappled with his thoughts and emotions, on the final steps of beginning himself some peace with the events of the night. If Jason knew what he was doing he didn't mention it as they locked up their bikes, grabbed their bags and headed inside. 

Jason made them take the stairs, and internally Dick was glad for the walk, even if it was up four floors. He wasn't sure if he could deal with being trapped in the cramped elevator right now. And as soon as they opened the door Haley was all over them, yipping happily as he jumped around their feet, frankly just happy to have her dads back home. Dick scooped her up easily, laughing as she started licking his face, tail wagging so fast Dick wondered if she was gonna take off flying. 

“What about me huh?” Jason said with mock annoyance as he leaned over them, deep laugh rumbling in his chest as Haley switched her attention to him, giving him plenty of kisses.

Their evening was spent in what Dick would describe as domestic bliss where they lit a few scented candles, and snuggled up in bed as Dick watched a movie on the TV and Jason read his newest book. It was nice, it was that his cop friend would occasionally talk about doing with their wives back when he was on the force. It was something he had been eternally envious of, thinking that he would never be able to have those moments with anyone else given his career path. Until Jason quite literally crashed into his life and turned it on its head, making Dick realise the true depth of feelings he had long since buried and forcing them both to fight for the right to be loved and trusted by the other. 

Saying it was unconventional (and incredibly stupid) was an understatement, but if it meant he got to do this every night, then Dick would do it all over again. 

Life went back to normal, or the closest thing to it. 

Jason had been right, after a day or two he was feeling like himself again and it was easier to act like he was expected to, but that didn't mean the ripple effects dissipated, but he had Jason with him to help make things just a little bit funnier. 

“Right, let me see if I understand,” Jason sighed, briefly closing his eyes in exasperation, not stopping his sauteing and if anything speeding up,  “you thought putting an electrified escrima stick under your pillow was a good idea?”

Dick huffed and rolled his eyes, head falling back to stare up at the ceiling, “says the man with a gun in the nightstand and a knife taped to the side of the bed?” He knew he had no legs to stand on in this argument, not really, because regardless of the paranoia brought on because of the newly developed gun related nightmares, a gun was far safer than an overpowered taser with a finicky switch that ignites for little reason. 

Jason grabbed the remaining empty plate between them and pushed the veggie scramble on to it, shutting off the flame before turning to him with arms crossed over his chest, “the knife and gun don't have the ability to electrocute me if I’m too sleepy to look at what end I’m grabbing.” He had the all too familiar ‘you gotta be kidding me’ look but it was very hard to take it to heart given that this was the same man who woke him up with snuggles, kisses, and laughing and playing with Haley in the sheets. 

“Yea yea, whatever,” he pouted, hopping off the counter. He had no other argument to make so he just crossed his arms and turned away from him. 

They stood there for a few seconds, Dick not looking at Jason, but feeling his presence behind him. Jason chuckled faintly behind him and Dick allowed his shoulders to relax, turning back to him with a gentle smile. 

“Come on, breakfast is ready idiot.”

Dick turned to the door of the kitchen, pleasantly surprised to see Cass peaking in on them with wide eyes, “Oh, Mornin’ Cass,”

Jason furrowed his brow and turned to the door, smiling at Cass when he spotted her too, “did you want some breakfast?” he asked, setting their plates on the small table by the door. 

“If you wouldn't…mind?” She asked with a little bit of shame that Dick found frankly adorable. Jason gave her a single nod and turned back to the stove, barking orders for Dick to get him ingredients as they fell back into their familiar rhythm in the kitchen. 

Cass watched them with curious eyes as they moved around each other. It looked like she was studying them, almost confused by what she was seeing but Dick honestly couldn't figure out what she was picking up. They weren't acting any different than usual, Dick was still joking around and Jason was laughing and calling his jokes lame. If he didn't know any better then he would say it was because of Jason offering to cook for her, or maybe him laughing and going along with all of Dick’s stories and jokes but he did know better, and he knew that this was how Jason was outside of patrol, this is how Jaosn was when they were together, this was Jason on a normal day (he wasn't even especially cuddly today! This is their usual day to day) so he really wasn't sure what she was seeing. 

He'll have to ask her later. 

Dick didn't love having Jason on patrol with him. 

It sounds bad, not wanting to have his fiance with him, but it wasn't as sweeping a distaste as it sounded.

 When the bats were out on patrol there was a particular mask he needed to wear. When he was Nightwing, he stopped being Dick Grayson, he stopped being an older brother or anything that wasn't a vigilante.

At one point he was sure that he enjoyed the persona, enjoyed the thrill of being someone else, someone with minimal consequences, someone that made a difference; now the mask carried with it the weight and expectations of a successor, of the next one to inherit the mantle of Gotham's Protector. Add to that all the rightfully traumatising shit he's gone through as Nightwing and it's rightfully lost its sparkle. 

He doesn't hate it though, he never would. He puts on the suit willingly and he plays his part enthusiastically, sometimes it's just harder to play the role he's expected to.

Especially when he has a vision of his potential normal life running right alongside him. It was hard not to let his guard down around Jason, he was Dick’s safe place, someone he knew he could lean on if anything were to go wrong, someone he knew was always watching his back no matter where he was in the field. It wasn't a one sided feeling either, Jason had confessed the same feelings to him countless times that he needed to keep a tighter hold on his Red Hood image when everyone was working together, but that he wouldn't trade it for anything else. 

Dick couldn't agree more. 

He and Jason got on like a house on fire. It was like this ever since Jason was Robin and Dick was a more idealistic Nightwing. They were always chatty, poking fun at each other, getting into silly arguments that had Bruce acting more like a father than their boss. Tonight was no different, especially with Bruce on the other side of the city. 

“I simply don't understand why you insist on being wrong,” he said with a scoff, ducking behind a cement barrier to keep out of the searchlights as he rounded the warehouse.

“Because I am simply not wrong,” Jason whispered, “the best way to enjoy a cake is to take a few bites of the whole thing and then go layer by layer,”

“Can you two idiots knock it off?” Tim hissed silently over the line, “you're gonna get one of us caught,”

Dick rolled his eyes, and Jason grumbled from the other end of the line, both of them momentarily pausing their little discussion. Dick crept up behind the henchman guarding a service door. He took one of his escrima and hooked it over the guy's neck, pulling him back and applying enough pressure to ensure he didn't scream. Just as he was about to properly knock him out, a blur of red slid up beside him and pistol whipped the guy hard enough to have him go limp. 

