Event: First Tutoring Session/ Rebel phase
JASON: Thirteen years old
"thanks Pop." Jason mumbles as he packs his book into his bag before starting to get out of the car.
"Jason wait." Dick catches his son's wrist in a vice tight grip.
"What?" Jason asks with a small frown.
"You're here to study right?" Dick asks, his eyes set in a serious blue.
Jason rolls his eyes before sighing.
"Yeah Pop. If I don't raise my grade in science then I can't perform. Charlie's just gonna help me." Jason explains for the hundredth time.
"Alright." Dick sighs and lets Jason go.
With that, Jason jogs through the light rain and into the Gotham Library.
Inside the quiet building, Jason finds his best friend seated in one of the many 'private' study rooms.
Jason saw them more like glass cages rather than quiet rooms.
"Hey." Jason says as he drops his Black and red bag by the table.
"You're late." Charlie sighs and looks up from his history book.
"I had practice! Jaime was helping me with a new routine." Jason explains and sits down.
Charlie only gives him a frown.
"You promised you'd be on time Jason."
"I tried Charlie. I'm sorry." Jason says, his tough guy façade dropping quickly.
"Whatever." Charlie mumbles and pulls out another text book.
"Charlie?" Jason's voice softens along with his eyes as he watches his friend of eight years move around angrily.
"Not now Jason. We're here to study. Your dad will kill both of us if your grade doesn't get better."
"Fine, but we're talking about this later" Jason mumbles.
"Okay, so a pun net square is kind of like a fortune teller…"
Jason snaps to attention as Charlie's Irish accent explains the lessons to him.
He understands fairly well and Charlie's patient when he doesn't understand at all.
The rain outside becomes thicker and when they're about half way through their tutoring, the lights in the entire library go out.
"Whoa." Jason mumbles and looks up at the bulbs above them.
"Ignore it." Charlie mumbles as he pulls out a small book lamp from his backpack.
"That's not enough light to see." Jason frowns.
"I don't need light to read. I can explain everything without the book." Charlie says.
"Okay, what's bothering you? This attitude isn't because I'm late." Jason crosses his arms and raises an eyebrow.
"Forget it Jason. Come on, we're supposed to be studying."
"not until you tell me."
"Jason!"
"Charles!"
Both boys glare at one another for a minute or two before they burst into fits of laughter.
"Seriously Charlie, what's bothering you?" Jason asks, his hand punching Charlie's shoulder lightly.
"Dad's thinking about moving back to Ireland." Charlie mumbles.
"What?" Jason's smile evaporates and he stares at his friend in shock.
"Lily's used to the Ireland environment. Dad thinks it'd be best to move her back."
"But…I get that Lily's your little sister but…"
"I know it isn't fair." Charlie mumbles.
"You can't move."
"I don't have a choice in this Jase."
"This is…it's…Bull-"
"Don't!" Charlie says sternly, his green eyes sending Jason a warning glare "You know I don't like it when you curse Jason."
Jason only rolls his eyes and huffs.
"Come on, let's get back to studying."
"Whatever." Jason sighs and leans forward to continue his learning.
When the twoboys walk out of the library, it's still pouring rain.
Lighting flashes and thunder booms as they walk towards a nearby ice cream parlor under Charlie's very small umbrella.
Both boys squeeze close in order to stay somewhat dry.
Once seated in a booth with ice-cream cones in their hands, they start talking about non sense.
Jason, as always, drops the new attitude he's developed with others as soon as he start speaking with Charlie.
When Dick picks them up from the ice cream parlor, Jason is still laughing and acting like his old self.
Dick soaks up the sound of his son's happiness as he drives.
The truth was…that after Conner took over both Metropolis and Gotham, he wasn't around the house enough.
Jason became angry at his own Dad and started acting out.
The only time he was actually himself now…was when he was with Charlie.