Author's Note: Welp, this idea came into my mind while I was writing Simpler. And well, I couldn't get rid of it! I personally believe Jason is Red X, it just makes so much sense... So yeah this story is mainly Jaydick, with BBRae, maybe some Cybee and Flinx if I feel like it. Mentions of past robstar, and maybe Starfire will get someone, probably not though because I only ship her with Dick but this a Jaydick story so... Set about two (close to three) years after Dick is Nightwing and during Jason's lost days, before he is Red Hood! So to be clear Dick is Nightwing, still with the Titans, Jason's come back to life, but no one knows he's alive yet and he's never been Red Hood only Robin and Red X. So with that settled, please enjoy! ;)

Warning: This is a slash! M/M. Don't like it? Don't read it. Language, and maybe eventual smut but idk... Oh and definitely eventual violence.

Disclaimer: I of course do not own the TT or any of the batfam, they belong to DC

Third POV

To say the past few years have been difficult for Jump City's resident heroes would be an understatement. The simple truth was they were so much more than difficult. Relationships had come and gone, evil plots to overthrow the world defeated, and even the loss of friends and family. For Dick Grayson, ex-boy wonder and now Nightwing, personally it had been nearly impossible these past couple years. The main reason for this hardship? Well, he had lost someone.

This someone had been none other than his younger adoptive brother, Jason Peter Todd. Jason was, had, been about two years younger than Dick. They weren't the closest of people, but they were still friends, brothers, and partners. The second Robin had been very different from his predecessor, different from anyone in the Wayne household. Yes they had all had extremely difficult lots in life, but Jason had lived on Gotham's streets. No father, and finding his mother dead with a needle in her arm, it left Jason a bit rough around the edges.

Bruce Wayne, or rather Batman, had found the thirteen year old trying to steal the tires off the Batmobile. Apparently Bruce had been impressed with the kids guts, but really who was brave enough to steal the Batmobile's tires? Not many, pretty much next to no one. So yeah, Dick understood why Bruce had taken in Jason. Why he chose Jason to be Dick's replacement, the new Robin. Whether he wanted to admit it or not, Batman needed a Robin and Jason was more than capable of filling that position.

When Dick had finally given up the Robin mantle, it was a very hard thing to do. Robin, the name to commemorate his own dead parents, was very precious to Richard Grayson. However it had felt good, right to pass it along to Jason. He had certainly proved himself worthy, and Dick trusted him, loved him. They had gone out on patrol, Nightwing and the new Robin side by side, numerous times around Gotham before Dick finally had to go back to the Titans.

Once Jason had even come for a visit to the Tower, and that had been fun and interesting. Although he relatively got a long with everyone, so it wasn't that bad. Then one day while Dick was on Tamaran with the Titans, Jason had died. The clown prince of crime, the Joker, had captured Jason and beaten him to death with a crowbar. Leaving the teenager to blowup in the cold warehouse once Joker had deemed him near death. Batman had gotten there too late and had to carry his second adoptive son away from the rubble, now hanging limp, dead in his arms.

The day Dick had found out, a few days after returning from Tamaran, he had been heartbroken. Of course Bruce hadn't told him, he had found out from Alfred. If Dick closed his eyes he could remember like it had happened yesterday and not nearly three years ago. The look of complete shock and pain on his team's face and the own in his heart. No, he had thought, no not Jason. Someone else I love can't be gone, no no no no no. It's all my fault, if I had been here, if he had more training. No, Jason can't be dead. But he was, Jason Todd was gone. Dick had locked himself away in his room once the shock had worn away, crying and breaking things in his anguish. It was a few days before he finally emerged completely, and then he had only stayed for a few hours before headed straight to Gotham. He needed to visit his family and Jason's grave in the yard of Wayne Manor. Jason was buried next to Bruce's parents, Martha and Thomas Wayne.

Before Dick had actually taken on the challenge of dealing with Bruce, he talked to Alfred. The trusted butler loved every member of their dysfunctional family, and Dick could tell Alfred was taking it a little hard. Of course Bruce completely engulfing himself in his work and hardly coming out of the cave didn't help Alfred at all. However prim and proper Alfred tried to be, Dick knew the man he viewed as his grandfather needed a hug and some comfort. Bruce sure wasn't as hell going to take care of that. The two had spent the day grieving Jason together. Mainly staying in the kitchen, they talked and told stories over hot chocolate and goodies considering it was winter. By the time they had finished it was around ten PM. They had even placed some flowers on Jason's grave together. Dick of course was no where near ok, but he felt better and knew Alfred did as well.

"Thank you very much Master Grayson for coming and, helping me through this troubling time."

Dick had smiled and hugged the man, not even feeling ashamed of the wetness rimming his already red eyes. He had already cried too much over the past week, there was no time for pride. Pulling back Dick had thanked Alfred for all his help and assured him he wouldn't not be here for anything. That night he had tried to sleep in his own old room, but he was simply restless.

