The Guys Who Were Brothers...and their maybe Sister


Dick isn't insane. He didn't ask Batman for the plane to go to Greece. He knew the answer to that would have been a resounding 'no.' Instead, he asks Bruce Wayne for a plane so that he can go on vacation. He's given a dubious look but sets things up for him anyway. He's also subjected to very pointed and prying looks from Alfred that he just barely resists. The acrobat is a grown man. It shouldn't be that hard not to spill his guts. He consoles himself with the knowledge that Alfred has spent most of his life looking after Bruce, and that had to mean something.

Dick also isn't stupid. He doesn't tell Bruce that Jason is coming with him. Dick is sure the man will find out later, and he was okay with dealing with it then. Besides, if he had told Bruce in advance, Jason just would have left on his own, and that was a bad idea all by itself. For some reason, Dick can see all of Europe and Asia on fire from the trail of destruction Jason would leave in his wake if left alone and chuckles at the thought. Jason would be angry if he knew what Dick was thinking.

"Are you coming or not?"

Dick blinks and looks at Jason, and the bag slung over his shoulder. He wasn't hiding his face, which was good because everyone knowing that Bruce Wayne's oldest son was hanging out with the Red Hood wasn't a good idea. The same argument could then be made for him spending quality time with the man's dead son. A Catch-22 situation if there ever was one.

"Yeah," Dick said and took several steps toward the plane. They were boarded and seated when Jason turned and asked, "Daddykins wouldn't let you have the plane?"

Dick snorted. "I didn't ask for it."

"We could have just stolen it."

Dick didn't groan, but it was a close thing. "Then he would have followed us."

Jason shuddered, knowing just how valid Dick's words were. "No one wants that."

Dick certainly didn't. He quietly mused on how badly that would end. "Are you ready for this?" Dick questioned.

"I was born-again, ready."

Dick supposed that was enough.

:::

They didn't talk to each other on the long flight. Which was good since the only thing the two of them would do was argue. Dick took the time to get what sleep he could because the more time that went by with Sakura missing, the more he started to believe that he wouldn't get much of it.

Dick was jolted awake by a sharp pain in his leg. His eyes snapped open to see Jason walking away from him with his bag on his back. He had covered his hair with a dark blue baseball cap, which he supposed was disguise enough. If he did anything more, it would draw attention.

Dick looked around for something to throw at the back of his head but couldn't find anything that wouldn't start an all-out brawl—which would've been fine anywhere except for around people who would undoubtedly report back to Bruce. Dick quickly grabbed his things and elbowed past Jason. The sharp jab drew a groan that was closely followed by a laugh from the other man. Dick's lips twitched. It was a delicate balance to keep things cordial with Jason, but he started to think that he could find it.

There was a car waiting for them as they exited the plane. Jason took one look at it and said, "We're not getting in that car."

Dick just shook his head, knowing why and whole-heartedly agreeing. Without a doubt, Bruce wanted to keep tabs on them, which would only cause trouble in the end—or a profound amount of irritation. Neither sat well with Dick, so he walked up to the man holding the car door out for them and slid some money into his hands. "Thanks, but no thanks. We'll make our way." Dick moved away from the car and towards Jason, who stared hard at their would-be driver. The man moved to the front of the vehicle to get in it and drive away. They listened to the start of the engine and watched quietly as the car pulled away.

"Think he'll follow us?" Jason inquired. Dick opened his mouth to reply but didn't get the chance. "Because I can shoot out his tires before he makes it too far." Dick couldn't help but laugh because he knew Jason wasn't joking.

"We're not shooting out anyone's tires."

"You say that now. You might not later."

Dick agreed, which was why he knew they were going to end up in so much trouble. "If anything, we should steal the car to get a move on things, but I doubt you'd trust that there weren't any trackers placed on the car." Dick wouldn't either, but he wouldn't say that. "I'm following your lead. Your contacts were the one that saw Sakura last. Where are we going?"

"Thessaloniki," Jason replied. There was something about that name that made bells ring in the back of Dick's head, but he couldn't figure out why. He studied Jason, but his body language was closed off, and he knew he wasn't going to get much more than what he already had. So Dick shoved his hands in his pockets and said nothing as Jason pulled out his phone and made a few calls.

They arranged for transportation, which turned out to be easier than expected when Jason turned out to be very fluent in Greek. It wasn't one of the languages that Bruce had insisted they learn, so he wondered where he had picked it up.

Jason slid behind the wheel of the vehicle, and they rode in silence while Dick took in the scenery as it whipped by, lost in his thoughts. It had been a long time since he had spent an extended amount of time with Jason. There had been a distance between them that he still didn't know how to breach. Jason was always at arm's length, even when in the same room.

"You're thinking too loud." Jason groused, and Dick's lips twitched.
"J," Dick began.

"I get that shit from Sakura. I don't need it from you too, Dickie bird." Dick sighed and clamped his mouth shut until they arrived at a circus. A smile came to his lips before he could stop it, and Jason snorted. "Yeah, I thought you might like that." Jason got out of the car, and Dick hastily followed.

