Well I've got some good news! I'm nearly done writing the condensed version of 'Sacrifice'! Just a little more resolution and an afterward, then a lot of condensing. there were a lot of scenes I wanted to include but I'm thinking no due to length. There will be an expanded version going in Teen Titans when I've got it all posted on this line. So! here's a part that kinda fits wherever in the last chapter, time wise. This is why Dick didn't run away after the fight. Enjoy!

Dick–16 Jason-13

Won't Run

Dick ran back into his room, slamming his door angrily. Another fight with Bruce, this time because he was caught sneaking out after curfew, by camera. The old man was stalking him! Okay, so he broke rule 4 constantly, leaving his watch/tracer in his bedroom every time he snuck out the window. He bypassed one of the highest quality security systems in the world over and over again. Bruce should at least be impressed with that.

Okay he was. But that guy was so particular about home security! Particularly about their bedrooms and wherever they were at the moment. If he couldn't find one of them at a moment's notice, the man freaked. Dick thought he could sneak past all the man's defenses after he managed to put a subroutine into the security camera's programming, but the man found it that morning. At least he waited until they all made it home to start reprimanding him.

Seriously he was sixteen! He had a car! And a motorcycle! If Bruce would just lighten up on the curfew, he'd use them more and then he wouldn't be falling off the grid so much. Seriously! The guy was such a control freak! He had to know where he was every second of the day and it was suffocating! It was no wonder Selina vanished again. Who would want to deal with Bruce in obsessive mode?! He certainly didn't want to.

Blocking the door so Bruce couldn't unlock it and continue the debate with his desk, he flopped onto his bed, glaring at the roof. Seriously! He was a senior in high school! Couldn't he give him some slack? He'd be graduating after next term and then be going off to college. He was practically an adult! Couldn't he treat him more like one instead of like a juvenile delinquent on probation?! That man…

A light rhythmic knocking came from his door, making him roll his eyes but get off his bed anyway. It wasn't Bruce. His knocking was always heavier and the rhythm was a password he cooked up with one particular sibling. Again he shoved his desk, just enough to let that person in, if he wanted to. "What is it Jason?"

"Nice to see you too." He presented him with some brownies. "We made these at school. Want some?"

"Are you sure Bruce or Alfred would approve?" It wasn't like Dick was saying no, just warning him he may get in trouble for this.

"Who cares?" That was all the older boy needed to smirk and let him in. As soon as the two teenagers were in the room, Dick replaced the desk as a barrier. The brownies were placed on the bed between them after a minute and they started snacking. "So, what's the deal this time?"

The acrobat rolled his eyes. "He caught me sneaking out."

"You've been doing that for years!" A slight smirk crossed his face. "How did he catch you?"

"Found that trick I did to the cameras. Security updates killed me." He stuffed a brownie in his mouth, pouting. "Shoulda seen it coming. He's gonna be on my case about curfew for a while I bet. Really that guy is unbearable!"

"Yeah, Dad can be a royal pain in the ass, but he means well." Jason smirked at his brother's raised eyebrow. "What, think I haven't noticed? He's such a traumatized stickler on rule 2 he won't let me play any of the cool popular games. It really makes it hard to make friends when you can't talk Halo or Assassin's Creed."

Dick stifled a laugh. "Well normally I wouldn't mind that, but the people I hang out with prefer late night lattes, movies, and bowling. He really eats at my social life because I want to hang out."

"And how many robberies and muggings happen late at night?" The light glare he received made the trouble maker throw up his hands. "Just pointing it out. Every rule has its reason, and you're forgetting you hang out with a lot of people older than you."

"Two to three years isn't that much older."

"It is when you're sixteen and the girl of your dreams is eighteen." The younger teen smirked. "Two years in your case is all it takes to make a relationship illegal."

"I thought you were on my side." Dick shook his head, glaring in frustration. Little traitor.

"Just pointing it out. But really, I've been wondering," he looked over his brother, seriously thinking about it, "if you really don't like where this is going with Dad, why don't you just run away? You are sixteen and can get a job. And then there's your trust fund. And I'm sure Haly's Circus would love to get you back. You have a place to run to if you ever want it. So why haven't you?"

For a long moment the older teen looked over him, seemingly thinking about it. Then he smiled. "Why would I? Bruce really is a pain, but he still took me in when no one else would. And it hasn't been all bad you know. If it were just the two of us, I might have run, but it isn't. It's you, Tim, Cass, and Dami. And Alfred. I might have been able to run if it were just one other, convincing myself they'd replace me, but all you guys look up to me. And I've kinda gotten into the habit of being the big brother here."

He looked away, thoughtful. "I may have some place to run to, but I can't run. I won't run away from my family. I don't want to lose anyone ever again, and I'm not gonna make you lose me either. You're stuck with me Jaybird."

Dick gave Jason a grin, ruffling his hair fondly. He playfully bat his hand away, smiling a bit more comfortably. "Knock it off."

"Not in a million years. Come here!" Without another warning, the acrobat lunged at him, wrestling him down on his bed to deliver the worst torture known to man: affectionate tickling. Soon insane laughing and cackling could be heard through the door and down the hallways. One fretting father looked to the sound of it and gave a slightly relieved sigh. It was good to hear that laugh, from both of them. He'd gone too long without it ringing through the halls. Maybe one day he'd find a way to bring it back out again on his own, to mend what he had broken. Teenagers could be very difficult, but their laughter wasn't too far away from when they were children.

A/N: see? I figure if Dick had a sibling from the beginning he wouldn't run for their sake. Many and he definitely wouldn't. He's too much of a big brother to run away from them. Since Jay's 13, he's also starting to see that Dad isn't perfect. well, he never had that illusion, but he's now being more vocal about it. Two boys wrestling on a bed... I thought it was just too much fun. I think it's official, Jay's (mostly) over Joker.

Well I think this is it for the set up. Next will be 'Sacrifice'! Thank you for your patience.