In the dead of the night, Dick snook out of his old room and down the hall to Jason's room. Opening the door, his throat tightened at the sight. Alfred couldn't bare to clean it up, so it remained slightly disheveled. With clothes piled on the floor, stray wrappers here and there and bed covers scattered like someone had recently slept in the bed. With choked tears, Dick carefully sifted through Jason's dresser picking out a few things to keep for himself. He settled on an old band shirt Jason had loved, a Gotham University hoodie he had almost never worn, and one of Jason's favorite leather jackets. All of the articles of clothing smelt like Jason, and Dick was glad they had worn roughly the same size.

Climbing into Jason's bed, Dick settled under the covers and simply breathed in the smell that was his younger brother. Jason smelled of stale tobacco, some crappy soap, and his cologne that was just Jason. It caused Dick's chest to hurt and he clutched the clothes and blanket tighter, allowing the tears to flow. This was his last moment of weakness, his last moment to let all of his pain show before talking to Bruce and going back to the Titans. He had loved Jason, perhaps even more than as his brother. Still did love him.

Dick was glad he had pretty much gotten out all of his sadness and grief, because Bruce was a mess. When he had finally gathered up the courage, he went down to the cave to kick Bruce's ass into gear. At least as much as he possibly could, and it wasn't surprising to find Bruce still in the batsuit typing away at the bat computer. Of course Bruce blamed himself, but Dick didn't blame him, he blamed his own self and couldn't imagine how guilty his adoptive father felt. Not to mention Bruce had literally beaten the shit out of the Joker, who was now in a full body cast from the beating. The Joker had been in the cast for six months before he had healed.

After getting into a fight, Dick finally managed to convince Bruce to leave the cave. However he could see the blank look on his mentor's face with the sadness in his eyes, and knew he'd need to stay for a few weeks. During those weeks Dick would sneak into Jason's room every night, and even when Alfred had caught him he still kept doing it. However the butler hadn't condemned the action, he had simply given Dick a knowing and sad look as if saying 'it is alright, do what you need'. And he really fucking needed to take in all of Jason that he could.

Before Jason had died, things between him and Dick had been, weird. Not bad weird, but weird as in awkward. There was this unspoken tension between the two boys. Dick had realized that he harbored a crush on the sixteen year old. However the eighteen year old had been too scared to share the feeling. Little did he know that it in fact was reciprocated. At the time though Dick had been dating Starfire, so that was always his excuse for never doing anything.

By the time Dick had left, things at the Manor had returned back to some what normal, but he knew Bruce would carry the guilt of Jason on his shoulders like he did the death of his parents. It was something they would both carry, knowing that Jason had needed more time. Once he returned to the Tower Dick then had to convince the team he was ok and comfort a frazzled Starfire, who had of course adored Jason like she does most people. Life moved on and the pain died down, but never faded completely. Like his parents Dick never stopped missing Jason, and now still has nightmares of Jason ranging from him falling with his parents to Dick being the one to beat Jason to death with the crowbar.

The clothing Dick had stolen were never forgotten, and he had even taken a box of cigarettes from Jason's room. Of course Dick didn't smoke, but Jason had. So he set the half empty carton on his dresser. He typically wore the hoodie around the tower when it grew colder outside. The band shirt and jacket managed to become incorporated into his everyday wardrobe. Beast Boy and Cyborg teased him about the horrible band occasionally but Dick never bothered to fill them in on why he owned it. None of them knew the significance of these pieces of clothing that had long lost Jason's comforting scent, and they never understood the cigarettes.

Dick and Starfire had dated for a few months while Jason was alive, but decided that they were both better off as friends. Not to mention that Dick still had feelings for the boy who had just died. Other numerous Titan relationships were still strong such as Cyborg and Bumble Bee and Kid Flash and Jinx. Also Beast Boy and Raven who had just started dating secretly about a week ago. Numerous villains had also come and gone from Jump City. Among those to disappear was Red X, and the Titans didn't really notice in their busy lives. But perhaps though, perhaps if Dick would have payed attention to how little he appeared and the fact Red X had disappeared about a month before Jason had died. Maybe then he would have known.

Now, Dick sat on the edge of his bed with head in his hands. It was around six o'clock in the morning, and he had just woken up from one of his nightmares. They were increasing the closer they drew to the third anniversary, of Jason's death. It was a couple months away and it always brought nightmares and a trip to the manor. Giving his head a light shake, Dick stood up and walked into his own private bathroom that every Titan had attached to their rooms.

Time to get ready for another average Friday, but oh if only it were.

Ok so, new story everyone! Yay! So I'm still kinda iffy on this idea, so if enough people like it I'll keep updating. We'll just see how it goes huh? I'm ignoring comics for the most part and Trouble in Tokyo bc I can. Yeah I know Jason is a bit younger than what he really is in this story but fuck comics I do what I want. I also know Jason and Dick weren't extremely close before Jason died but I don't know I guess this is just kinda how I would think Dick would react a bit. If it's a tad OOC, oh well... So if you liked it and want to see more PLEASE let me know, fave/follow/review or all 3! :)

If you like Jaydick I have a one-shot called Simpler. It's in the Batman comics universe so go check it out! Basically a pointless fluffy story about them. All my other stories are robstar, so if you ship them too like me go check 'em out! Please and thank you! ;)

Coming Up: The calm before the storm