Jason opened the door and made an exaggerated motion inside. Dick chuckled and inclined his head, walking up to Jason and pressing a brief kiss to his helmet before slipping inside and tucking behind a very convenient wall of crates stacked tall enough to make their little alcove look inaccessible with the dingy remnants of those plastic flapped curtains to obscure their forms while giving them a decent vantage.

 “I’m in,” Cass said softly over the channel, she should be somewhere above them on the tall shelves.

“Me too,” Jason said, wrapping an arm around Dick’s hips.

“Ditto,” Dick confirmed, shuffling in their small space so Jason could see as well.

“Success,” Tim chimed in after what sounded like him tripping.

“Same over here,” Steph said, and then after a moment, “Robin and Signal just joined me, waiting on orders,”

“Hood, Wing, what's your visual?” Tim asked. Dick could just barely see him from his spot behind one of the many overcrowded shelving units a little ways away.

 “They’re moving guns,” Dick said, craning his neck to peer into one of the open crates.

“Oooh,” Jason chimed in with an all too familiar excitement, looking into the darkness of the truck that was offloading, “looks like they’re running drugs too, double feature tonight.” 

Dick looked at him with an amused smile, bumping their shoulders together as a subtle reminder that his excitement was quite weird, even for them. Jason squeezed his hip a little bit and bumped him back, no donut smiling under the helmet.

 “Can you get to Penguin?” Tim asked, snapping them back to the task at hand.

“Not likely,” he answered, looking at penguin shifting and looking around like the shadows were gonna jump him a second, “he's antsy, anything we do might scare him off,”

Tim made a small thinking noise, “Hood, focus on securing the shipment, Nightwing, go for Penguin,”

“Sure thing boss,” Dick said with a shrug, doubtful that he was gonna get very far but willing to try.

“You think that's a good idea?” Jason asked, tightening his hold on Dick the slightest bit more, but it fell on deaf ears.

“What about us?” Damian asked.

The grin on Tim’s face was telegraph perfectly through over the comms, “we’re gonna distract them,”

“Make it loud and flashy?” Steph cut in, no doubt with the same grin she inherited from Tim, who’d in turn inherited it from Jason.

“Orphan, Signal, on your go, kick us off,”

They waited with baited breath, bouncing on their toes until a clear, “smoke, go!” crackled over the comms, followed by the room engulfing in smoke not two seconds later.

The panic was almost instantaneous. No one had been expecting them to show up, and heard one of the goons mutter that it must be the cops as they ran to engage with his siblings deeper into the warehouse. Jason vaulted over the crates with a grunt, punching one of the henchmen that stuck around to finish with the shipment. Dick followed him once he had a clear path and jumped up, grabbing onto a small ledge above him, swinging over the stack of crates and kicking a guy square in the jaw, feeling the crack under his feet but finding he didn't much care. Jason busied himself with fighting up and into the truck as Dick made his way to Penguin, who was stupidly trying to make sure all his product was secured before he scurried off. 

Dick jumped up and was about to land a punch right to the back of his head when Penguin spun around and ducked under him. 

“Penguin, can you please not try to run?” he said, with a familiar bravado.

“Are you really asking him not to run?!” Jason half over the comms and half from the truck.

“Not like you don't talk to yourself during your patrol,” he shouted, ducking under a sharp swing of his cane, “hey! Watch the face,” he scolded with a little finger waggle before aiming a punch at the surprisingly agile man. 

 “I don't try to negotiate with Penguin ,” Jason said, sounding out of breath, but it seemed that his fight was dying off.

“I literally heard you singing the Ducktales opening while you were bashing skulls,” Dick grunted as the head of penguins cane hooked over his shoulder and pulled him down so the man could land a swift but weak punch to his stomach, “and then you started bitching at the bad guy for interrupting you,” he shook himself off and swung at penguin with renewed anger, landing successful and painful strikes. 

He was just about to swing for his jaw when everything froze. Penguin was clutching his ribs with one hand as the other pointed a gun at him. Dick’s whole body locked up in an instant as pure fear shot through his body. 

He didn't hear the sound of the gun going off, only felt the white hot pain on his shoulder as the bullet embedded itself in his shoulder and knocked him to the ground. 

“Nightwing!” he could hear Jason shouting from somewhere above him but it was distant and foggy as he tried his best to keep himself from slipping back to that god awful concrete room that haunted his dreams. 

Jason was on him in an instant, ripping the helmet off his head and slapping a domino mask on as he pressed his hands to Dick shoulder to try and stop the bleeding.

“Are you okay?” he asked, eyes flicking over Dick’s face, letting him know that he wasn't just asking about his physical state, but his mental state as well.

Dick smiled up at him, genuine and sincere, “I’m alright little wing,” he nodded and placed his hand over Jason’s, “tis but a flesh wound,”

“Robin, do you have something to help the bleeding?” Tim shouted as the other ran up to them. Dick didn't take his eyes off Jason as he shook from above him, applying firm pressure to his shoulder and poised to jump at anyone that came too close.

Out of the corner of his eye he saw Cass pull Damian back a step, “Orphan what are you doing?”

“Give it to Jason,”

Bless her honestly. Dick knew Jason was too jumpy to let anyone else touch him right now, though it appeared that the observation was not as obvious as dick would have originally thought as Steph reached out, presumable to help Jason, and got her hands slapped away and an animalistic growl from Jason a that in any other circumstances would have been beyond hot.

The others split off from them after ensuring that Dick was gonna be okay, moving to finish securing everything before the police arrived. 

Dick watched Jason work. Eyes following his hand as he grabbed one of his knives and made a clean cut along the shoulder of his suit.

“Hey!” he shouted, “was that really necessary?” he couldn't honestly care less about his suit, but it was the only way he could think of to ease Jason’s worry a little bit.

“It is when I have you bleeding on the floor of a fucking warehouse,” he shook his head, readjusting his grip on Dick as he poured antiseptic over the wound, using his bodyweight and size to keep him from bucking too badly from pain.

