Stubborn

Jason groaned and rolled over on the couch even as Chloe started licking his face, tail wagging. He got shitfaced last night and passed out on the couch. Roy had brought a blanket out for him before going to be himself.

"Ungh, not now Chloe, go away," He muttered, pulling the blanket over his face. Roy was setting up the coffee pot and glanced over his shoulder, snickering at the sight before him. Chloe whined, tail wagging faster as she nosed at the blanket, getting her head in underneath it and licking Jason's face again. Jason huffed both in annoyance and amusement as he pushed himself up, only to be pushed back down on the other end of the couch as Chloe pounced him and started licking his face.

"Okay, okay, I'm up, I'm up!" He called with a laugh, pushing the dog off of him. Chloe barked once before retreating into the kitchen and Jason sat up, wiping the slobber off of his face on the sleeve of his hoodie. Chloe's leg had finally healed and now she was more rambunctious than ever! It was cute, but also annoying. This morning, it was a bit of both.

"Morning Jaybird," Roy called from the kitchen, pouring himself a cup of coffee. Jason grunted in response and pushed himself up off of the couch. He shuffled into the kitchen to find Roy's hangover cure sitting in a cup on the table waiting for him, so he sat down and drank it down.

"How do you-"

"I know you," Roy interrupted with a smug grin, sucking down the last of his coffee. Jason snorted, tossing the empty glass to Roy, who effortlessly caught it and dumped it in the sink. Roy slipped across the kitchen and stood behind Jason, massaging his shoulders.

"Sure you're ready for-"

"No. But I don't have a choice," Jason interrupted. He glanced up at Roy who leaned down a place a kiss on his lips. Jason flinched a bit and Roy caught it.

"Something wrong?" Roy asked, slipping into the chair beside him, Jason sighed and gave a shrug.

"Not used to that kind of...affection. I mean, I've kissed people before but it...never meant anything. It's just weird I guess," Jason answered, a slight blush on his face. As a matter of fact, that was more or less a half truth; he'd been kissed before, but it was always just a means to an end. It was weird for him to be kissedand to have it mean something. But there was also his other problem; he didn't have any feelings for Roy.

Roy simply nodded, patting Jason's shoulder, a simple gesture that said it was okay and he didn't need to explain. The two men sat in silence for a time, most of which was spent brooding. Finally, Jason pulled himself up out of the chair and retreating to the bedroom to dress.

"So, how do you wanna do this?" Roy asked from his place at the table.

"No idea. I'll just wing it," Jason replied, coming out of the bedroom with a black t-shirt clung over his shoulder. He ruffled his hair a bit, glancing over at Roy who was not-so-subtly checking him out. Jason flashed a grin as he poured a cup of coffee and leaned back in such a way as to give his boyfriend a perfect few of his torso.

"Like what you see?" he asked with a cocky smirk. Roy grinned like the Cheshire Cat and slid out of his chair, moving across the kitchen toward Jason. He pressed his hips against Jason's grinding a bit, earning a slight moan from the other man.

"You are so very, very attractive, Jason Todd," Roy said smoothly, nipping at the man's lips. Jason smirked, grinding back, making Roy groan in response. The red head let his hands wander over Jason's bare sides, index finger tracing a scar on his hip, just above his pantline.

"Unfortunately, we've got shit to do. So I'll have to ravish you later," Roy answered. Jason snorted.

"Tease." Roy chuckled in amusement and stuck his tongue out at the man, and Jason responded by flipping him off. Roy retreated into the bedroom to dress while Json pulled on his shirt and grabbed the keys to his motorcycle.

"Uh uh. We'll take my car," Roy called after him, exiting the room and pulling on a black and red hoodie. He grabbed his keys out of his pocket and jingled them a bit before heading for the door.

"Huh? Why?"

"You want to get to the manor without attracting the press, right?"

"Good point." Jason turned to Chloe and smiled, patting his knees "c'mon girl, wanna go for a ride in the car?" Chloe's tail started wagging as she raced toward the door.

"I'm not leaving her here alone," Jason answered before Roy could ask. Roy chuckled in amusement and made his way out.

"You gonna grab the leash?"

"Don't need it," Jason answered as they headed down the stairs. He pointed toward the car and Chloe obediently approached it, sitting beside it waiting patiently.

"Told you so," Jason said with a smirk, opening up the car door. Chloe hopped inside and Jason slid into the passenger's seat, Roy moving around the car to the driver's seat, reaching back and patting Chloe's head.

"Try not to piss in the car, girl," Roy said. Chloe cocked her head and whimpered at him as he started up the car.

"Sure you're ready to go back?" Roy asked. Jason snorted, looking out the window as they pulled away from the building.

"No. But I don't have a lot of options," Jason said flatly. He glanced over at Roy who flashed him a reassuring smile. Jason smiled back, but also kicked himself mentally.

