The door banging wrenched him from sleep. "Don't touch me," Jason hissed, the last of his dream fading, leaving him back in his apartment. Not that this image was any better. The only real changes from now and the dream was the sun.
He looked to his left, the digital clock turning seven just as the banging on his door came again. Jason narrowed his eyes, or as much as he could with the shock still coursing through his system. No one good called around at seven in the morning. No one called around at all at seven in the morning. Actually, no one even called around.
Jason knew Bruce was still too squeamish to come after him. Jason had been laying low, just small patrols to get back into the swing of things. Nothing too outlandish or dangerous that would warrant an intervention. Not that Jason didn't know Bruce was craving it. He'd seen it in every tense muscle under that batsuit the first time they had met again. He saw the way Bruce was itching to come after him, to have an excuse to talk to him, at first, without the weight of what went down hanging over their heads. It was how their relationship was these days. Even before the...
Jason didn't even think it. He'd programmed himself not to. Not here, in his apartment anyway. It felt too close to home. It was too close to home since he still hadn't brought himself to move.
The banging came again, reminding Jason that there was someone waiting for him. It wasn't his landlord, Jason was pretty sure even if he was missing three months rent and had four dogs in his apartment the guy wouldn't come knocking. There was an aura around Jason that just warded people off. That always warded people off.
He grabbed his gun, swinging his legs around until he could reach the quiet boards of his floor. The knocking came two more times in his journey to the door. Jason's brain was dissecting everything he could from it, the ease, the pressure. It didn't sound like they were here to kill him. But, then again, when did a killer ever announce his presence. If it were Jason on the other side of the door, which it had been on occasion, he knew he never wanted to alert the person inside there was someone waiting to take their life.
Unfortunately, there was no peep hole, so Jason had to do things the old fashioned way.
"Who's there?"
He heard a sigh on the other side, male, adult, he couldn't tell age yet, not until they said, "It's Clark," and then Jason just threw everything he knew out the window.
He opened the door, finding that, huh, yep, that was Clark on the other side. Glasses, coat and everything. Jason stood there stupidly for a while, just the pure shock that Clark Kent was in front of him still trying to wrap itself around his brain. He didn't look like he was in any danger, nor did he look like he was here to drag Jason on some kind of League thing. He just looked like it was perfectly normal to go to his best friend's city and check in on said best friend's son who last time met each other one was trying to not so subtly collapse into an exhaustion fuelled sleep.
He let Clark in, fighting a blush the whole time as Clark dithered about probably looking for somewhere sanitary to put his coat. If he wanted sanitary, Jason thought heading for the coffee, he probably should have not come to Jason's.
"Can I get you anything?" Manners finally kicking in. "Water, beer, a reason for being here?"
Clark snorted, lounging in the small doorway. "I'm fine. I just came to get you."
"Get me?" Did he miss something? He was sure there was nothing on the comms. last night. In fact, he was sure if he even heard the word Superman or Clark these past few weeks he would have been paying attention. You didn't just ignore it when the man of steel was brought up.
Still, Clark looked like he had a purpose as he said, "For today? Damian said I needed to make sure you were up early and to bring you as soon as possible."
"Ah." That explained it. If Damian was behind this then it was no wonder Jason didn't know. He had a tendency, when it was personal not professional, to only let people in the know at the last possible moment. The only way to counteract this was if Dick got a hold of these plans beforehand. "So how did the brat rope you into being delivery boy?"
Clark grinned, not fazed at all. "I had to drop Jon off. I honestly thought you knew I was coming to get you."
"Well, I didn't."
It was awkward getting ready around Clark. Every time Jason passed him to grab a shower or breakfast he found the man at another part of the apartment. It made him feel weird. He knew Clark wasn't well off, but Jason had been to Clark's apartment, both invited and breaking in, and knew it was at least five steps up from this dump Jason stayed in. It wasn't that Jason didn't have the money to move either. He did, it was just, he knew from experience that it was good for his mental state to say here for a while. At least another month until he stopped jumping at shadows. Yet, even knowing himself that this place was crap didn't stop Jason from watching carefully as Clark fingered his stuff.
All in all it took about an hour for Jason to be ready to hit the town. Mostly because he knew the stalling would drive Damian mad. When they finally left Jason's place he felt like he was in a bad porno as Clark led him down a dark alley and told him to hold on.
They were flying out of Gotham. As soon as Jason saw the bridge go by beneath him he couldn't help tightening his hold. He didn't like going away from Gotham. Especially when he was unprepared.
Jason was starting to fear that maybe Damian wasn't behind this visit. That Clark really had come to get him for some kind of business. It had been a good plan if it was. He was here after all. Yet, Clark didn't take him to some remote secure prison. Instead, the cities started evening out into fields, and eventually Jason finally recognised where they were heading.
He'd only been to Smallville the once. It had been a covert operation. One of utmost importance. Bruce had needed a holiday and refused to go outside of America. Alfred had made it clear that Bruce wasn't allowed any computers or access to danger, and since Clark had been making an effort to sniff around more now that there was a new Robin in town he'd offered to house them in Smallville for the week.