“What the fuck Jay,” he gasped, holding Jason’s wrist in a white knuckle grip, “that hurts ,”

“Yea no shit it hurts,” he muttered, pressing bandages to his shoulder and wrapping it in gauze, “but it's better cleaned off than getting infected, that's what you get for doing something so stupid .” The words stung, but he was right, what he had done was incredibly stupid and beyond reckless but he wasn't taking the words too personally. Jason was wound tight, he could see it in the tight set to his shoulders and the shaking in his hands despite how gentle he was being wrapping up Dick shoulder. Every inch of the Red Hood persona was gone and replaced with the raw ferocity of a guard dog ready to snap at the next person that came too close to its master.

“You think I’ll need stitches?” He asked, grunting as Jason helped sit him up. 

Jason shook his head and tugged off his gloves, “no, wound’s not deep enough to need it, I can patch you up better at home,” he moved some stray hairs from Dick’s face, fingers grazing over his cheekbones as he moved them behind his ears, “you’ll just have to give it time to heal, that means bedrest, no acrobatics circus boy,” he smiled, playfully poking him in the chest. 

Dick smiled at him again, laughing softly as he let his head fall onto Jason’s chest for a moment, closing his eyes. 

“Take me home,”

Chapter Text

If you had asked Bruce two years ago if he ever thought that Dick and Jason were gonna be the first of his kids to get married he would have laughed in your face and said a very certain ‘no’, and he wouldn't have said it out of malice either, he just knows his sons better than any of them really care to admit. 

Dick was what the media circuit liked to call ‘an all rounder’, meaning he had looks, personality, charisma, and money, and his little stint as a model and a cop certainly helped make him one of the most in demand bachelors within Gotham’s elite. What the media didn't see though was Dick’s habit to give all of himself to his partners and how it destroyed him every time a relationship ended. It also wasn't lost on him that Dick had his fair share of issues, many of those in large part caused by Bruce himself. He wasn't quick to trust, and could almost be considered two faced with how he hid aspects of his personality and changed how he acted around those that he didn't trust; Dick was a performer at heart, it was the only way he knew to move through the world, with a big smile and an equally bigger heart that would lay bare and vulnerable once someone was allowed access.

Jason’s media reputation was more of the Wayne family bad boy. The tabloids liked to call him the ‘dark and mysterious’ type due in large part to his hulking stature, pretty face, and generally standoffish demeanour. Hilariously though, his broody and intimidating nature didn't make him any less desirable to the eyes of the public and had earned him the nickname of ‘baby Bruce’ because of how similar Jason was to Bruce when he was a similar age. Bruce found the comparison quite amusing but he also recognised that he and Jason were far more alike than the media would ever see. Despite their differing morals and stances Jason and Bruce had similar attitudes to their work and how they saw themselves in the world. Bruce knew that Jason would never willingly allow himself to be loved, would never allow someone to get close to him for fear that their love would crumble the moment he dropped the facade and allowed them to see him for who he was. Much like Bruce himself, if anyone wanted to get close they would have to damn near force their way in and would need to endure being kept at arm's length.

He’s happy his boys found what they needed in each other. 

He probably should have seen it coming sooner honestly and thinking back, this outcome might have been inevitable. 

Jason had always looked up to dick in some way. Naturally when he took over the mantle of being Robin, using him as a model with which he could base his own version of Robin on. He assumes that Jason also saw Dick as a brother, as someone who was there to teach him the ropes of upper class life, someone to protect him and keep him company on nights where they weren't Robin and Nightwing, and were merely Jason and Richard. 

Dick took longer to warm up to Jason. It was to be expected really, he had been Nightwing for barely a year before Jason was taking up the mantle as Robin and he rightfully felt replaced, he felt angry. His mistake was taking that anger out on Jason when it should have been taken out on Bruce. Dick didn't make it easy for Jason to love him at first, he was cold, dismissive, never bothering to hide his distaste for the energetic and chatty child; keeping him at arms length until Jason eventually got the picture and backed off a bit, still enamoured by his older brother but knowing that it was an admiration to be kept to himself. At some point though, Dick started changing, started being kinder to Jason, started teaching him things that would help keep him safe when he was out patrolling with Bruce at night, and started opening up to the idea that Jason was not a replacement to him, but a successor to the legacy he had created. 

And then it was all ripped away from them. 

When Jason died it hurt Bruce, changed him so permanently and deeply that to this very day he still isn't sure what parts of him are left as they once were. But it hit Dick the hardest, practically destroying him as the little brother he had just finally accepted, finally let into his heart, was now lifeless under six feet of dirt. Bruce remembers how violent he was in the year and a half following his death, how he stopped pulling punches and started gaining a reputation in Blüdhaven for his ruthlessness. Dick never actively killed anyone as far as he was aware, but he also knows that if a villain did die, that Dick would not have shed a single tear over them. 

He relaxed as time passed and the weight of his grief lessened but Bruce could see the hurt that was still there, the regrets he still carried. 

Jason returned almost six years later. Changed, angry, vengeful, and so unlike the little boy that Bruce had known. Times were tough back then and they all fought more than they got along for a variety of reasons each more personal than the last but as time went on more and more arguments were put to rest and more common ground was gained until they were modestly reminiscent of the family they should have always been. Jason is a practical man, emotional yes, but incredibly intelligent. He knows how hard to push someone and how far to do it, he can get a mile under anyone's skin if they so much as give him an inch; but he also knows when to quit, which is what made his obsession with pushing Dick’s buttons so fascinating if a bit annoying. Dick was always the more reactionary of all the former and current Robins, meaning that whenever he and Jason got into it (both in and out of capes) it was a battle for the ages. Neither would pay nicely and it had ended in hurt feelings more times than Bruce could count, but inexplicably they would be back the following day to do it all again as if nothing had ever happened. 

Bruce didn't really know the exact moment that their relationship changed, just that it did. The venom in their words lessened and their arguments morphed into being more bark than bite. A relationship had blossomed right before his eyes between the two unlikeliest, but most fitting of people.

Bruce’s first inkling to something being up between his two eldest happened during a rare night that Bruce called the birds in early but Jason and Dick insisted they finish up their rounds before returning. 

They were on their way back to the cave. The comms had been more or less quiet; Jason was never the chattiest on patrol and he’d been in a less than cheery mood that night meaning that Dick had no one to talk to on patrol since neither he nor Jason usually played along with his chatter, so it was no real shock to him when the cave defences were temporarily disabled and the sound of a revving engine echoed through the stone tunnel with no warning that they were entering. 

