Replies To Reviews:
Bloodyloveless: Hey no worries, welcome back~ Hahaha you make me laugh so damn much. I love that, that comment about not having Bruce x Jay so at least give us some Wally x Dick, XDDD, all in due times my friend, all in due time. Sorry I wish I could go faster in terms of their progress but it is what it is lol. So originally I didn't have the dream part planned in the plot but since I drew that fanservice image of them kissing, on my AO3 I just decided to incorporate that image in the middle of the chapter so that would technically be the dream sequence (a pic is a 1000 words after all). Unfortunately on FF net you cant add pics to a chapter. It was last minute so I was too lazy to write juicy details. Don't worry I'll save that for the actual thing ;]] DUDE, I was just sitting around, and then I saw your review and magically started writing—coz its not like I had anything to do anyways so it pushed me up. Sometimes I get lazy to write out scenes that I merely jotted but thank you for the motivation lol. I swear this story seems somewhat dead without you haha Thanks again for always reviewing! Hope you enjoy the chapter ! (though I get the feeling yr gonna call me out on the ending again hahahahaha)
Disclaimer: in first chap
Chapter 15:
"This feels as if I'm in Joker's hideout." Bruce grumbled.
"Happy birthday Bruce. Look what we got you." Tim pulled out the custom-made black hoodie with a red bat logo across the back.
"A sweatshirt?"
"Custom with the batlogo and our signatures in it." Tim explained.
"I see, thank you. That's certainly…unique." Bruce somewhat appreciated.
"Haha that's what Jason said."
Speaking of Jason, Bruce shifted his gaze towards him. "I'll…give you mine later." The teen picked up on the subtle atmosphere and waved away. "If that's okay. Anyways, you wanna try the cake Alfred made?"
"Sure." Bruce nodded. He wasn't expecting to eat too much—he wasn't one for desserts.
"I brought candles too." Dick announced happily.
"You're oddly enthusiastic." The billionaire remarked.
"Hey birthday's are special—they're only once a year. I'll give you a break just this once."
Bruce flashed him a partial business smile. "How generous of you. I appreciate the trouble."
"Meh, it's fine, whatever." Dick dismissed.
"Are they finally getting along?" Tim whispered to Jason.
"Knock on wood bro." Jason hushed back. Alfred brought in the large vanilla frosted red velvet sheet cake. On top of it sat a '36' candle which Dick lit up. The elder stared at the candle flame, reluctant to blow it out. When was the last time he did such a thing? However, he had no other choice while they all waited.
Alfred began slicing the cake and passing out plates. "Sweet." Bruce took a bite.
"Haha typical, it's cake." Jason joked.
"We actually have a game night planned." Tim then told. "It's too late to go out plus any other sport would require too much physical activity from Jason."
"Hey I'm not crippled. I don't even need my crutches anymore." Jason protested.
"Clever thinking. It's still better to be safe." Bruce effortlessly agreed with the youngest brother. "But a game?"
"Yeah movie would be too boring—and we didn't know what you were into. So instead, we're gonna connect this console to the TV and split into teams. Alfred you in?" Tim explained.
"I'll pass Master Tim."
It was quite late in the night after they dispersed to their respective rooms, post game. However, Jason went straight to Bruce's room and knocked on the door. "Hey, you still up?" The younger peeked through the door. The time was close to midnight.
"Of course, come in." Bruce sat on the bed.
"Can't forget to give you your present before the day ends."
"I see. I'm curious to say the least." That wasn't a lie. Bruce was immensely curious to know what his ward got him.
Jason cleared his throat. "It was difficult to come up with something on the spot especially since a certain someone never mentioned their birthday."
"…My apologies. I don't normally celebrate them. Hence, I didn't deem it necessary."
"Unbelievable but I get it." The younger climbed on to the bed as well, sitting in front of him, handing him a small box.
Bruce held it in his hands, fingers itching to open it up. He was amazed at his own eagerness. When the elder unbared it, he stared at the object in silence for a good minute, not recognizing it immediately. Jason rubbed the back of his neck. "I found it in the manor. Heard it was your father's."
