Author's Notes: First off, welcome back :) I hope you all enjoyed the first chapter, I know it was short (hopefully I can write longer chapters in the future.) I'd really like to thank all the people who have reviewed, followed and favorite-ed my story :) SO MUCH love to sea-dilemma for beta-reading AND mentioning my fic in her fic "Shatter Me" (if you've yet to read it, YOU SHOULD!) Anywho, I hope you enjoy! :) MUCH LOVE! :D
Disclaimer: I do not own Young Justice, or its characters, all of which are owned by DC Comics/Cartoon Network.
A couple hours had passed before Juliet walked into Alan's room. Since his was always the messiest, she always saved his for last. His bedroom wasn't as bad as she expected, yet it still needed much attention. Looks like he woke up late this morning. Discarded clothing was left on just about every inch of the cream-colored carpet; toys covered the rest. Dropping the basket of dirty laundry, she walked over to the bathroom door. Flipping the switch, Juliet squinted as the fluorescent light flickered on; the bathroom was, surprisingly, in a much neater and organized state- meaning the kid didn't even brush his teeth…
His hamper sat just in front of the sink, filled with dirty clothes and towels. Juliet lifted it and pulled out the surprisingly large amount of dirty laundry and carried them to her basket. She could still hear the stereo from the living room and began humming to a familiar, up-beat tune whilst picking up the clothes from the floor of the bedroom.
Out of the blue, her pocket screeched a tune that mimicked a classic horror movie scream, making her jump and drop the clothes. The screaming continued until she pulled out her phone; seeing who it was, she shook his head. He managed to change my ringtone again!
"Aren't you supposed to be in class right now?" She smiled at the child's laughter on the other end.
"Yea, well I'm at lunch now."
"Hmm, how do I know you aren't just lying to me and skipping school?" She joked; She couldn't help but laugh at his reply. Alan was so easy to tease.
"W-What?! No I'm NOT!"
"Psh, I know!" The smile never left her face as she adjusted the phone to fit her shoulder while she continued to straighten his room. "So, when did you change my ringtone, kiddo?"
"You only heard it just now? Don't people call you?"
"Heard it? No DUH, silly! It nearly gave me a heart attack! And NO, no one calls me."
"I knew you'd be scared!"
"Yea, yea whatever! So what's up, kiddo? Must be REAL important if you're calling me from school-on your LUNCH, no less!" She said in a playful tone.
"Haha, yea, very funny. Did dad tell you about me staying after school?"
"Yes."
"Well, the teacher told us the club was cancelled, so I get out at normal time." Gee, he almost sounded sad for a minute there!
"Alrighty, honey-bunches! I'll come pick you up from school at 7 o' clock!"
"What?! No I—"
"Ohh I was just kidding!"
"Stop calling me that, too! It's…embarrassing…" He mumbled so low, she thought she imagined it.
"Aw, I know you love me… and don't worry, I'll come get you when school lets out, ok?" She heard him sigh in relief and she laughed again. "Now eat your lunch, I'm sure you don't want to talk to me and miss out on hamburgers today, right?"
"Actually, it's pizza today!" His mood changed quickly; Juliet shook her head as they said their good-byes and hung up.
Tucking the phone back into her pocket, she looked over to the Alien-themed alarm clock sitting on top of the boy's desk. 1:13…Ok, still a few more hours to clean. She quickly gathered all the clothes and placed them in the basket.
Juliet used all of her strength to lift the now over-flowing basket of dirty laundry; it was literally blocking her view. Attempting to walk out of the room, she accidentally bumped into the door frame, causing some of the dirty clothes to cover her head. And it's a long way to the washeteria; it being on the second floor. Why don't these apartments have their own washer and dryers?! She maneuvered through the door and into the hallway, although she didn't make past the living room without stubbing her toe on the black corduroy sofa.
"Aaaarghhh! Frickin-frick!" She hissed, curling her toe in pain and biting her lip. This is too much clothing for a father and son! Why is there so much laundry!? She stomped, not caring about her injured toe, to the front door and exited the apartment. The marble floor was cold against the pads of her feet and she was regretting ever leaving. She stopped and looked back; too far now.
She continued on, setting the heavy basket down and pushing the down button once at the elevator. She looked down at the basket and pulled out a large shirt, stretching it over the top of the clothes to hide any undergarments and to keep clothes from falling off the sides.
The elevator doors opened and Juliet quickly dragged the basket inside, not bothering to pick it up just yet.
"Laundry day?"
Juliet turned to see an older woman smiling at her. She wore a beautiful navy pantsuit with silver buttons and white edges. Her greying hair was short and curly, yet was neatly styled to frame her thin face. Juliet returned her smile and nodded, assuming she must live in one of the more expensive homes. The woman chuckled softly and pushed the button for Juliet.
"I remember having to hang all the clothes myself when I was younger. You kids today have it so much easier with your fancy Dryers."
"Well, at least now someone else does it for you, huh?" Juliet asked and the older woman laughed lightly.
"Yes, well; I have my husband to thank for that." She held out a pale elegant hand. "I'm Deborah Wilkins. 16th floor." Juliet grasped her hand, scared the woman's frail hand might break.
