With a tired sigh, Richard Grayson approached Jason's favorite bookshop cafe. It's been a year since his little brother's death. If the fact he had lost his brother without even trying to be a brother first was not already bad on its own, the media circus and Bruce had made things ten times worse.

How dare he not invite me to the funeral?! Dick raged internally.

Richard picked up a Jane Austen book and a cup of Earl Grey, before going to the comfortable armchairs by the corner of the cafe. He felt quite nostalgic. His poor Jason, the lovable boy filled with so much anger and who adored reading.

Dick stood frozen a few steps away from his destination. On one of the armchairs sat one of the most beautiful people Richard has ever met. The boy was around his age, tall with broad shoulders but still delicate and regal features. He had high cheeks-bones that made his bow-lips look more delicious, his pitch-black hair was style din spikes- which would normally look ridiculous on anyone else, but looked cool on him. His tanned skin was perfect and exotic. He was dressed to the nines, with a pair of black dress pants, black shoes, and a cashmere emerald sweater, that just made the emeralds he has as eyes pop even more.

"You know, a picture will last you longer," of course, the boy's voice would be sensual and posh. Sending shivers down Dick's back. "Though, I do prefer a good drawing or painting?"

"Are you an artist?" Dick asked him curiously, sitting on the armchair next to him.

"A good one too," the boy finally put down his book and turned to look at Richard with those beautiful green eyes.

Dick felt pinned down by them as if those eyes were looking through his soul. The vigilante gulped down his nervousness and flashed him his winning-seductive smile: "Confident, eh?"

"Getting accepted into the Royal Academy of Art in London does that to you," he replied with a frown. He then leaned forward and brushed one hand on Dick's cheek, making Grayson's pulse quicken in anticipation. Anticipation for what? The boy's eyes turned sad for a second before it disappeared. If Richard had not been trained by the best he would have not noticed. Who was he? "Do not fake a smile. You've got a beautiful face, especially those sapphire eyes of yours. No need to ruin it with a fake smile, if you do not want to smile you do not need to."

Dick was struck speechless by the boy's words. No one has ever told him that before. Not even his parents. If anything they were the ones that forced him to learn the show smile.

Not knowing why Richard relaxed his features and stopped smiling. For a second, he thought he would do anything for this boy, as a tender barely-there smile spread through the boy's lips as he utters: "Beautiful..."

The word was spoken with such tenderness and softness that Dick truly believed him. He felt his cheeks blush and his heart skip a beat. He knew he was attractive, no need to refute that fact. However, his body was littered with scars, his heart weighed down by sacrifice and lust... lust to be loved. But for a second he believed it... believed him. And it was quite addicting.

"We do not know each other, but would you be kind to allow me to paint you?" The boy requested. Richard could not stop himself from nodding, still entranced by those beautiful eyes. Did not want to stop himself. "Wonderful!"

The boy stood up and offered him a hand. Dick accepted it and clung to it like a lost man who has finally found a harbor. If the boy had noticed, he did not mention it. The two of them walked out, leaving their books and cups of tea behind. The boy guided him through Gotham's streets too expertly for it to be the first time in the city. As the two entered a small studio in one of the better parts of the city, Dick finally deigned himself to speak.

"You are not from here, are you?" He asked, noting that the place was barely used for an artist that was welcomed to one of the best art schools in the world.

"No, I came with a... friend to aid him with some unfinished business in the city." The boy replied as he prepared his materials and canvas. "He was the one that recommended me that bookshop. For which, I am eternally grateful."

Dick blushed under the intense eyes looking at him and asked hesitantly: "Friend? Or boyfriend?" Dick had noticed the boy's hesitation.

"No... he is like my brother. Or at least, I would like to be his brother." The boy hesitated to answer. "Would like it?" Dick asked gently, his heart aching from the memory of Jason.

"He was deeply hurt and affected by an attack from the Joker," the boy confessed quietly. Not making a mention of how Richard stood frozen at his words. "His memory was... affected after the attack. However, he is now mostly healed. I brought him here in hopes that he would be able to... converse with his family."

"You don't think he will," Dick asked him slowly.

"I believe that his relationship with his family was difficult at best, before the attack." The boy admitted. "Now after everything, my brother is very angry and confused. I do not believe he wants to see them and if he does, it will only resolve into more violence."

"You seem conflicted," Richard noted.

"The Joker loves explosions," Dick flinched and thought: Yes, the bastard does. "The bodies are not always recovered." Dick thought of Jason and his empty casket in the Wayne Cemetery. "I do not want to lose the hesitant trust he has placed on me but is it ok for me not to tell his family that their son, their brother is alive?"

"I... I believe that it isn't your place to meddle," Richard offered after being deep in thought for a while. "His family dilemma is his and the other members to resolve. If your... brother placed his trust on you and does not want to involve the rest while he is healing... that's on him. All you can do is support him and be there for him."