The others had all gone upstairs by now and even Bruce had showered and traded in his suit for more comfortable clothing, intending to make sure that Jason and Dick made it back safe before retiring to bed. 

He wasn't expecting to see Dick’s bike fly into the cave with a barely conscious Jason secured to the man's back. 

“Get the medical supplies,” Dick said frantically untying what he’d used to keep Jason upright on the bike. He caught the man with a grunt as he slid off the bike almost immediately. 

Bruce was shaken out of his shock when Dick yelled a panicked “Go!” 

Dick hauled Jason to one of the beds in the med bay and started getting to work on his suit. Bruce grabbed all the medical supplies he could carry and raced back Dick and Jason. As he drew closer he could see that a large chunk of Jason’s helmet was gone, the circuitry sparking at odd intervals and revealing the upper section of his face. Dick was leaning over him with a flashlight, shining it into his eyes, pupils blown so wide it was hard to see the blue in them any more, but they were reacting to the light which was good at the very least. He dumped the supplies on the nearby cart and slathered his hands with alcohol as he leaned over Jason to get a better look at him. There was blood soaking through his pants and shirt, looking to be concentrated on his outer thigh and abdomen. 

Dick carefully removed his helmet as he donned gloves and started cutting through his shirt, “what happened?” 

“Ambush,” Dick gasped, moving around Bruce to tug at Jason’s belt and shove his pants down his legs, “not sure who but they were going for me, Jason saw them before I did and got in the middle,”

Bruce grunted in acknowledgement as he studied the wounds. The one on his side looked to be a gunshot wound with added road rash after he presumably fell, the one on his leg looked closer to a stab wound but the oozing blood made it hard to tell. Bruce grabbed one of the thick gauze pads and pressed it to his leg to try and keep as much blood inside of Jason as possible. The wounds had clearly been stabilised to hold for the trip to the cave but it seems that they either reopened or had gotten worse after the jostling to get him in bed.

“Call Alfred,” he said, eyes still flicking over Jason to check for any other injuries, “then get your suit off and glove up, you're gonna help me stabilise him until he gets down here,” he finally looked up at Dick. He was still wearing his helmet and even through the black of the suit Bruce could see where the blood was starting to soak in, “now!”

He watched Dick give him a shaky nod as he took off for the stairs. Bruce turned his attention back to Jason and pressed two fingers to his pulsepoint. His heart rate was erratic and his breathing was laboured; that combined with his blown out pupils and thousand yard stare could only mean he was going into shock if he wasn't in it already which was not a good sign. 

“Jason,” he called, trying to soften his voice as he began poking around the wound in his side, “can you hear me?”

All he got was a pained sound and Jason’s fingers twitching violently by his side. Bruce sighed and went back to focusing on the bleeding, managing to get it mostly under control by the time Dick joined him again, shirtless but at least gloved up. 

“Hold this down firmly, and keep an eye on his heart rate and physical appearance, keep him awake until Alfred gets down here,” 

Treating Jason’s injuries didn't take long. They were deep and would need time to heal, but Dick had done a good job at minimising any further damage and they narrowly avoided sending Jason into shock. 

He would be in a lot of pain when he woke up but for the time being he was sedated and hooked up to some monitors as a precaution. Dick insisted on focusing all attention on him, incessantly refusing to be checked over for injuries or getting cleaned up until Bruce was physically dragging him into the showers with the promise that he would stay with Jason until Dick returned. 

Dick had always been the most caring out of all of them, always the first one to volunteer to stay with an injured bat to make sure they were okay. But this level of caring was not normal for him. This was a level of possessive care that bordered on animalistic, and it was one that Bruce was overly familiar with.

It worried him honestly. His boys were reckless on the best of days and he knew that they would not hesitate to take a bullet if it meant that the person they cared for was safe. 

“What have you boys gotten yourselves into?” he sighed, brushing Jason’s fringe from his forehead as he dozed off in the medial bed

After that first time, Bruce couldn't stop seeing the way his two oldest interacted. Not much had outwardly changed between them, they still fought, bickered, and pissed each other off at every possible moment, but their words lacked any real heat if he were to actually pay attention to them for more than a moment before tuning them out. They were more careful around each other as well, they wouldn't hurt themselves as badly when they would spar and would try to keep the other out of avoidable danger when they were out patrolling even if it meant they got injured themselves which would then lead to someone worryingly watching over whoever got hurt into the early hours of the morning. 

Whatever was going on between them was realistically none of his business, and Bruce tried to stay as far away from their personal lives as he could, limiting his observations to when they were all together and letting the two of them sort out their own issues, knowing that he couldn't get on their case about hiding whatever from of relationship or feelings they had because he had done the exact same thing countless times and unlike his other kids Dick and Jason would never let him get away with that level of hypocrisy.

It took nearly one year after his initial discovery and the silent knowledge that Jason and Dick had some form of romantic relationship together to confront them about it. He had enough reason to believe that they had finally entered a more committed (or at least stable) relationship together and had been in one for long enough that his direct confrontation would not negatively affect them in any way. 

He resolved to have the conversation after dinner.

“Dick, Jason,” he said as everyone was beginning to leave after a family dinner, “can I see you both in my study in a few minutes?”

“Sure, is something wrong, B?” Dick asked, stealing a nervous glance at Jason. 

“Everything’s fine,” he waved with a small smile, “you're not in trouble or anything I just wanna ask you both something,” he turned to the other bats who were lingering by the door, very clearly eavesdropping, “ in private ,”

“Yea, sure,” Jason nodded and quickly slipped out of the room. Dick lingered for a bit longer to help clear up but eventually he and the rest of the kids dispersed themselves throughout the house and Bruce made his way to the study. 

Bruce knew he wouldn't have much time before the boys came around so he didn't dwell on his nerves much, instead deciding to grab three glasses and a decanter from his cabinet. 

He had just finished pouring them three glasses of whiskey when the door opened and the men of the hour walked in. Jason thankfully locked the door behind him. 

“You wanted to see us?” Dick asked.

Bruce nodded and sat back into one of the armchairs in the centre of his study, “sit, and relax, you're not in trouble I swear,” he laughed softly. 

Dick and Jason sat on the loveseat across from him, leaving a comical amount of space between them as they took the glasses set down in front of them. 

“Before I actually ask you what I want you both to promise that you’ll let me finish speaking before cutting in,” he said with a knowingly raised eyebrow. He waited until the both nodded before taking a sip of his drink and continuing. 

