It was yet another ordinary night in Gotham. A rain lightly watered the roofs of the city's huge buildings, with the water drops softening even the hardest of concretes. Almost everyone was in their homes, protecting themselves from all that water. Everyone but Jason Todd, who was somewhat frustrated, sitting on the Wayne Tower balcony.
The young Robin had just been scolded by Batman for the first time, for a mistake he hadn't made. The words were harsh, echoing in the boy's mind incessantly, almost as if it was some kind of torture.
The rain was helping. The touch of the drops, in contrast to the scolding, was soft and relaxing. At that moment, Jason wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The Batcommunicator had already rung a few times, but it was ignored, it was better not to hear Bruce Wayne's voice for a while.
Looking up, seeing no stars, Jason started to reflect on what he was doing. Doubt started to hammer in his mind: did he really like to be Robin? Or did he just see his role as an excuse to beat down criminals? Was he really a hero? Closing his eyes and taking a deep breath, he visualized the answer: negative.
When he was just a kid on the street, Jason was free to do what he wanted. No adult was governing him, telling him how he should act and who he should be. However, he also felt empty. There wasn't a gang or anything, it was just him against the world.
Now, as Robin, he had company, and he liked those people. He could also leave Wayne's Manor knowing he would have a place to come back to. It was very different from his past life because he now had a family.
He felt like such a mess, no longer knew what he wanted for his life because he knew that if he left Robin's position, he would be expelled from the Wayne Manor and return to the streets. But if he stayed, he would have to put up with Batman complaining all the time.
His moment of detachment ended when he heard a sound of metal close by, and it was familiar. When he realized it was a grappling hook, he feared that Batman had found him and that he was going to get scolded again. But as soon as a silhouette of someone who didn't have the bat's pointed ears appeared, he calmed down, already knowing who it was.
"Jason?" the soft voice of Dick Grayson broke the silence. "Are you okay?"
The boy did not answer, just looked away and began to observe the empty streets, different from the usual. Nightwing's presence didn't bother him but knowing that he reminded him of Batman was the nuisance.
"What happened?" Dick approached the boy, coming out of the shadows. "It's weird that you simply decided to come here, with this rain."
Still no answer, just a sigh. Jason knew Wing had no bad intentions, but Batman's scold was still hammering in his mind. He also knew that he would have to answer Dick at one time or another, as he knew the young man's insistence.
Snuggling up next to Jason, Dick also turned his gaze to the empty street, remembering a day when he too had climbed Wayne Tower to relax a little.
"Come on, Jason." The young man started to swing the boy's arm, trying to get his attention. "Answer me!"
"I'm sorry, I'm a little upset." Finally, words came from the younger's mouth, passing through Dick's ears like a beautiful melody. "I just got scolded by Bruce."
Recognizing the situation, Nightwing couldn't help but laugh at it. It had already happened to him once, and he knew how to deal with it. Getting confused by the man's reaction, Jason turned his gaze to him, with wondering eyes.
"Ah, the classic situation of Batman's first scolding." Dick was still laughing lightly. "Don't worry, Jason, there are still many to come." When he finally calmed down, he placed his left hand over the boy's right shoulder, in order to comfort him. "With joking aside, I understand your annoyance. When I was the Robin, I also got a bit down when Bruce first scolded me"
Relating to what Dick said, the youngest now started to show interest in speaking.
"Did you go through that too?" The question was rhetorical, but it served to express the boy's interest in the subject.
"Yeah." Dick smiled when he saw that he had caught Jason's interest. "I was thinking about giving up on being Robin, but Lucius showed up, giving me a big scare." He laughed with the last phrase. "After a conversation that seemed more like therapy, he told me something that made me put that thought aside."
"And what did he say?" Jason continued with the conversation. He was so interested that he didn't even feel the rain falling anymore.
"He told me that if I didn't feel like being Robin for Batman, he would like me to be Robin for him." It was a little silly conclusion, but enough to convince someone not to give up on something. "He said he liked my job as Robin, and that Bruce was really that way, and that's how I decided to continue doing my job. After a while, Bruce promoted me to Nightwing, and I was finally free of much of his command."
"This annoyance of mine comes from the same reason as yours..." Jason could not relate more to the situation described by Dick. "Yet, Lucius isn't here to talk to me."
