There hadn't been a gathering outside the noticeboard large enough to make walking through the narrow corridor problematic in recent memory, the school couldn't be described as much other than 'infamous' and was beginning to get a reputation despite its previous best efforts to remain in the dark, now it seemed like a self-fulfilling prophecy was forming after the 'hard-knock' labels given unto the building by Gotham's most read newspaper critics.
Though if one were to look at the place, you might say 'it would never have stood much of a chance'. Gotham was beginning to flourish under a modern influence and the absence of crime since its masked vigilante had disappeared into chase the night Harvey Dent's body was found, the school building however remained rustic and bleak as it ever had and less helpful was that Harvey had fell barely a mile away. One could not help but feel cold looking at the place yet the heating system was one of a possible two things in the structural design that had remained intact over the years.
It was almost glowing in laminated wealth, or perhaps that it was the only non-yellowing page up on the board, a man in a top hat and a red and gold coat smiling at nothing at all, ornate retro-style letters reading 'One Night Only! – Pre-order tickets at your nearest box office' and plenty of other blank smiles dotted around the sheet, three of which had drawn the student body's attention. A handsome couple each with dark hair and tanned skin, Romanian, in red and green sparkled leotards, was waving with their free hands on the shoulders of a lean boy stood centre, his smile a little narrower than theirs but equally dark-haired and glittered, they had even gone so far as to apply glitter make-up to his cheeks and around his eyes.
An identical boy, only without glamour, was smiling a broader, less toothy grin, his shoulders being squeezed also and was jostled from side to side amongst the children as he glanced to and from the poster boasting his doppelganger. His friends jeered him but good-naturedly, some even gave tender congratulations and didn't try to hide their excitement for him, even his too-manly-for-this-crap best friend was laughing and joking with the others.
"You nervous, twinkle-toes?" he asked. Dick gave him a quizzical look and the friend slapped him on the back, "No, seriously, how you feeling?"
"Good, really good actually," Dick's face relaxed into his genuine grin again and the voices around them softened to hear him speak, "I mean, it's not just family-bonding now is it, this is the real thing, but I'm more excited than nervous."
"He's bricking it!" came a voice from the back encouraging a few sniggers.
Jason stood on tip-toe to get a glance at who might have just spoke, Dick pushed him back down before any damage could be done, "I probably will be just before show-time."
He turned to face the crowd and put his hands around his mouth to call out to them, "I want to see you all there, you got it? You don't show up you'll be turned away from the after party!"
"You got it!"
"Make a fucking show of it, Grayson!"
Once unanimous worship was achieved in Dick's eyes he winked and made his way apart from the crowd, Jason following in a quick step more than aware that the scene previous was a perfect metaphor for their relationship, or even their relationship to the school. It only took a second glance to deduce the dynamic, Dick was and always had been the centre of attention, he was a name on the lips of the gossips, a favourite, the other kids loved it and so did he. Jason knew himself as the shadow, but if he got to know people like Dick that was fine with him, in his own fucked up little way, he had a happiness which he found in his friend, a shining star bright as anything in the sky. Okay, it was fucking lame, but it was not anything he felt the need to deny. Yeah, he appreciated the sentimental side of friendship, nothing wrong with that, besides how many other prats at school wanted his position? More than enough to feel proud certainly and Jason Todd could safely call himself that.
He was proud to be friends with Dick Grayson because only he got to call himself a true friend.
Sure, Dick had many so-called 'friends', but no one knew him like Jason did and sure Dick was a star but could anyone else really feel that shine, like it was meant for them? Had any of them seen Dick laugh for real, or even cry? Like really fucking bawl? Then again Dick was not really a crier, he was more the type to hoard anger within himself and release it later on, Jason hadn't really seen him wail, not at that point.
"Hey,"
Jason stopped after Dick did.
"I know you're not a charity case so don't remind me, but I know stuff's been shitty lately," Dick was facing ahead in the opposite direction but Jason saw him rooting through his pockets for something, when he turned he was holding a yellow piece of thick paper to him, "my gift to you."
"You were really that worried I wouldn't show?" Jason took the piece smirking, he didn't know what to say or whether he should feel slightly embarrassed, it was dulled out by other emotions he had been less acquainted with.
"Gimme a break," Dick chortled unconvincingly, "I reckon you've been looking forward to this more than I have."
Jason sniggered and brought the back of his hand up to his mouth to do so, turning a little to exaggerate the action and hopefully shame his friend in the process, instead when he looked back he was met with that gentle fucking smile of his, that special smile, he was going to say something to make him regret being such an ass, wasn't he?
"It means a lot," Dick's eyes lowered and his smile widened, "you coming to see me on my big day and all. I know I can be a conceited prick sometimes but more than anyone else I wanted you there, you know? You're my main man and you'll be cheering me on – yeah, before you say it, corny, cheesy, whatever – just know that my night's gonna be made if you're there."
Like a bomb, sly bastard, what was he supposed to say to that? Let it never be said having a loving relationship with someone does not bite you in the ass. Jason sucked in his lips, his jaw slackened and they parted with a pop as he inhaled deeply, unable to meet his friends gaze immediately. Knowingly, Dick's head tilted and his sweet mouth became a devious little shape.
"Jesus," muttered a humiliated Jason, "anyone would think you were getting married or something."
"Please, I'd be the biggest waste known to woman kind if that were the case, I got years of breaking hearts after hearts to look forward to."
"Just..." Jason held up a hand almost defensively, as if Dick's ego was being shot his way in a laser beam, "give me a time."
"Learn to read before tonight," he tapped twice on the numbers printed on the slip Jason had been holding like a small tray in both sets of fingers, "you won't want to miss this for the world."
Not a day went by that Jason did not wonder if he had missed the night ahead that the events that were to follow would have happened a little differently.