"That's right…I haven't seen it for years now…it's working?"
"Yeah I replaced the battery and stuff and set it to the right time." The ravenette was feeling a tad bashful involuntarily.
Bruce never took his eyes off the watch. Jason assumed it was probably resurfacing old memories. About his father, his childhood, the time they spent…
"Thank you, Jason." Bruce finally looked up at him with a genuine smile. "This must be the best gift I've received yet." That made Jason's heart flutter a million times.
"No problem…I'm glad. After all, there's really nothing else I can get a billionaire."
"No this is more than enough." 'It's the thought that counts really.'
"I know you don't celebrate birthdays but I hope you'll learn to enjoy them from now on." Jason awkwardly encouraged. The elder listened patiently, somewhat touched. The teen had really taught him a lot of sentiments and values ever since he met him.
The teen's arms twitched as they sat in awkward silence for a second. 'Should he… should he not…?' But he knew Bruce wouldn't do it. So, it was up to him. Therefore, swallowing his pride, Jason scooted closer and slowly wrapped his arms around the large warm body. "Happy birthday Bruce." He mouthed, attempting to sound as cool and collected as possible. A gesture like this was closer to Dick's nature but he'd do it. Only for Bruce.
His stomach flipped when strong arms embraced him back without question. "Thank you Jason."
The next morning Jason woke up in Bruce's bed. He didn't recall falling asleep but apparently he did. Last thing he could remember was them talking about random things way into the early hours of the morning until he felt drowsy. He must have fallen asleep when Bruce went to the bathroom.
Speaking of B, he was no where to be found again. 'Probably at work.' Jason yawned with a stretch. He wouldn't have minded seeing the other getting ready for work though. Bruce was always as quiet as a bat, (no pun intended) Jason never woke up from him.
'Ah! Dammit, I forgot to talk about the adoption thing…' Jason reached for his phone instead, typing up a message.
J: Morning, u could at least say goodbye.
B: you were asleep.
J: anyways, I'll accept it.
B: ?
J: u know…to be part of the family…I'll explain it to Dick later but I know they'll come around
B: wise choice.
Bruce's response came after a long pause. Now didn't this feel like déjà vu?
Six Months Later
Jason was nineteen years old, his birthday passing not too long ago. The new college year also began, and he was able to attend this time around after the gap year he took last year to recover and all. He was a year behind Roy but he could care less about that. The teen was only satisfying Dick by going in the first place.
Even though life had mostly resumed back to normal, Bruce still didn't allow him to be Robin. However, Jason wasn't mad at that. He himself, was taking a break for a change. In fact, something shifted in him. He no longer wanted to be Robin. Just Robin, i.e. Batman's shadow. He wanted to be Batman's equal and colleague. He decided he needed to pursue this 'vigilante career' differently.
And in doing so, perhaps that could be the first step to Bruce considering him as an adult. Then again, he was nineteen years old, not the seventeen year old clueless kid the other once met. The teen could also use some change of pace, a bit of fresh air, with just a small amount of space away from Bruce. Don't get him wrong, he loved the man but at the same time he wasn't a fan of suffocating himself with his bottled emotions all the time.
"Well?" Jason vaguely brought up the idea of patrolling alone to Bruce. The elder gazed at him, brows furrowing the slightest.
"I don't think that's a great idea." The refute came out. The elder was so accustomed to having the teen in his sight. Also, Jason tended to get carried away or reckless with his fights that he didn't consider this the best outcome.
"B, I've learned a lot by now." Jason sighed. "I'm also a lot older now."
"You're still quite inexperienced." Bruce deadpanned. The elder was aware the teen was much more mature now but he still wasn't confident to let the teen be independent yet. It was no wonder he never invited Jason to join the Titans or the Justice League. "Isn't it too soon to go back?"
"It's been a whole year now. I feel just fine—a hundred percent. Plus I don't think I can stand watching you go on patrol all on your own and have all the fun."
"Jay, I still believe—"
"I'll go slow~! Three nights a week until I can handle it—what do you think—"
"One night."