"So, in that case, I'll take this job." Coughing to "adjust" his voice, Nightwing prepared for a speech he had not even prepared to. "You, Jason Todd, the new Robin, who finds yourself in this unfortunate situation of having been scolded by Bruce Wayne, the Batman..." That couldn't be funnier. "Who feels about to give up on being Robin for not enduring the pressure, would like to stop being Robin for Bruce Wayne, the Batman, and start being Robin for me, Richard Grayson, the Nightwing, in order to receive greater recognition of your actions?"
Dick didn't get a straight answer, just a laugh, which made him laugh too. Once again, his comedy skills had not failed. After laughing for a while, he managed to hold on.
"Yes, I am." Jason finally replied, still with a little laughing. "Thank you very much, Dick." He said as he directed his gaze to Nightwing.
"No need to thank me." The elder moved his left arm behind the neck of the youngest, resting it on his left shoulder, pulling him closer. "I like you a lot, I can't think of not having your company on some missions anymore."
Jason was a little embarrassed to hear that. Since he found himself as a living being, he hadn't received many displays of affection. Usually, all people did was complain about him, and the reasons were just absurd. However, at that moment he felt exactly the opposite. In the end, it seemed like it just wasn't real.
"Eh." Robin sighed before answering. "Nobody ever said anything like that to me." He didn't understand why a single sentence had made such an impact on him. "I don't know how to answer."
"You don't have to." With his right hand, Dick approached the younger's head, almost laying it on his shoulder, and buried his face in Jason's hair, feeling a mixture of fragrances and the tastes of water that had fallen up there.
Despite being surprised by that attitude, the younger chose not to show a reaction, as Dick soon stopped to breathe.
"Your hair smells really great," Nightwing said as he stepped aside and made room for the boy. "It seems that Alfred chose well your shampoo and conditioner."
"T-thanks, I think ..." Jason was truly embarrassed by that situation. "Actually, I chose it." He laughed, remembering a moment in the supermarket. "I took what seemed the coolest. I remember well. On the shelf, I had three options." Gradually, it was possible to see that Robin's tone of voice became lighter, more cheerful. Dick's company was doing great good. "A red, a blue and black kit, very similar to your uniform, and a green one."
"And which one did you choose?" Wing was greatly interested in anything he could hear from Jason.
"I chose the blue and black one." He laughed again at the memory. "Alfred told me that I should "get in the mood", so I chose something that I thought Batman would choose."
"Are you sure you didn't choose it 'cause you remembered me?" Dick teased, lifting the younger man's chin with his right forefinger.
"No, I didn't..." Jason realized how much the older one was having fun with that and felt a little uncomfortable. "I didn't know you."
"Oh, okay." A little intimidated by that answer, Dick pulled his hand away from the younger man's head, letting out a frustrated sigh. "You're right."
After the inconvenience, a few seconds' silence settled in the place. The rain had stopped, so even the water wasn't making any sound. Everything was quiet.
"Hey, Dick." Jason broke the silence. "Do you think Bruce will find me here?" the former smiling expression Jason had turned to concern again.
"Hm..." Nightwing looked away, thinking. "I think not, maybe in the most extreme case, if he uses a locator."
"Sometimes I think this Batcommunicator only gets in the way." He pulled the device from his belt, looking at it with disgust, and threw it away, backward. "I just want to spend some time without looking at Bruce."
"Well, if you want, I can take you to another place and leave your communicator here." Without thinking that it could be a bad alternative, Dick just suggested.
"I think that would only make things worse..." The scolding he had received returned to his mind again. "But anyway, thanks."
"You're right ..." Wing tried to think of other possibilities but got nothing. "I think it's just a matter of time, so..."
"At some point or another, I would have to go back, so..." Jason couldn't think of how to complete the sentence.
"So...?" Dick was curious about the mystery that the youngest had left with the incomplete phrase.
"Well..." Robin thought a little before continuing with the sentence. "I wanted to enjoy this moment with you some more, I think..." With a lot of effort, that phrase left the boy's lips.
Happy and surprised to hear that, Wing approached Jason and hugged him, still sitting.
"Ah, that's so nice of you." The words came out a little choked, due to the surprise that was. "Glad to know that you like me too." That said, he stifled the hug, which had not even been returned.
