Jason had no idea why he was following them, but that didn't make him stop.
The three of them walked through the house and when Selina opened the entrance to the cave neither man made any protests as they walked down the stairs and into the secluded cavern.
Selina seated them at the computer, she herself sitting in Bruce's chair and the two of them sitting on a table edge. Jason steeled himself for a lecture that he really didn't think he deserved. So what if he was moping?
She sighed and then said plainly, "You're babies."
Both of them looked at her angrily and Terry snapped, "We are not!"
"You are!" she yelled, "And you have no idea what you're in for. None. This isn't fun and games, gentlemen. This is life and death her and yes Terry, like it or not, Bruce will die. Very soon."
Terry suddenly got up off the table, his eyes filled with tears, and angrily started to leave.
"If you leave now, you're more of a coward than I thought you were. Some Batman."
He turned and she saw he was crying. "Shut up."
Selina stood and walked to him, causing him to step back. "Honey, look at me."
Terry looked at her. "He's…he's fine. He just…"
"He's an old man, Terry. Seventy-five is not the age where he should be doing even a quarter of the things he does and you're walking beside him thinking he's going to be there forever and honey, he's not. He…"
Terry suddenly broke, covering his face in his hands as he cried. Selina hugged him and whispered, "I just don't want to see you lose so much time with someone you love so much."
He hugged her back and Jason felt his own tears, wiping them away. "It's not fair. He…Bruce isn't sick. He's…." Jason argued, causing her to look over at him.
She smiled. "I know, honey. It's pretty scary, but I can't stand by and watch boys with so much to live for wait for old men who will drag their feet if you don't get a lot greedier in your demands."
Terry laughed, moving away and wiping his eyes. "He won't listen to me, Selina. He…thinks I need to be a teenager on my own. Live my life," he looked up, "He is so much a part of my life that I don't want to," he gestured around the cave, "THIS is my life."
Selina reached out and touched his cheek. "Tell him that. Please. He's waited so long to find someone he needs that I'm scared he's going to lose you."
Terry shook his head. "He's going to have to die first."
Selina hugged him tight and whispered, "Thank you. No go. Run."
Terry shook his head. "He's…asleep. It's late."
She ruffled his head. "So charming."
Jason looked down at his feet. Selina walked over to him and stood, waiting. He didn't look up.
"Jason. Darling."
He shook his head. "I'm not…I know Dick loves me. I love him. He's not gonna die for a while and…"
"Ten years," she announced, making him look up, "If you're lucky. I want you to know that. Richard Grayson may be a very young looking older man but he's an old man, Jason. Older than you let yourself think."
Jason shook his head. "He's…fine. He's not sick."
She put her hands on his and squeezed. "I never said either Bruce or Dick were sick. I just want the both of you to kick them in the asses and make them start to live again. No more locking themselves away in their giant homes and…being like I am. They have a chance. I don't have that."
Jason frowned and Terry touched her arm. "Selina?"
Selina felt her own tears rise and she swallowed. "I'm sick, kids. It's not something that can be cured and I…I don't have a lot of time here."
"Selina." Terry said again.
She smiled. "I'm fine, though. In good health and all that, really, and the docs give me a year."
Terry suddenly hugged her shoulder and Jason hugged her, laying his head on her other shoulder. She laughed. "You both don't even know me and you're acting like your mother is dying."
They shook their heads and she pushed them off, laughing. "Enough talk about me now, let's take action."
Terry bit his lip and nodded. Jason stood up and sniffed, wiping his eyes. "Okay."
"Jason, go tell that woman who Dick belongs to."
Jason smiled and ran up the stairs, with Terry and Selina walking after him.
He ran as fast as he could, smiling the whole way there. Just as he got through the front foyer he slowed down and ran into the dining room.
Then stopped, staring.
Dick Grayson and Barbara Gordon were sitting together at the table and they were kissing. Jason felt his eyes sting again as he whispered, "Stop."
Dick pushed Barbara off and looked at Jason. "Jason."
Jason shook his head. "Shut up."
Barbara looked at him and Dick walked over, standing in front of him. He shook his head again and a voice from behind him called, "Jason honey, what's…?"
"Jason, it's not what it looks like," Dick began, his eyes pleading.
Jason's eyes filled with tears and he whispered, "Shut up. Just…shut up," he looked at Barbara Gordon and said loudly, "He's mine."
Dick let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding and stayed quiet, head hung low. Selina Kyle slapped him, hard. "You idiot."
Jason walked past them both and stood in front of Barbara Gordon, still glaring. "You're not allowed to want him again. You gave him up. You had your chance. I found him and he's mine and…he needs me. He…" Jason swallowed tears and whispered, "He's the best thing I've ever found. Ever. He loves me."
She nodded. "I know. I'm sorry. I…I've ruined your birthday."
Jason stepped away from her and said quietly, "Go home to your husband."
Barbara looked at Dick, who was still staring at the ground, then at Selina who was glaring back. Then she left the room and no one saw her out.
Jason closed his eyes, letting tears fall again. He'd never cried so much on his birthday before, which seemed important somehow. "Dick."
Dick looked up, his eyes red. "I don't…she kissed me and I just…it felt…I…"
"Do you want her? You can go if you want to."
Dick's face turned white and he all but shouted, "Jason, NO! I want you! I love you!"
Jason nodded, smiling through his tears.
Dick ran to him then, took him in his arms and kissed him.
It felt like the first time.