“Are you two officially together? Or are you still dancing around your feelings for each other?” 

It took a lot for Bruce not to laugh as both Dick and Jason choked on their drinks, sending them into coughing fits before staring at Bruce with wide eyes. 

“I’m not mad or anything if that's what you're worried about,” he continued speaking, hiding his smile behind his glass briefly, “and I didn't go snooping around either, you two are not as good at hiding it as you might think you are, I just wanna make sure you both know that no matter what happens you're still my boys and that my first priority is making sure you’re both safe and happy,” he finally set down his glass and leaned back into the chair, “and if you’re happy together then I’ll gladly support you both, and if I’m completely mistaken then we can laugh this off and pretend it never happened,”

They sat in tense silence for for too many minutes until Jason started laughing, “oh my god imagine if you were wrong,” he said between gasping breaths, “god I would have never let you live that down,”

Bruce and Dick visibly deflated in their seats as the tension in the room vanished.

“So you're really okay with Jay and I being…together?” Dick asked, trying to keep his expression neutral but unable to hide that little spark of hope in his eyes.

“Of course,” he nodded with an encouraging smile, “all I've ever wanted for you both of you to be safe and happy with someone, and if that's between the two of you then I don't see a reason not to support you,”

“So the whole brothers thing doesn't weird you out or anything?” Jason chimed in, almost intentionally testing the waters.

“Does it bother you ?” his counter was met with silence and Bruce nodded, “then it doesn't bother me, you're both adults and certainly old enough to be making your own choices,” he set down his glass and leaned back in his chair, looking out fondly at his boys, who had subtly slid a little closer together and had intertwined their hands between them on the couch, “you're still my boys and I will always love you no matter what so if you ever need anything or want to talk, my doors always open okay?”

Jason gave him a single nod and a small, grateful smile, “thanks dad,”

He spent the next year happily watching Dick and Jason settle into domestic life. 

Not long after their conversation Dick and Jason moved in together into an apartment on the outer reaches of the city, situated perfectly in the middle of the cave and Blüdhaven, letting Dick pop over when he needed to. It also gave them privacy, which was something Dick had given as a plus when he was asking Bruce for advice on which apartment they should move into. No one in the family lived in that area since it was just barely too far away from the places they frequented, and as far as Bruce’s records went, there were no gangs or rouges that made their homes in the area because of its distance from the centre of the city. It was the perfect place for them to hide out and carve a little section of Gotham for themselves. 

Their life seemed to settle happily, like nothing had changed at all and Bruce found himself thinking about the possibility of them actually getting married in the future. He knew that Jason had always wanted to settle down one day, maybe even retire properly, and that for as much as Dick liked his vigilante life that he too longed for a normal life. He always brushed the thoughts aside though because one, it was frankly none of his business, and two, the boys had never mentioned it or even given any hints that they were considering it so he figured that if they ever did get married that it would not be any time soon. 

Imagine his surprise when a very nervous and flighty looking Jason slipped into his study one afternoon. 

“What's up —” he stopped abruptly when he took in the state of him, “are you okay?”

“Can we talk?”

“Yea, yes, of course we can,” Bruce said hurriedly, standing up and walking over to him, guiding Jason to the sofa in the far corner of the room and sitting them down across from each other. 

They sat in silence for a few moments before Jason spoke, eyes looking steadily at the floor, “you know how you said that if we ever needed anything we could come to you, right?”

“Yes, of course,” Bruce nodded, folding his hands tightly in his lap, “anything you need,”

Jason nodded a few times and sighed heavily, scrubbing a hand through his hair, “god why is this so hard to ask,” he said looking up to the ceiling and Bruce now noticed that his face was flushed pink with embarrassment that reached the tips of his ears. 

“Whatever it is, you don't need to be afraid to ask for it,”

“It's not that it's just…” he finally looked at Bruce, “I’d like you're blessing, and a favour,”

Bruce’s world stopped abruptly as he stared at a red faced Jason that was very quickly regretting his choice of words, “my…my blessing?” he asked stupidly. 

“Please don't make me spell it out for you,” Jason begged, “I don't think I’ll be able to without passing out,”

He certainly didn't need to, Bruce knew exactly what he was asking. His shock came from the fact that “I’m more surprised that you want my blessing,” because sure they had finally gotten to a place in their relationship together when Jason was comfortable calling Bruce his dad and seeing him as a father figure, but Bruce honestly didn't think that Jason would hold him to that level of esteem.

“Yea well, neither did I until recently,” Jason shrugged sharply, relaxing the slightest bit but still ready to go on the defensive, expecting things to go south. 

“I’m…” he laughed softly, “honestly I’m honoured, and yes, you have my full blessing.”

Jason nearly collapsed from the relief and Bruce had to try very hard not to laugh, “now, what was the favour?”

“Good afternoon Bruce,” Clark greeted easily, “to what do I owe the phone call?”

“I need a favour and you're the only one that reasonably does it, is this a good time to talk?” he asked, absentmindedly looking over Wayne Tech emails.

“Oh?” Clark asked, now far more interested than before, “Now's a great time, what can I do for you?”

“For Jason actually,” he said with a sly smirk, “he wants to make something, but needs a particularly durable metal,”

“Supermanium? What in the world could he possibly need that for?” 

Bruce could hear him walking somewhere, going off the echoing and silence, he assumed Clark had gone to a stairwell to hide away, perfectly.

“Wedding rings,” he said, holding his phone a few inches away from his ear in anticipation.

“ WHAT?!” he screamed loud enough that Bruce was certain the whole Daily planet heard him. 

“Jason wants to get married, he asked me if I could help him with the rings, said he wanted to make them special.”

“Hold on, no, go back, rewind,” Clark said, accent getting thicker in his haste, “Jason’s proposing to Dick?”

“Yep,” Bruce nodded taking far too much pleasure in Clark’s shock, “asked me for my blessing a few days ago, doesn't know the exact day he wants to ask him yet but he’s planning something,” Bruce knew that their family had a track record of having plans fail, so he was expecting to be told of the engagement sooner rather than later.

Clark was hyperventilating on the other end of the line, practically bouncing off the walls in excitement, “and he wants indestructible rings?” he asked, “how romantic,”

“He phrased it in a more…practical way, but even I know that it's more sentimental than he’s ever gonna let on,” he started typing up a formal email to some company head that he could frankly not care for at the moment, “so, do you think you can help? Jason would understand if you couldn't, it's a tough mental to source,”

“Are you joking? My godsons are getting married , of course I’m gonna help make them their rings, who do you take me for?”