"I think it would be so much better if you were in Batman's place." Jason implied. "'Nightwing and Robin', don't you think it sounds better?"
Breaking the young man's expectations, Dick shook his head in disagreement. It wasn't like he was the most responsible man for all that money.
"Honestly, Jason, I think Bruce is ideal for this job." His expression quickly changed to more serious. "I think I would bankrupt us in the first moments. I'm not very good with money."
"Damn..." that answer was a little frustrating. "I wish it were different..."
"Me too." Although theoretically independent of Batman, Nightwing still needed the bat in some areas of his life. "I wish I could go to Wayne Manor… I miss it."
"What?" Jason didn't know that information. "Why can't you go there?"
"Being the Nightwing is like an independence agreement." That was somewhat uncomfortable in the role that Dick performed. "I'm not Robin anymore, so I have no right to anything related to Batman or Bruce Wayne, just duties." A sad sigh left his lips. "I don't mind much about most things related to Bruce, but I wish I could visit you. Me as Dick Grayson, and you as Jason Todd."
"But did you agree to become Nightwing knowing that?" Jason was wondering about that situation, it was like a puzzle was missing a piece. "I see no reason for doing that. You could still be Robin, right?"
"I didn't voluntarily accept that, Jason." Wing sighed after completing the sentence. "I can say that you were one of the reasons why I became Nightwing."
"Because I was going to come in as Robin?" The younger linked the dots.
"Exactly." With a little delay, Dick removed his mask, exposing his beautiful blue eyes, which matched the blue in his suit. "But don't worry, I don't have any harsh feelings or anything like that."
"I'll try to bring you back," Jason stated determinedly, but with some bad ideas in mind. "And Bruce better be careful with what he says, or else..." As soon as he realized what he was about to say, he stopped and questioned himself.
"Heh, thanks." Dick smiled at the youngest, pleased to hear such words. "But I don't think there's room for me at the manor."
"Eh..." Robin thought about how to express his idea without it seeming suggestive. "You can sleep with-, IN MY ROOM!" The last period ended up coming out in a louder, shocked tone. "Yes, in my room." As soon as he finished the sentence, he slapped his own face, a little embarrassed.
"Hey, are you okay?" Wing expressed concern about the boy's sudden attitude, caressing the area that had been hit, with his right hand. "That was very strange."
"Yeah, I'm fine." That caress he was receiving was gradually calming him down. "I'm sorry for this."
"I don't see a reason to apologize." Dick followed the sentence with a light laugh and ended the affection. "Are you sure you could handle me in your room?" He was looking a little suggestive now, intimidating Jason.
"It's easier for you not to handle me," Robin replied because he knew well that he could be a pain in the ass for those who lived with him. "I want to see how many days you will last." he teased, laughing.
"If you say so." Wing punched his left palm with his right hand, showing he was ready. "Challenge accepted. Oh, and as far as I can remember, there's only one bed in that room." He released a gallant smile to the boy. "How will you handle this?"
Taken by surprise, Jason felt his cheeks get warmer. Dick knew how to handle words and cause different emotions in others.
"I am going to..." He was ambushed, any answer would be embarrassing. "Ah, damn it. Whatever. It's not like it would be bad to sleep with you." It was impossible to find a way to answer decently, so he just accepted his misfortune.
"I agree." Wing had to assume that it was a lot of fun. But he also felt that the moment would soon come, and that was what he wanted for that situation. "It'll be pretty cool."
"Yeah, I think." Jason was getting nervous about that. It wasn't like he was embarrassed to sleep with another man, but he was afraid of what Dick would be able to do. "Why do you have to be like that, Dick?" He whispered; it wasn't something he wanted Wing to hear.
"Huh?" Not understanding what the youngest had said, Dick was curious. "Did you say something?"
"Yeah..." Robin sighed before continuing. "Why?"
"Why what?" Dick was confused, but deep down he felt that the moment was closer than he expected.
"You are so different from everyone." Jason looked away, turning to the street, which now had more people due to the end of the rain. "While everyone just criticizes or yells at me, you don't do any of that. You do just the opposite, you give me affection. I don't understand." He paused a little before proceeding. "Instead of arguing about what has already happened, you talk about things from the future. Dude, you are so different, why?"