"Two." Jason negotiated. Of course Bruce was going to be his unreasonable self.
"One night per week. Final."
"Ughhh, what the hell B?! Now you see why I wanna get out of your wing and do my own thing!" The teen glowered at him. Bruce stared him down back.
"What's going on?" Dick entered the picture. Jason opened his mouth but Bruce beat him to it.
"Jason wants to patrol again."
"What?!" Dick gawked and that response was very much predicted by Bruce which is why he blurted it out like that. "No way! It's too soon—it's only been a year! A year is nothing for healing patients with broken bones and multiple concussions." Apparently, Bruce wasn't the only one scarred from Jason's trauma.
"I agree." Bruce concurred. "And if you so insist, then only once per week."
"At least two man! Did you forget there are seven days in a week?" The teen huffed.
"I'm still against this." Dick crossed his arms stubbornly. This honestly felt like Jason was up against his parents.
'Who cares what you think?!' The teen felt like saying but refrained. "You're kidding me." He groaned instead.
"But you have to prove you are ready to go out again." Bruce added another criterion. The younger rolled his eyes all the way to the back of his head.
'The big man, huh.' He hated and loved the man all the same. "Fine, fight me now." Jason was already marching towards the batcave head first.
Unfortunately, he lost the fight that evening and resorted to sulking for the rest of it. Bruce secretly found it cute as he sipped his night tea. Jason wanted to be his own man in Gotham. It would take Bruce time to come around that idea. He could somewhat be okay with it, if the teen proved himself worthy and as long as he didn't break his rules. Gotham was his, after all.
Bruce sighed as he sat on the firing place couch while Jason sat across the room with a book. Is this what it felt like for a parent to let go of their child? Regardless, Batman would still be there for him. And they still lived together. It's not as if Jason was completely leaving him… He wanted to shelter their time together even if they didn't patrol together. 'Interesting.' Bruce caught on to his own introspections. When was the last time he cared so much for someone other than Alfred?
The elder stood up to return his tea cup to the kitchen but on the way, involuntarily patted the teen's head, who glanced up at him with a bitter pout. Jason swatted the hand away annoyed. Bruce simply stood there taking the rejection. He wasn't the pestering type but for some reason he didn't feel like leaving with that dejection. Setting his cup down, Jason was startled when a hand swung his face towards him.
"Wha—?!" Jason snapped. The other's hands were warm yet the fingertips at his jawline were oddly cold and foreign.
"Aren't you too old to be sulking?"
"Who the heck is sulking?" The teen spat and Bruce gave him a serious look.
"I'm doing this for your own safety." The billionaire's tone was softer now as he slowly released his face. Jason only rolled his eyes, averting his gaze. Bruce lifted his cup again and planted a chaste kiss on the top of the teen's head to appease him before he wordlessly left.
It wasn't a completely unknown gesture but Jason sat there with a blush creeping onto his face. 'Dammit, what was that? Was a tiny peck on the head gonna get him so riled up? Ugh.' He cursed his pounding throbbing heart.
"Sorry, duty calls. I gotta head out first. I wish I could walk you back." Wally apologized as he stood up. The two were having dinner outside, right after a mini bowling game.
"Hey no worries. I'm perfectly capable of heading back myself. Now go." Dick shooed him away.
"I'll make it up to you. Later dude." The redhead fist-bumped him before dashing out.
"Really, always running out. What exactly does he do?" Dick scoffed amused, finishing his drink before signaling for the bill.
After paying the bill, Dick walked out of the restaurant. The streets were dead that night, the sky pitch black now and the breeze chilly as ever. He had a short walk to the bus stop but had to cross some dead alleyways—not that he wasn't familiar with the streets he grew up on.
Dick debated on plugging his headphones and listening to some music on the way, albeit he was very grateful he didn't or else he wouldn't have heard shuffling behind him. The raven haired turned around a moment too soon, seconds away from getting decked in the head with a pipe. Dick staggered, the pipe landing hard on his forearm instead. He automatically fell backwards from the intense pressure.