Bruce laughed at the deep offence in Clark's voice, “I didn't mean it like that, I know you would do all you can for them, but I know it's a tall ask,”

“I would move heaven and earth for them,” Clark said, suddenly serious, “I’ll get you the metal, do you have a date you need them by?”

“Not particularly, his birthday is coming up in just over a month, I still have to talk to Diana but if they’re ready by then…”

Clark hummed, “I’ll get on it as soon as I can, it’ll be a nice present I think.”

“I hope so,” Bruce sighed, nerves creeping up his throat, “you think it’ll be enough?”

Clark laughed earnestly on the other end, sounding more relaxed now, “Bruce, I think this is more than enough, I know Jason really appreciates you helping.”

“Thanks, Clark,” he smiled, “keep this between you, me and Diana for now okay? The boys want this kept a secret until they’re ready,” 

“Of course, Bruce, I gotta go now, but I’ll keep you updated alright?” 

“Thank you, goodbye Clark,”

“Bye, Bruce,”

He set the phone in the receiver with a sigh, letting his head fall back against his chair. Bruce sat there for a moment, eyes closed and listening to the barely there sounds of the city below his office at the building when three soft knocks interrupted his moment of peace. 

“Mister Wayne,” his secretary said meekly, poking her head into the room, “you have a meeting with Ms. Prince in thirty minutes to talk about your donation, there is a car waiting for you outside the building,” 

“Yes thank you, I’ll be right down,” he nodded, heaving himself out of his chair, “please make sure that the pastries I requested are delivered to the museum by the I arrive,”

“Of course, I’ll make sure they are on track with their order,” 

Diana met him in the main entrance to the museum, “Mister Wayne,” she greeted, handing him his visitors pass and leading him inside though the now too familiar side entrance, “I assume I have you to thank for the baked good that were delivered a few minutes ago,” 

“I never visit anywhere empty handed,” Bruce commented, “and I have it on good authority that they were very much enjoyed last time I was here,” 

They went to a private meeting room. It was small, designed to fit four people at most and soundproof, which was perfect for what he needed to talk to her about. 

“I assume we’re not really here to talk about your donation for the new wing of the museum, are we Bruce?” she asked, sitting down across from him, taking a few of the baked goods on one of the plates left behind for them. 

“Of course not,” he waved dismissively, “you do with it as you see fit and just let me know if you want me to speak at the donation gala or the opening,”

Diana rolled her eyes and scribbled something down on a piece of paper, “why are we really here then, Bruce?”

“I need someone that can work with supermanium,” he schooled his face, making sure he wasn't giving away too much, “and I think you might know someone who can do that,”

“Yes, I do know someone who can work with the metal,” she said carefully, narrowing her eyes at him, “what are you planning?” 

“Not me, actually,” he allowed himself to give her a small, innocent smile that only served to make Diana more suspicious, “this is for Jason,”

“What does he want with it?” she asked with a faint tinge of worry in her eyes. 

“Wedding rings.” Diana choked on her food and Bruce stared at her with a self satisfied smile as he tried to process the bombshell news he dropped on her like they were talking about the weather. 

“He’s gonna propose?” 

“At some point, yes,” he nodded, “he wasn't to sure if he was gonna propose with the rings, but he wanted some for the actual wedding day,”

They sat in silence again as Diana gave him a thousand yard stare, mouth hanging open the slightest bit.

“So you think you can help?”

“What do you take me for?” she scoffed, “of course I’ll help, my godsons are not gonna get married with some fragile rings, does Jason have a design in mind?”

Bruce set a small folder of papers in front of her and slid them over with a smile, “of course he does,”

A few months after Jason received the rings for his birthday he and Dick were cornering him in the cave to tell him about their engagement. He was tempted to ask about the rings but given that Jason's proposal had very clearly not gone to plan he held his tongue. 

A few days later he was given the great pleasure of helping sort out the logistics of getting married and completely forgot all about the rings. 

It had taken far less time than he would have assumed to get all the paperwork in order and make some arrangements with the Gotham courts to ensure there would be no one in the building on the day they settled on. Dick and Jason secured witnesses in the blink of an eye, Wally and Roy agreeing enthusiastically and dropping anything scheduled on that day at the drop of a hat. Bruce had been privy to more than a few of his friends planning their weddings and he was thankful that his boys wanted something lowkey and private because he didn't think that any of them were going to survive that level of stress. 

“So you're coming with us to the courthouse right?” Dick asked casually one night after a patrol, all the other kids had gone off to bed quickly and it was just them and Alfred left behind. 

“I…I didn't know you wanted me to come,” he said truthfully. 

“Why the fuck would we not want you there?” Jason scoffed from somewhere behind them, “sorry Alfred,” 

“He’s right,” Dick nodded, “you're our dad, of course we want you there,”

Bruce smiled and nodded, “I’d be honoured to be there, thank you boys,”

“Master Bruce,” Alfred said to him long after the boys had left to go home, “will we be hosting a celebratory party for them?” 

Bruce’s hands hovered over the keyboard. They hadn't asked him for one, it had never come up in their conversation at all, but Bruce also knew that Alfred wasn’t really asking him either, “of course we are, Alfred,” he smiled, “would it be alright to have you in charge of the arrangements?” 

“I would love nothing more, sir,” Alfred nodded, “I’ll begin preparation in the morning, but for now, please get some rest,” 

He could barely sleep in anticipation of the wedding day. Bruce was naturally a fairly light sleeper but he was practically flying out of bed when Alfred opened the door with his breakfast. It was early and no one else in the house was awake which would be for the better anyways. They’d been keeping the marriage from the family for a while, wanting to surprise them all on the actual day with an announcement and the fact that the only time Bruce could secure the court house was before it would be open was a bonus. 

Bruce was the first to arrive, far too antsy to stay at home. He was dressed more causally than he would have liked for such a special day, looking like he was heading into the office, but as Alfred had very gently reminded him, they needed to make it appear as if there was nothing out of the ordinary. 

