Chapter 3

"Jaybird? Little Wing?"

Nicknames. They were the best. They helped keep his little siblings closer, in some ways. They were a good excuse for cuddling, if he pretended like he didn't notice his amazing little siblings growing up and stop wanting him… if he'd ever been wanted at all.

"What, do you want, Golden Boy?" Of course, it went both ways. Their nicknames for him were always such lovely reminders of his own unwantedness. And Jason had so many reasons to hate him… Dick had been the worst older brother imaginable.

After his argument with Bruce, Dick had tried to branch out; be his own person. That sounded unbearably stupid, now. Anyway. He should have known better than to try and fight with Bruce. Bruce always won. Hard. And then there was the other thing… Dick had been stupid to think he was worth anything without Bruce and his family. He had been stupid to think that he was really important to Bruce at all.

Batman had made that abundantly clear by taking in a literal thief, making him his ward, and then giving him Robin, and all without Dick's permission, or even knowledge.

Robin had never been just a superhero name. It was what had been Dick's mother's special name for him: her Little Robin. She'd used it the night she died. And Bruce had given it away. Hadn't bothered explaining what it meant, hadn't told Dick what he'd done… Dick had learned about Robin 2 from the newspapers of all things.

And then Bruce had adopted the kid. Dick had been Batman's partner and ward for nearly 10 years, and Bruce had never adopted him. But Jason… Jason got to be a real son. And did Bruce adopt Dick when he adopted Jason? No. Of course not. It wasn't like the two of them were talking, anyway. Dick had still been trying to hold to his individual self worth back then. Bruce was hurting him, and Dick was staying away. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Dick got adopted later, of course. After Tim. At that point people would have just been plain suspicious if he hadn't done otherwise. Now, at first, as Robin, Dick hadn't cared if he was adopted or not. He'd felt Bruce loved him, and he was sure that they had a father/son relationship without any paperwork. But if he was going to adopt Jason…

Fire Dick from the job that had really been his life for so many years, toss him from the manor like unwanted garbage, find another kid, give the kid Robin, make the kid his son… there was no way Bruce could have said more explicitly that Dick was the real greatest failure he'd ever had.

And sure, maybe at some point Dick could have taken Robin from Jason, once he'd learned about the boy. But how would that work? 'Hey, I'm the original Robin and if you wouldn't mind me taking the job away from you (not to use it or anything, you understand), then I'll just be on my say. See, that job was really important to me, and it sort of hurts my feelings when you use it… and this has nothing to do with you!'

Ah, yes. That wouldn't gone over well.

He'd never had a problem with Jason. Jason had just gotten caught up in everything that was going on. His problem had been with Bruce, ensuring he couldn't bare to visit the manor for fear of seeing the man. So, so stupid. And his stupidity had kept him from getting to know his valiant little brother who gave up the ultimate sacrifice one could make.

And he was chasing after his mother. If Dick had been there, if he'd been a proper big brother, Jason would've felt he could align with him against Bruce, they would have gone together; Jason would've lived!

But worthless, worthless, Dick had failed, and Jason had died. Yes, Jason had every right in the book to hate him.

"Jaybird, you won't believe it! Dami's school is hosting a fiesta grande and we're all invited!"

"The depths of your stupidity never cease to amaze me, Dick. Ever. Go away."

"Noooooo, this is the chance of a lifetime! A real family bonding activity! Imagine the happiness on your siblings faces!"

Jason looked at him as if he had lost his mind… which was a fair assumption considering the nonsense he was spouting. "The… do you honestly think you're making anyone happy or are you worse than the Joker?"

"More crazy than Joker?"

"Worse than. You'd have to be evil to try to knowingly inflict this on us."

When Jason was right, he was right.

"I'm not evil! You all just make me out to be the bad guy because you don't want to admit I'm right."

"Dick. You are good at many things. Like being bait for supervillains and picking up desperate women. You're just delusional when it comes to anything important.

"Jason! There's no reason to say things like that. This'll be fun! If we both team up and decide to go-"

"There is no reason I would willingly associate with you. Ever, Dick. The only reason we're even related is because Bruce thought you were too pathetic to fend for yourself. Like a pet. Except most puppies grow up, whereas you seem determined to mooch off everyone for the remainder of your meaningless life. Seriously, Dick, why can't you just grow up?"

"I prefer to retain my boyish charm."

"What charm, every girl you've ever met has left you for every excuse in the book! I get that you're desperate but do you need to waste hours of our day making us do this stuff? Some of us actually have lives to live! Or regenerated deaths, anyway. Hard for you to imagine, I know. Now go jump off a skyscraper or something!"

Dick heaved a disappointed sigh and left the room, wondering if Jason wouldn't mind if Dick just didn't bring his grapple along for the ride.