A/N So to make up for the inexcusable delay in between updates, I'm posting two chapters today!
Warning: A bit of language here or there.
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Jason's breath caught as he stared at the mirror.
He could hardly believe it!
He was… he was Robin!
The red, Kevlar-reinforced suit, utility belt, black, flame-resistant cape with the yellow underside that flared dramatically when he leapt.
This was so going to be awesome!
Jason grinned at his reflection, puffing his chest out. He could take on the world right now! With Batman at his side!
Crooks didn't stand a chance.
Knuckles rapped on the wall outside the changing room. "Jason!" Dick called. "You coming out or do I have to break down the door?"
Jason rolled his eyes. Like Dick would actually break down the door. "I'm coming out," he called back. "You don't need to be so pushy."
Dick cocked an eyebrow as Jason exited, marching past him, hurrying towards the lower levels of the cave. "Who's pushing?"
"You are," Jason snarked over his shoulder.
Dick trotted to catch up, before turning a perfect flip and landing on the stairs ahead of him.
He laughed, the sound bouncing off the roof of the cave and echoing around them.
"Show off," Jason muttered, crossing his arms, but Dick saw the tiniest hint of a smile.
"Hurry up! Wouldn't want Bruce to leave on patrol without you."
"He wouldn't."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that. He ditched me one or two times. You just don't want it be your first time, because what kind of a record would that be?"
"You're lying."
Dick scoffed, jumping down several steps to keep ahead of Jason. "You don't believe me? Ask him yourself."
"Like he'd ever ditch his perfect golden boy."
Dick turned another flip, this one backwards. "I was far from perfect at your age. Or golden for that matter."
"Good to hear," Jason huffed, running after him.
"But," Dick called back up to him, "I'm about as close to perfect as you get now!"
"Keep flattering yourself!" Jason yelled back.
"I will, thank you!"
Bruce was already waiting, suit, minus the cowl, in place. "What took you?" he asked, seeing the boys tumble in after their race down the stairs.
"Preening," Dick answered, before Jason could get a word in. "Can't have a bird that doesn't preen."
Jason flushed bright red. "I was not preening!" he retorted hotly.
"I see."
Was he going crazy or did Bruce almost look… amused?
"I wasn't!"
"Jay, look, I know it's hard, but," Dick said, gesturing to himself, "you'll live up to the legend. I promise."
Jason rolled his eyes. "Gee, thanks. A vote of confidence from the living wonder himself." But at least he looked a little less ready to kill Dick.
Dick grinned. It worked wonders every time. "Anytime!" He raised his hand in a mock salute.
Jason would have stuck out his tongue would it not have looked utterly out of place in the costume.
"So," Dick asked, assuming a more casual posture, "how does it feel, Little Wing?"
For once, Jason didn't complain about the nickname.
"It feels awesome!" Jason crowed and, this time, when he faced Dick, his grin was positively radiant… and contagious. Dick felt his own grow even wider. "I'm Robin! Do you know how many kids dream of being Robin?"
"I think I have an idea."
"Robin was all some kids talked about on the streets." Jason looked at one of his gloved hands, forming an experimental fist, as if he were picturing what it would be like to take down a baddie in that costume. "They loved Robin. We all did."
Something panged inside of Dick's chest. "Oh."
"Robin inspires hope," Bruce said, matter-of-factly. "Perhaps even more so than the Batman. After all, it's young people who can truly change the world."
"He's right, you know," Dick said. He didn't think he'd ever thought about it like that before. Robin was the Batman's sidekick.
Cool, yes.
Awesome, most definitely.
But in the shadow of the Bat.
As much as he'd joked about making a name for himself while he was Robin, he hadn't seriously thought it would happen until he became his own person.
But Robin meant something.
To the abandoned and forgotten children of Gotham, if no one else.
He just wished that had been something he'd known at the time.
Maybe he'd have done something about it.
Damn, he wished he had done something about it.
But then his attention was back on his kid brother. This was Jason's day, his moment, and Dick wasn't going to spend it wallowing in regret.
"You ready?" Bruce asked, watching Jason closely.
Jason pumped his fist in the air. "Absolutely! Let's go kick bad guy butt!"
"This'll be good for him," Dick said, thinking back to Jason's words about the street kids and Robin. He and Bruce watched Jason dash to the Batmobile. "He needs to be needed."
"Hmmph," was all the acknowledgement he received as Bruce rubbed the space directly between his eyes. Dick wondered exactly how much sleep he'd gotten in the past few days. "Let's just hope he doesn't get himself killed."
Dick shook his head. "Oh ye of little faith. Jason'll be fine. He can't be much worse than I was."
"I don't know. You boys always seem to come up with something new."
"That's part of our charm."
"I'm not so sure I would call it 'charm,'" Bruce said tiredly.
"We going or what?" Jason called, perched atop the Batmobile. "Those bad guys aren't going to get their butts kicked unless we're there to do it for them!"
Bruce lifted the cowl up and onto his head. "You coming?" he asked Dick, eyes now hidden behind the lenses of the cowl.
"Wouldn't miss Jason's first day on patrol." Dick grinned. "Although maybe I'll stick to the shadows. Give Jason a chance in the limelight."
"You won't need to," Bruce said gruffly. "Jason's not getting physically involved until I'm certain he can handle himself out there."
"Getting slow in your old age?" Jason called again and Bruce's attention returned to the young boy.
"Never," Bruce answered resolutely.
"You're smiling." Dick shook his head. "Oh gosh, I just saw the Batman smile."
Batman gave him a look. "Just shut up and get in the car."
Dick grinned cheekily, putting his mask in place. "Yessir!"