Jason didn't remember much about that week. Like most of his memories it was faint in his mind, but Jason got a sense of happiness when he tried to dig up more. He must have had a good time.
They landed in front of the Kent's house, Jon running out with Damian dawdling behind to greet his father. Jason didn't see the rest of the bat pack so he assumed Damian was the only one here. He didn't know if that was a good thing or a bad thing as the kid finally caught up to them.
"Todd," he greeted.
"Damian." He let the kid size him up like he usually did when they met, both of them looking to see what weapons the other was packing. Jason broke first, not wanting to spend the whole day doing this. He shoved his hands in his pockets, rocking on his heels and making sure there was no one else just waiting behind those lace curtains to jump him. "So, what am I here for?"
Damian didn't answer, he tutted and glared his way over to Clark. Jason followed, surprised the two supers had managed to get so far away from them without him noticing. "When can we see them?" Damian asked, and Jason might have been hearing things but he was almost certain there was a level of excitement in his tone.
"In a bit. I told Mr Brown we would be over at noon. It's barely ten," Clark said.
"Mr Brown?" Jason asked.
Damian tutted again, "Yes Todd, keep up, he's the whole reason we are here."
Jason waited, he actually waited because sometimes Damian was kind and actually explained himself. Today was not one of those days. "So is he a bank robber gone underground or..."
Silence. Jason sighed, he supposed he would have to wait and find out then.
The hours until noon Clark had them doing chores around the farm. Or, he had the kids do chores, recognising sometime between waking Jason up and bringing him here that Jason didn't have a clue what was going on. So, while the kids were figuring out how to feed the chickens efficiently Clark herded Jason inside to be smothered by Mrs Kent.
"What a woman," Jason said as they left the farm house. The trek to Mr Browns was only a fifteen minute walk, and one Jason was content to do now he'd been fed a proper meal and allowed to bask in the glorious glow that was Martha Kent for a while.
"She's the best," Clark agreed. "It makes me feel easier now Kon's around. I used to feel so guilty leaving her and Pa for weeks. But, Kon's a good kid, and I know he loves them. I trust him to look after them."
"Right," Jason knew there was more being said here than a simple praise of Kon's good nature. After all, if Clark knew anything at all he would know Jason just had to go to the manor to listen to that spiel. Tim was more than enthusiastic in telling everyone when he came back from a Titan's mission just how great Superboy was.
"People need that. Someone to look after them. Even adults. I don't know what I would do without Lois."
Here we go. "Let me guess. Bruce told you to pose the question of counselling again on this little trip didn't he?"
"He's just worried," Clark said, not even denying Bruce's involvement. "Everyone is. And I know I have no right to preach to you, so I'm not. I'm just volunteering to listen Jason. If you need it. I know how good it is to talk to someone impartial."
Jason held back every snide comment he could. Clark was just trying to help. "Well I'm fine. I'm young, handsome, alive, what more could I ask for?"
"A lot more," Clark said.
Jason walked ahead. He couldn't deal with this, even if Clark was just trying to be nice.
The farm, when they got there, was similar in layout to the Kent's. There was a barn, a house, and fields surrounding them. Jason rather liked it, if only because he saw Damian practically bounce the closer they got to the front door.
"Hurry up," He snapped back at them.
"I'm like two steps behind," Jason said, striding in front just to prove his point. "Now, are you going to tell me what's so important or am I going to have to keep guessing."
Damian pursed his lips, his mouth opening just as the front door let Mr Brown out. Introductions took precedent, Clark falling back into an accent Jason was just in awe of as the five of them wandered over to the big barn.
Jason didn't even bother asking the reason for their visit as they got inside. He could hear the small whimpers and excited yaps, just barely stopping himself from rolling his eyes as Damian raced ahead into the den of puppies.
There were seven of them in total, Mr Brown informing Jason that they were a Great Dane mix since Damian wasn't paying attention at all. They had just turned the right age to be given to homes, like, the right age today. It was no wonder Damian had been excited.
"Does Bruce know you're getting one of these?" Jason asked, knowing for a fact that Bat-cow had been a spur of the moment decision on Damian's part.
"Of course," Damian said, holding one of the puppies up for inspection. "It was his idea."
"Oh," Jason said, "Good." There was nothing really to add onto that. If it was okay with Bruce then there was no reason for Jason to complain.
Clark nudged him slightly from where he was standing, his head bobbing pointedly down to the puppies. "You can pet them too Jason."
If he were Damian, Jason would have saved face and said something about being above petting dogs. But, well, Damian himself was almost being swallowed by the litter jumping up on him, and Jason had never had a strong will to begin with. He hopped into the pen and grabbed the first puppy he could, a little coo escaping him as he stroked the fur baby soft on the boy's back.
Clark and Mr Brown wandered off at some point, leaving Jason to help the two kids decide which dog would be a good fit for Wayne manor.
"But girls are more protective," Damian argued. "They stay close to their pack and are much more wary of strangers." A must if it was to live in the Wayne house. Especially after the... incident.
"Yeah, but you don't want her to be too protective. Besides, if you get a girl Krypto might start coming around. You know Kon can't keep him chained."