They approached a sign that clearly stated: Performers and Circus Employees Only Beyond This Point.

It didn't stop Jason from pulling back the curtain and strolling in like he owned the place. Several eyes landed on them and clouded with suspicion. Jason ignored it and said, "I'm looking for Artemis."

A woman with blond hair pulled up high in a ponytail with large breasts, and a larger middle looked them over slowly. Dick had a feeling that she was undressing them with her eyes, so he widened his stance a little and flexed his arms as discreetly as he could. The woman tossed her head back and laughed. Dick grinned back at her unashamed.

"Oh, I like you. Artemis is in trailer thirteen. If you want a real woman, then I'll be in seven."

"I'll keep that in mind." Dick retorted, only serving to make the woman laugh again.

Jason tossed a disgusted look Dick's way before he stormed out. "What?" Dick said, following him, trying to figure out what land mind he had stepped in. Jason didn't reply; he just kept marching towards the trailers until they landed upon number thirteen.

Jason rapped hard on the door, the policeman's knock as some people called it, a feminine voice called out, "Come in. It's open." Jason swung the door open and stepped inside. A woman lay on the top of a bunk bed with the most glorious red hair that Dick had ever seen. It was riveting. He stepped inside the trailer behind Jason, closing the door behind him. She sat up slightly and turned her head, surveying them both.

"Well, hello," The redhead crooned. "I see you got my message. You took your sweet time getting here, Jason." Jason scowled in response.

"It hasn't even been a week, Artemis. Fuck that. It hasn't been three days."

A grin stretched across her face, and she beckoned Jason closer. Jason surprisingly obeyed the silent command, and Dick watched as she ran her fingers through his hair and then tugged on it a little. Jason swatted at her hand but didn't seem to be able to pry her loose. "You seemed pissed, and I haven't even done anything yet."

Dick sighed and said, "That would be because of me. Hi, I'm Dick. Jason's older brother."

Jason managed to detangle himself from Artemis' clutches and turned to Dick with narrowed eyes. "The hell you—"

"I'm the nice one." Dick finished and cut off whatever Jason would have said. Artemis just chuckled. "I'm Artemis." She gestured at the big guy in the corner with the sickly looking skin. He looked almost like a warped version of Superman, but he hadn't heard any news on that front and didn't think the current time was the best to ask about it. "That's Bizarro."

"Me Bizarro. Beans am good. Dick man want beans?"

"Hey!" Jason interrupted. "Don't I get beans?"

Bizarro scowled. "Jason leave. Jason no get beans."

Dick was starting to wonder whether these were the friends of Sakura and Jason that he heard talking in the background when he called him. Then dismissed that thought. Jason had been in Gotham—or near it. These two had been in Greece for a while. Either way, they were shaping up to be a pretty weird bunch. He glanced at Jason on the off chance that they should be running and not making friendly conversation. Jason was settling in, though, as if he had been with the group for a long time. Dick gave Jason a quizzical look that he ignored.

"You're breaking my heart Bizz. You know I didn't leave because I wanted to. I had to help a friend."

"Okay," Bizzaro said and set a plate of beans in front of Jason, and he immediately dug in. Dick started eating as well, and the meal was surprisingly delicious.

Jason looked at the redhead and said, "What have you got for me?"

"Word is the Olympian gods have taken an interest in your friend. She's in a lot of danger."

Dick coughed violently. Bizarro produced a glass of water from somewhere, and Dick didn't hesitate to chug it down. "Sakura?" He questioned just to clarify.

Artemis looked at Jason, "You said pink hair?" Jason nodded. "Then, yes, I'm talking about your Sakura. She's on Mount Olympus."

Dick and Jason exchanged a look. "How the hell did she get there?" Jason grated out between clenched teeth. The irritation Dick understood because it wasn't like they could barge in. Or at least not that they knew. Dick smiled and asked Artemis, "Know a way onto Olympus?"

"As a matter of fact, I do." Artemis smiled back, and the grin was sharp and dangerous looking, making Dick shift in his seat. She then turned and looked at Jason with a raised brow, "What are you willing to pay for it?"

Jason threw back his head and groaned. "I knew you were going to make shit difficult."

"And yet you came anyway." Artemis sing-songed.

Jason shrugged. "Gotta save the little sister. You know how it is."

Artemis frowned. "Sister? Sakura is your sister?"

"Yes."

"No."

Jason and Dick looked at each other. Jason slowly raised a brow.

"Okay. I claim Sakura as a little sister. My brother over there disavows all knowledge of any redhead that could grace his bed."

Dick opened his mouth to deny that claim, but one look at Jason's face as he covertly glanced at Artemis made him snap his mouth shut and rethink his words. "You're an asshole, Jason."

"Thank you." Jason grinned. "Now, what do you want, Artemis?"

"It's the Russians."

Jason groaned, and Dick looked back and forth between the two, only slightly confused because of the way they used the term…yeah, the Russians could be a problem. "They're back."

"I thought I told them to stay the hell out of my way."

"You did. I remember you telling me about it." Artemis agreed. "But you were in Gotham at the time. Now we are in Greece."

