Terry spent the entire day in class not listening to his professors and going through the motions.

Bruce wouldn't talk to him all morning, feigning business and burying himself in work when Terry came into the room. He kept replaying the conversation in his mind and tried to think of how they got to the point they did.

And why Bruce would ever want him with anyone else.

Terry knew even if Bruce had died, he'd never move on. Even if Bruce himself left him specific instructions as to who he should be with, he'd rip them up in to tiny pieces and throw them on Bruce's grave.

But for some reason Bruce didn't.

He walked out of his last class and out to his car, pulling out his phone and calling Bruce.

No answer. Again.

He called Jason instead and listened to his friend talk of his previous adventures the night before bringing in some Jokers and Terry felt jealousy creep up again. As much as he wanted to go back out again, he refused to do so unless Bruce invited him.

It was stupid, he knew, and a lot childish but Terry needed Bruce's permission to be out there again.

"And then he…"

"Jase, is Dick there?"

"Um, no. He had some business this morning, he's been gone since about eight or so. Why?"

Terry sighed. "Nothing."

"You okay, man?"

Terry put the car on auto-drive. "Well, Bruce said something weird this morning and it's been bothering me all day."

"What'd he say?"

"He said that he had wanted me to be with you if he'd died. Like he chose you for me or something."

Jason laughed. "What? You're like my brother! I couldn't…eww!"

"I know. But he was really serious about it. Did Dick ever say anything?"

Jason shook his head. "No, I think I'd remember."

Terry sighed. "Well I'm gonna bug him about it because it's just weird."

"When Dick comes back I'll ask him if you want."

"Thanks man."

"What are partners for?"

Dick Grayson and Bruce Wayne were fighting.

Literally.

Dick had come there that morning with the purpose of asking Bruce's advice about dealing with Barbara Gordon and ended up sparring with him in full costume, and quite enjoying himself.

They took short breaks in between and Bruce seemed to need the release as well, which was fine by him.

"So, any ideas? Besides the one you mentioned about paying her off?"

Bruce shrugged. "It worked for me."

"Yeah well I think she must've kept the money you gave her."

Bruce sighed. "You're going to have to fight this battle on your own, Robin. You're all grown up now and you got yourself into this mess in the first place kissing the woman."

Dick winced and walked over to the small refrigerator that stood near the cave's back wall and tossed Bruce a drink. "Way to hit below the belt."

"It's true."

Dick took a sip of his water. "What's gotten up your ass today?"

Bruce shrugged again. "Nothing."

"Bruce, what's wrong?"

Bruce sat down in his computer chair and let out another sigh, closing his eyes.

"Do you remember back almost a year ago when we talked about Terry and Jason?"

"Um, you're gonna have to be more specific."

Bruce opened his eyes. "About my will."

Dick's eyes widened and he let out his own long sigh. "I think I'm gonna sit for this," he mumbled, sitting himself cross-legged on the mat they had been practicing on.

"Do you remember?" Bruce asked again.

Dick ran a hand through his sweaty hair. "Yeah, I remember."

"I sort of let it slip to Terry this morning and I don't…"

"Well shit, Bruce."

Bruce glared at him. "It's not like I meant to, Dick."

Dick closed his eyes. "I still have it in my will too. Have you changed yours yet?"

Bruce shook his head.

"Well I'd burn it before…"

"Before what?" came the question, causing both mean to nearly jump out of their skin as Terry McGinnis walked in behind them looking quite annoyed.

Bruce put down his water and stood, trying to escape before Terry stopped him again.

"You're not getting away, Bruce," Terry said angrily then looked at Dick, "Neither are you."

Bruce sat back down. "Terry."

Terry waited, tapping his foot.

Dick actually swallowed back laughter and Terry glared at him icily. "Someone better tell me what you were talking about burning before I go through all your papers and find it myself."

Bruce actually looked smug. "You'd never find it."

Terry suddenly was on him, one hand on each side of the chair, their noses nearly touching.

"I'd find it, Bruce."

Dick coughed. "Um, I'm gonna…"

"Stay where you are, Grayson," came the angry voice that startled Dick enough that he actually gasped out loud.

Jason was standing at the top of the stairs leading down into the cave and when he finally came down he stood in front of his lover and said in a pout, "Tell me."

"Bruce thought it would be a good idea if we both died that the two of you got together so we made it a part of our wills and wrote letters and then we didn't die so now it doesn't matter but…"

Terry actually looked hurt, backing up from Bruce. "Bruce?"

Bruce stood and reached for his hand and Terry flinched, but let him take it. "But that doesn't matter now."

"You really do think you own me. I just….I thought it was funny but," his eyes filled with tears, "You really do."

"No, Terry. I wanted you to be happy."

Terry shook his head, laughing bitterly. "Like I'd ever be happy without you!"

Jason was actually crying much more openly and when Dick tried to touch him he backed up. "Don't. Just….god, it's still the same, isn't it? I'm someone you picked up off the street so you think you're my pimp now? I just…"

He took off running and Dick chased after him.

Bruce pulled Terry close and kissed him roughly, hoping to put everything out of Terry's mind. When they pulled apart there were still tears coming down his young lover's face and Bruce tried to wipe them away. "Don't cry, please. I can't…I can't see you cry again."

Terry laughed bitterly, nearly choking and Bruce took him in his arms. "I don't know how to do this the normal way. I go to all the extremes."

Terry laughed. "Obviously."

"I didn't, I don't own you. I know that."

"You sure seem to think you do," Terry whispered and Bruce pushed him away, looking into Terry's eyes.

"I don't own you, Terry. You own me. You just didn't know it until today."

Terry's mouth started to tremble and he pulled Bruce into a crushing kiss, whispering into Bruce's mouth and Bruce knew he was forgiven.

Dick tackled Jason in the back woods, throwing them both to the ground and holding Jason down with both hands.

Both men were fighting for breath and Jason was still crying, bringing tears to Dick's own eyes. "Please, look at me."

Jason shook his head. "I can't. It's too hard to say no when I do."

Dick swallowed. "It wasn't just Bruce's idea. I….I wanted someone to look after you when I was gone. I trust Terry, he…."

"If I was going to be with someone after you, that should be MY decision. Not yours."

" I know that, I do!"

Jason looked into his eyes then, so hurt and so angry. "Then why would you do something like that? To make yourself feel better? Because…."

"I can't lose you to anyone else!"

Jason looked at him, clearly surprised. "What?"

Dick closed his eyes, fighting tears. "I….everyday I wake up and expect you to be gone. Even more now than before because if they come for you, you might go with them."

"Who?"

"Your family, your old friends, your old life, I don't know! I just…shit."

Dick sat up and let go of him, sitting in the grass and covering his face.

Jason caught his breath and just stared at the man in front of him. He'd never imagined someone would be so broken up over him and his heart soared at the sight, even as he felt guilty for thinking so. He reached for Dick and draped his arms over the older man and said, "If they did, I'd die first before going back to that. I would. And I'd kill ANYONE who tried to take me away from you. I would."

Dick laughed, though it sounded more like a choke. "Even me?"

"Especially you. If you pushed me away again, I'd definitely kill you."

Dick looked over his shoulder at him and Jason kissed him once, twice, tasting salt on his lips. "I want to see the letter," he said simply and Dick nodded.

"I knew you'd say that."

Jason smiled. "Anything else you need to tell me?"

Dick swallowed and said seriously, "Yeah, there's something else."