He handed Damian a note with his breakfast. For his part, Damian looked far too tired for a kid who had spent the last two nights banned from patrol. Jason wondered if he should start figuring out a way to barricade Damian's door, or, at least, get someone to stay with him. Jon maybe.

Tim looked even worse, the circles under his eyes heavier than Jason had ever seen them. If he hadn't felt the kid kicking him awake every five minutes he would have thought Tim had spent the whole night awake. Well, Tim didn't spend the whole night awake but he did spend the majority of it. Jason didn't really blame him, if that had been him on the other side of Dick's fast hands he would have freaked out too. Really, that morning he thought the only one who looked well rested was Alfred.

"Morning," Cass chimed as she took her seat next to Tim. Dick and Bruce followed, the two of them in some kind of blinking contest as they took sides on either side of the table.

Nothing really came of it. Not until Bruce was almost finished eating that was. "Are you sure?" he asked, to which Dick promptly clattered his spoon down.

"Yes. I'm sure. Look, these tablets are helping. I know it might not be ideal but, if I go back to my apartment then who's to complain."

"You are not going back there," Bruce said, playing the dad card once again with living arrangements. "Dick, you know you're roaming the halls. At least here there's someone to catch you if you fall. Over there... no. Not until I know you've stopped."

"Then we're going to have to come up with a new arrangement." Dick peeked at Tim, "I don't want to hurt anyone else," he hissed, like all of them weren't listening into this conversation happening in front of them.

"It's fine," Tim piped in. "Last night. Forget about it. I know it wasn't you Dick. Not really." Dick seemed to breathe a bit easier upon hearing that, flashing a grateful smile over at Tim. The kid on the other hand, instead of being satisfied that everything was okay between them, nudged his plate closer to Dick's a look very much Bruce's on his face as he started on his interrogation. He asked everything from what Dick was dreaming to what he'd eaten before he went to sleep. He asked about times he'd eaten, what he was thinking about, everything that made Dick's day tick, he asked about.

Jason couldn't help tuning most of it out. Damian too from the looks of things. The only one who didn't was Bruce, who was looking just as interested as Tim about the answers.

Jason cut breakfast short when it turned out Tim wasn't going to be stopping soon. Piling his plate in the sink with a little sticky note for Tim to get busy when he was done talking, he went in search for a good place to nap half the morning away.

He was woken, later, by a fluffy snout nosing his cheek. Ace was awake and ready to play, and Jason couldn't really say no to those adorable eyes so he went in search of a few squeaky toys and a ball. Tim ended up joining him half way through his attempts to teach the puppy to play fetch. He claimed it was because he hadn't seen the dog since he left but Jason thought he was secretly still thinking this good behaviour Jason was showing was just an act. Traumatic experience with the Incubus or not, Jason was a dangerous being with more issues than half the inmates in Arkham, and no half thought out explanation of why Jason was staying was going to change Tim's mind about trusting him. Jason was actually kind of happy for it. Right now, Tim and Cass were the only ones not walking on eggshells around him.

They played with Ace until Damian caught them. His spots had come into full bloom, and just looking at them made Jason itch. Tim, luckily, had already had chicken pox, so if Jason was hoping for a pox ridden seventeen year old he was sadly let down. But since Damian was still red, miserable and getting the beginnings of cabin fever he couldn't be too sad about it.

"Do you think Jon could get chicken pox?" Jason mused, trying to keep Damian present for as long as possible. He didn't want to let Ace go just yet.

"He's Kryptonian, they don't get human diseases," Tim answered.

"Yeah, but he's half," Jason countered.

"Kon doesn't," Tim pointed out.

Jason thought on that for a while. "Yeah, but isn't Kon like, genetically modified? Like his genes are more kryptonian than human? Jon's like half and half, split straight down the middle. I mean, he doesn't have his powers half the time, right Damian?"

Damian tutted, his pout deepening as he came further into the room. "Jon's powers do fluctuate depending on his mood. The alien hopes that they will settle when he reaches puberty."

"See," Jason said. "So, if he's human half the time then he should be susceptible to human diseases. Kon came out pretty much like already baked so his powers were probably already settled by the time you guys grabbed him."

"So?" Tim asked. "What? You want us to tell Clark he should watch out for chicken pox."