A blur of black and white skid to a stop beside him and Wally greeted him with a tight, excited hug, immediately starting to talk about how excited and happy he was. Bruce let him, happy to let the boy get out his excitement as he practically vibrated next to him. Roy showed up not long after, Wally still talking about anything and everything related to the wedding and the two grooms. Bruce learned lots of funny stories.

“How long has he been yapping for?” 

Bruce chuckled and pulled him into a tight hug, bypassing his handshake, “twenty minutes or so, been telling me about all the times they’ve gotten into trouble,” 

Roy rolled his eyes with a smile, “yea that sounds about right,” he tugged wally into a hug as well, clicking his tongue and fixing his messed up hair, “he’s not been able to shut up about it since Dickie asked him, making him keep it a secret’s been killing him.”

Wally was about to respond, mouth open and ready, but it was cut short when an all too familiar car pulled into the parking lot next to his car. No one could stop the smiles from spreading on their faces as the grooms stepped out of the car.

 “Here come the brides,” Roy called out, tugging Jason into a hug when he was within arms reach.

“Shove it, harper,” he grinned, hugging Roy just that much tighter, “you’re lucky I need a witness,”

“You're lucky I said yes,” Roy shot back. Everyone knew that the only way he was missing his best friend's wedding was if he was dead and even then Bruce has a feeling he might resurrect himself out of pure spite. 

Bruce was watching them from the sidelines and Jason made his way over to him, crushing him in a hug, “thank you for coming,” he said, tucking his head into Bruce’s neck.

Bruce hugged him tightly, pressing a kiss to the side of his head, “I would never miss this for the world,” he said, holding him for one extra second before pulling away, “now come on, we’re gonna be late.”

The proceedings were dull and bureaucratic as they expected, the only thing that kept it interesting was the buzzing of excitement from everyone as they slowly inched closer to the paper signing, the thing that would finally make it official.

 “So I’ll be seeing you all at the manor, then?” Bruce asked them with a small smirk as they all made their ways back to their cars. The boys looked at each other, not really sure what he was talking about.

“Come one now,” he shook his head, arms crossed over his chest with a smug grin , “I think Alfred would actually kill me if two of his grandchildren got married and we didn't throw them a party,”

“B, you didn't have to do that,” Dick said, eyes wide with glee and surprise at the gesture.

He placed a hand on his shoulder and squeezed gently, “I wanted to,” he said firmly, “this is a special day, you both deserve to celebrate it beside the people you love,”

Dick and Jason looked at each other and nodded, “Race you to the cave,” Dick shouted as he and Jason took off. Bruce barely had enough time to react, sprinting to his car and peeling out of the parking lot with Roy hot on his heels. 

Bruce might have been Gotham’s protector, spending countless nights patrolling the streets and familiarising himself with the layout, but Jason was Gotham’s Prince. He knew the city on a level that no one else in the family did, deeply in tune with the city's movements and rhythm that he was able to disappear in the blink of an eye and never be found if he didn't want to be. At times it made Bruce seriously wonder if he was a living extension of the city itself, wondering if part of it's soul was inside of him. 

He was hot on Dick and Jason’s tail, never quite able to get the lead on them and barely able to keep up as they too seemingly random turns, taking them deeper into the twisting streets and alleys of the Gotham city outskirts. When they finally broke onto a clear stretch of road Bruce knew they were close to the manor and that he and Roy would not be winning this race. He was so focused on keeping up with their car that he nearly missed when Jason’s whole upper body emerged from the window of the car. He was close enough to see the smug grin on his face as he arched back, head dangerously close to the road as he gave them a two finger salute before disappearing back into the car. 

They beat him and Roy to the cave. By the time he and Roy screeched into the cave the boys were already out of their cars and grinning wildly at each other. 

 “You are the most annoying mother fucker I’ve ever met you know that?!” Roy shouted as soon as he got out of the car. 

Bruce was still riding high on adrenaline, sent back to when he was younger and allowed to mess around with things like this. He’d forgotten how much fun it was to not have to be responsible. “I guess I underestimated your driving Jay,” he nodded to him, trying to compose himself and ignore the excited thrum in his veins.

Jason shook his head, “I was giving directions, driving was all golden boy over there,” he pointed to Dick, who was back to looking like himself again.

Bruce took a second to fix himself up as the other bats and Wally made their way down from where they were watching their race on the monitors. He hung back again, content to let them talk and fawn over their brothers for a little bit as he calmed down and got himself back into his ‘dad mode’ as they all liked to call it behind his back. 

“I don't mean to interrupt, but I believe there is a party waiting for you upstairs,” Alfred’s soothing voice came down from the top of the cave.

“Sorry Alfred!” Dick called, ushering everyone along before they got in even more trouble, “we’re coming,”

Bruce ushered the kids into the main hall, letting Dick and Jason split off to fix themselves up a little bit. 

Bruce spotted them the moment they entered the ballroom, “oh perfect,” he said, “on Alfred’s advice we didn't tell anyone why we were hosting a party, figured it’d be better and funnier if you two announced it yourselves,”

Jason matched his sly grin. He loved nothing more than drama, one of the things he’d inherited from Bruce, and nothing would be more effective than a surprise marriage announcement.

“That's your scheming face,” Dick grimaced from next to him, “what are you thinking about,”

“This is gonna be so fucking funny,” Jason said locking eyes with Bruce.

“Bruce!” Clark called, walking over to them followed by Diana who looked like she was trying not to laugh, “you never told us what this party was for anyways,” he said a little bit too loud.

Bruce had to look away to keep himself from bursting out laughing at the speed that the room quieted down, dozens of eyes looking expectantly at their little group.

“Well, we were gonna do this in a more elaborate way,” Dick glared at Clark who simply smiled all innocently, “but thank you everyone for coming to the party! It's a real delight to see all our family under the same roof without the threat of the world ending,” it got a small chuckle to echo through the room.

“But this isn't one of the usual Wayne parties,” Jason took over, a sweet smile on his face, “we wanted to announce that, as of,” he checked his watch, pausing for the dramatic effect, “about an hour ago, Dick and I are finally fucking married!”

Bruce took a few steps back and started counting in his head. It took five seconds before the room was filled with cheers and applause, and an additional three before his boys were separated from each other to be passed around the room from group to group. 

Bruce mingled briefly before he was excusing himself. No matter how many parties he hosted and for whom, he was never able to remain in the room for very long, often looking for quiet rooms to regain some of his sanity and be able to keep up appearances. That was probably why when Alfred entered the room he looked a little concerned. 