You gotta break it to him soon, Jason. You can't keep playing with his emotions like this.

Roy seemed different now that they were dating; his usual cocksure attitude was still there, but he was also...sweet,endearing, sensitive...There was more to Roy Harper than he let on to other people. Which made him feel like more of an ass for not breaking the news to him sooner.

Jason stared out the window, occasionally glancing back at Chloe who seemed excited about being in a car, tail wagging as she looked out the window. The drive to the manor was mostly quiet, with him being deep in thought and Roy seemingly unwilling to disturb him. When the manor came into view, Jason could feel his anger roiling again. He kept in check, not that it was easy. As much as he wanted to clock Bruce in the face maybe six or seven times, that wouldn't be the best way to ask for the man's help.

They pulled up to the manor and slid out of the car, Jason whistling for Chloe who was hot on his heels. They made for the door and Jason was soon keenly aware when Roy enlaced their fingers together. It was meant to be reassuring, calming, but it actually made him feel guilty. The two of them stopped before the door, and Jason took a deep breath, but before he could knock or ring the bell, the door flew open. Alfred stood before them, looking the picture of health, save for his arm being in a sling.

"Ah, Master Jas-" the man began, but was interrupted when Jason hugged him. Alfred managed a small smile and returned the gesture with his good arm, patting his back.

"Glad to see you're doing better, Alf," Jason said to him, flashing him a genuine smile. Alfred chuckled in amusement and waved his hand dismissively.

"Thank you. I'm a touch more difficult to kill than I appear," Alfred replied. He gestured for the two men to come in, and Chloe followed behind them. Jason turned around, walking backwards for a short way.

"Hope you don't mind. Her name is Chloe. Didn't wanna leave her home alone," Jason explained. Alfred gave a simple nod and patted the dog's head. She sat obediantly, tail wagging.

"Good girl. Now where's-"

"Master Bruce is in his study. He is expecting you."

"Of course he is."

Sure enough, Roy and Jason found Bruce working at a computer in his study.

"Roy. Jason," he said smoothly without looking up from his computer.

"Yeah, let's cut the chit chat. Look, I don't like it, and I like even lessto admit it, but I need your help," Jason said flatly. Bruce stopped his work and looked up at him knowingly.

"I know. I've already taken the liberty of working up a story for the media. I expected you to drop by if you'd like to hear it, maybe add to it," Bruce suggested, gesturing toward the chair across from him.

"Are there any conditions for your help?" Jason asked sourly, dropping into the chair. Bruce sighed and was silent for a few moments, considering his next words carefully.

"No."

"No?"

"Family doesn't have conditions, Jason."

"Okay, first off, we're not family," Jason snapped. Yeah, still angry "and second, I wouldn't be here if I had a damn choice. Now out with it. What do you want?" Roy shifted uncomfortably behind them from his place across the room. He was here to Jason, but he didn't really want to get into the middle of...whatever this was, exactly.

Bruce heaved a frustrated sigh, much to Jason's satisfaction.

"A second chance," he murmured, barely audible, as he stared down at his desk. Jason heard it and it irked him a little. A second chance? He wanted a second chance? He already had one and he blew it! But Jason chose not to comment on it. Bruce looked up again, his expression having softened a bit.

"Here's what I was thinking-" Bruce began. They talked for a while, settling on kidnapping and traumatic amnesia. Over the course of the conversation, Jason and Roy's relationship had come up, which seemed to surprise Bruce a bit. That was something Jason was definitely going to make a mental note of; Bruce being surprised by something? That was definitely a rarity.

With that new piece of information, Roy was now involved in the narrative: Roy Harper, Jason's old childhood friend, found him wandering around Star City and had been taking care of him since. He brought him back to Gotham, but kept him away from the manor, away from Bruce, the press, everything, so as not to overwhelm him.

The whole story annoyed the shit out of Jason; it made him sound weak, helpless, and he hated it, loathed it. He was not weak or helpless. Not since...not since he was a kid. He would never be that weak and helpless again. Never. But he agreed to go with it, only because there was no other option.

"Gotham is going to expect some kind of celebration. It's the burden of being a Wayne, so tonight, I'd like to get this all over with, as much for your sake as mine," Bruce said smoothly. Jason grumbled in response because he knew what that meant; the shark pit. That also meant that Dick would probably be there. Fuck. And speak of the devil...

"Hey Bruce, I came as soon as-" Dick trailed off when he caught sight of Roy and Jason. Beside each other. Together. His heart ached all over again, but he was good at hiding his emotions, thanks to his training. Even still, the mere sight of Jason had his heart beating faster. To think that he was still so in love with Jason...

"Right. Well. We'll be on our way then. You can explain it all to Dickie-bird," Jason said evenly, tugging Roy up with him as they slipped out of the study. Roy went on a ahead and Jason just flashed him a look. He stopped beside Dick and patted his shoulder.

