Number 291: Nostalgia of the Past

Dick's not stupid.

As much as he enjoys quipping and taunting enemies and allies alike, his mind is sharp and his heart is typically in the right place. And when he gets that rare chance of running with Batman again, he understands how much his mentor craves the old days when they were young and not as jaded. Back when it was Batman and his young sidekick, the first sidekick, back before the death of two and the crippling of another.

Dick knows that when Bruce looks at him, he sees the failure of Jason, and of what could have been. And Dick would be stupid if he didn't think about it either, because something about the three of them working the streets sounds right. Batman leads, Nightwing nurtures, and Robin stays alive and healthy and happy. Holidays are once again joyous occasions instead of awkward conversations that skirt around unmentionable subjects and people.

It's probably why Dick doesn't hang around Gotham as often, aside from really creating a persona of his own that does not directly come from Batman. Dick's a grown man, his own man, he can't keep going back into a past that transforms into a child again. But he does think backwards often, of fighting crime with a younger brother and a father who wasn't as closed off.

Number 292: Competition

Everything with Jason was a competition.

It wasn't completely unheard of in the Wayne household with Tim and Damian squaring off about who was smarter, and Jason competing with everybody else on who's died the most (Jason is still winning that one along with who's been resurrected the most). But Dick noticed that Jason made it his personal mission in life to outdo Dick in almost everything.

First was in physical prowess – though Dick was arguably the most athletic and flexible of the Bat Family. Jason had upped his endurance and stamina, copying a lot of Dick's moves and giving them his own personal touch.

Second was probably in the amount of goodies he carried around; the helmet that could explode, the unreal amount of guns, the different types of wire, explosives, vehicles…Dick isn't even mad, so much as vaguely annoyed.

Thirdly, which Dick is reluctant admitting, is the amount of partners Jason has. Including Starfire. Kind of. Not really. If either Arsenal or Jason does her wrong, Starfire has enough power to completely obliterate them. So really, she's the one winning.

Number 293: Between the Two of Us

Jason is a gusty motherfucker. So gusty that he and Tim share a secret so vital and so damn important that it is kept quite close between the two boys.

Alfred, for all his cooking prowess, can't cook waffles to save his life.

Dick is a real trooper for eating them, and Damian's eaten worse so it doesn't quite faze him. Bruce has had years to build up immunity, and the girls are always sneakily getting rid of the food, or in Cass's case, chases the offending food stuff with copious amounts of milk or other liquid.

Number 294: In Over Your Head, "Bro"

Jason scales the side of Lex Tower, cursing the entire way up until he reaches the correct room where his client awaits.

Tim looks like he's nursing one hell of a headache, so Jason pulls out a bottle of Aspirin and sets it down on the table before pulling his helmet off. He whistles and drops into a chair, propping his legs up on the table and folding his arms over his chest, gently sliding a file over to his younger "brother".

"You're in over your head, "bro"." Jason says, casting his eyes out over the city.

"Shove it, Jason," the younger retorts. "Here's your payment, be careful with it."

Tim tosses a flash drive into the air that Jason catches and pockets quickly, cocking his head ever so slightly with a smirk.

"Touchy today, are we? How's the boyfriend?"

"Fine," Tim growls. "You can go now."

"He's a big boy, you know, I'm sure he's fine on his own. Without you hiding out in his enemy's building. Does he know you're doing this?"

"No," Tim almost snarls, grabbing the Aspirin and popping the cap off. He drops two into his mouth and downs a glass of water with an icy glare.

"Are you even sure Lex is after him?"

"He's interested in Superman, ergo he is interested in Superboy." Tim says in a matter-of-fact tone, reverting slowly to his regular self.

Jason shrugs, removes himself from the table and leans precariously over the railing.

"Fine. Say he is then, just don't go pulling a damsel-in-distress on me, it's embarrassing."

Tim stands, picks up the helmet and shoves it onto Jason's head, pushing him off the building just as Starfire swoops down and grabs onto his hands.

Number 295: Poor Influences

Nightwing swings into the window, his eyes scanning the room and landing on Jason's huddled figure in the corner, a woman clutched in his arms. Nightwing doesn't curse, just moves into the room and gently removes her, laying her atop the nearby bed and hauling Jason onto his feet. Jason sags against him, barely concealing a sob.

"I should've known," he croaks.

"Ease up, Jay. She's going to be fine." Nightwing pulls Jason into a chair, returning to the prone woman and running his fingers along her arms. Several pinpricks. Slight bruising.

Jason runs his hands over his face and shudders, leaning back and laughing a cold, humourless laugh.

"I just…never learn, do I?"

"You had an overdose kit with you?" Nightwing is grateful and relieved, finding the young woman's pulse and smiling despite of the situation.

"Always, never thought I'd need it though. I…I look for these things and yet –"

"Stop it, OK? You did the right thing and while I can't agree with the kind of crowd you associate with, you did good."

"Yeah right," Jason mutters. "Don't patronize me."

Nightwing turns around and walks towards Jason, sitting on his knees in front of his younger brother. Jason avoids looking anywhere at Nightwing's face but the older boy reaches up and hugs him, and Jason crumbles.

"You did good, Jason. You did good."

Number 296: Blue and Red

"Copy cat." Says Jason.

"Excuse me," Dick turns around as he puts on his mask.

"What happened to the blue?"

"I…changed it?"

"To red, that's kind of my thing." Jason points out.

"Then you'll be having this talk with Red Robin and Batwoman. Have fun with that."

Still on hiatus, don't be fooled by this chapter. This took nearly a month of gathering ideas. Started reading Red Hood and the Outlaws, that is the main reason this chapter is up.

So, hi to the new faces. I am so unreliable.