"Juliet Corrigan; 11th floor."
"Ah, Juliet; what a beautiful name. By chance, do have a boyfriend named Romeo?" Her light humor made Juliet laugh.
"I get that a lot; but no such luck, actually." She leaned against the elevator wall, hands tucked in her pockets. "I hardly have any friends these days."
"Well, that's no good! A pretty girl like you should have a bunch of friends! Aren't you still in high school?"
"Actually no, I graduated 4 years ago… I'm 22."
"College?"
"I've only been taking a few online courses, mainly core classes, but… I'm not sure what to do, really. As a career..."
The woman gently shook her head. "Well, at least you're still young. You have many years before you get to be my age and trust me missy, nothing functions like it used to!" The two women laughed just as the doors opened on Juliet's floor. She dragged her basket out of the elevator.
"It was nice to meet you, Mrs. Wilkins, I hope I see you again soon."
"You too, Juliet; go find yourself a nice boy to socialize with. I heard the Doorman has a son."
"Oh, no, ma'am! I am NOT setting myself up for that!" The older woman laughed as the doors slid closed. Juliet shook her head, smiling. "What a woman." She sighed and lifted the heavy load.
"Now for 2 hours of boredom with unsociable washing machines."
This wasn't exactly his idea of living on his own. Jason walked silently to the nearby train station alone. No one paid much attention to the young man as he reached the public lockers. Punching in the code, he pulled out his duffel bag with all his belongings and closed the locker for the last time. At least now he had a stable job, or so he thought. There was something off about the CEO of R&O Paper Company. Jason wasn't exactly one to throw caution to wind. Speaking of wind…
The rain from earlier had left New York with a cold October chill; Jason zipped up his leather jacket and swung the bag over his shoulders. Walking from the station, Jason wandered through the streets of New York. It wasn't long before he hailed a cab and tossed his things inside.
"Where to?" The cab driver asked. Jason thought for a moment, for now there was no place he belonged, no place of his own. Who, besides Bruce, could Jason Todd turn to for the night? He wasn't exactly the sociable golden boy. "Sir?" Jason closed the door behind him and stared out the window.
"Blüdhaven." The cab driver nodded and prattled on about how far it was from New York and how much it would cost Jason, but he wasn't exactly worried about that. Not that he ever worried anymore. He gave the man the specific address and the driver put it in his GPS. The ride would take an hour, tops.
Jason pulled out his phone, going through the small list of contacts he had; would Dick help? He spent most of the cab ride staring at his older brother's number, contemplating the best choice. Getting an apartment was expensive in New York, particularly the ones he wanted. There was no doubt living in a hotel would cost him, as well as the constant cab rides.
The sky was clearing and bits of sun shone over the city as he drew closer to Blüdhaven. He didn't want to stay long; long enough to at least get an apartment outside of the city he hated. He looked at the screen of the phone again. It was a little past noon already, and Jason pulled his bag close and opened one of the side pockets. Inside was an orange medicine bottle, filled with his medication; he stared at the pills for a moment, observing the tiny beads inside the two-colored pill. A part of him hated this, yet this was one way to ease his mind.
Jason tossed his head back and swallowed his pills dry. It'd be a while before any effects kicked in, so he waited patiently as the driver exited off the freeway.
Things were going according to plan as far as he knew it. Jason handed a $100 bill to the cab driver and told him to keep the change; The driver greedily accepted and drove off.
Jason looked up at the apartment complex, wondering if Dick was even at home. 'Nah, last I heard he was supposedly working for Wayne Enterprises; only one way to find out.'
Sliding open his phone, he dialed Wayne Enterprises.
"Wayne Enterprises, how may I direct your call?" A woman answered.
"I need to speak to Dick Grayson."
"One moment, please." He was placed on hold for a few seconds before it changed to ringing. After two rings, he heard the familiar voice of his older brother. Well I'll be damned. It was true.
"Dick Grayson."
"Oh, my God. It's true." Jason entered the apartment complex as he talked. He could practically hear the grin in Dick's voice.
"How did you get this number?"
"Receptionist, Wonder Boy." Jason turned to see the elevator blocked.
"Damn them. I told them to screen my calls." Jason chuckled as he continued to the stairs instead; maybe Dick's humor was one of the reasons Jason tolerated him. He shook his head, ascending the stairs at a slow pace.
"So, Bruce finally did it- he got the golden child roped into the family biz." Mentally he rolled his eyes. "The other family biz."
"Well, you know, gotta put away the jammies sometime and put on the big-boy pants." Dick said, and Jason grinned as he passed the second floor.
"Ha. As if you'll ever do that."
"Well, I do look good in them." So full of himself, as usual.
"Especially the footy pajamas." Jason joked
"It gets all the women, you know."
"I wondered how you attracted Barbara."
"Sheer animal magnetism."
"I think it's just her bad vision. She thought you were me." He remembered that well. He could almost picture the disbelief on Dick's face.
"We look nothing alike."