"Get ready for tonight bud. Looks like we're diving head first into a fire pit," Jason said with a grin. Dick chuckled in amusement, eyes following Jason as he left. Eyes that wandered up and down the length of the man. That beautiful, sexy man. He-

"Dick," Bruce called, snapping him out of his thoughts.

The time had come to get this bullshit over with. Jason and Roy had both been lent tuxedos for the evening, thanks to Alfred. It wasn't hard to avoid the press for the rest of the day, since they just hid out at their apartment. So when the hour finally came, they made their way to the manor. The first thing they were forced to deal with, was the press. Once that, and the formalities were out of the way, the party go underway.

Jason and Roy both felt out of place, what with all the fancy food, the classy music and of course Gotham's Elite. The two of them settled for a corner of the room all by themselves. And as for Jason, it was about time for him to do something he should have a while ago.

Jason and Roy were more or less sitting at a table in their little corner of the room when Jason finally decided that it was now or never.

"Roy, there's something I need to tell you," Jason said, heaving a sigh. Roy leaned back in his seat and gave a nod for the man to go on. Jason raked a hand through his hair again, considering his words carefully.

"I...don't know how to tell you this, but I, uh-"

"Don't have any romantic feelings for me?" Roy asked with a somewhat sad smile. Jason was surprised to hear that, but also felt like crap once he saw the sad look on his friend's face.

"Y-yeah...how did-"

"I've...known for a while," Roy interrupted, heaving a sigh and leaning forward in his chair. He rubbed the back of his neck nervously, then patted Jason's knee.

"Thanks for telling me though."

"But-"

"I guess...I was ignoring it. I was happy and I kinda wanted to hold on for it a bit. I guess I kinda hoped, with time maybe you'd...y'know," Roy said smoothly, giving a shrug of his shoulders. Jason felt a metaphorical kick to his nuts, because damn did he feel like shit. Roy looked a bit like a lost puppy dog in that moment.

"Shit, Roy, I'm sorry for leading you on like that-"

"It's cool. I'm kinda guilty too, for going along with it. Actually, I wanted to tsay thanks. For indulging me, y'know?"

"I...you were just so happy, and I-"

"Really dude, it's no big deal. Thanks." Jason managed a smile and a nod. The two men sat in silence, unable to look at each other. Then, finally, Roy patted Jason;s shoulder.

"So, like...this isn't going to make things awkward between us, is it?" Roy asked. Jason snorted and waved his hand dismissively.

"For a little bit. But then we'll eventually just go back to being annoying pricks to each other, like usual, and all will be right in the world." Roy let out a laugh at the comment and leaned back in his chair.

"Sounds good to me," Roy replied with a cocky grin. Jason chuckled in amusement, and rose from his chair, Roy following suit.

"But uh...sex might be off the table. That would be too awkward."

"Ouch. No sex? How ever shall I live!" Roy replied, feinging injury as he draped his arm over his eyes.

"Bitch."

"Jerk."

Dick sighed, raking his hand through his hair as he stood, leaning against the wall, drink in hand...watching Jason who looked...well, amazing, in a suit. He could read lips, and felt guilty because Jason and Roy had broken up, and he...was happy about that. He felt terrible about feeling that way, and yet, despite the fact that Jason and Roy were no longer together, he didn't have it in him to talk to Jason.

Even as the two of them passed by him, leaving the party, he couldn't work up the courage to talk to Jason. He chugged his drink and placed the empty glass on a tray as a waiter passed by, getting ready to leave himself. That was, until Barabara rolled up in front of him. Dick flinched a bit, then blushed when he saw her; she was beautiful, dressed in a beautiful black dress and looking as classy as Gotham's Elite.

"Damn Barbara, you make that wheel chair look good," Dick joked. Barbara chuckled in amusement and turned her head, watching as Jason and Roy left.

"So, why didn't you talk to Jason?" she asked, quirking an eyebrow. Dick blushed again, rubbing the back of his neck nervously.

"I...Babs, I just...he..."

"Dick, relationships require communication. That includes starting them. If you don't talk to him, you'll never get anywhere," Barbara said evenly. Dick gave a nod, then shook his head.

"Barbara, Jason doesn't want me. He made it clear that night-"

"No. Dick, I don't want to hear it. He loves you, I know he does. So get your head out of your ass and talk to him!" Barbara scolded, equal parts lecturing and encouraging. Dick sighed again, averting his eyes, staring at the floor. He looked up at her one final time.

"I'm sorry Babs. I can't," he replied, slipping past her and leaving the party. Barbara sighed and turned in her chair, watching him go. She hated seeing Dick torture himself like this, and hated seeing Jason be so hard on himself.

Perhaps it was about time she...interjected herself into this mess of theirs. For their own good.