"What about his family? They are suffering right now," the boy inquired. His expression did not change but Dick could see a flicker of doubt in his eyes.

"That's not on you," Richard assured him. "I... I had a brother if you could call him that. I was not a good big brother... and lost my chance to be one after he died because... because of the Joker." Dick sniffled, getting emotional. Why was he lowering his shields before this guy? Was it because they were similar? "We didn't see he was struggling and tried to impose our ideas onto him. Sometimes it is yourself that knows what you need the most. If he says this is what he needs... you should trust him. Do not make the same mistakes as me..."

"How are your family handling it?" The beautiful boy inquired softly.

"Not good... B and I are not talking at the moment." Dick confessed.

"B?"

"My guardian," Richard tried to explain what could be the most complicated relationship in his life. "My parents died when I was young, B took me in."

"He never adopted you?"

"He tried... I said no. I already have a dad," Grayson explained.

The boy was quiet for a while before going back to his materials and requesting Richard to undress and sit. He then dropped a white silk sheet over his lap, to hide his dick and went to start his painting. For an hour no one spoke, Dick was completely mesmerized by how the artist worked. So focused and determined, his brush moving with confidence.

After an hour, Dick finally spoke up: "I used to have an older brother. He died working as a cop..." his sudden confession startled Richard, who was in the process of joining the Bludhaven Police Academy. "He took me in after my mother abandoned me... she was not a very good mother. Abusive, at worst. I was a very angry and confused kid back then... not that I am not young anymore. Though, those days seem like an eternity back. Not once did I call him brother, he died not knowing how much I truly loved him and appreciated what he has done for me. I would not be who I am right now, if not for him." He stopped painting and looked up towards Dick, who once again fell victim to those green eyes. "Do not make the same mistakes as me," he used Richard's words against him. "He is your father, you can have more than one. I should know that... So, once we finish here, go back to your house and talk with B. Shout, scream, whatever you need. But do not allow yourself to fall victim to regret. It is a horrible feeling. I miss him every day, you have him here, so don't miss him when you have the chance to correct the situation. Your family has lost enough as it is. Ok?"

"Ok," Dick answered, gulping nervously, his heart beating too fast and his mind thrown in turmoil. They finished the painting session in deep thoughtful silence. Parting ways when the sun left to make way for the moon. "Will we see each other again? After the painting is done?" Richard asked in hesitation.

"One day," the boy smiled softly at the blue-eyes vigilante and placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. "For now, we shall part ways."

"I... thank you..." Richard thanked the guy, hating how he was stuttering like a high schooler, before rushing out of the door.

"Nice story, I did not know you were such a good storyteller," the boy with the red mask commented drily.

"If things had been different, that story might have been reality," Damian replied drily

A few minutes after Grayson left, while the guy was cleaning up and putting his painting materials away, someone materialized from the shadows in a corner of the room.

"Was that wise?" The boy with a red mask asked the green-eyed guy. "You like him, right?"

"It was not the right moment for us to meet, though I am very thankful it happened. He still needs to grow into himself and I need to finish doing what I must." The guy answered the boy, while he moved to wash his brushes. "Not to mention... I do not wish for our relationship to be built upon secrets and lies, whatever our relationship will be."

"If you two don't end up fucking, I will eat my shoe!" The boy barked a laugh. "I've never seen Dickie act like that!"

"Report Red Hood!" The guy's tone changed from gentle to all-business, making the boy, Red Hood, straighten up in attention. "Cluemaster?"

"In Black Gate, where that piece of shit belongs, alongside the Row's sperm donor." Red Hood growled. "Stephanie Brown was given a scholarship from the Society of Brids' Foundation to Gotham Academy, while her mom was given a job as a nurse for Doctor Leslie at the Clinic. Harper and Cullen Row were adopted by a lovely lesbian couple in Metropolis. They'll be far away from the shit show this place is."

"Good," the guy sighed. "What about the Thomas family?"

"The parents were given the antidote, alongside every other Joker Gas victim." Red Hood spat the name of the clown as if it were poison. "They are still in recovery but soon will be welcomed as researchers at S.T.A.R Labs in Central City. We left the intell to Flash about Duke Thomas's meta-human abilities. He'll take him into his team as a side-kick alongside Kid Flash and Impulse. We also gave B... Batman the Intell about Cassandra Cain. We all know what the bastard will do with that."

"What about Colin? And did you give the antidotes to WE?"

"Colin got adopted by a lovely couple in Coast City that works for Ferris Aircraft. Still, don't know how you are aware of these kids. But it's good they have you looking out for them." Red Hood huffed, shaking his head in amusement. "The antidotes were given to Fox and he even signed a contract that stipulated that they would not sell them, but give them for free for the people in Gotham."

"Good work, Red Hood." The guy praised him, turning around with a rare but warm smile.

"Thank you... for everything... brother," Rez Hood thanked him, the growl leaving his tone, turning to something more vulnerable.

"You are welcomed... Jason..."