"True," Damian huffed, putting the girl he was holding down to inspect another one.
Jason tuned it out, he was happy with the one in his lap. It hadn't left him even when he'd set the thing down and was content to flop around on its too big paws as Jason scratched its belly.
At least, Jason had been happy until his puppy was snatched. "Hey!" Jason protested as another dog plopped itself down where its brother had been. He couldn't be too upset, but he was still miffed as his puppy was held up for inspection. "You know you're supposed to ask before taking something. Especially if they're alive."
Damian looked like he had some comment to make before his expression dropped, an almost apologetic frown taking over his brow as he put the puppy back on Jason'd leg. "You are right. In future I will ask."
"Okay," Jason agreed a bit uneasy about how easy that had been.
Damian didn't move off to the others, instead keeping close as he examined the puppy from his vantage point. Jason was tempted to hand it off, just so he could get rid of the attention, but the puppy really was fluffy.
"He seems skinny," Damian observed.
"He's probably the runt."
"He's cute," Jon said, crawling his way over. He nudged his elbow into Damian, "You know, if you brought him home it wouldn't take long before he filled out. Being an only child has a tendency to do that."
"I suppose that explains why you are so skinny then. The clone must take your share if what you say is true."
Jon pouted while Jason held in a snigger. He couldn't believe this kid, Damian, had a friend like this. It was surreal, and just a little daunting wondering just how Jon had managed to first, put up with Damian, and second to earn the brats respect. Jason was still trying to accomplish both of those goals.
"Todd," Damian called, "What do you make of him?"
Jason shrugged, scratching the puppy's ear. "He's cute. I wouldn't mind taking him home." Which reminded him. "Not that my opinion means anything. Why exactly did you bring me here?"
Other than the fact he could smell Bruce all over this, there was no way Damian would give in unless there was something in it for him. When they had went to watch Corionalus Jason was only there because he was the only one, save Alfred with enough respect for the Bard to not fall asleep. Right now, Jason could see no merit to his presence here. This job, picking a puppy, seemed much more like a job Dick would do,
"I need you to be my guardian. The alien said Mr Brown would not give me the puppy if I did not have someone of age present." Still sounded like a job for Dick, and Jason meant to say so when Damian twisted his mouth, "Also, you proved you liked dogs. Your input to an animal's temperament should be taken into account."
He supposed that made sense, in that weird Damian way of his. Jason did like dogs too. He could still recite the report he'd made to Bruce about why it would be conductive to his wellbeing and happiness to get a dog. Strange how that had remained crystal clear after all these years yet his thirteenth birthday was still a mystery.
Jason held the little guy in his lap up, looking at the way it responded to him. Puppies had a tendency to go one way or another, either they were attatched or welcome to a new pack. This one since he was the runt, seemed to be more towards the latter. Getting kicked out of feeding time would probably do that to a dog.
"I think he would be a good fit," Jason said eventually.
Damian nodded, "Very well then I will take him."
Damian trotted off to get Clark, leaving Jon and Jason alone to play with the puppies. He wasn't gone long, returning almost immediately to order Jason up and Clark to return them to Gotham.
"What's the magic word Damian?" Clark goaded.
"Now." And, yeah, Clark had been asking for that.
The Kents took a boy each, Jason glad he got Clark when he saw Jon almost drop Damian over the Gotham bridge. He didn't blame the kid for glaring the rest of the way back, merely clutched the new puppy tighter in case Clark decided to experience a little turbulance.
Jason had the decency to thank Clark before he took off again after Damian raced inside. Most of it was to do with manners. The rest merely hoping that the next time the League talked about imprisoning him Clark would be abit more sympathetic to his cause.
Jason set the puppy down as soon as the main door shut, it flopped about uncertainly for a few moments before taking to sniffing his new surroundings. Jason followed the puppy's quest, purely because some part of him was imagining this would be what he would have done if Bruce really had gotten him a dog when he was thirteen.
The puppy went everywhere. Every nook and cranny it could put its snout in, he sniffed. Jason had to fish the puppy out of three holes it got stuck in before it even breached the second floor.
It was adorable watching him go up the stairs, each one its own individual mountain to climb. Jason was exhausted just watching him reach the top, but still followed out of decency when the puppy bounded off to his next big adventure.
They passed a few open doors, Jason realising the puppy was following Damian's scent when it took a sharp detour into Bruce's study.
"I'm going to tell you this now buddy. You pee in here, Bruce will probably try and make you into a fluffy hat." Jason still kind of hoped the dog would do it anyway. Jason was sure something this small and cute could get away with it the first five or six times.
"Don't know about a hat. Maybe a scarf of some kind."
Jason tensed, not having heard Dick sneak up behind him. He made himself relax, ready to start in on the usual jibes. Yet, when he looked, all Jason could do was lash out. His fist landed on Dick's jaw. Dick remembered to block as the next one flew towards him.
"Jason- what the-" Dick huffed as Jason got a good kick to his stomach in. "Jason!"
He didn't even try to listen, his ears blocking out all sound as the only sense still working narrowed in on Dick's skin. Dick's tan smooth skin.