Dick sighed, realizing what was going on. They were going to have to make an exchange. Information on how to get into Olympus for help with the Russians.

"What do you need us to do?"

Artemis gave Dick a smile that made him uneasy.

:::

"You want me to what?"

Jason was on the floor laughing, and Dick had to suppress the desire to kick him in the ribs—for the third time. "Oh, come on. Jase told me you were a part of the circus as a kid. Performing shouldn't be that big of a deal to you." Artemis said. He couldn't believe Jason had told his friends about his past. It wasn't exactly a secret, but that didn't mean he wanted everyone in the superhero community to focus on it, ask him questions about it, or ask him to perform undercover in the circus because of it.

"I haven't performed in years, and even if I had-"

"Pfft! You perform all the time, you attention-seeking hussy." Dick mouthed the words 'hussy'; he gave up and kicked Jason hard, but it didn't stop his laughter in the slightest. If anything, it made him laugh harder.

"Even if I had," Dick continued, "It's just a media mess waiting to happen. I've managed to fade into the background. Hardly anyone even remembers the Flying Graysons." Dick's heart hurt at that. He could still remember clearly flying through the air with his parents. He remembers the laughter, and his mother pinching his cheeks and calling him her little Robin. He'd never forget even if everyone else does. How could he? "Which keeps people from poking into who I am now."

Artemis smiles. "You forget one thing."

Dick's brow furrowed quizzically. "What?"

"The power of makeup." Jason proceeded to laugh harder. Dick kicked him again. "Jason can help since he was such a big fan of yours when he was a kid. Plus, he's great at it."

Dick's eyes widened when Jason's head whipped to the side as he stared at Artemis in horror. "I was not! I am not!" He hotly denied, but even Dick could hear the lie in his words. Artemis must have startled him with the announcement.

It made Dick think. They had all contributed to the issues they had as a family. It wasn't all Bruce's fault, no matter what they told themselves. He could have reached out to Jason just as easily as Bruce could have, but he hadn't. He let Jason ride on the fringes of their family. He would have continued to do so if it hadn't been for Sakura. So before the pair could get any further into their fight, he declared, "I'll do it."

Jason looked back at him, surprised. "You will?"

Dick straightened. "Yeah, I will." After all, it wasn't about him. It was about Sakura, their missing bird.

:::

Jason and Bizarro left the trailer they were in because Dick told them the best way to get information about the Russians from the circus folk was to socialize. Jason had thought he wasn't serious, but it was true. You had to break bread to get information. Otherwise, you were just a stranger.

It left Dick alone with Artemis.

The second Jason was gone, and out of earshot, Artemis turned her attention on him. It made Dick shift uncomfortably.

"Jason has a lot of friends."Artemis began tentatively. "But friends come and go. Family is forever and inescapable. You should treat him better."

Dick shook his head. "There's a lot of history you don't know about-"

Aretmis cut him off. "Oh, I know about it. Jason doesn't sugarcoat things about himself. I know who he is, what he is capable of, and what he has done. If you can't accept that, then I suggest the two of you find your sister," Artemis paused, smirked, and rephrased, "Your sister in arms and go your separate ways as soon as possible."

Dick sighed.

:::

When Artemis presented him with the outfit he was performing in; he came close to walking out. He would have, too, if Jason hadn't stilled him with a look. It wasn't a threatening one. It was just one that reminded him that they were here for someone else-a friend, a family member that possibly needed help. He could put aside his pride and be…a clown. (Which explained a lot about what Artemis meant about makeup.)

"Stop looking at the costume like that. It didn't do anything to hurt you. Plus, you'll be adorable. The kids will love you."

Jason snorted and turned his head away, but he heard him mutter under his breath with barely concealed amusement, "Dick Grayson—adorable. What will the ladies think?"

Dick narrowed his eyes and scowled. "I think you could fit into this costume better than me. You apparently have the knack for it."

Jason snorted and shook his head, having no problem throwing Dick to the wolves. "No, this is all you. Artemis wanted you so she can have you."

Artemis grinned as she put the finishing touches on Dick's makeup since Jason refused to do the job. He was too busy snapping pictures on his phone and knew that if he got too close, Dick would snatch his phone. Sometimes having little brothers sucked. Now was one of those times.

:::

Dick performed. He wasn't flying across the trapeze, which was good. He wasn't sure he could push back the memories, good and bad if he had been. Being a clown, though, and hearing the laughter of children as he performed various acrobatic feats, made him smile wider than he had in some time. He could admit, to himself only, that he missed the circus and his part in it. Nevertheless, it wasn't something the acrobat would go back to. There was a new love in his life that he could never abandon, but he missed performing for a crowd.

It didn't take him long to realize that Jason and his friends had gone missing. A shiver of dread ran down his spine, and he knew without a doubt that Little Wing and co. were in a lot of trouble.

He wrapped up his performance and swiftly as he could so he could search for his little brother, get out of there, and find Sakura.

A/N: I mixed New 52 and Rebirth comics. I'll probably do it again too.