Chapter 15: Little Brother Becomes Big Brother
Jason's POV
I was ten years old when Dick became my big brother. At first we mainly avoided each other. I thought he hated me at first. But I was curious, so I went snooping around his room. But, he caught me trying to hold his old stuffed elephant. Long story short, Dick never left me alone after that.
He'd make sure to hug me and tell me that he loved me at least once a day. I kinda looked up to him. I'd follow him around carrying my old teddy bear that he got for me. He'd check over my homework if Bruce wasn't home. He'd make me watch every single Disney movie with him. Dick would even let me hang out with him and his friends. In a way, he's always been my best friend.
I loved it when it was just us. But then we got older. I really didn't need him as much. He graduated right before I was fifteen. That's when the Replacement showed up.
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Tim was nine years old when Bruce adopted him. He was silent, scrawny, and small. He could've passed for a six year old.
I hated him at first. I felt like he had taken my father and brother from me. It wasn't fair! I was really mean to him; he tried to avoid me at all cost. He mainly followed Dick around; like a tiny, silent shadow. I'd call him Replacement and make him feel extremely uncomfortable and unwanted. And Dick would get really pissed at me! He'd barely even talk to me anymore! It wasn't fair! I took my anger out on Tim and I sincerely regret it.
But one day, I noticed Tim was being bullied by some assholes at school. Dick wasn't at Gotham Academy anymore; Tim had no one to protect him. It really pissed me off. He's always been the smallest of everyone, he can't help it. But what really made me mad was that the kid was acting like he deserved it. So I did what any older brother would have done; I broke some bones, made some threats, made a few kids cry, and got suspended for it.
But, it was worth it. I'll never forget the look on Tim's face that day. He looked up at me with his bright, baby blue eyes, like I was his hero or something. His silence was broken that day. Plus I noticed it pissed Dick off. I thought it was funny.
Now I can't get him to shut up. He crawls into bed with me if he has a bad dream, he comes to me if he has a problem, he always wants to do something with me, and it never stops. But, I kinda like it. I feel important. I feel needed. That's probably how Dick feels about all of us.
Plus my homework grades have never been better. And we work well together on patrol. I even gave him my old costume when Damian became Robin. We even have special code names for each other while on patrol; Big Red and Little Red.
The quickest way to piss me off is to hurt Babybird. I've put more people in the hospital and in the morgue for even looking at the kid in the wrong way. If his parents were still alive, they wouldn't be for long. The big brother protection rights are now extended to Damian.
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I admit it. I was also jealous of Damian. He was Bruce's actual son and he tried to kill me! Multiple times! It wasn't fair! Dick thought he was the best thing in the world. At least I still had Tim on my side.
Plus Damian loves animals; like his damn cats or mangy mutt. I've never been an animal person. They're dirty and nasty and destined to be on your dinner table.
But Damian and I can occasionally get along. He understands my need for blood. It's probably why we're rarely paired up on patrol. And we're a lot alike. Apparently we both have 'anger issues.' I don't see it, though. And he only listens to Dick! It really annoys me. And Damian knows how to piss me off. He does it for fun!
But Damian does have his moments. He can be really sweet sometimes. If he wants to.
But like Tim and Dick, Damian's still my brother. I'd do anything to protect my family. I need all of them.