“Master Bruce, I believe that there is business of interest to you in the conservatory,” 

“Is everything alright?”

“They would not say to me, but your children requested a ‘family meeting’ with everyone present,” 

Bruce sighed and nodded, giving a quick thanks before he was speeding down the hallway. 

When he opened the doors to the conservatory, he found all his kids sat around a small table with complicated expressions on their faces. “What's going on here?”he asked, taking a seat in the final empty spot at the table.

“Father, did these two put you up to this?” Damian asked, searching his face for any sign of deceit.

“Put me up to…” he trailed off, “oh, you mean the party? No of course not, Alfred and I wanted to celebrate the special occasion,” he ended with a laugh, but it faded out as he took a proper look at his children and their grim faces, “is there something wrong?”

“Wait,” Jason interrupted, holding up a hand to stop anyone from talking, “let's go back a bit, walk me through exactly why you guys don't think Dick and I are actually married,” Bruce raised his eyebrows at the statement, “ah, no, no, no,” Jason interjected again when three of them opened their mouths, “one at a time, Tim, you first,”

Bruce sat back in his chair intrigued as Tim looked like he would rather be anywhere but at the table, “I mean the main reason would be that you two aren't even dating in the first place,”

Bruce had a sneaking suspicion as to what exactly had happened, and it could be either comical or not, so he sat back and let them continue their explanations.

“Steph, anything to add?” Jason said, turning to her with a curious glance as he too was putting the pieces together.

“I mean, not really, but you two just recently fixed your relationship right? Don't you think that it's not the smartest plan to jump right into marriage, and public one at that? Wouldn't dating for a bit be, I don't know, safer?”

“Jay and I have been dating,” Dick said slowly, sitting up straighter in his chair as the dots started connecting in his head as well, “you guys did know that…right?”

The silence was the final bit of evidence that Bruce needed to be able to figure out exactly what led up to this.

“You're taking this surprisingly well,” Duke said suddenly, and everyone’s attention turned to him like they had forgotten he was present.

He simply smiled and shrugged, “I’ve known about this from the start,” that was more or less the truth but he wasn't about to air out their relationship like that. 

“Then why didn't you tell us?” Damian accused.

“Because it was never a secret in the first place,” Jason said, drawing the attention back to him, “Dick and I have been dating for almost two years now, and we have never once hid it from any of you,”

“But you guys were never like coupley or anything like that,” Steph said, waving her hands between the two.

“Well, yea, of course not,” Dick said like it was the most obvious thing ever, “we don't let our private life affect our professional or family life, so of course we’re not gonna be all over each other on patrol or when we're spending time with you guys.”

Bruce wanted so badly to tell Dick that he was in fact, very wrong in that assessment, but then again, he was technically correct. He and Jason weren't 'coupley’ in the way that they were expecting, no grand gestures or cheesy flirting. Their way of being affectionate was done with fond glances and acts of service when around family.

“I don't understand how you guys never saw it,” Jason said, “hell you’ve been in our apartment,” He turned to steph specifically and Bruce made a mental note to ask about that later.

“Well I mean the only time I ever suspected it was the few days leading up to your birthday,” Tim said, staring off as he went back over his memories, “Dick had been spending a lot of time in the library and that's always been more your thing, not his, and when he mentioned he was looking for a gift the only real reason was that he was dating someone, because Dick only goes through all that trouble for someone he really cares for,” Bruce glanced over at Dick as Time spoke and chuckled at his red face, “but I forgot that your birthday was that day, and he clearly cares for you, so I figured it was just him being a good older brother or something,”

Stephanie nodded, “exactly! When we went out shopping you said that you weren't interested in dating, plus when you got those things for Dick, you said it was ‘just because’ and that you’d also gotten Damian things like that before, so I just assumed it was you being nice to him,”

Jason raised an eyebrow at her, “I never said I wasn't interested in dating, I said I was happy with my life as is and that I didn't need to look for anyone, plus you were in our apartment , you saw the decor and all his trinkets,”

“I don't know man!” she whined, putting her face in her hands, “I thought he might have rubbed off on you or something, you know how people pick up habits when they spend a lot of time together,”

“Yea like when they're dating?”

“What about you Duke?” Dick interrupted.

He hummed, “well I think it was the whole clothes sharing thing a little bit back, i just assumed that the clothes got mixed up in the wash and you just didn't get around to swapping them back or were wearing them around each other to piss the other off,” he explained, and honestly that one was fair enough, “the only thing I couldn't account for was when Jason took your favourite hoodie,”

They turned to Damian who was beet red. Bruce knew that expression well, and it seemed that Damian had in fact noticed Jason and Dick’s relationship was very different to that of the rest of the family, but Bruce was certain that the nature of the difference was one that he was just now realising.

“I just assumed that's what brothers were like, especially since you two were brothers for so long before any of us came around and you trained Jason when he was Robin so your ability to be in sync when you're fighting could have easily stemmed from that,” he said to Dick, “I did noticed that you two had been different for about a year or so, but before then you two were fighting so often and there was so much tension, I just assume you figured it out,”

“But at the restaurant,” Tim cut in, “them knowing orders, how can you see that as anything but romantic?”

Damian shrugged sharply, “I assumed that was standard for siblings, seems like a mundane enough detail, easy to remember if you spent enough time with someone, those two have been ordering for one another for ages as well so I didn't give it much thought, and I don't have  to remind you that I don't have much experience with a normal family structure, right?”

They turned to Cass, the last remaining bat to explain themselves.

She kind of gestured to them both, “lots of mixed signals,” she said. Jason thought about it for a moment before barking out a laugh, “you mean the bickering and not meaning it?”

She nodded, smiling softly. She looked pleased that she finally got some sort of answer, “you're only genuine around each other, theres no hiding feelings.” at least Bruce knew he wasn't going crazy when he saw their weird interactions.

“Well now that the air has been cleared,” Bruce said with a slightly disapproving glare, “is this going to be a problem for anyone?”

“No, not at all!” Steph said quickly, waving her hands about, “honestly we’re happy for you two, you're cute together and you clearly make each other happy, which is all we’d ever really want for you guys,”

“You deserve to be happy,” Damian smiled softly, “and you have found that in each other, why would we have a problem with that?”

“Good,” Bruce nodded, “now that we’re all on the same page, I think you’re all well overdue on congratulating your brothers,”