"And flu and tummy aches and food poisoning," Jason finished. "But, mainly chicken pox. I mean, really, the wise thing to do would be to infect Jon."

"He could die," Tim near screeched. Jason could see Tim was accepting he'd been right about Jason being dangerous just from his widening stance. Kid actually thought Jason was going to rush him. Not a bad idea all things and boredom concerned.

"Or, he could deal with it like any other kid his age. Point stands that if this powers thing doesn't settle when the puberning happens he's going to have a hard time doing any hero work. I mean, imagine it, 'Superman save us,' he comes whooshing in and has to stop because one of the kids has chicken pox."

While Tim was growing steadily more worked up, Damian looked to really be considering what Jason was saying. Enough that he excused himself from the room to make a phone call to a probably very confused Clark Kent.

"You're awful, you know that," Tim said.

"Relax," Jason sighed. "I was just making a point. It's not my fault you brainiacs here didn't consider this before."

Tim kept an extra long watch over him the rest of the day for that comment. He followed Jason everywhere, like his own little shadow. Only, you know, snarky and moody like all teenagers were. He had comments for everything Jason did, scrutinising it for any double play before just trying to annoy Jason into telling him why he was really at the manor. Eventually, Jason used Tim's need to follow him to his advantage. Well, Alfred's advantage. He started on a few rooms, dusting, vaccuming, until Tim got so high and mighty with his criticisms that he told the kid to show him what he was doing wrong if he knew so much. Hence, when Alfred came to try and do some manual labour that afternoon he was pleasantly surprised to find Tim furiously dusting the old furniture.

"You're welcome," Jason said.

In the evening, when Jason had managed to track Damian down to see if the kid wanted to help make some soup, he got his note back. There was nothing added onto it, or even hidden in his own words. But the note itself was answer enough.

The two of them ended up planning a much more elaborate dinner than soup when Damian started complaining he wanted something with more substance. Since Tim had been warded off with Damian's presence, Jason told him to have at it in the kitchen and busied himself with merely checking Damian's work as he started on desert.

Dinner, like breakfast, was mostly a quiet affair. With the whole family back, talk was limited to Tim's time in Japan and Cass interjecting every now and then to tell the real version of what happened when they were over there. It was, dare Jason say, nice, actually, mostly because they weren't sitting around wondering what to say to each other. Even when Tim started grilling Jason again he preferred it over the silence that had been their meals these past three days. He gave as good as he got to Tim, almost sparking world war three when Damian started in on the action too. He almost expected Dick to get involved, ever the peace maker, but Dick just sat there with a smile on his face instead, leaving the clean up to Bruce who, too, was enjoying having the whole family back under one roof.

After they finished, Jason delegated clean up to the others, since they hadn't had to make it, and stole Dick away before anyone else could think to do so. He hid them away in Jason's room, fishing out his laptop for a good movie to watch. Dick almost beamed as he finished setting up, the only thing stopping him was the thought that if he did Jason might throw him out. He honestly wondered where this family got that idea that he hated fun. Happiness even. It was like no one was allowed to smile around him or he'd kick off. Yes, he hated being left out, and he hated when they purposefully ignored him, but when they were together, he didn't mind a little fun. Hell, it was him and Dick that had invented rooftop tag when they were younger. GPS hide and seek too.

Jason fell back against his cushions, the laptop on the table in front of them. He felt Dick do the same, especially when he realised it was one of his old favourites. "How did you remember?" Dick grinned.

Jason shrugged, "I just did," trying to get the handle on the storyline, since the effects in this thing were awful.

About half way through, Jason gave up. He knew Dick liked it for the colours more than anything, it was just one of those movies that were so aesthetically pleasing they didn't have to have a good plot or effects to be good.

He sat up after a while, finding Dick not that bothered about the movie either. He picked at his shirt for a few minutes, working up the courage before saying, "You know I used to have a crush on you."

Dick perked up, all thoughts of the movie in front of them forgotten. "Seriously?"

Well, he wasn't creeped out. If anything he was still a little shocked. "Yeah. I mean, everyone does at some point. It's kind of like a right of passage."

"First I ever heard of it," Dick huffed, still not mad, maybe amused. It was hard to tell past the wide eyes.

"Just ask Tim, I think he's still in that phase. Damian's about to breach I think. He's definitely heading that way."

