Freaks and Rats
A Word: Request for the circus freak and the street rat.
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Gotham was their winter home for reasons Dick has never cared to figure out. All he needs to know is that when it gets too cold to draw a crowd they travel to a flattened field just outside of the huge city and practice new routines until it warms up enough to get back on the road. His dad worries about it. Dick can see it in the frown he wears as they approach the city, in the low conversations both his parents have. Too low for Dick to hear.
He's not completely ignorant of them or the reason why old man Haley always turns North for winter. It's just better not to touch it. Better to concentrate on the next flip or twist until he's got the routine down perfect enough he can go for the day. Can get away from the trailers and tents and walk through Gotham.
Dick loves Gotham in the winter. Not for the people or the sights or the food. He loves Gotham for one person and one person alone.
It's always a hunt. Especially in the first week when Dick doesn't know where any of his new bolt holes are. They change every month for protection.
Gotham is a large city but it never takes Dick long to find him.
"I thought you hated the docks," Dick says to the young man's back. He's head first in a broken container shifting around things Dick is better off not looking at too closely.
"The docks can go fuck themselves," Jason mutters as he shoves something into a bag and cinches it shut. He tosses it to Dick with a smirk. "Here. Make yourself useful, circus freak."
Dick shifts the heavy bag and waits for Jason to grab a second bulging bag. He wonders how Jason was planning on getting away without drawing attention to himself before. "A big street rat like you needs help?"
Jason's grown over the year putting on enough inches that he's looking Dick in the eye now, and filling out just enough to look like he weighs more. It's a good look on him and Dick admires it. Almost as much as Jason obviously likes what he sees in Dick. "Heh, how about I help you out of those pants?"
"Have you been watching porn?" Dick gasps dramatically even as he snickers at the horrible line. Staggering under the blow as he follows Jason —at a good rate of speed that isn't quite running— away. "Your poor virgin eyes!"
Jason snorts and ducks into an alley. Pulling Dick into a wet and filthy kiss that leaves him more breathless than any of the routines he's done today. Jason pulls back too quickly with a bite to his lower lip. "Ain't nothing virginal about me and you damn well know it you perverted gypsy."
Dick grins as Jason spins into the dark alley. Giving him a nice view of his worn pants. He really does love Gotham in the winter.
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