"It's true. I have the rugged looks, and yours are oh, so delicate." He heard the older Wayne chuckle at his words, and Jason couldn't keep the smirk from his face.
"So how did you hear about me working here?"
"I was trained by the world's greatest detective."
"Sherlock Holmes?" Finally reaching the right floor, Jason walked up to his brother's door.
"Yeah. You know Watson was based on me, right?" Jason knelt down and pulled out his lock pick.
"So when are you going to come work here?" Dick asked. Jason paused in his work, and a familiar emotion washed over him. Frowning, he continued.
"Well, I was thinking about it."
"Oh, yeah?" The lock clicked.
"How about 'when hell freezes over?'" Jason stood and pushed the door open; the mood had suddenly turned a bit sour as he intruded into Dick's apartment.
"Jase…" Dick sighed.
"I'm just not an office kind of guy, Dickiebird. You, of all people, should know that."
"You wouldn't have to be. Look, there's a position open in the R & D, in the weapons division." Jason knew for sure there was no such job openings. He placed his bag on the floor next to the couch.
"Nah, I'm not ready to have a paycheck with Bruce's face on it."
"We used all those checks up. It's my face now." Dickiebird always knew how to lighten the mood.
"Not Damian's? He's slipping."
"He was too short to be seen in the official portrait, so they cut him out."
"Ha. If there's ever an official portrait, you know that he'll be standing on a box to tower over everyone else."
"Better than standing on our backs." Ha. Good one.
"That's more his style, I'll admit." Jason sat on the couch and pulled out the manila envelope he received earlier.
"So, should I give Lucius your name for that job?" He pressed his lips in a thin line.
"No can do. I've already got a job."
"That's great! What is it?" He almost cringed at his brother's excitement.
"Bodyguard." Jason almost laughed as he practically heard Dick's face fall.
"Oh-that's-great, um- too. It's not for someone like- Penguin or Dent, is it?" Jason flipped through the papers in his lap.
"No one that I'll have to kill later on." He said absent-mindedly.
"Well, that's – a- relief."
"I thought you might think so." He stopped on the picture of the baby-sitter.
"So," Dick began slowly, "You want to have lunch later?" At the mention of food, Jason's stomach growled, remembering he didn't eat anything prior to his meeting this morning; yet he felt a little edgy about eating at a restaurant with Dick.
"Dick, we're not doing normal, you know. It's not in me."
"It's lunch, Jay. I'm not asking you to room with me."
"Now that would be interesting." There was a short pause before Dick said anything.
"Do you need a place to stay?" Jason knew Dick would welcome him in his home, but he wasn't so sure if he really wanted to or not. He was quiet for a moment, wondering whether or not he should have stayed in New York. He knew Dick's generosity too well, and he knew that Dick would tell Bruce as soon as he got the chance. "Come stay with me, Jay."
"No." He affirmed. "That won't work, Dick. Come on. We're not exactly Bert and Ernie."
"As long as you don't touch my rubber ducky, we'll be fine." Jason scrunched up his nose and tossed his papers on the coffee table.
"That sounds very wrong, Grayson."
"I walked right into that one, didn't I?"
"Little bit." He stood up and walked towards the kitchen.
"So you'll think about it? About staying with me, I mean?" What was there to lose?
"Already thought about it." He opened the fridge to examine the contents; disappointed in the lack of alcoholic beverages.
"So that's a yes?"
"Yeah, sure. After all, your fridge is well-stocked. Hey, you got any beer? All I see is diet soda." He scrunched his nose again in disgust. "You seriously drink that crap?" He was positive Dick knew where he was now.
"You're in my apartment right now." Dick deadpanned. If Jason could, he would laugh in his face.
"Tell you what. I'll sleep on the sofa and you can keep the bed." He heard Dick sigh through the phone.
"Thanks."
He pulled out the last cold slice of pizza. "No prob." Biting down, Jason looked around the kitchen some more and opened a few cabinets. His eyes widened at the variety of food the guy had. "Woah! Why do you have seven – no – eight different types of cereal?" Dick ignored his question.
"I'll see you tonight, then."
Jason continued walking around the apartment. "Hey, where do you keep the escrima sticks?" He waltzed into Dick's bedroom.
"Do not start playing with my stuff, Jason."
Jason rolled his eyes. "That does not sound good, either. Do you think about your words before you say them?"
Ignoring his question once again, Dick sighed. "Make yourself at home, Jase, you know – as long as you don't touch my special things." Jason walked back into the kitchen.
"You did it again, Dickie. Think before you speak." Jason grinned as he heard his brother laugh.
"I'll see you later."
"Thanks, bro."
"You're welcome, bro."
Jason hung up the phone and stood in front of the fridge. He had a lot of reading to do; but first… He pulled out all the ingredients for a triple-layered sandwich.
"Shouldn't work on an empty stomach."
Author's Notes: Recognize that scene anyone? :) sea-dilemma was so kind to let me use this scene, I sincerely appreciate all the help she's given by letting me incorporate a few scenes in Jason's POV :) I hope you enjoyed it and like my take on Jason! :D like I said, I hope I can make the chapters longer in the near future; thank you all for reading!