A little laugh escaped Dick. "Wow. Wow!" Dick laughed again, "Seriously?"

"You know it's not that funny to the rest of us," Jason said, sure as hell his face was heating up.

Dick still giggled a little, trying to hide it behind his hand. "I know. I'm sorry. It's just not what I thought we would be talking about when you dragged me up here." Dick let out another few chuckles, his throat not seeming to be able to stop. When he finally got a handle on it, all thoughts that Dick thought the idea of people liking him funny flew out the window. He was serious now, the surprise sunk in enough that he was able to treat Jason as he should. "So, why did you tell me? I mean, if it was years ago then why does it matter now."

Jason cleared his throat, sitting a bit straighter again. "Well, maybe I kinda still do have a crush on you."

"Oh." Again, no disgust, and this time no laughing. All in all the best reaction Jason could have hoped for. "You do?"

"You're a hard guy to fall out of love with Dick."

"You- oh."

Jason went on, feeling like all of fifteen years old again as he said, "It's just, I know you don't feel the same. I know, okay, always have. And I don't mind. It's just, I think I'm ready to move past it. And I know the only way I can move past it is if I tell you. So, there."

They sat there for a while, the movie still playing as Dick just looked at Jason, and Jason looked anywhere but at Dick. Eventually, "You love me?"

"Yeah," and it was easy to admit it now he'd said his peace. "As in, more than a brother, if you were having trouble figuring it out."

"Me?" Dick clarified.

"You."

"Even when I'm messed up?" Dick asked. He didn't have to clarify what he meant by messed up. The bite on Jason's shoulder, the fact both of them were being haunted by memories they wanted long forgotten hanging over their shoulders even now.

"You're not messed up," Jason told him. "If anything, you're reacting exactly as you should for a guy in your place."

"Tim would disagree." Which, point.

"Yeah well, you can't help what your mind does when it's asleep." Jason knew he couldn't. "Besides, you do that while you're awake Tim would probably cum from excitement. It's just because he was a bit freaked that he reacted so badly."

Dick huffed, but looked a little consoled from Jason's words anyway. "I can't believe you like me."

"Well, believe it. Now," he motioned back to the movie, settling back into his seat.

Dick did too, for a while. After a few minutes however, Jason noticed the small shuffles Dick made. Just before the end, Dick was leaned snugly against his side, his head dipping until it could brush against Jason's shoulder.

"Is it good?" Dick asked quietly. "With a guy? Is it good?"

He didn't really have that much experience himself, not voluntary anyway. He shrugged, Dick's head moving with him. "I guess. I mean, I liked it. Why?"

Dick hummed shuffling a little closer again, his hand lightly tracing over Jason's thigh. "Dunno. I guess, I mean, I've never, with a guy and..."

"What? You want to take advantage of the opportunity while it's here?" He felt his skin tingling as he spoke. Even the idea that this could happen for real was getting him excited.

"Is that such a bad thing? I mean, it's not like I haven't thought about it before. I have. But, lately, ever since, you know, I just can't help wondering what it would be like. Whether it was different or-"

"Dick, it's fine."

"I'm not going to push you. I know that I haven't exactly felt amorous lately either. But, maybe you could think about it? Just, know that if you asked I wouldn't push you away and that, you shouldn't be afraid to tell me something, even if you think I won't like it. Never know, I might surprise you Jay."

He couldn't concentrate on the rest of the movie after that. There wasn't long left, but it was long enough for Jason to grow restless just sitting there with Dick warm on his shoulder. He shifted more times than he would have liked, and when the movie finally finished he was the first to hop up, shifting his slacks around as he did.

Dick stretched, smiling gently over at Jason. "This was fun. I really do like spending time with you Jay."

He smiled back. "You know how I feel about it."

"Yeah." Dick dithered on the spot before approaching slowly.

Jason knew what was going to happen. He knew and he wanted it, badly. He ended up meeting Dick half way, taking a kiss, a real kiss, he'd wanted since he was fifteen. Dick responded in kind, just as desperate as he nipped expertly at Jason's lip.

"You wanna?" He asked, leading none too subtly to the bed.

Dick grabbed him before he made it to the edge, all hesitance gone as he kissed Jason again. "You sure?" Dick asked, a heat igniting in his eyes. His grip turned strong as he held Jason in place, his fingers clenching in the waistband of Jason's sweats.