Not too surprised by that, Dick approached the youngest. The moment had finally come, it was time to be truthful. Without saying anything, he wrapped his arms under Jason's head, hugging him sideways. Knowing that he would not escape now, he brought his face close to the other, closed his eyes and pressed his lips to his cheek.
Silenced, as if he had been scared off, Jason stood there, without any reaction. He could never think of anyone someone liking him, and now he was even getting a kiss. Unlike what he imagined, the feeling was not bad, it was a good nuisance, perhaps because he had never felt it before, or because it was Dick Grayson. Recovering some of his senses, he tried to push Wing away, but without success.
Realizing that the younger was a little annoyed, Dick gradually released him from his love prison, expecting to receive a punch or something in return, but was surprised when nothing came.
"I'm sorry about that, Jason..." Wing moved away, a little embarrassed by what had happened. "I just..." He couldn't complete the sentence.
"No need to apologize." The younger smiled at the feeling of touch that was left on his cheek. "It wasn't bad, I just wasn't expecting it..."
Dick didn't answer, he was too nervous to do that.
Feeling that he needed to do this, Jason repeated the same process as Dick, but without hugging him. He approached quickly and briefly kissed the other's cheek, then stepped back.
"Thank you for that." Robin sighed, feeling calmer. "I didn't know you liked men."
"Me neither." Shame aside, Dick laughed at his answer. "Actually, I think it's just you."
"If you say so..." Jason laughed, with a good feeling going up to his chest. "Now I understand everything."
However, the situation was a little strange. Why so unexpectedly such a conversation? That was what was on his mind until he was awakened by a slight push.
"Jason?" Dick called, shaking the younger by the shoulder. "Are you okay?"
"Huh?" A little confused, Jason looked around to see if everything was okay. "What happened?"
"You were talking to yourself." Wing was curious because he heard interesting things from the disoriented Robin. "You thanked me for something I didn't quite get and was talking to the void about someone liking men, very confusing."
Realizing that it had all been a daydream, Jason got extremely nervous and covered his face with his palms to hide his redness.
"Did I say something wrong, Jason?" Dick approached the boy, a little afraid, to check him. "I don't know if it usually happens to you, that's why I asked."
"That's not the matter." The voice was muffled by the hands that covered the face of the youngest. "Oh, God..."
"Dude, this is very strange." Gently, Wing put his left arm behind the younger one until he reached his shoulder, where it rested. "What made you so nervous?"
"I..." Jason had no idea how to tell Dick that without it sounding bad. "I kind of daydreamed."
"Well, that explains a few things." The elder thought for a few moments, looking at nothing. "But still, the subjects were very strange."
"No more than I saw and felt in that 'dream'." Jason finally removed his hands from his face, resting them on his legs. "But let's leave it behind."
"If you say so..." Dick returned his sight to the boy. "Everything's okay, then?"
"I believe so." He sighed, relaxed.
"Hey..." Wing caught the attention of the younger one. "I think the time to go is coming..."
"Huh?" At first, Jason tried to deny what he had just heard. That moment with Dick was so good, he didn't want it to end. "Why?"
The older one pointed to the Batcommunicator the boy had thrown away before, it was beeping frantically, at a different pace than a call would.
"Bruce found you, and I think it won't be long before he arrives." Wing stood up, preparing his grappling hook to leave. "I must go, if he finds out I'm not in Blüdhaven, the situation will get worse for both of us."
"Okay..." Jason replied weakly. "I don't think I can hold you here." He got up too.
"Don't worry, Jason," Dick said as he approached the other with open arms. "I'll see you again, you know that." He said as soon as he reached the boy, hugging him.
This time, the younger attended Dick's embrace.
"Yeah, I know." The boy said as he snuggled himself in the arms around him.
"Good luck with Bruce." Having already planned this since he met Jason that night, Dick lifted the boy a little so he could reach his forehead with his lips, and kissed it quickly, returning the boy to the floor and breaking the hug. "See ya, Jay" He jumped backward, shooting the grappling hook as he got out of the boy's sight.
"See you later, Dick." He replied quietly, knowing nobody would hear it, still a little shocked. "Well, now it's up to me." Releasing himself from the slight 'shutdown' he had, he sighed and waited for Batman's arrival.