Jason walks out of the hotel shower, letting the steam billow out. Running his hand through his hair, he tousles it slightly, trying to dry it but giving up quickly. He pulls on the clothes left for him by the driver and quickly lacing up his sneakers, turns and comes face to face with Dick.

"Jesus," he says sharply, startled but trying to hide it. "When did you get here?"

"About ten seconds ago," replies Dick, grinning at the surprise still etched onto his brother's face. In one day, he had managed to hold a conversation with his brother, stopped him from cutting out someone's tongue, made him smile, and surprised him. All before ten. Quite a good way to start a day, if he did say so himself.

At the suspicious look on his brother's face, Dick's smile widens. "How long did you think I was here?"

"Long enough."

"Long enough to see you shower? What kind of pervert do you think I am?"

"I refuse to go into that territory with you,"' says Jason, face perfectly deadpan. "What are you doing here?"

"I thought if you didn't have any plans for today, you'd like to spend the day with me," responds Dick casually. He crosses his fingers in his jacket pocket.

Jason stares at him with an unreadable expression. "You want to spend the day with me," repeats Jason slowly.

"Sure, why not?"

"I don't know. There's still the Joker and-"

"Oh, come on, Jason. What are you going to do when you get back there? Go into shock again?"

The words are out of his mouth before he can stop them. Instantly, Dick's eyes widen in regret and he closes his mouth, wishing he could swallow his tongue. "Jason-"

"No, don't." Jason is staring at him again but this time it's less like he can see him and more like he's thinking intensely about something far, far away.

"I'm sorry."

There's silence.

"That's the first time you've ever said that to me." Jason's eyes are wide as well. He looks unsteady as if he isn't sure whether or not to trust Dick.

"I'm sorry," Dick repeats truthfully.

Jason looks him in the eye and Dick nearly flinches at the turmoil behind them, hidden almost completely by his brother's icy composure.

"It's fine." Jason speaks finally and Dick breathes out, unaware that he had been holding his breath.

"So, you want to go somewhere?"

Breakthrough. Dick is almost alarmed by how pleased he is at Jason's offer. It's obvious he's already too involved now to turn back. "Yeah. You want to get a coffee or something?"

"Why did you decide to visit?" Jason asks, taking a sip from his coffee.

Jason isn't quite sure what to make of this. He's having coffee with his brother. He's having coffee with Dick. He's having coffee with Dick after fighting him and actually holding a conversation with him. It's…pleasant, almost.

He's wearing his brother's clothes, for chrissake.

It's just too weird.

But at the same time, it's also really nice. It's peaceful and enjoyable. How…odd.

"Well, I wanted to see how everything was doing, what with you being back and everything."

Jason nods. "Do you ever miss being Robin," he blurts out suddenly.

Dick looks taken aback for a second. "A little," he admits. "But that's just not who I am anymore. I'm Nightwing. And I'm still part of the family. It's nice having my own place in Bludhaven. My own place, my own patrol. I like it. I love it, actually."

Then, leaning forward, he asked, "Do you?"

"Do I what?"

Jason smirks at the look of annoyance on his brother's face. He hadn't realized how much he missed teasing Dick.

"Do you ever miss being Robin?"

The question wipes the smirk off his face. "No," he answers. "I miss that part of my life, I guess. But I don't miss being Robin. Now I'm someone else. And I like it."

"They miss you," Dick says suddenly.

Jason sighs. "I don't want to talk about this."

"They really do, Jason."

"Dick-"

"Barbara's birthday is in three months," Dick tosses out. "I'll be there. Bruce will be there. Alfred will be there. Will you?"

Barbara. Jason hasn't really thought of her. They hadn't seen each other much, even when he was Robin. Still, on the occasions he had seen her, she had always been sweet to him and funny. She had always had a smile for him. And Alfred…Jason grins at the thought of the butler. Alfred was tougher than Bruce any day of the week.

"So will you come?"

"Have you always been this pushy?" Jason asks, stalling for time. "As your brother, I feel inclined to tell you that it isn't entirely appealing."

"Well?"

Jason sighs, looking down at the table. Finally, he looks up and says grudgingly, "Fine. Maybe I'll come. Maybe."

"Good." Dick leans back, looking for the entire world as smug as though Jason had just agreed. Jason feels the need to hit him and instead drinks the rest of his coffee, scalding his throat as he swallows.

They spend the rest of the day around the city, talking and laughing and recollecting. Jason can't remember the last time he had so much fun, though of course he doesn't tell Dick that. No need to make his ego more swollen than it already is.

By the time they're done talking, the sun has set and a companionable silence settles between them. Jason remembers with a start that the Joker is still the apartment. If he got away somehow…

"What's wrong," Dick demands, seeing his brother's sudden pallor. Then, correctly reading Jason's stony expression, he says, "Okay, if you need help with the Joker, I can be reached at this number." He scrawls his cell phone number onto a notepad and tearing off the little sheet, he thrusts at Jason.

Jason takes the paper and roughly shoves it into his jacket pocket, sprinting along the streets, trying to reach the apartment. He refuses to accept that Joker managed to escape with the injuries he himself had inflicted. He refuses to even consider it.

He skids to a halt at the door of the apartment and after a split second's internal debate, takes a few steps back and centers his weight, balancing himself before crouching down and leaping up to the window ledge of the floor above the ground level. Clenching his teeth, Jason pushes off from the wall, fingers reaching up to grip the ledge above.

As irritating as it is, it's still much faster than taking the stairs, which are littered with pieces of random furniture and shards of broken glass. Dick had the right idea coming through the window, Jason thinks as he hauls himself through said window.

Taking a deep breath and saying a quick prayer to a god that he's sure gave up on him long, long ago, Jason takes a survey of the room.

It's empty.

Jason travels to the corner of the room and picks up his eye mask, turning it over in his hands as he thinks.

He can't have gone far with those injuries.

And never far enough.