"You really asking that?"

He yanked Dick's sweats down, underwear missing, which Jason couldn't help marvel at. He ran his hands along Dick's thighs, the skin less scarred here than the rest of his body. Dick returned the favour, the two of them wrapping themselves around each other.

He fell back, not staying on his back for long as he twisted Dick in the sheets until he could get his arms over his head. Dick moaned, his hips lifting, brushing against Jason's ass. He couldn't help sitting down a little, chasing that feeling s little longer before getting his head back in the game.

"Didn't think you would take charge," Dick sighed, flexing his hands against Jason's grip.

"Well," he huffed as another thrust from Dick nearly had him lossening his grip. "I figured this situation called for it."

"My inexperience," Dick guessed.

"Yeah," Jason sighed, tightening his hands. "Also because of who you are."

"Huh?" Dick asked, too distracted with the friction to really pay attention.

Jason bounced, putting weight into his lower body to stop Dick moving much. With the attention back on Jason's face he asked, "So, how long have you been possessing Dick for?"

Dick stilled, a dark look passing over his face. "Jay-"

"Don't deny it," he warned, using the last vestiges of Dick's cover to hop off the bed and grab his slacks. "I admit, you did a good job of blending in. But, in another life you are Dick so I guess it was pretty easy for you. Hell, I was convinced for a while too."

"Jason what are you going on about? The demon's gone. It's me. It's Dick. Look," he bared his neck, the scar stretching across Dick's throat still there.

"And I would have believed that. But, see, I thought about it, and to me, you gave up far too easily. You could have reached Dick without having to walk over to him. So why the pretence? Then it hit me. Dramatics. Dick in any world is a drama queen so why would you be any different? You made that whole show up, let yourself be captured and used the trap to your advantage. You made it look like the last thing you wanted was to merge, when, that was all you wanted. At least when you realised you couldn't survive here otherwise."

"Jason, you're talking nonesense. It's me, I swear." There were tears at the corners of Dick's eyes, ready to fall at a moments notice.

Jason paid them no mind. "So you merged," Jason went on, his voice raising above Dick's pleas to listen. "And you pretended to be him. Or maybe it was him. But at some point, you took over, and Dick was pushed to the back. Dick was a walking consciousness only able to come out when you went to sleep." He felt certain with every word he spoke, his inklings all seeming more believable now he finally put words to them. "You know, for a moment, I actually thought you were the mind behind the midnight walks. I mean, the talks with Damian, with Tim. But then I thought on it. It wasn't you trying to creep Damian out, it was Dick. He was worried, he didn't know what was going on, who was safe, what you'd made Damian do when he wasn't awake to see it. He tried to lock you away in a room only he and Bruce had the key too."

It made sense. Dick would have been able to listen to the thoughts at the back of his head. In his confusion he probably would have said something bad to Damian. But Dick wawasn't stupid, he could put two and two together as easily as the rest of them. If it wasn't for Bruce, Dick probably could have gotten away with locking himself up through the day.

"So the tablets, were they actually to help you sleep? Or were they to stop Dick from roaming the halls calling for help. Warding me off?" He huffed just as another piece of the puzzle fell into place. "Oh you ass. You sent that video didn't you? I bet the other me had them too. You didn't like having me far away and you could pick from Dick's brain a way to get me to come here, to you. Dick knows Bruce has a limit, he knows what'll push him over the edge. You chose that video,the one from the exact apartment I was staying in, because you knew Bruce would tear Gotham apart to get me out."

Dick kept up the act, shaking his head frantically as he pleaded again with Jason to listen.

"And Tim. Dick wasn't trying to do anything to him. I bet he was sick of listening to your sadistic thoughts and needed to check Tim was alright. I asked you know, whether you were aggressive or persuasive. The demon never forced me, not if he could manipulate me, and I know you could manipulate Tim if you tried. You were frantic, yanking, wrestling him down because he didn't have time to talk. You gave him a brief window and he did his best to stop you in it."

"You're wrong. Jay just stop, you know you're wrong. I'm me!"

"Then prove it," Jason challenged. "Get off the bed."

The bed where, earlier today, he'd had Damian tell Bruce to draw a demon trap. One they knew would contain it.