'Shit! Who?!' Dick glanced up at the intruder, but didn't recognize the men at all. Yes, men. Two more of them emerged from behind the first attacker. They were all wearing masks so it was impossible to recognize them anyhow. The man was berserk as he aimed for another hit directly at Dick who quickly rolled away, merely dodging it again. 'dammit I have to get out of here!' Dick began to run for it. There was no way he'd be able to take three men at the same time. 'Should he call the police? Not that they'd be any helpful in Gotham…' He fretted.
The raven haired didn't make it too far until a harsh grip on the back of his coat's hood threw him off. Dick was thrown into a bunch of cans before the three men towered over him, kicking him once. "Hand over everything." One of the men demanded while Dick coughed. He was cornered…
That's when a cloud shadowed over them briefly, blocking all the light from above until it passed along. Except the movement was so fast, it couldn't have been any cloud in the sky. That shadow landed a few feet away from them. "B-batm—" One of them men croaked but was punched and knocked out by Batman himself before he could finish. The others charged forward as well, but the dark knight easily trounced them with no hesitation.
"B-batman…" Dick stuttered, being yanked up by the elder, who held him square against his chest. Shielding him with his cape, the vigilante shot a grappling hook with his other free hand. The younger man faintly blushed at the sudden proximity and yelped as they flew away, landing on a far balcony.
"Are you okay?" Batman inquired.
"Y-yeah…good timing."
"Are you hurt anywhere?"
"Just my arm and where they kicked I guess, but I'll live." Dick sighed. "Let's just go home."
The elder nodded and signaled for his batmobile. When the car showed up on the streets beneath them, he led them back down and inside. "Just keep this from Jason. This is only going to push him back on the streets."
Once again, the elder nodded in agreement.
Dick's phone was going off but the raven haired was out of sight. Tim was in the same room so he decided to pick it up instead, especially when he saw the caller ID was 'Walls.'
"Hey~! You got back okay?" Wally started talking the moment the line connected.
"It's me, Tim. Dick is in the bathroom or something I think." The younger answered.
"Oh! Timmy? Hey, how's it going?"
"Well."
"So you said Dick's in the bathroom—please tell me he's not taking a shower."
"He might be." Tim chuckled when he heard a groan on the other end. They all knew Dick took the longest showers ever. "Was there something you wanted to pass along?"
"Nah, just calling in. I had to leave abruptly yesterday so thought I'd call." The redhead elaborated.
'These two,' Tim was somewhat envious of their very close bond. In fact sometimes, it's like the two could be shipped and he wouldn't be surprised if they actually started dating. That's when Tim's conscientiousness kicked in. "You haven't spoken to him since yesterday?"
"Uh, no. Why?"
"Hm…Then you didn't know he was attacked last night?" Tim intentionally provoked.
"What?!" Though he was beginning to regret it when the redhead nearly deafened him. "Where?! How is he?! I'll be right over!"
"uh—wait—" But the line was dead before he could say more. Tim sighed. 'Well at least it worked…?' He wasn't even sure what he was plotting himself.
In no time, the main doorbell rang and Wally was at their manor. Tim rushed to let him in and instantly warned him to act composed in front of Jason since the said teen was unaware of the incident. The redhead agreed and waited for Dick in his room. He played with his thumbs restlessly until the bathroom door opened.
Dick carelessly walked out in a tight short sleeved T-shirt and shorts. "Dick!" The raven haired jumped at the abrupt visitor who was striding towards him. "Are you okay? What happened?"
"W-Wally? What are you doing here?" Dick took off the towel from atop his head, staring at the other bewildered.
To Be Continued…
Yes you guys guessed it, the Redhood era is coming soon haha. Just because Jason didn't die in this, doesn't mean we cant have Redhood. And is Bruce finally becoming aware of his feelings…or seeing that Jason is important? Maybe…getting there…he'll eventually see him in that light lol.
And I know, I know, damn cliffy. Look, once I reach my limit/ close to my word count, I kinda just end it there, coz in the end no matter where I end it, it seems like a cliffy haha. XD Be patient with me lol. I have work tomorrow too so I'll just end it there, so i can proofread and post it now.